4-11-080 DEFINITIONS H:
A. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: Those chemicals or substances which are physical or health hazards as defined and classified in Chapter 50 of the International Fire Code as adopted or amended by the City whether the materials are in usable or waste condition; and any material that may degrade groundwater quality when improperly used, stored, disposed of, or otherwise mismanaged. Appendix H of the International Fire Code provides further information, explanations, and examples of hazardous materials.
B. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INVENTORY STATEMENT: A form provided by the Department or the Fire Department and completed by a facility owner that provides specified information regarding hazardous materials at the facility.
C. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE: Any liquid, solid, gas or sludge, including any material, substance, product commodity or waste that exhibits the characteristics of hazardous waste as described in chapter 70.105 RCW.
D. HAZARDOUS WASTE: All dangerous and extremely hazardous waste, except for moderate-risk waste, as defined in RCW 70.105.010.
E. HEALTH HAZARD: See RMC 4-6-100.
F. HEARING EXAMINER: The office of the Hearing Examiner as defined by RMC Title 1. The Hearing Examiner is appointed by the Mayor of the City to conduct public hearings on applications outlined in chapter 4-8 RMC, and prepares a record, findings of fact and conclusions on such applications. (Ord. 4522, 6-5-1995)
G. HEARINGS BOARD, SHORELINE: The Shorelines Hearings Board established by the Shoreline Management Act.
H. HEIGHT: See BUILDING HEIGHT or SIGN HEIGHT.
I. HEIGHT, CLEAR: Distance from the floor to the lowest-hanging ceiling member or hanging objects, beams, joists or truss work descending down into a substantial portion of the area.
J. HEIGHT, FLOOR-TO-CEILING: The vertical distance between the finished floor and the ceiling.
K. HIGH BLOWDOWN POTENTIAL: An area where field conditions indicate the potential for tree blowdown is high. Evidence may include the presence of toppled trees in the area, and thin or saturated soils.
L. HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV): A vehicle carrying more than a specified minimum number of people (usually two (2) or three (3) persons).
M. HIGH QUALITY DESIGN: A development project that encourages pedestrian activity or adds pedestrian interest and exhibits a degree of craftsmanship, building detailing, architectural design, or quality of materials that are not typically found in standard construction. Responds to site conditions through its orientation, circulation, and/or incorporation of special site features. Buildings characterized by standard corporate identity elements (e.g., fast food establishments with signature roofline or facade features) or standard building plans (e.g., stock plans that are unable to adapt to site conditions) are not typically considered high quality design.
N. HIGH RISE: A structure exceeding seventy five feet (75') in height.
O. HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE: The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
P. HILLSIDE: An inclined landform which may include one or more classes of slope: steep (sensitive and/or protected) and non-steep (i.e., less than twenty five percent (25%)).
Q. HILLSIDE SUBDIVISION: A subdivision in which the average slope is twenty percent (20%) or in which any street in the subdivision has grades greater than fifteen percent (15%) at any point.
R. HISTORIC STRUCTURE: (This definition is for flood hazard regulations in RMC 4-3-050 use only.) Any structure that is:
1. Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register; or
2. Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district; or
3. Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
4. Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either:
a. By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, or
b. Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
S. HOLISTIC HEALTH CARE CENTER: A combination of activities intended for improvement or maintenance of health including out-patient and/or in-patient care and supporting accessory activities including space for medical practitioners, retail sales, educational classrooms and meeting spaces.
T. HOME OCCUPATION: Any commercial use conducted entirely within a dwelling or accessory building and carried on by persons residing in that dwelling unit, but which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling as a residence.
U. HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT: See TEMPORARY HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT.
V. HOMELESS SERVICES USE: Shelters or housing as defined below:
1. Day Shelter: A facility that offers a haven to people experiencing homelessness by providing a safe place to rest during the day or evening, but with no overnight stays. Support services for homeless populations is an integral part of a day shelter use and may include access to food, seating, showers, laundry, restrooms, storage, a computer lab, phones, fax, and a critical mailing address. Spaces for meetings and examinations are generally provided to accommodate counseling and access to medical/dental and legal assistance.
2. Emergency Shelter: “Emergency shelter” has the same meaning as “emergency shelter” in RCW 36.70A.030, and as may be hereafter amended.
3. Emergency Housing: “Emergency housing” has the same meaning as “emergency housing” in RCW 36.70A.030, and as hereafter amended.
W. HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION: An incorporated nonprofit organization formed or qualified under the laws of the State of Washington, operating under recorded land agreements through which: (a) each land owner is automatically a member, (b) each land owner is automatically subject to a proportionate share of the expenses for the organization’s activities, such as maintaining common property and facilities, and (c) such charge, if unpaid, becomes a lien against the property of the land owner.
X. HOTEL: A building or portion thereof wherein a majority of the net floor area is dedicated for the rental of rooms for transient occupancy for sleeping purposes in exchange for payment, and typically based on a per night and per room basis for no more than thirty (30) continuous days and not meeting the definition of “homeless services use.” For the purposes of this definition, “transient” means less than one month, or less than thirty (30) continuous days if the rental period does not begin on the first day of the month. Hotel structures are at least two (2) stories in height, with lodging space generally above the first floor. Lodging space may also be located on the first floor. Individual rooms are accessed from a common hallway and include permanent provisions for sanitation but do not provide kitchen facilities. A commercial kitchen and dining room catering to the hotel patrons may be provided, event space, eating and drinking establishments, and accessory shops and services typically located in or provided by hotels and catering to the general public may be provided. Not included in this definition are facilities providing crisis intervention or case management or both, attached dwellings, bed and breakfasts, or motels.
Y. HOTEL, EXTENDED-STAY: A building or portion thereof for rental of rooms with permanent provisions for living, eating, sanitation, and cooking for temporary occupancy without limits on duration. Extended-stay hotel structures are at least two (2) stories in height, with lodging space generally above the first floor, and not meeting the definition of a homeless services use. Lodging space may also be located on the first floor. Individual rooms accessed from a common hallway. A commercial kitchen and dining room catering to the extended-stay patrons may be provided; event space, eating and drinking establishments, and accessory shops and services typically located in or provided by hotels or extended-stay hotels and catering to the general public may be provided. Not included in this definition are facilities providing crisis intervention or case management or both, attached dwellings, bed and breakfasts, hotels, or motels.
Z. HOUSEHOLD: A family living together in a single dwelling unit with common access to, and common use of, all living, sanitation facilities, and all areas and facilities for the preparation, consumption and storage of food within the dwelling unit.
AA. HUMAN SCALE: The perceived size of a building relative to a human being. A building is considered to have good human scale if there is an expression of human activity or use that indicates the building’s size. For example, traditionally sized doors, windows, and balconies are elements that respond to the size of a human body, so these elements in a building indicate a building’s overall size.
BB. HUMAN SCALE ELEMENTS: Architectural elements such as railings, windows with multiple panes, doorways, or fences, that are scaled for human use and convey the idea of human activity or human occupancy.
CC. HYPORHEIC ZONE: The saturated zone located beneath and abutting streams that contains some portion of surface waters, serves as a filter for nutrients, and maintains water quality.
(Ord. 4517, 5-8-1995; Ord. 4522, 6-5-1995; Ord. 4665, 5-19-1997; Ord. 4716, 4-13-1998; Ord. 4821, 12-20-1999; Ord. 4835, 3-27-2000; Ord. 4851, 8-7-2000; Amd. Ord. 4963, 5-13-2002; Ord. 5124, 2-7-2005; Ord. 5125, 2-28-2005; Ord. 5137, 4-25-2005; Ord. 5570, 11-15-2010; Ord. 5633, 10-24-2011; Ord. 5676, 12-3-2012; Ord. 5748, 1-12-2015; Ord. 5806, 6-20-2016; Ord. 5899, 11-19-2018; Ord. 5977, 8-10-2020; Ord. 5996, 12-14-2020; Ord. 6019, 6-14-2021; Ord. 6026, 9-20-2021; Ord. 6126, 12-11-2023; Ord. 6128, 12-11-2023)