Gateways. An Urban space or architectural element that announces the arrival to, or departure from a place. A point of arrival.
Greenhouse gas (GHG). Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere. State law identifies seven greenhouse gases for which the California Air Resources Board is responsible to monitor and regulate in order to reduce GHG emissions: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
Goal. A statement of desired future conditions regarding a particular topic; a goal paints a picture of how something will be in the future. A goal in and of itself is not sufficient to understand its intent, extent, or context. A goal itself is kept simple, with policies, objectives, and implementation actions providing further definition.
Goods movement. The transport of products from their manufacturing origin to their final destination where they will be sold, stored, or used. Moving goods involves airplanes, ships, trains, and trucks.
Grade separation. A bridge or tunnel for a highway, road, or railroad that allows pedestrians, bicyclists, or even cars to cross a major roadway without conflict or delay for a signal light. Without grade separations, vehicles, and bicycles, and pedestrians must physically cross tracks.
Greywater/graywater. Wastewater that is generated in residential buildings, excluding sewage, such as gently used water from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines. The wastewater generated by toilets, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers is called blackwater due to its larger organic load (fecal or organic matter).
Groundwater. Water under the earth’s surface, often mapped as basins and confined to aquifers capable of supplying wells and springs.
Groundwater recharge. The natural process of infiltration and percolation of rainwater from land areas or streams through permeable soils into water-holding rocks that provide underground storage in aquifers. This process can also be conducted artificially by capturing and injecting surface water or recycled water into aquifers.
Ground Failure. Mudslide, landslide, liquefaction, or the seismic compaction of soils.
Harmony. A quality that represents and appropriate and congruent arrangement of parts, as in an arrangement of varied architectural and landscape elements.
Hazardous materials. Materials or wastes that either cause or contribute to an increase in mortality, serious illness, or otherwise pose a substantial treat to human or environmental health when improperly managed.
Hazardous waste facilities. Carefully designed off-site facilities accepting hazardous wastes for storage or treatment.
Heliport. An identifiable area on land or water, including any building or facilities thereon, used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters. Does not include temporary landing and takeoff sites. Refueling and overnight maintenance are permitted.
Helistop. An identifiable area on land or water, including any building or facilities thereon, used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters. Does not include temporary landing and takeoff sites. Refueling and overnight maintenance are not permitted.
Historic resources. Buildings, structures, sites, or districts that are considered of particular historical and/or cultural significance. Generally, such resources are listed on a local, state, or federal register.
Historic treatment. The memorialization, preservation, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or restoration of a historic resource.
Historic memorialization. Permanent recognition of an important historical resource through such means as a physical plaque or official designation.
Historic preservation. A treatment for a historic building or landscape that focuses on the maintenance and repair of existing historic materials and retention of a property’s form as it has evolved over time.
Historic reconstruction. A treatment for a historic building or landscape that re-creates vanished or non-surviving portions of a property for interpretive purposes.
Historic rehabilitation. A treatment for a historic building or landscape that acknowledges the need to alter or add to a historic property to meet continuing or changing uses while retaining the property’s historic character.
Historic restoration. A treatment for a historic building or landscape that depicts a property at a particular period of time in its history, while removing evidence of other periods.
Holistic approach. An approach that addresses the factors that lead to a condition or behavior as well as the treatment of symptoms or enforcement of laws, in order to prevent a condition or behavior.
Household. The U.S. census considers all persons living in a dwelling unit to be a household, whether or not they are related. Both a single person living in an apartment and a family living in a house are considered households.
Impact. Generally, the result of an action or inaction; when the term is used in the context of an environmental analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the term “impact” refers to how a proposed project may directly or indirectly effect specific environmental, infrastructure, and public service factors; a negative impact damages those environmental factors or increases burdens on selected facilities and services.
Identify. To determine characteristics or facts without any predetermination regarding future commitments; gather information only.
Implementation action. An action, procedure, program or technique that carries out or seeks to make progress toward the furtherment of a goal or policy of the General Plan.
Include. To make a part of a consideration or issue under public scrutiny.
Incompatible. To be so opposed in character as to be incapable of existing together without causing conflicts or harm upon one or all parts; conflicting; see also compatible.
Incorporate. The same as include.
Inconsistent. Varying to the point of conflict or contradiction; see also consistent.
Infill development. Development that is constructed on land that has direct access to existing public services and infrastructure. Typically surrounded by largely developed and/or built out areas.
Infrastructure. The physical systems and services which support development and people, such as streets and highways, transit services, airports, water and sewer systems, and the like.
Innovative. Methods or approaches that are new and original, often (but not always) more advanced.
Install. To put in place at a specified time or place or in a particular sequence.
Integrate. To blend new and existing projects or activities together in a compatible fashion.
Intensity. For non-residential land uses (such as commercial or retail development) or mixed-use projects, intensity refers to the amount of square footage built on a given site. Expressed typically as floor-to-area ratio. Other measurements may involve lot coverage, building bulk, and height.
Inundation area. A defined area downstream from any dam, basin, or impounded body or source of water (including reservoirs, large above ground water tanks, lakes, etc.) that could be flooded in the event of a sudden or complete failure of the structure. The inundation area or zone can also include levees that are breached or compromised, causing water to flood adjacent areas.
Investigate. To examine the accuracy of information provided in support of a proposed project, process, or program.
Joint Use. Also called “shared use” or “community use”; occurs when governmental entities, other public agencies, or not-for-profit organizations, agree to open or broaden access to their facilities for community use.
Land use designation. Reference term for the classification of generally permitted land use type and intensity as directed by the General Plan. The land use categories are implemented by land use zoning districts, which contain more specific regulations on land use and building standards.
Land use zoning district. Reference for the classification and regulation of land use type and intensity in Chapter 41 of the Municipal Code.
Land Use Map. Reference term for the General Plan Land Use Map showing the distribution of land use designations across the city.
Landmark. In city form terms, a focal point or conspicuous object used as a point of orientation in reference to other objects.
Level of service (LOS). A qualitative measure describing the delivery of service based on the needs and/or desires of customers or users. A LOS standard also generally factors in financial constraints (e.g., amount of user fees or taxes), as well as physical constraints (e.g., topography or distance). In measuring traffic conditions, it is the measurement and categorization of traffic flow based on vehicle speed, density, congestion, and other elements.
Limit. To confine a project or activity within prescribed specifications or performance criteria.
Link. To connect a project, area, function, or activity to another feature or features that would be mutually beneficial and reinforce desired functions.
Liquefaction. A process by which water-saturated granular soils transform from a solid to a liquid state because of a sudden shock or strain.
Locate. To place an improvement, function, or use in a particular locale, on property with certain characteristics, or in proximity to specified features to bring about benefits and/or efficiency.
