4-11-200 DEFINITIONS T:
A. TANK VEHICLE: A vehicle other than a railroad tank car or boat, with a cargo tank mounted thereon or built as an integral part thereof used for the transportation of flammable or combustible liquids, LP-gas, or hazardous chemicals. Tank vehicles include self-propelled vehicles and full trailers and semi-trailers, with or without motive power, and carrying part or all of the load.
B. TAVERN: An establishment used primarily for the serving of liquor by the drink to the general public that holds a Washington State tavern license. Establishments in this category limit their dedicated dining area to less than fifteen percent (15%) of the total establishment and restrict entry to the premises to persons twenty-one (21) years of age and older. This definition excludes restaurants, cafes, fast-food establishments, microbreweries with restaurants, and espresso stands.
C. TAX LOT SEGREGATION: The separation of two (2) or more legal lots, as defined in RMC 4-11-120, into individual tax parcels.
D. TAXI STAND: A facility for pick-up and drop-off of taxi patrons, typically characterized by an area for queuing passengers and taxis.
E. TELECOMMUNICATIONS: The transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.
F. TEMPORARY HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT: A group of homeless persons temporarily residing out of doors on a site with services provided by a sponsor and supervised by a managing organization.
1. Managing Organization, Temporary Homeless Encampment: A group or organization that has the capacity to organize and manage a temporary homeless encampment. A temporary encampment “managing organization” may be the same entity as the temporary homeless encampment sponsor.
2. Sponsor, Temporary Homeless Encampment: A religious institution which:
a. Owns the property or has an ownership interest in the property, for which a temporary homeless encampment is to be located; and
b. Has an agreement with the temporary homeless encampment managing organization to provide basic services and support for the residents of a temporary homeless encampment and liaison with the surrounding community; and
c. Joins with the managing organization in an application for a temporary homeless encampment permit.
A “sponsor” may be the same entity as the managing organization.
G. TEMPORARY OR MANUFACTURED BUILDINGS USED FOR CONSTRUCTION: Construction site buildings housing the office of construction/development management and sales staff for duration of construction.
H. TEMPORARY USE: A use of limited term. Temporary uses may be established under special circumstances for some temporary time period.
I. TENANT: Any person who occupies or has a leasehold interest in a rental unit under a lawful rental agreement whether oral or written, express or implied.
J. TERRACE: A relatively level step constructed in the face of a graded slope surface for drainage and maintenance purposes.
K. THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE (TLV): The concentration of certain airborne materials representing conditions under which it is believed and adopted by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse effects.
L. TOE OF SLOPE: A point or line at the low point of a natural slope or slope created through an excavation or cut where the lower surface changes to horizontal or meets the existing ground surface. The toe of a slope may be a distinct topographic break in slope gradient or the point in which the lowermost limit of a steep slope is inclined at less than the gradient of that steep slope for a horizontal distance of a minimum of twenty five feet (25').
M. TOP OF SLOPE: A point or line on the upper surface of a natural slope or slope created through an excavation or cut where it changes to horizontal or meets the existing ground surface. The top of a slope may be a distinct topographic break in slope gradient or the point in which the uppermost limit of a steep slope is inclined at less than the gradient of that steep slope for a horizontal distance of a minimum of twenty five feet (25').
1. Top of Excavation or Cut: The upper surface point where the excavation meets the original ground surface.
2. Top of Embankment: The upper surface point or line to which the side slope changes to horizontal or meets original ground surface.
N. TOW TRUCK: A vehicle equipped for and used in the business of towing or transporting vehicles. All tow trucks must display a valid Department of Licensing permit or decal that indicates the tow truck class.
1. Class A: Trucks that are capable of towing and recovery of passenger cars, pickup trucks, small trailers, or equivalent vehicles.
2. Class B: Trucks that are capable of towing and/or recovery of medium-size trucks, trailers, motor homes, or equivalent vehicles.
3. Class E: Tow trucks designed and intended to transport vehicles entirely on a truck bed.
O. TOW TRUCK OPERATION: A facility that dispatches tow trucks for hire with no automotive storage area for impounded vehicles.
P. TOW TRUCK OPERATION/AUTO IMPOUNDMENT YARD: A facility that dispatches tow trucks for hire with associated automotive storage area for impounded vehicles.
Q. TOXIC SUBSTANCE: Those materials listed and documented by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
R. TRACT: An area of land that meets one of the following circumstances (wherever in this Title a tract is required to be created, if an applicant is not pursuing a subdivision then an easement shall be interpreted to suffice for a tract):
1. A physically separate and distinct property created pursuant to the provisions of this title, or pursuant to any previous laws governing the subdivision, short subdivision, or segregation of land created expressly to provide a common benefit or public purpose, including but not limited to land provided for: stormwater management, critical areas protection, utilities, recreation, or open space. Such tracts shall be unbuildable, except for the structures and infrastructure necessary to fulfill the common benefit or public purpose for which the tract was created; or
2. A physically separate and distinct property that was not created pursuant to the provisions of this Title, nor pursuant to any previous laws governing the subdivision, short subdivision, or segregation of land. Such tracts shall be unbuildable unless converted into a lot pursuant to the provisions of this Title.
S. TRADE OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL: A school that provides postsecondary education including industrial and technical processes and may include continuing education courses as an accessory use. This definition does not include arts and crafts schools/studios, or other higher education institutions such as colleges, universities, or professional schools.
T. TRAILER, TRAVEL: See RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.
U. TRANSIT CENTER: Any facility designed for accommodating large numbers of public transportation passengers to wait, board, and disembark at the intersection of multiple transit routes.
V. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: “Transitional housing” has the same meaning as “transitional housing” in RCW 84.36.043, and as thereafter amended.
W. TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PLAN: A plan developed by the occupant of a building or land use, or by the developer of a proposed project, designed to provide mechanisms for reducing the vehicle demand generated by an existing or proposed land use.
X. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, MULTI-MODAL: A system of transportation consisting of various types of conveyances, for example, light rail train and bus, or ferry and automobile.
Y. TREE: A woody perennial usually having one dominant trunk, or, for certain species, a multi-stemmed trunk system, with a potential minimum height of ten feet (10') at maturity. Any trees listed on the complete King County Weed List shall not qualify as a tree.
1. Tree, High-Risk: Any tree that has been certified in a written arborist report, prepared by an arborist with ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), as possessing the following ISA Tree Risk Assessment characterizations:
a. The tree has a probable or imminent likelihood of failure; and
b. The tree has a medium or high likelihood of impact; and
c. The consequences of failure for the tree are significant or severe.
2. Tree, Landmark: A tree with a caliper of twenty four inches (24") or greater, except for big leaf maples, black cottonwoods, and red alder trees, which qualify as landmark trees with a caliper of thirty inches (30") or greater.
3. Tree, Protected: A significant tree identified to be retained, or a new tree required to be planted, as a condition of approval for a land development permit.
4. Tree, Significant: A tree with a caliper of at least six inches (6"), except alder or cottonwood trees, which qualify as significant trees with a caliper of eight inches (8") or greater. Trees certified as high-risk shall not be considered significant.
5. Tree, Small Species: A tree with a mature height of thirty feet (30') or less.
6. Tree, Medium Species: A tree with a mature height between thirty feet (30') and fifty feet (50').
7. Tree, Large Species: A tree with a mature height of fifty feet (50') or more.
Z. TREE PROTECTION TRACT: A restrictive area where all retained and/or replacement trees are protected, and development, alteration, or disturbance within the tract, or tree removal, is prohibited without the explicit approval of the City. Tree protection tracts may contribute to any required open space.
AA. TREE REMOVAL: The removal of a tree, through either direct or indirect actions, including but not limited to: (1) clearing, damaging or poisoning resulting in a high-risk tree; (2) removal of more than forty percent (40%) of the live crown; or (3) damage to roots or trunk that is likely to destroy the tree’s structural integrity.
BB. TREE TOPPING: The act of removing whole tops of trees, or large branches and/or trunks from the tops of trees, and leaving stubs or lateral branches that result in the disfigurement of the canopy. Tree topping is considered to be tree removal. Other common names for the practice include “hat-racking,” “lopping,” “heading,” “rounding over,” and “tipping.”
CC. TREE TRIMMING: The intentional removal of a tree’s branches in order to reduce the live canopy of the tree by no more than forty percent (40%) during any consecutive twelve (12) months. Trimming more than forty percent (40%) of a tree’s canopy during any consecutive twelve (12) months shall be considered “tree topping.”
DD. TRUCK TERMINALS: A building or area in which semitrailers, including tractor and/or trailer units and other trucks are parked, stored for seventy two (72) hours or less, and dispatched. This facility may include incidental servicing and washing facilities.
(Ord. 2820, 1-14-1974; Ord. 3366, 10-15-1979; Ord. 3746, 9-19-1983; Ord. 4351, 5-4-1992; Ord. 4517, 5-8-1995; Ord. 4835, 3-27-2000; Ord. 4851, 8-7-2000; Amd. Ord. 4963, 5-13-2002; Ord. 5124, 2-7-2005; Ord. 5153, 9-26-2005; Ord. 5304, 9-17-2007; Ord. 5407, 9-15-2008; Ord. 5520, 12-14-2009; Ord. 5570, 11-15-2010; Ord. 5702, 12-9-2013; Ord. 5748, 1-12-2015; Ord. 5841, 6-12-2017; Ord. 6026, 9-20-2021; Ord. 6076, 8-8-2022; Ord. 6128, 12-11-2023)