As used in this Chapter certain terms are defined as follows:
(a) “Balance” is the arrangement of the harmonious and contrasting elements of a design. Such a composition could have a static or dynamic balance, achieved through symmetry or asymmetry. Symmetry is the repetition of features on each side of an axis or axes. Asymmetry is the variation of these elements.
(b) “Building bulk” is the perceived physical size of a structure in relation to the site. An example of a bulky building is a large, flat-roofed, flat- walled warehouse with a height in excess of 2 stories. The perception of bulk can be minimized by the articulation of the building walls and roof. Landscaping can also be used to minimize the perceived bulk of a building (see definitions for massing and scale).
(c) “Coastal Special Communities” means those areas designated in the Local Coastal Program and General Plan Land Use Maps as Special Communities due to their unique characteristics and visitor destination qualities, specifically: Davenport, the Yacht Harbor, East Cliff Village tourist area, Pleasure Point/41st Avenue, the Rio Del Mar Flats/Esplanade, Seacliff Beach Area, and that area within the Rural Services Line on the Local Coastal Program map for the land use plan of La Selva.
(d) “Development Review Group” means a group of County staff from several County departments which reviews proposed development projects to determine the extent of further information which will be needed to process the application and assesses the project for compliance with all County ordinances. Recommendations and assessments of the Development Review Group shall be non-binding.
(e) “Compatibility” is a relative term which requires the analysis of site, building, and landscape design in relationship to adjacent development. Compatibility is established when there are consistent design and functional relationships so that new development relates to adjacent development. Achieving compatibility does not require the imitation or repetition of the site, building and landscape design of adjacent development.
(f) “Director” means the Planning Director of the County of Santa Cruz or his/her authorized designee charged with the administration and enforcement of this Chapter.
(g) “Complementary” site design, building design, and landscape design is achieved when the proposed design responds to, or contributes to, the existing land use patterns, character, and zoning context. Complementary development does not necessarily mean the imitation or replication of adjacent development.
(h) “Environmental Coordinator” means the Planning Department staff person assigned to review applications and make environmental determinations based upon the County of Santa Cruz Environmental Review Guidelines.
(i) “Design Guideline” means a written prescription establishing the parameters of site planning, architectural and landscape design for a given project or specific planning area.
(j) “Contrast” is created by the inclusion of differing design elements which add variation or interest to the design.
(k) “General Plan” means the General Plan of the County of Santa Cruz as may be amended from time to time.
(l) “Landscaped Area” means the portion of the development proposed for landscaping, excluding hardscape and non-porous surfaces.
(m) “County” means the County of Santa Cruz.
(n) “Landscape Maintenance Agreement” means a written, signed agreement between the title owner of record or his duly authorized agent and the County, insuring maintenance of landscaping for a minimum period of two years, pertaining to a development project approved by either the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors or Zoning Administrator. The agreement shall be accompanied by a landscape maintenance security, a cash deposit or other instruments of credit as described in Section 14.01.511 and approved by the County, and shall be signed by duly authorized agents representing the County and the title owner of record for the subject property prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy or final inspection approval by the Building Official of the County.
(o) “Landscape Maintenance Security” means a performance security paid by the title owner of record or duly authorized agent acting as applicant for a development project approved by the County, issued to the Planning Department in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the estimated 2 year maintenance cost of landscaping and irrigation systems for the development project.
(p) “Massing” is the architectural relationship--proportion, profile, and contour between the various masses or volumes of a building or landscape. The mass of a building is defined by the roof, walls and floor. It may be a simple box form, but more often it is a composite of various forms. Plant massing can be used to create architectural forms in the landscape such as screens, canopies, barriers and floors, and can be used to define edges of open spaces and directional movement.
(q) “Order” is a hierarchical relationship established between the design principles of harmony, contrast, and balance so as to achieve legible form and space in a building while permitting diversity.
(r) “Planning Commission” means the Planning Commission of the County of Santa Cruz.
(s) “Proportion” is the ordered relationship of bulk, massing and scale in building design so as to create a hierarchical composition from the smallest to the largest of its parts, and as a whole. Proportion can be used to describe height-to-height ratios, width-to-width ratios, width-to-height ratios, and ratios of massing. Proportion can be evaluated for individual buildings, as well as adjacent buildings and groups of buildings.
Landscaping can be used to establish a consistent rhythm along a streetscape which will compensate for the lack of proportion in building size and placement.
(t) “Remodel” for the purposes of this Chapter, means any alteration of a structure, requiring a development permit and/or building permit approval from the County, which effects a change in the original site plan, exterior building elevation, or landscape design.
(u) “Sensitive Site” shall mean any property located adjacent to a scenic road or within the viewshed of a scenic road as recognized in the General Plan; or located on a coastal bluff, or on a ridgeline.
(v) “Scale” is the comparison of the size of one object to another. In building design, scale is created by the articulation of building mass by use of design elements such as projections and recesses, doors and windows, texture and color, so as to create the relationship of scale at many levels in the building design. Examples of different levels of scale which can be created in a building include: human scale, or the relationship of the building and its design elements to the size of a human being; the size of building elements in relation to the overall size of the building; the size of a building as a whole in relation to adjacent buildings; and the size of a project in relation to the building site.
(w) “Unity” is achieved when the design principles of harmony, contrast, balance, and order combine in a relationship which is perceived as a whole entity, rather than as a collection of parts.
(x) “Villages” means those areas for which unique design criteria have been or will be established based upon an adopted specific village, town or area plan. Examples of villages include Aptos Village, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Corralitos, Felton, portions of Live Oak, and Soquel Village.
(y) “Zoning Administrator” means the County Officer who performs the duties attached by law to the office of Zoning Administrator, as established by Chapter 18.10 of the Santa Cruz County Code. (Ord. 4406, 2/27/96; 4416, 6/11/96)