Sec. 9-352. - Definitions.
As used in this article, these words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning. All words and phrases not defined shall have their common meaning.
Airport means any airport owned or operated by the city, including all lands, buildings and other improvements owned, controlled, leased, or operated and maintained by the city appurtenant thereto, as described by any current or future plans of the Houston Airport System (HAS).
Airport commission means the airport zoning commission described in Chapter 241 that is charged with making recommendations to the city council on regulations and boundaries, and performing other tasks delegated to it in accordance with state law in the implementation of this article.
Airport land use envelope means the area of land subject to the terms of this article, being generally described as a box established no farther than 1.5 miles either side of a runway center line and no more than five miles from each runway end, as shown on the official airport land use map for each airport, and which is also a controlled compatible land use area as described in Chapter 241.
Airport land use tier means a division of an airport land use envelope into one of three tiers for regulatory purposes, described as tier one, tier two, or tier three, and shown on the official airport land use map for each airport.
Airport land use permit or permit means a permit required by this article for construction on or development of land within an airport land use tier.
Board of adjustment or board means the board charged with hearing requests to reverse an order, requirement, decision, or determination of the director and deciding matters that are delegated to the board pursuant to this article.
Casualty means destruction by accidental or natural causes.
Chapter 241 means Chapter 241 of the Texas Local Government Code, as it may be amended from time to time.
Compatible land use means a use of land that does not endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the owners, occupants, or users of the land, and that is compatible with airport operations, according to the standards and criteria for the designated airport land use tier where the use or activity is, or is proposed to be, located.
Conforming use means any use of land or a structure that complies with the provisions of this article and is not a nonconforming use.
Development plat has the meaning ascribed in section 42-1 of this Code or as provided in an interlocal agreement for land located outside the city.
General plan has the meaning ascribed in section 42-1 of this Code or as provided in an interlocal agreement for land located outside the city.
Livable area means a space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating or cooking, including bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets and halls. Storage or utility areas that do not open directly into a livable area and unfinished attic space are not considered livable area.
Nonconforming use means any use of land or a structure that is inconsistent with the provisions of this article and that legally exists as of February 1, 2009.
Nonresidential or nonresidential use(s) means any use that is not a residential or a sensitive land use, as those terms are hereinafter defined.
Official airport land use map or OM means the map depicting the airport land use envelope and the airport land use tiers for each airport.
Public assembly use means an institution of higher education, religious institution, community recreational facility, public recreational facility, or other similar use where individuals assemble for a common purpose.
Residential means the use or proposed use of land for premises that contain habitable rooms for nontransient occupancy, designed primarily for living, sleeping, cooking and eating, unless it is actually occupied and used exclusively for other purposes. This definition may be modified in an interlocal agreement in the case of land located outside of the city.
School means a public or private school used for primary or secondary education, in which any regular kindergarten or grades one through 12 are taught.
Sensitive land use means a childcare facility, nursing home, assisted living center, boarding home as defined in section 28-451 of this Code, school, hospital or medical facility.
Subdivision plat has the meaning ascribed in section 42-1 of this Code or as provided in an interlocal agreement for land located outside the city.
(Ord. No. 08-1052, § 2, 12-3-08; Ord. No. 2011-221, § 2, 3-23-2011; Ord. No. 2018-225, § 6, 3-22-2018)
