This Glossary has been put together by department staff. They have noted particular acronyms and definitions that are frequently confusing or misused. This is intended to be a solid resource for applicants and those interested to understand the terminology found throughout County Code and commonly used by staff. We hope that this is a helpful resource and new terms will be added over time.

AMP	Animal Management Plan	APP	Appeal
ASR	Administrative Setback Reduction	BLA	Boundary Line Adjustment
BLC	Boundary Line Correction	BMPs	Best Management Practices
CAA	Critical Areas Alteration	CGP	Clearing & Grading Permit
CGV	Clearing & Grading Violation	COV	Code Violation
CPA	Comprehensive Plan Adjustment	CWHPD	Central Whidbey Historic Preservation District
CZC	Certificate of Zoning Compliance	DIBs	Development Information Bulletins
DRA	Development Regulation Amendment	EDU	Earned Development Units
EIS	Environmental Impact Statement	ENV	Environmental Checklist
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency	FMP	Farm/Forest Management Plan
FP/FPA	Forest Practice Application	GMA	Growth Management Act
JPA	Joint Planning Area	HRC	Historical Review Committee
OPS	Open Space	PBRS	Public Benefit Rating System
PLA	Plat Alteration	PLP	Preliminary Long Plat
PRD	Planned Residential Development	PRE	Pre-Application Conference
RAID	Rural Areas of Intense Development	REZ	Rezone - Historic Reference
SAR	Sensitive Area Review	SDP	Shoreline Substantial Dev. Permit
SFR	Single Family Residence	SEPA	State Environmental Policy Act
SHP	Short Subdivision	SPR	Site Plan Review (See Land Use)
TEM	Temporary Use Approvals	VAR	Variance
UGA	Urban Growth Area	WFS	Waterfront Setback
WSR	Water System Review	ZCA	Zoning Code Amendments
ZCI	Zoning Code Interpretation

impervious surface	surfaces that do not absorb water. Examples: buildings, concrete/asphalt parking areas, roads, sidewalks, & driveways
Best Management Practices	conservation practices or systems of practices and management measures that:  (1) control soil loss & reduce water quality       degradation; and (2) minimize adverse impacts to surface water flow,       circulation patterns, and to the chemical, physical,       and/or biological characteristics of critical areas.
Clearing	The act of removal or destruction of vegetation by mechanical or chemical means, but does not include normal cultivation associated with agriculture.
Conditional Use	A use allowed only upon approval of a site plan or the granting of Use Approval
Ordinary High Water Mark	(SMP) That mark that will be found by examining the bed and banks and ascertaining where the presence and action of waters are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark upon the soil a character distinct from that of the abutting upland, in respect to vegetation as that condition exists on June 1, 1971, as it may naturally change thereafter, or as it may change thereafter in accordance with permits issued by a local government or the department. Definitionderived fromWashingtonState Dept.of Ecology Glossary
Parcel	A legal division or segregation of land including an assessor's parcel established by the Assessor and assigned numbers for assessment purposes
Parcel Number	The number assigned by the county to a piece of land or parcel for identification purposes.  In Island County the number is broken into segments identifying that particular piece of land.   The parcel number begins with an 'R' or and 'S' label identifying whether it has been subdivided or not.  Under the 'R' label, the next five numbers are the range, township, and section of the parcel.  The remaining numbers identify that specific piece of land.  For example, parcel number R23328-100-5050 is in Range 2, Township 33, Section 28 and is identified as parcel 100-5050.
Setback	The required horizontal distance between every structure/development activity and the property lines or the edge/right of way whichever is greater.