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2 Revised 10/03/2019 Ordinance Language Commentary application. For the purpose of this ordinance, the words “must” and “shall” are mandatory and not permissive. All distances, unless otherwise specified, are measured horizontally. 2.511 Accessory structure or facility. Any building or improvement subordinate to a principal use. 2.512 Animal feedlot. A facility as defined by Minnesota Rules, part 7020.0300. 2.513 Bluff. A topographic feature such as a hill, cliff, or embankment having the following characteristics: A. Part or all of the feature is located in a shoreland area; B. The slope must drain toward the waterbody. C. The slope rises at least 25 feet above the ordinary high water level; D. The grade of the slope from the toe of the bluff to a point 25 feet or more above the ordinary high water level averages 30 percent or greater (see Figure 1), except that an area with an average slope of less than 18 percent over a distance of at least 50 feet shall not be considered part of the bluff (see Figure 2). Figure 1. Illustration of Bluff 2.513. The DNR’s bluff mapping tool, a GIS script, is available for download from the Minnesota Geospatial Commons. This tool is helpful for identifying bluffs for general mapping and planning purposes. 2.513.D. The phrase “except that an area with an average slope of less than 18 percent over a distance of at least 50 feet shall not be considered part of the bluff,” identifies terraces or large relatively flat areas that separate bluff features above and below the terrace. According to the Shoreland Rules SONAR, these areas are buildable if setback standards can be met. This phrase is not to be used in conjunction with the top of bluff definition to reduce the size of the bluff.