GLOSSARY

Absentee - a commission member who is not in attendance at a meeting

Abstain - to refrain from casting a vote

Accessory Use - a permitted building or activity that is secondary to the main use on the same site. It is allowed without prior review or approval. For example, a smokehouse or tool shed on a single-family residential lot.

Adjourn - to close a particular session; to suspend a meeting or a proceeding to a future time

Agenda - a schedule of items intended to be take up at a meeting

Appeal - a request seeking relief from a decision already made by the commission or official

Borough - a form of regional municipal government

Buffering - cushioning, shielding, or protection between uses, such as vegetation

Building Area - the total square footage of a lot that is covered by a building, excluding steps, decks, and patios.

Bylaws - rules adopted by a commission which govern its procedure

Capital Improvements Program - a list or schedule of public projects that a city or borough intends to undertake over a specified period of time. Projects are prioritized, costs are estimated, and methods of financing are described. The capital improvements program should be consistent with policies in the comprehensive plan and should be updated annually.

Chair - the presiding officer of the commission or of a meeting or proceeding

Charter - the governing document of a home rule municipality

City - a form of municipal government

City Council - the legislative or governing body in cities

Cluster Subdivision - a cluster subdivision is a form of development that permits a reduction in lot area provided there is no increase in the number of lots permitted under the conventional subdivision or increase in the overall density of development.

Commercial Use - a use of land devoted to commercial or business purposes, such as retail sales, services, or business offices

Comprehensive Plan - a written legal document, which may include or be accompanied by graphics, adopted by the governing body containing policies that will guide land use and development in the community.

Conditional Uses - uses that are not permitted outright in the zoning ordinance but may be allowed in a zoning district after certain conditions are met which are designed to safeguard neighboring properties.

Dedication - the gift or donation of private property by the owner to a city or borough or other public body. A dedication is completed through the conveyance of written deed or title and a formal acceptance by the public body.

Ex parte Contact - any contact outside of the public hearing in a land use case by a member of the decision-making body and someone wishing to directly or indirectly influence the outcome of the case.

Findings - facts determined by the commission in reference to its decision, either on an application or on a particular phase of an application

Floor area ratio (FAR) - the gross floor area of all buildings or structures on a lot divided by the total lot area (FAR = total building floor area ~ total lot area)

Goal - a statement of the values and desires of the citizens of an area. A goal provides the basis for subsequent objectives and policies.

Industrial Use - a use of land devoted to manufacturing or industrial processing

Infrastructure – physical improvements, structures, or installations which provide common services to a community or geographic area, e.g. water, sewer, gas mains, or electric power lines

Local Government - a city or borough in Alaska

Majority - more than half. On a public body, the majority is half the total membership plus one.

Master Plan - common use term for “ comprehensive plan”

Mayor - the chief elected official in Alaska cities and boroughs

Minutes - the chronological record of the proceedings of a public body

Motion - an overture by a member of the commission by which the member attempts to bring a matter of business before the body. Also a request for a particular ruling by a party before an adjudicatory body

Notice - published information regarding an impending meeting, proceeding, or hearing giving at least time, date, place, and purpose

Objective - a specific and achievable attainment that is met in partial fulfillment of longer term goals.

Plat, final - an approved subdivision map that is filed in the district recorder’s office. It must contain the information required by AS 29.40 as well as that required by local ordinances such as a legal description of all properties in the subdivision, street rights-of-way, easements, and lot lines. Final plat approval is usually given upon completion of the improvements or the posting of a bond guaranteeing construction of the improvements.

Plat, preliminary - a draft map showing the proposed layout of subdivision submitted to the staff and the platting authority for preliminary approval.

Public Hearing - a public proceeding at which the public is given the right and opportunity to speak regarding a particular matter or issue

Quasi-judicial Action - a judicial action taken by a public person or body (i.e., the planning commission) who is not a judge. It involves an official decision on the respective rights or claims of parties appearing before the body making the decision.

Quorum – the number of members of a body who, by law or rule, must be present in order that a meeting be convened Record – a document kept in the ordinary course of business by a governmental unit. Also the written expression of the proceedings of the commission. Meeting minutes are one form of record.

Rezone - the reclassification of land from one land use zoning designation to another.

Right-of-way - is a legal right of passage over another’s property and the area through which that right exists. It most commonly refers to the streets and sidewalks, trails, curbs and gutters (if applicable), and utilities.

Setback - the distance that a building must be set back from a property line or right-of-way. Setback requirements will often differ with the zoning district and are included in the zoning ordinance.

Variance - a waiver of the provisions of the zoning ordinance when strict application of the ordinance would cause exceptional, practical difficulties, or undue hardship to the property owner. Property standards in the ordinance are adjusted because the specific location, topography, shape, size or other environmental features of a lot make it impossible to comply with the zoning regulations as written. The variance allows the property owner to use his/her land at the same intensity and develop it for the same uses allowed others in the same zone.

Zoning - an application of the police power to regulate the use of land and the improvements on it for the protection of the public health, welfare, and safety. Zoning regulations establish standards for development and create a number of different zoning districts or classifications of land. Development and construction must be consistent with these criteria before being approved by the commission or the governing body.