(a) Interpretation of language.
(1) Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and phrases shall be construed throughout this title to have the meaning indicated herein.
(2) Words used in the present tense include the future.
(3) The singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.
(4) The word “building” includes the word “structure”.
(5) The phrase “used for” includes “arranged for”, “designed for”, “intended for”, “maintained for” or “occupied for”.
(6) The word “person” includes an individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association or any other similar entity.
(7) The word “includes” or “including” shall not limit the term to the specified examples but is intended to extend its meaning to all other instances of like kind and character.
(8) The words “shall” and “will” are mandatory and not discretionary, and the word “may” is permissive.
(9) Terms not defined herein shall have the meaning customarily assigned to them.
(b) Definition of terms. For the purpose of this title, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONMENT. The cessation of the use of a property by the owner or lessee for a period of six consecutive months without the clear and verifiable intention of transferring rights to the property to another owner or resuming the use of the property.
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (ADU). A small, self-contained living unit that typically has its own kitchen, bedroom(s), and bathroom space. Often called in-law quarters or secondary dwelling units, an ADU is an apartment which is located within the walls of an existing or newly-constructed single-family detached home or as an addition to an existing single-family detached home.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE, COMMON.
An accessory structure is a building designed and intended to serve more than one dwelling or all dwellings in a residential development, such as a common garage or carport serving multiple dwellings in the Apartment District or Townhouse District.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE, INDIVIDUAL.
A building detached from a principal building on the same lot and incidental and subordinate to the principal building or use.
ACCESSORY USE. A use of land or of a building or portion thereof customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use of the land or building and located on the same lot with such principal use.
ACTIVE RECREATION AREA. An open space site developed specifically for leisure and sports activities performed with others, often requiring equipment and taking place on prescribed fields or courts. The area can include indoor gymnasium. The term ACTIVE RECREATION refers to those recreational pursuits which require physical alteration to the area where they are performed. Such areas include, but are not limited to, baseball fields, basketball courts or play areas, soccer fields, swimming pools, golf courses, playgrounds, ball courts and roller hockey rinks.
ADULT DAY CARE CENTER. A facility in which out-of-home care and is provided to four or more elderly or disabled adults for less than 24-hour period per day, excluding care provided by relatives.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS. Any establishment that permits patrons to hear, view, read, lease, purchase, trade, exchange and/or participate in activities, publications, movies and videotapes which have as their dominant theme explicit sexual activities and/or the exhibition of human anatomy which is not normally seen in public or in other commercial or club-type operations and which may or may not exclude minors by virtue of age.
AGE-RESTRICTED FACILITIES (HOUSING). Facilities or residences restricted to heads of households age 55 or over and with no children under age 18 residing on a permanent basis.
ALTERATION. Any change or rearrangement in the supporting members of an existing building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams, girders or interior partitions, as well as any change in doors, windows, means of ingress and egress, or any enlargement to or diminution of a building or structure, or the moving of a building from one location to another.
AVERAGE GROSS RESIDENTIAL DENSITY. The total number of dwelling units in a planned residential development (PRD) divided by the gross acreage of the tract as reduced by any areas to be devoted to commercial use.
BASEMENT. An enclosed area located partly or completely below grade. A BASEMENT shall be considered a story for the purpose of height measurement if the basement ceiling is five feet or more above the average grade level around the building.
BIG BOX RETAIL. Retail store establishments in freestanding, industrial style, one-story buildings with floor areas of 60,000 square feet or more. Examples of such uses are Wal-Mart, Costco, various retail clubs such as Sam’s and similar establishments.
BILLBOARD. A structure erected, operated and maintained as the principal commercial use on a lot for the purpose of advertising a product, activity or business not conducted on the lot.
BREWPUB. A restaurant with facilities for brewing beer for on-site consumption and retail sale at the restaurant. A BREWPUB must derive at least 40% of its gross revenue from the sale of food.
BUFFER/BUFFER AREA. A strip of land intended to separate one use or district from another by providing an open, unobstructed space intended to absorb, shield or block noise, light, view or other impacts of the use having the greater impact. BUFFERS shall be planted with grass or other ground cover and may be part of the required yards. BUFFERS are often employed between a residential district and an abutting district having greater impacts. There shall be no structures, equipment, storage, parking or trash disposal in BUFFER AREAS. Dimensions of BUFFERS shall be as required by the zoning district.
BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
BUILDING COVERAGE. The ratio obtained by dividing the ground floor area of all principal and accessory buildings on a lot by the total area of the lot upon which the buildings are located.
BUILDING HEIGHT. The vertical distance measured from the average level of the ground surrounding the structure to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs and to the ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs; provided that chimneys, spires, towers, mechanical penthouses, tanks, antennas and similar projections of the building not intended for human occupancy shall not be included in calculating the HEIGHT.
BUILDING LINE. A line parallel to the street right-of-way line which establishes the actual location of the front wall of the principal building on the lot.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE. A line parallel to the street right-of-way line at a distance therefrom equal to the depth of the front yard required for the district in which the lot is located.
CELL SITE. A tract or parcel of land that contains the wireless, cellular or personal communications service antenna, its antenna support structure, accessory buildings, and parking and may include other uses associated with and ancillary to providing wireless communications, cellular communications or personal communications services.
CELLULAR/WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY. Includes, but is not limited to, the antenna, antenna support structures and cell sites. See also CELL SITE.
CHARITABLE OR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. A group organized for lawful purposes, other than generating a profit, such as charitable, educational, political, social, trade, cultural, scientific, professional or any similar organization.
CHILD DAY CARE CENTER. A facility that is licensed to provide care and instruction for seven or more children unrelated to the operator where the child care areas are not being used as a family residence.
CIVIC/PUBLIC PLAZA. A public open space at ground level wholly or partially enclosed by a building or buildings, continuously accessible to the public, and provided with amenities, such as seating, drinking fountains and ornamental fountains, art, trees and landscaping, for use by the public.
COLLECTION FACILITY, LARGE. A facility for the collection of paper, glass, aluminum or other officially designated recyclable materials. Such facility shall be larger than 500 square feet, located permanently on its own site, and have the capacity for aggregating and storing large amounts of material on site in preparation for shipping to the processing facility. Little or no power driven processing equipment is to be used on site.
COLLECTION FACILITY, SMALL. A facility for the collection of paper, glass, aluminum or other officially designated recyclable materials. Such facility shall have an area of 500 square feet or less and shall be located either temporarily or permanently on the same lot with a principal or host use. No power-driven processing equipment is to be used on site. A permit from the township shall be required prior to the establishment and operation of such facility.
COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE. A vehicle used in connection with a commercial enterprise, trade, profession or industry by the owners or users of said vehicles and which may or may not bear any sign, lettering or commercial advertising or ostensibly display items such as ladder racks, tool racks and the like which would indicate a commercial trade, professional or industrial use or capability. Any vehicle other than a personal or recreational vehicle (as defined herein) which exceeds a gross vehicle weight of 9,500 pounds or is greater than 84 inches in height, whether or not engaged in a commercial enterprise, trade, profession or industry and which may or may not bear commercial aspects such as signs or an attached ladder or tool racks, shall also be considered a COMMERCIAL VEHICLE. Vehicles or trailers used to transport other vehicles, whether or not used in connection with a leisure time or recreational pursuit, and which are not defined as recreational vehicle shall be considered for the purpose of this title as COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.
COMMON OPEN SPACE. A parcel or parcels of land or an area of water, or a combination of land and water within a land development or a subdivision, designed and intended for the use or enjoyment of residents or occupants thereof, not including streets, off-street parking areas and areas set aside for public facilities.
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE FACILITY, FAMILY-BASED. A residential facility licensed by the appropriate agency and used as living quarters by persons requiring special care and by their adult supervisors. A FAMILY-BASED COMMUNITY RESIDENCE FACILITY is specifically designed to create a residential environment for the following types of individuals: developmentally disabled; mentally ill; physically handicapped; elderly; dependent children; or similar types of individuals who are unable to live without supervision. The maximum number of residents in a facility shall not exceed four which is the maximum number of unrelated persons permitted in a residential dwelling.
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE FACILITY, GROUP-BASED. An institutional facility intended and designed to accommodate persons recovering from alcohol, drugs or similar addictions by providing counseling, therapy and other rehabilitation programs designed to mainstream residents back into society by enabling them to live independently.
CONDITIONAL USE. A use permitted in a particular zoning district only upon showing that such use in a specific location will comply with all the conditions and standards for the location or operation of such use as specified in this title and authorized by the Board of Commissioners.
CONDOMINIUM. Real estate, portions of which are designated for separate ownership and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely by the owners of those portions. Real estate is not a CONDOMINIUM unless the undivided interests in the common elements are vested.
CONSUMER FIREWORKS. Any combustible or explosive composition or any substance or any combination of substances intended to produce visible and/or audible effects by combustion and which is suitable for use by the public that complies with the construction, performance, composition and labeling requirements promulgated by the Consumer Products Safety Commission in C.F.R. Title 16 or any successor regulation and which complies with the provisions for CONSUMER FIREWORKS as defined in the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Standard 87-1A or any successor standard thereto.
CONTINUING CARE FACILITY. A planned residential development intended for individuals or couples in which at least one occupant is 60 years of age or older. The CONTINUING CARE FACILITY for the elderly shall be distinguished from other forms of residential development by the fact that it shall provide skilled nursing for the residents as an integral part of the development and shall comply with the provisions of § 1290.06.
CONVENIENCE STORE. A one-story, retail store containing less than 6,500 square feet of gross floor area, being open 15 to 24 hours per day. It is designed to attract and depends upon a large volume of stop-and-go traffic. Examples of convenience stores are those operated by the Wawa and 7-11 chains.
CONVERSION. A change in the use of a building. For example, the change of a single-family dwelling to a multi-family dwelling or change of a retail use to office use. Such change may be accomplished without subdivision or the introduction of a new owner. Where the use and dimensional regulations of this title permit, such CONVERSION may be accomplished by appropriate alteration upon the issuance of the necessary permits.
DENSITY, GROSS. The maximum number of dwelling units per acre. The term indicates all land within the boundaries of a particular area, including streets, rights-of-way and easements.
DENSITY, NET. Land within the boundaries of a particular area but excludes streets, rights-of-way and easements in calculating net density.
DESIGNATED FLOODPLAIN DISTRICTS. Those floodplain districts specifically designated in Chapter 1286 as being inundated primarily by the 100-year flood. Included are areas identified as the Floodway District (FW), the Flood-Fringe District (FF) and the General Floodplain District (FA).
DEVELOPER. Any landowner, agent of such landowner or tenant with the permission of such landowner who makes or causes to be made a subdivision, land development or any other development.
DEVELOPMENT. Any human-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures; the placement of mobile homes; streets and other paving; utilities; mining; dredging, filling, grading, excavation or drilling operations; and the subdivision of land.
DORMITORY. A building that contains dwelling rooms that provide sleeping and living accommodations solely for students enrolled at a college or university and members of its faculty or staff, provided that the dormitory is owned or managed by the college or university where the students are enrolled, or in the case of a college or university owned or operated by a governmental unit, the dormitory is owned or operated, or both, by an entity that was formed to promote the interests of, and is operated for the benefit of, that college or university.
DWELLING. A building designed and constructed for residential use.
DWELLING, GARDEN APARTMENT. A multiple-family dwelling of two stories in height designed for rental or condominium ownership of each housekeeping unit.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED. A building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for only one family, with yards on all sides of the dwelling, containing one dwelling unit and only one dwelling unit.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY SEMI-DETACHED (TWIN). Two dwelling units, each accommodating one family, which are attached side by side by means of a party wall, with each dwelling unit having only one side yard.
DWELLING, TOWNHOUSE. A one-family dwelling in a group of not less than four or more than six attached units. Each attached unit has at least one party wall in common with other dwellings in the same row.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY DETACHED (DUPLEX). Two dwelling units, each accommodating one family, which are located one over the other, with the building having two side yards.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY SEMI- DETACHED (TWIN DUPLEX). A two-family dwelling attached to one other two-family dwelling by a common vertical wall, with each dwelling usually on a separate lot and each dwelling having only one side yard.
DWELLING UNIT. One or more rooms designed, occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters, with cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities provided within the DWELLING UNIT for the exclusive use of a single family maintaining a household.
EDUCATIONAL FACULTIES-SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS. A school where classes in the various arts (e.g., dance, painting, sculpting, singing) are taught to four or more persons at a time.
FAMILY. Any group of individuals living together as the functional equivalent of a family where the resident may share living expenses, chores, eat meals together, and are a close group with social, economic and psychological commitments to each other. A FAMILY includes, for example, the residents of residential care facilities and group homes for people with disabilities. A FAMILY does not include larger institutional group living situations such as dormitories, fraternities, sororities, monasteries or nunneries.
FAMILY CHILD DAY CARE HOME. A facility located in a single-family dwelling which provides care and supervision for four, five or six children at any one time within a 24- hour period. Any individual operating a FAMILY CHILD DAY CARE HOME is required to have a registration certificate issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
FAMILY, IMMEDIATE. Includes father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, wife, husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, sister-in-law and brother-in-law.
FARMER’S MARKET. An occasional or periodic retail sales use, typically but not always located out of doors, of one or more producers that primarily sells farm products, or items processed from farm products, directly to consumers.
FLOOD. A temporary inundation of normally dry land areas.
FLOODPLAIN. A relatively flat or low land area adjoining a river, stream or watercourse which is subject to partial or complete inundation; and/or an area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation or run-off of surface waters from any source.
FLOOR AREA, GROSS.
A. The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a building measured from the exterior face of exterior walls, or from the centerline of a wall separating two buildings, but not including interior parking spaces, loading space for motor vehicles or any space where the floor-to- ceiling height is less than six feet.
B. GROSS FLOOR AREA also includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Basement space, if it meets the requirements of a building story as defined herein;
2. Elevator shaft, stairwell, and attic space providing headroom of six feet or more;
3. The floor areas of roofed terraces, exterior balconies, breezeways or porches where over 50% of the perimeter is enclosed;
4. Any floor space used for dwelling purposes no matter where located within a building; and
5. The floor areas of commercial outdoor decks, patios and non-enclosed areas. Said area shall be included when calculating the parking requirements of this title.
FLOOR AREA, NET. The total of floor areas of a building, excluding stairwells and elevator shafts, corridors, vestibules, toilet rooms, equipment rooms, interior vehicular parking or loading; and all floors below the first floor or ground floor, except when used or intended to be used for other than storage or mechanical purposes.
FLORIST. Retail business whose principal activity is the selling of plants which are not grown on the site and conducting business within an enclosed building.
FREESTANDING BUILDING. Any building located within a development site which is separate from any group or cluster development on such site and which shall comply with the regulations of the district in which it is located.
GROUP DAY CARE. A facility providing care, supervision and organized educational and recreational activities for more than 16 children under the age of 16. This facility shall be located in a building or establishment designed or intended for day care or in a church or school as an accessory use. The hours of operation shall be less than a 24-hour period per day. All group day care facilities are required to have approval or licensure as specified by the State Department of Public Welfare.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE. Any structure on the Township Historical Site Survey list prepared by the township and approved by the Township Board of Commissioners from time to time after consultation and advice with the Township Historical Society.
HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION. A non-profit organization comprised of homeowners or property owners, planned and operated under approved rules and regulations, for the purpose of administering the needs of residents through the maintenance of community-owned property and facilities.
HOT TUB. Any whirlpool, hot-tub, spa pool, endless pool or similar device, which is designed for relaxation or recreational use, where the user is sitting, reclining or at rest and the pool is not drained, cleaned or refilled after each use, which shall include, but not be limited to, hydrojet circulation, hot water, cold water or mineral baths or air-induction bubbles, in any combination, and is operated by the property owner where located, regardless of whether a fee is charged.
IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE. The coverage of the lot area or tract area by materials that prevent the percolation of water into the soil and generate stormwater runoff, such as buildings, streets, parking areas, driveways and any other similar surfaces.
INDUSTRIAL PARK. A large tract of land that has been planned, developed and operated as an integrated facility for a number of individual industrial uses, with special attention to circulation, parking, utility needs, aesthetics and compatibility.
INTERMEDIATE DAY CARE. A facility providing care, supervision and organized educational and recreational activities for no more than 15 children, under the age of 16. This facility shall be located in a building or establishment designed or intended for day care or in a church or school as an accessory use. The hours of operation shall be less than a 24-hour period per day. All INTERMEDIATE DAY CARE FACILITIES are required to have approval or licensure as specified by the State Department of Public Welfare.
LANDSCAPED PLANTING AREA. An area landscaped with grass, ground cover, shrubs or similar plantings placed where required by this title and permanently maintained.
LOADING SPACE. A paved accommodation off the street for loading and unloading of trucks in the form of one or more truck berths located either within or outside a building on the same lot. The area of each berth shall be not less than 600 square feet and it shall have a minimum clearance height, including access to it from the street, of 14 feet.
LOT. A parcel of land which is or may be occupied by a building and/or accessory structure or use, including open spaces and setbacks as are required within the district in which the lot is located.
LOT AREA. The total horizontal area within the lot lines of a lot.
LOT, CORNER. A lot bounded by streets on at least two sides. Both yards adjacent to streets shall be considered front yards.
LOT DEPTH. The distance along a straight line measured from the midpoint of the front lot line to the midpoint of the rear lot line.
LOT LINE. A line of public record bounding a lot that divides one lot from another lot or from a public or private street or any other public space.
LOT LINE, FRONT. The line separating the lot from the street right-of-way.
LOT LINE, REAR. Any lot line, except the front lot line that is parallel to or within 45 degrees of being parallel to, and does not intersect, any street line, except with respect to corner lots.
LOT LINE, SIDE. Any lot line that is not a front or rear lot line.
LOT, MINIMUM AREA OF. The smallest lot area established by this title on which a use or structure may be located in a particular district.
LOT WIDTH. The horizontal distance between the side lot lines measured at right angles to the lot depth at the building line.
LOWEST FLOOR. The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including the basement).
MAJOR SPORTS COMPLEX. May include one or more multi-functional indoor or outdoor sport venues under one or more roofs (buildings) or contiguous land parcels such as a stadium, coliseum, arena, rink, court, field house or multiple outdoor facilities or fields under single ownership, and shall occupy a minimum of 25,000 square feet. The COMPLEX shall be used for professional or amateur sporting events and teams and as a non-sporting venue for entertainment, conventions, trade shows, exhibits, community functions and similar events. A MAJOR SPORTS COMPLEX shall include in the main facility(s) or any area adjacent thereto any athletic training or practice facility, store, restaurant, snack bar, food preparation facility, concession, office, entertainment use, automobile parking facility, road, street or other related improvement.
MANUFACTURED HOME. In addition to the mobile home definition, the term MANUFACTURED HOME includes park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days, as defined in the National Flood Insurance Program.
MICROBREWERY. A facility for the brewing of beer that produces less than 15,000 barrels per year. It may include a tasting room and retail space to sell the beer to patrons on the site.
MOBILE HOME. A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy contained in one unit, or in two or more units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable again of being separated for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used with or without a permanent foundation. This definition is in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
MOBILE HOME LOT. A parcel of land improved with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for the placement thereon of a single mobile home.
MOBILE HOME PARK. A parcel or parcels of land, at least ten acres in area, under single or separate ownership, which has been planned and improved for the placement of mobile homes for non-transient use, consisting of two or more mobile home lots.
MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING. A building designed for, occupied or used by four or more families living independently of each other, wherein each dwelling unit, apartment or garden apartment shall contain private bath and kitchen facilities including those which may or may not have common entrances and halls.
MULTI-OCCUPANCY BUILDING. A single freestanding building in which more than one commercial tenant is located, managed as a total entity, with customer and employee parking provided on-site.
NO-IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESS. A business or commercial activity that is clearly secondary to the residential use and in which no persons other than members of the resident family are employed. The use shall not provide for off-street parking in addition to that required for the residential use. No equipment shall be used other than that normally used for household or office use.
NONCONFORMING BUILDING OR STRUCTURE. A building or structure which does not comply with the provisions of this title, as amended, where such building or structure lawfully existed prior to the effective date of this title or amendments thereafter.
NONCONFORMING LOT. Any lawful lot which does not conform to one or more of the applicable provisions of the district in which it is located either on the effective date of this title or amendments thereafter.
NONCONFORMING USE. A use, whether of land or of a structure, which does not comply with the applicable provisions of this title, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the effective date of this title or amendments thereafter.
OFF-SITE ADVERTISING. An off premises sign displaying advertising copy which pertains to a product, activity or business not principally located or sold on the premises upon which said sign is located.
ONE-HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD. A flood that on the average is likely to occur once every 100 years, i.e., that has a 1% chance of occurring each year, although the flood may occur in any year.
OPEN SPACE. See COMMON OPEN SPACE.
PARKING SPACE. A reasonably level space, having a surface slope not exceeding 5%, available for parking of one motor vehicle, no less than nine feet wide and 18 feet long, and having an area of not less than 162 square feet exclusive of passageways, driveways, or other means of circulation or access.
PASSIVE RECREATION AREA. An open space site supporting recreational activities that generally do not require any development or alteration of the site. These passive activities generally include, but are not limited to, walking, hiking, jogging, bicycling, picnicking, wildlife observation and fishing. Passive recreation activities are generally low vehicle trip generators, and have a low potential for impact or nuisance to adjacent residential properties.
PERMIT. Written municipal permission issued by the appropriate local official empowering the holder thereof to do some act not forbidden by law, but not permitted without such authorization.
PERSONAL SERVICE. A business engaged in providing services generally to individuals, by persons who may or may not be licensed by the commonwealth. These businesses are barber shops, beauty salons, manicure salons, massage therapy, personal fitness training, beauty or health spas and salons, tailor shops, dressmaker shops, dry-cleaners, self-service laundromat, shoe repair, photography studio, travel bureau, locksmiths, tanning salons and costume rental. No other PERSONAL SERVICE uses are permitted.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. A contiguous area of land, controlled by a landowner, to be developed as a single entity for a number of dwelling units, the development plan for which must comply with the lot size, bulk or type of dwelling, density, lot coverage, required open space and other provisions of Chapter 1270.
PLANTED BUFFER. A strip of evergreen plantings or a mix of both evergreen and deciduous plantings which, at time of planting, are of the minimum height required by this title. Such plantings shall be spaced at not more than 15-foot intervals. The PLANTED BUFFER is intended to provide visual beauty, reduce noise and dust and provide a partial visual screen. Such BUFFERS shall be permanently maintained.
PLANTED VISUAL SCREEN. A strip of evergreen plantings (or opaque fencing where permitted) adjacent to the boundary of a property which, at time of planting, are of the minimum height required by this title and which shall be of sufficient density to constitute an effective visual screen and thereby give visual protection to abutting properties. Such SCREEN shall consist of dense evergreens which shall be planted not farther than eight feet from one another. Such SCREENS shall be permanently maintained.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING OR USE. A building or use which is the primary building or use on a lot as distinguished from a building or buildings relating to an accessory, incidental or subordinate use. The primary purpose, for which land, a building, or a structure or the use thereof is designed, arranged or intended.
PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL. Any body of water, tank or receptacle for water, whether artificially constructed or semi-artificially constructed, used or intended to be used for swimming or bathing solely by the owner, operator or lessee thereof and his or her family and by friends invited to use it without payment of any fee and constructed, installed, established or maintained inside or outside any building in or above ground upon any premises as an accessory use to the residence. Hot tubs and portable pools under 24 inches in depth are excluded from this definition.
PROCESSING FACILITY. A facility used for the collection and processing of officially designated recyclable materials. PROCESSING is the preparation of material for efficient shipment or to the end-user’s specifications. Such facility shall have an area large enough to accommodate collection and processing machinery and storage area, along with ample loading and unloading areas.
PROFESSIONAL HOME OFFICE. A home occupation conducted by a practitioner of a recognized profession together with the primary residential use. Examples of such professions include: doctor; lawyer; accountant; architect; or member of a similar recognized profession. Insurance, real estate or similar offices are not included in this grouping and are more appropriately located in commercial districts.
PUBLIC PARK/RECREATIONAL FACILITY. Any recreational facility, natural or landscaped area, playground, park, building or structure owned or operated by the township or any other governmental agency including, but not limited to, the Penn Delco School District, county or the commonwealth.
PUBLIC PARK. Any recreational facility, natural or landscaped area, playground, park, building or structure, owned and operated by the township or any other governmental agency, including but not limited to the Penn Delco School District, county or the commonwealth.
RECREATION AREA. A place designed and equipped for the conduct of sports, leisure time activities and other customary and usual recreational activities.
RECREATION, INDOOR COMMERCIAL. An indoor recreation facility operated as a business and open to the public for a fee. Examples of such facilities are bowling alleys and batting cages.
RECREATION, OUTDOOR COMMERCIAL. An outdoor recreational facility operated as a business and open to the public for a fee. Examples of such facilities are water parks and water slides.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.
A. A vehicle which is:
1. Built on a single chassis;
2. Not more than 400 square feet, measured at the largest horizontal projections;
3. Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and
4. Not designed for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.
B. RECREATIONAL VEHICLES include, but are not limited to, travel trailers, truck campers, camping trailers and self propelled motor homes.
REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION. The 100-year flood elevation plus a freeboard safety factor of one and one-half feet.
RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW). Land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription, condemnation, or other legal manner and occupied or intended to be occupied by a street, crosswalk, electric transmission line, oil or gas pipeline, water line, watercourse or similar uses.
RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE. The line that forms the boundaries of a right-of-way.
SETBACK. The minimum distance from the street right-of-way line or any other lot line that establishes the area, commonly known as the BUILDING ENVELOPE, within which the principal structure must be erected or placed.
SHOPPING CENTER. A group of commercial establishments planned, constructed and managed as a total entity, including both attached buildings and freestanding buildings with customer and employee parking provided on-site.
SIDEWALK CAFÉ. Any outdoor dining area located in any public sidewalk or right-of-way that is associated with a restaurant or other eating and drinking establishment on a contiguous adjacent parcel.
SIGN. Any object, device, display or illustration which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, including words, letters, numbers or symbols.
SIGN, ACCESSORY USE. Sign which identifies a home occupation.
SIGN, ADVERTISING CLOTH. A sign which has its letters or design applied to cloth, canvas or other flexible material which is durable and weather-resistant.
SIGN AREA. The entire face of a sign including the advertising surface and any framing, trim or molding, but not including the supporting structure.
SIGN, CURB OR SIDEWALK. A movable sign which is not secured or attached permanently to the ground.
SIGN, DIGITAL. A sign whose content may be changed through the use of intermittent light or lights, including light emitting diodes (LED), liquid crystal display and plasma image display.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL. A sign limited to directional messages, principally for pedestrian or vehicular traffic, such as entry or exit, one-way, loading or service area, fire lanes, parking or a similar sign incidental to the primary use and not itself advertising or naming that use except as required by law.
SIGN FACE. The area or display surface used for the message.
SIGN, FREESTANDING. A detached sign which shall include any sign placed upon or in the round, supported by a post, stake and the like and not attached to any building.
SIGN, GROUND. A freestanding sign other than a sign supported by a post or pylon, placed upon or supported by the ground, independent of any other structure, which is no higher than four feet from ground level.
SIGN, IDENTIFICATION. A sign giving the nature, logo, trademark or other identifying symbol, address, or any combination of the name, symbol and address of a building, business, development or establishment on the premises where it is located.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED. A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign or directed towards the sign.
SIGN, MARQUEE. A sign that is mounted or painted on any hood or awning or permanent construction projecting from the wall of a building above an entrance and extending over a sidewalk or driveway.
SIGN, MENU. A sign which depicts the menu of food and/or drink for sale at an eating or drinking establishment.
SIGN, PORTABLE. A signs that can either be attached or mounted on a mobile stand or transported by a trailer.
SIGN, ROOF. A sign erected on, above or projecting above the eave, roof or parapet of any building.
SIGN, TEMPORARY. A sign notifying or advertising a special event, situation or circumstance which is displayed for not more than 30 days.
SIGN, WALL. A sign posted on, painted on, suspended from or otherwise affixed to a wall or vertical surface of a building, which sign does not project more than 12 inches from the wall or vertical surface to which it is attached.
SIGN, WINDOW. A sign attached or affixed to a window or door.
SLOPE. The face of an embankment or cut section or any ground whose surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. SLOPES are usually expressed as a percentage, based upon vertical difference in feet per 100 feet of horizontal distance.
SLOPE, STEEP. Those areas of land that are characterized by a change in elevation of 15% or more but not exceeding 25% over the specified distance or contour.
SLOPE, VERY STEEP. The area of land that is characterized by a change in elevation of 25% or more over the specified distance or contour.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION. Permission, approval or authorization granted by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with Chapter 1254 only in situations where such use is specifically permitted by the terms of this title.
STREET. A public or private way used or intended to be used as a means of vehicular and pedestrian travel and access to abutting properties and space for public utilities and improved to the satisfaction of the township.
STREET LINE (STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE). The line dividing the street and the abutting property. The STREET LINE shall be the same as the right-of-way line.
STUDENT. An individual who is enrolled or has made application and been accepted at a university, college or trade school and is taking at least six credit hours and whose primary occupation is as a student, or who is on a semester or summer break from studies at a college, university or trade school. STUDENT shall apply to both undergraduate and graduate students alike
STUDENT HOME. A living arrangement for a maximum of four students as defined in this chapter. STUDENT HOMES shall not include dormitories, fraternities, sororities or apartment buildings. A STUDENT HOME includes a dwelling located off campus from any higher education facility or trade school in which students reside. STUDENT HOME shall also include rooming units and rooming houses. A STUDENT HOME does not include the home of a student that is occupied solely by the student and his or her family members in an existing single-family home. A STUDENT HOME shall include any combination of graduate students, undergraduate students and/or trade school students living in the same dwelling unit.
TEA HOUSE/COFFEE HOUSE/CAFÉ. An informal restaurant primarily offering coffee, tea and other beverages, and where light refreshments and limited menu meals may also be sold.
TOWNHOUSE. A one-family dwelling in a group of not less than four or more than six attached units. Each attached unit has at least one party wall in common with other dwellings in the same row.
TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT. A contiguous area of land controlled by a landowner to be developed as a single entity for a number of townhouse buildings, the development plan for which corresponds with the specific regulations of Chapter 1264.
TRACT. An area, lot, parcel, site or property which is the subject of a subdivision and/or land development.
TRACT AREA. The total acreage of a subdivision or land development.
VARIANCE. Permission, approval or authorization granted by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with Chapter 1254, only in situations constituting modification of, or deviation from, the exact provisions of this title as applied to a specific lot and/or land development.
WINES AND SPIRITS RETAIL STORE. Establishments engaged in the sale of wines and spirituous liquor for off-premises consumption.
YARD. The required open, unoccupied space on the same lot with a building or, where provided for in this title, such open space in connection with a group or complex of buildings on a lot, which open space is unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a principal structure from the ground upward, except for projections permitted.
YARD, FRONT. A yard extending the full width of the lot along the street line with a minimum depth as required in each district, which yard is measured from the street line to the building line. In the case of a corner lot there shall be a FRONT YARD on each street on which the lot abuts.
YARD, REAR. A yard extending the full width of the lot along the rear lot line with a minimum depth as required in each district, which yard is measured from the rear lot line. In the case of a corner lot, the owner or developer may, after consulting with the Township Engineer at the time of the application for a permit, specify which yard shall be the REAR YARD, taking into consideration the prevailing lot pattern when established.
YARD, SIDE. A yard extending along the side lot line from the front yard to the rear yard with a minimum depth as required in each district, which yard is measured from the side lot line. In the case of a corner lot, the owner or development may, after consulting with the Township Engineer at the time of application for a permit, specify which yard shall be the SIDE YARD, taking into consideration the prevailing lot pattern when established.
(Ord. 896, passed 12-21-2011; Ord. 939, passed 7-15-2015; Ord. 943, passed 1-20-2016; Ord. 950, passed 9-21-2016; Ord. 957, passed 12-21-2016; Ord. 958, passed 12-21-2016; Ord. 1024, passed 5-18-2022)