1998-01-06 P & Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Subd. 14. Extractive use. "Extractive use" means the use of land for surface or subsurface removal of sand, gravel, rock, industrial minerals, other nonmetallic minerals, and peat not regulated under Minnesota Statutes, sections 9.44 to 9.51. Subd. 15. Forest land conversion. "Forest land conversion" means the clear cutting of forested land to prepare for a new land use other than reestablishment of a subsequent forest stand. Subd. 16. Hardship. "Hardship" means the property in question cannot be put to reasonable use under the conditions allowed by the official controls; the plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to his property, not created by the landowner; and the variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality. Economic considerations alone shall not constitute a hardship if a reasonable use for the property exists under terms of the official controls. Subd. 17. Height of building. "Height of building" means the vertical distance between the highest adjoining ground level at the building or ten feet above the lowest ground level, whichever is lower, and the highest point of a flat roof or average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hipped roof. Subd. 18. Industrial use. "Industrial use" means the use of land or buildings for the production, manufacture, warehousing, storage, or transfer of goods, products, commodities, or other wholesale items. Subd. 19. Intensive vegetation clearing. "Intensive vegetation clearing" means the complete removal of trees or shrubs in a contiguous patch, strip, row, or block. Subd. 20. Lot. "Lot" means a designated parcel, tract or area of land established by plat, subdivision, or as otherwise permitted by law, to be used developed or built upon as a unit. Subd.21. Lot width. "Lot width" means the shortest distance between lot lines measured at the midpoint of the building line. Subd. 22. Nonconforming Use. "Nonconforming use" means any legal use, structure or parcel of land already in existence, recorded, or authorized before the adoption of official controls or amendments thereto that would not have been permitted to become established under the terms of the official controls as now written, if the official controls had been in effect prior to the date it was established, recorded or authorized. Subd. 23. Open Space.-Undeveloped land of the subdivided property providing visual expanses and recreational areas clear of obstructions other than natural vegetation, or structures directly related to the use and enjoyment of these spaces. Open spaces may include natural habitats, places for neighborhood recreation, and pedestrian corridors. Subd.24. Ordinary high water level. "Ordinary high water level" means the boundary of public waters and wetlands, and shall be an elevation delineating the highest water level which has been maintained for a sufficient period of time to leave evidence upon the landscape, commonly that point where the natural vegetation changes from predominantly aquatic to predominantly terrestrial. Page 4