For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCESSORY BUILDING. A subordinate building, incidental to, and located on the same lot as, the principal building, and used for an accessory use.
ACCESSORY USE. A use incidental to, and subordinate to and located on the same lot occupied by the principal use to which it relates.
AREA. Area of a lot or site shall be calculated from dimensions derived by horizontal projections of the site.
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY. Any premises in which food, shelter, assisted living services, assistance or supervision and supplemental health care services are provided for a period exceeding 24 hours for four or more adults who are not relatives of the operator, who require assistance or supervision in matters such as dressing, bathing, diet, financial management, evacuation from the residence in the event of an emergency or medication prescribed for self administration, and licensed and regulated as such by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. For the purpose of this chapter, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES shall be considered as nursing homes.
BASEMENT. A floor level completely below grade or floor level in which more than two-thirds of the perimeter walls are below grade. A wall shall be considered below grade where the dimension from the first floor line to the finished grade is five feet or less, and the slope of the finished grade extending ten feet from the building walls does not exceed 30 degrees.
BED AND BREAKFAST. A single family dwelling unit or accessory apartment, offering, for pay, overnight or short-term lodging and breakfast for transient guests.
BILLBOARD. A sign that identifies or communicates a commercial or noncommercial message related to an activity conducted, a service rendered, or a commodity sold at a location other than where the sign is located.
BOTTLE CLUB. An establishment operated for profit or pecuniary gain, which has a capacity for the assemblage of 20 or more persons and in which alcoholic liquors, alcohol or malt or brewed beverages are not legally sold but where alcoholic liquors, alcohol or malt or brewed beverages are either provided by the operator or agents or employees of the operator for consumption on the premises or are brought into or kept at the establishment by the patrons or persons assembling there for use and consumption. The term shall not include a licensee under the Act of April 12, 1951 (P.L. 90, No. 21), known as the “Liquor Code” (47 Pa.C.S. §§ 1-101 et seq.), or any organization as set forth in § 6 of the Act of December 19, 1990 (P.L. 1200, No. 202), known as the “Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act” (10 P.S. §§ 162.01 et seq.).
BUILDING. A roofed structure, whether or not enclosed by walls, to be used for the shelter, enclosure or protection of persons, goods, materials or animals.
BUILDING MATERIAL/SUPPLY YARDS. The storage of material in outdoor yards for retail sale, including lumber, pipe, culverts and block.
BUILDING OR SETBACK LINE. The line to which a building or structure may encroach towards a yard or setback.
BUSINESS SERVICE. Any business activity that renders service to other commercial or industrial enterprises. including banks, credit unions and other financial services.
CAR WASH. An area of land and/or a structure with machine- or hand-operated facilities used principally for the cleaning, washing, polishing or waxing of motor vehicles.
CEMETERY. Land used or intended to be used for the burial of the dead and dedicated for cemetery purposes, including columbariums, crematories, mausoleums and mortuaries when operated in conjunction with and within the boundaries of such cemetery.
COMMERCIAL RECREATION, INDOOR. A facility which offers various indoor recreational opportunities for its patrons including such games as pool, billiards, bowling, video or computer games, other electronic simulation games and similar pursuits.
COMMERCIAL RECREATION, OUTDOOR. A facility which offers outdoor recreational or spectator opportunities for its patrons including such games as miniature golf, driving ranges, tennis, team sports such as soccer or baseball, camps and clinics for sport instruction and similar pursuits. This category does not include recreation fields accessory to schools, churches or community based nonprofit organizations.
CONDITIONAL USE. A use to be allowed or denied by the Borough Council pursuant to public notice and hearing and recommendations by the borough Planning Commission and pursuant to the express standards and criteria set forth in this chapter. In allowing a CONDITIONAL USE, the Borough Council may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those expressed in this chapter, as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of the Planning Code and of this chapter.
CONSTRUCTION. The construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, extension, expansion, alteration or relocation of a building or structure, including the placement of mobile homes.
CONVENIENCE STORE. A small store, selling a limited variety of food and nonfood products, including prepared food but with limited or no patron seating, typically with extended hours of operation. CONVENIENCE STORES may also sell gasoline or other motor vehicle fuels.
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. A facility that provides lodging, meals, counseling, treatment and rehabilitation to adjudicated delinquents, parolees, and individuals, with security to confine said persons. This definition includes community corrections centers as well as other similar transitional housing for offenders.
COVERAGE. The percentage of a lot covered by buildings or structures, measured as gross floor area divided into lot area.
DAY CARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN (DAY CARE). Provides out-of-home care for part of a 24-hour day to children under 16 years of age, excluding care provided by relatives and excluding day care furnished in places of worship during religious services. This chapter identifies three levels of day care services for children.
(1) DAY CARE CENTERS. Facilities in which care is provided for seven or more children, at any one time, where the child care areas are not used as a family residence. Child care for less than four children will not be considered as day care services. The definition of day care services shall be subject to licensing changes by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
(2) FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES. Facilities in which child day care is provided at any one time to four, five or six children who are not relatives of the caregiver, or any facility defined as such by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
(3) GROUP DAY CARE HOMES. Facilities in which care is provided for more than six but less than 12 children, at any one time, where the child care areas are being used as a family residence, or any facility defined as such by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. (Care of one to 12 children where the child care areas are not used as a family residence will be considered a DAY CARE CENTER.)
DWELLING. A building arranged, intended, designed or used as the living quarters for one or more families living independently of each other upon the premises. The term DWELLING shall not be deemed to include “hotel,” or “motel”.
(1) DETACHED DWELLING. A dwelling with yards on all four sides.
(2) MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING. A building containing three or more dwelling units, including apartment houses, townhouses, flats and garden apartments.
(3) SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING. A building containing only one dwelling unit.
(4) TWO-FAMILY DWELLING. A building containing two dwelling units, collectively defined under this chapter as a duplex, regardless of configuration.
DWELLING UNIT. A building or portion thereof containing one or more rooms for living purposes together with separate and exclusive cooking and sanitary facilities, accessible from the outdoors either directly or through an entrance hall shared with other dwelling units, and used or intended to be used by one family.
EATING AND DRINKING PLACES. A business establishment whose principal business is the selling of unpackaged food to the customer in a ready-to-consume state.
EQUIPMENT SALES AND SERVICE. Businesses involved in the sale, rental or servicing of motor vehicles or machinery not necessarily intended for registration, licensing, and travel on highways, including those used for agriculture, forestry and construction.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distribution systems, including poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes conduit cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith; reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate services by such public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies or for the public health and safety or general welfare, but not including buildings.
FAMILY. An individual, or two or more persons related by blood, marriage, adoption or foster child care, including domestic servants or gratuitous guests, thereof, or a group of not more than three unrelated persons living together without supervision in a dwelling unit as permanent residents; or, any number of persons protected by the provisions of the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq., as now or hereafter amended) living together in a group living arrangement with supervision, provided those persons do not have a criminal record and are in a family like situation as permanent residents. FAMILY shall not include persons living together in an assisted living facility, or nursing home, as defined herein, or any other supervised group living arrangement for persons, other than those protected by the Fair Housing Act or persons who constitute a direct threat to others or their physical property. FAMILY does not include transient guests as herein defined. Transient guests may lodge on a temporary basis in a dwelling provided that total occupancy of said transient guests shall not exceed two transient guests per available bedroom as defined by the Uniform Construction Code; with one additional guest permitted elsewhere in the structure. Any dwelling unit lodging transient guests shall meet all standards for a no- impact home based business except for limits on habitable floor space as guests may occupy the entire dwelling, or be approved as a bed and breakfast. There shall be one off street parking place provided for each transient guest vehicle at all times that the dwelling is available for transient occupancy.
FLEA MARKET. A business which leases outdoor, tent or partially enclosed space to persons who wish to vend a variety of new and used goods for sale to the general public by displaying those goods on tables, in or on motor vehicles, or on the ground. This definition does not include farmers’ markets, which sell produce, flowers and similar agricultural products.
FLOOR AREA. The sum of the gross area of the several floors of a building or buildings measured from the face of the exterior walls, or from the centerline of the walls separating two buildings.
FORESTRY. The management of forests and timberlands when practiced in accordance with accepted silvicultural principles, through developing, cultivating, harvesting, transporting and selling trees for commercial purposes. Pursuant to § 603(f) of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. § 10603(f)), FORESTRY shall be a permitted use by right in all zoning districts wherein harvesting of timber is not conducted pursuant to any land development. While permitted, FORESTRY is subject to the standards of §§ 156.105 through 156.114.
GARAGE OR YARD SALE. A temporary event to sell used household goods from a single-family dwelling, an accessory building, or a yard area.
GROSS FLOOR AREA (GFA). The total floor area for which the tenant pays rent and that is designed for the tenant’s occupancy and exclusive use.
GROUP RESIDENCE. A permanent, family-like living arrangement for persons who may have a disability or other limitation that requires additional care or supervision in daily living. This definition does not include group housing for persons who claim to be disabled solely on the basis of having been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent, having a criminal record, or have a status as a sex offender, persons who currently use illegal drugs, persons who have been convicted of the manufacture or sale of illegal drugs, or persons with or without disabilities who present a direct threat to the persons or property of others.
HALFWAY HOUSE. A transitional residential facility licensed and operated by a government or social service agency that provides a supervised environment to residents who require psychiatric, correctional or behavioral treatment between periods of institutional and independent living.
HEAVY INDUSTRY. The manufacture, storage, processing and treatment of materials which are potentially hazardous, or processes which produce significant amounts of smoke, noise, glare or dust or odor as a primary or secondary effect of the principal use of the land or buildings. HEAVY INDUSTRY characteristically employs some of such equipment such as smokestacks, tanks, distillation or reaction columns, chemical processing equipment, scrubbing towers, pickling equipment and waste-treatment lagoons. HEAVY INDUSTRY, although conceivably operable without polluting the environment, has the potential to pollute when equipment malfunctions or human error occurs. Examples of HEAVY INDUSTRY are oil refineries, basic steel manufacturing plants (such as foundries, blast furnaces and stamping mills), industries handling animal offal or hides, basic cellulose pulp-paper mills and similar fiberboard and plywood production, production of cement and asphalt, lime manufacturing, ore and metal smelting and refining, natural gas distillation, natural gas processing plants and natural gas compression and/or bulk storage, and chemical plants such as petrochemical complexes. An incinerator structure or facility which, including the incinerator, contains 5,000 square feet or more, whether public or private, is HEAVY INDUSTRY for purpose of this chapter, as is any electric power production plant which is a principal use, whether said power is generated by coal, natural gas, cogeneration or more than three wind turbines (unless such turbines are clearly accessory and incidental to a dwelling or other business).
HEIGHT OF BUILDING. The vertical distance measured from the average level of finished grade along all the exterior walls of the building to the highest point of the roof and to the highest point on any structure which rises wholly or partly above the roof.
HOME OCCUPATION. Any use customarily carried on entirely within a dwelling, by the occupants thereof, which use is clearly incidental and subordinate to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes and does not change the residential character thereof. Examples include, but are not limited to, professional services, such as legal, financial, accounting or engineers, barber and beauty shops, studios of artists, writers and associations. (See PROFESSIONAL OFFICE.)
HOSPITAL. An institution providing health services primarily for human medical or surgical care for the sick or injured and including related facilities such as laboratories, out-patient departments, training facilities, central services facilities and staff offices that are an integral part of the facilities.
HOUSEHOLD PETS. Are limited by this definition to domesticated animals that normally or can generally be kept within the immediate living quarters of a residential structure within numbers explicitly defined (see KENNEL). No livestock or nondomestic animal may be kept as household pets. Nondomestic animals include but are not limited to all bears, coyotes, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, wolves, nonhuman primates, or any crossbreed of these animals which has similar characteristics in appearance or features, or which require exotic animal permits by the Pa Game Commission. Livestock shall include any animal not customarily kept as an indoor pet, and regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Members of the crocodilia or alligators, or reptiles having a venomous or constrictor nature, do not constitute a household pet.
JUNK. Any discarded material or article, and shall include, but not be limited to, scrap metal, scrapped or abandoned motor vehicles, machinery, equipment, paper, glass, containers and structures. It shall not include, however, refuse or garbage kept in a proper container for the purpose of prompt disposal. For the purpose of this chapter, a proper container shall mean a solid plastic or metal container, with a sealable lid, specifically designed for the storage of waste matter.
JUNKYARD. Any place where any junk is stored, disposed of or accumulated. This definition shall include recycling centers, recycling yards and salvage businesses and vehicles lacking current inspection or registration except for storage in within a building. However, it does not include municipal recycling centers where no materials are stored in an exterior environment.
KENNEL. Shall specifically include: the keeping of more than five dogs owned or unowned, for any period of time, or keeping of more than ten domestic cats confined within a building or structure for any time during a 24-hour period; or a combination of five or more dogs and five or more cats so kept or confined, or any facilities identified as a kennel by the laws or regulations of Pennsylvania. This definition excludes veterinary clinics as defined. It also excludes any dog training facilities which are either accessory to a retail store, or operated as a personal service, provided that there is no overnight keeping of animals. It also excludes any facility operated by the borough to temporarily quarter stray animals. Dogs or cats of less than six months old shall not count towards the numeric limitations.
LIGHT MANUFACTURING. The assembly, fabrication, manufacture, production, processing, storage and/or wholesale distribution of goods or products where no process involved will produce: noise, light, vibration, air pollution, fire hazard or emissions, noxious or dangerous to neighboring properties within 400 feet, including production of the following goods: home appliances; electrical instruments; office machines; precision instruments; electronic devices; time pieces; jewelry; optical goods; musical instruments; novelties; wood products; printed material; lithographic plates; type composition, machine tools; dies and gauges; ceramics; apparel; light weight nonferrous metal castings; light sheet metal products; plastic goods; pharmaceutical goods; food products (but not including animal slaughtering, curing nor rendering of fats).
LOT. A tract or parcel of land, regardless of size, held in single or joint ownership, which is occupied or capable of being occupied by buildings, structures and accessory buildings, including such open spaces as are arranged, designed or required. The term LOT shall also mean PARCEL, PLOT, SITE or similar term.
LOT, CORNER. A lot at the point of intersection of and abutting on two or more intersecting streets.
LOT, LINE. Any line dividing a lot from another lot or from an abutting street or other right-of-way.
MINERAL EXTRACTION. Includes all activity which removes from the surface or beneath the surface of the land some material mineral resource, natural resource or other element of economic value, by means of mechanical excavation necessary to separate the desired material from an undesirable one; or to remove the strata or material which overlies or is above the desired material in its natural condition and position. Open pit mining includes, but is not limited to, the excavation necessary to the extraction of: sand, gravel, topsoil, limestone, sandstone, coal, clay, shale and iron ore.
MOBILE HOME. A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy, contained in one or more units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again 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 without a permanent foundation.
MOBILE HOME LOT. A parcel of land in a mobile home park, improved with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for the erection thereon of a single mobile home.
MOBILE HOME PARK. A parcel of land under single 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.
MOTEL. A building or group of detached or connected buildings designed or used primarily for providing sleeping accommodations for travelers. The definition includes hotels, motor lodges, cottages with full bath and toilet, and similar uses.
NATURAL GAS COMPRESSOR STATION. A facility designed and constructed to compress natural gas that originates from a gas well or collection of such wells operating as a midstream facility for delivery of gas to a transmission pipeline, distribution pipeline, natural gas processing plant or underground storage field. The term includes one or more natural gas compressors, associated buildings, pipes, valves, tanks and other equipment. (See HEAVY INDUSTRY.)
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANT. A facility designed and constructed to remove materials such as ethane, propane, butane, and other constituents or similar substances from natural gas to allow such natural gas to be of such quality as is required or appropriate for transmission or distribution to commercial markets, but not including facilities or equipment that is designed and constructed primarily to remove water, water vapor, oil or naturally occurring liquids from the natural gas. (See HEAVY INDUSTRY.)
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS. Small-scale retail enterprises intended to benefit neighborhood residents or tourists. Limited retail businesses are distinguished from other retail businesses by smaller size less than 5,000 square feet gross floor area and confining all commercial activities indoors.
NO-IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESS.
(1) A business or commercial activity administered or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and which involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use.
(2) The business or commercial activity must satisfy the following requirements:
(a) The business activity shall be compatible with the residential use of the property and surrounding residential uses;
(b) The business shall employ no employees other than family members residing in the dwelling;
(c) There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling or inventory of a substantial nature;
(d) There shall be no outside appearance of a business use, including, but not limited to, parking signs or lights;
(e) The business activity may not use any equipment or process which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference, including interference with radio or television reception, which is detectable in the neighborhood;
(f) The business activity may not generate any solid waste or sewage discharge, in volume or type, which is not normally associated with residential use in the neighborhood;
(g) The business activity shall be conducted only within the dwelling and may not occupy more than 25% of the habitable floor area; and
(h) The business may not involve any illegal activity. If the business meets all such requirements, it shall be considered a lawful accessory use to a dwelling.
NONCONFORMING LOT. A lot the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of this chapter, but which fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located by reasons of such adoption or amendment.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE. A structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable dimensional or extent of use provisions of this chapter or an amendment hereafter enacted, where such structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment or prior to the application of this chapter or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs.
NONCONFORMING USE. A use, whether of land or structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions of this chapter or amendment hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment or prior to the application of this chapter or amendment to its location by reason of annexation.
NURSING HOME. A facility to give long-term skilled care to geriatric or handicapped patients and licensed as such a facility by the Commonwealth. For the purposes of this chapter, a NURSING HOME, as licensed by the Commonwealth, may also include personal care or assisted living options.
OIL OR GAS DRILLING. The act of creating a pierced or bored hole drilled or being drilled in the ground for the purpose of, or to be used for, producing, extracting or injecting gas, oil, petroleum or another liquid related to oil or gas production or storage, including brine disposal.
OIL OR GAS WELL SITE. The location where facilities, structures, materials and equipment whether temporary or permanent, necessary for the preparation, construction, drilling, production or operation of an oil or gas wells occur, pursuant to drilling. This definition also includes exploratory wells.
PARKING SPACE. An open space with a dustless all-weather surface, or space in a private garage or other structure with an effective length of at least 18 feet and a uniform width of at least nine feet for the storage of one automobile and accessible from a public way.
PERMANENT RESIDENT. A person who owns residential real estate in the Borough of Grove City which they regard as their residence for the purpose of voting, or maintains a domicile at such real estate under the Pennsylvania Code with regards to personal or Commonwealth income tax, or is in the process of establishing residency for such purposes within a period of 60 days, or any lawful possessory tenant (occupying a legal dwelling unit for the purposes of zoning and the Uniform Construction Code) and maintaining such domicile for said purposes. Minor persons related by blood, marriage or adoption, or within foster care arraignments shall be regarded as permanent residents if they reside within the dwelling with an adult person regarded as their parent or legal guardian.
PERSONAL CARE HOME. A facility giving geriatric care in a home-like setting and licensed as such by the Commonwealth.
PERSONAL SERVICES. Any enterprise which primarily offers services to the general public, such as: shoe repair, clothing alterations, barber shops, beauty parlors, tanning salons, exercise and fitness studios, pet grooming or training (when not including overnight kenneling) and therapeutic massage services. Therapeutic Massage shall be regarded as:
(1) Any establishment offering massage services provided by any person licensed as a practitioner by the State Board of Massage Therapy; or
(2) When a practitioner is statutorily exempt from state licensure, they shall hold an independent board certification such as The American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia or the American Reflexology Certification Board; or
(3) The services are offered within a premises and under the supervision or another licensed practitioner, such as a physical therapist, chiropractor, or barber/beautician; and
(4) Under no circumstances shall the practitioner appear or provide services in a state of nudity or semi nudity.
PLACE OF WORSHIP. A place of religious instruction or public gathering and worship, which may include incidental instruction and charitable activities but not including a public school, university, college, trade or commercial school, day care services, or any form of group residence or halfway house.
PLANNING CODE. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as re-enacted and amended by Act No. 170 of 1988 and Acts 67 and 68 of 2000 (53 P.S. §§ 10101 et seq.), and as further amended from time to time.
PRIVATE CLUBS. Buildings and related facilities owned and operated by an association or group of individuals established for fraternal, social, educational, conservation, recreational or civic benefit of members. Full access to facilities is typically restricted to members and their guests. For the purposes of this chapter, this definition does not include miniature golf, golf driving ranges, paintball or other uses defined by this chapter as various forms of commercial recreation. It also may not include any sexually oriented business or bottle club.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE. The office or studio of a physician, surgeon, dentist, lawyer, architect, artist, engineer, certified public accountant, real estate broker or salesperson, insurance broker or agent, musician, teacher or similar occupation.
PUBLIC PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS. Parks and playgrounds that are owned and operated by the borough or by an authority created for such purposes by the borough or any government agency.
RETAIL LIQUOR STORE. A private enterprise that sells distilled spirits. This definition does not include a state owned and operated liquor store, wholesaler, licensed bar or tavern, stores selling only malted beverages, or a licensed limited winery (or retail outlet thereof) or brewery.
SCREENING. An opaque fence, screen planting or wall at least six feet high, provided in such a way that it will block a line of sight.
SELF SERVICE STORAGE FACILITIES. A building consisting of individual, small, self-contained units that are leased or owned for the storage of business and household goods or contractors supplies.
SERVICE AND REPAIR BUSINESS. A form of equipment service or repair which may include woodworking enterprises, repair services such as welding, vehicle or machinery repair, and incidental fabrication or retail sales of items.
SERVICE STATION. An area of land, together with any structure thereon, used for the retail sale and dispensing of motor fuel, and lubricants and incidental services, such as lubrication and washing of motor vehicles, and the sale, installation or minor repairs of tires, batteries or other automobile accessories.
SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS. Businesses which require a license and meet the definitions contained in the Borough Sexually Oriented Business Licensing Ordinance, or which provide massage services which do not meet the definition of therapeutic massage as defined as a personal service herein.
SHOPPING CENTER. A commercial facility developed as a mixture of uses, including retail sales, theaters, personal services and eating and drinking places, but planned, constructed, managed or promoted as an integral whole.
SIGN. Any structure, building, wall or other outdoor surface, or any device or part thereof, which displays or includes any letter, word, model, banner, flag, pennant, insignia, device or other representations used for announcement, direction, advertisement or identification. The actual area of any SIGN shall be measured in square feet and determined by the sum of the geometrically computed area(s) encompassing separate individual letters, words, or graphic elements on the background.
SIGN, BUSINESS. A sign that directs attention to a business, profession or industry conducted on the premises or to products sold, manufactured or assembled upon the same premises upon which it is displayed.
SIGN, CHANGEABLE COPY. A sign or portion thereof which has a reader board for the display of text information in which each alphanumeric character, graphic or symbol is defined by objects, not consisting of an illumination device and may be changed or re-arranged manually with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign.
SIGN, ELECTRONIC. A sign or portion thereof that displays electronic alphanumeric, video or graphic information using different combinations of single color light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area, and capable of changeable copy or images. ELECTRONIC SIGNS include computer programmable, microprocessor or other remotely controlled electronic displays. ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS do not include official or time and temperature signs with no other content. ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS include projected images or messages with these characteristics onto buildings other objects.
SIGN, FACADE, FASCIA OR WALL. A sign that is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall of a building or structure and that projects not more than 18 inches from the building or structure wall. Also includes signs affixed to architectural projections that project from a building provided the copy area of such signs remains on a parallel plane to the face of the building facade or to the face or faces of the architectural projection to which it is affixed.
SIGN, FREESTANDING. A sign principally supported by one or more columns, poles or braces placed in or upon the ground.
SIGN, FREESTANDING MONUMENT.
(1) A freestanding sign where the supporting structure of the sign face is architecturally and aesthetically integrated into the overall design of the sign and the base of supporting structure is often embellished to conceal all structural or support members.
(2) Either 80% of the base supporting structure shall be in contact with the ground, or the lowest portion of the sign face shall be no greater than three feet six inches from the ground. The sign face should be solid and not intended to be a pole type design.
SIGN, FREESTANDING POLE. A sign erected, supported, mounted on a pole or poles which is wholly independent of any building or other structure for support.
SIGN, MULTI-VISION. Any sign composed in whole or in part of a series of vertical or horizontal slats or cylinders that are capable of being rotated at intervals so that partial rotation of the group of slats or cylinders produces a different image and when properly functioning allows, on a single sign structure, the display at any given time, one of two or more images.
SIGN, PROJECTING. A sign other than a wall sign that is attached to or projects more than 18 inches from a building face or wall or from a structure whose primary purpose is other than the support of a sign.
SIGN, ROOF. A sign mounted on the main roof portion of a building or on the uppermost edge of a parapet wall of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by such building. Signs mounted on mansard facades, pent eaves and architectural projections such as canopies or marquees shall not be considered to be ROOF SIGNS.
SIGN, SANDWICH BOARD. A temporary sign created by attaching two sign faces at a single point, intended to be self- supporting.
SIGN, WINDOW. A sign affixed to the surface of a window with its message intended to be visible to exterior environment.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION. A use permitted with special permission granted by the Zoning Hearing Board, to occupy or use land and/or a building for specific purposes in accordance with the criteria set forth in this chapter when such use is not permitted by right.
STORY. The portion of a building located between the surface of any floor and the next floor above; if there is not more than one floor the space between any floor and the ceiling next above it shall be considered a STORY.
STREET. A public or private right-of-way, excluding driveways, intended for use as a means of vehicular and pedestrian circulation, which provides a means of access to abutting property. The word STREET includes thoroughfare, avenue, boulevard, court, drive, expressway, highway, lane, alley and road or similar terms.
STREET LINE. A line defining the right-of-way boundaries of a street.
STRUCTURE. Any human-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
TRANSIENT GUEST. A transient person who maintains legal residency elsewhere or otherwise does not meet expectations of permanent residency, but may be lodging in the borough under a commercial basis for a period of less than 30 days. Minor persons related by blood, marriage or adoption, or within foster care arrangements shall not be counted towards the any limit upon transient guests if they reside within the dwelling with an adult person regarded as their parent or legal guardian.
TRUCK TERMINAL. Land and buildings used as a relay station for the transfer of a load from one vehicle to another or one party to another. The terminal cannot be used for permanent or long-term accessory storage for principal land uses at other locations. The terminal facility may include storage areas for trucks and buildings or areas for the repair of trucks associated with the terminal.
VETERINARY CLINIC. A facility used for the treatment of domestic animals for pay with health treatment provided by a licensed veterinarian.
WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION.
(1) A use engaged in storage, wholesale and distribution of manufactured product, supplies and equipment, but excluding bulk storage of materials that are flammable or explosive or that create hazardous or commonly recognized offensive conditions.
(2) For the purpose of this chapter, storage of explosive, flammable, hazardous or community-recognized offensive conditions shall be considered heavy industry.
YARD. That portion of a lot that is unoccupied and open to the sky and extends from the lot line or right-of-way to a setback or yard line. (See Lot and Yard Area Sketch below.)
YARD, FRONT. A setback line from an adjacent right-of-way extending for the full width of the lot. (See Lot and Yard Area Sketch below.)
YARD, REAR. A yard between the rear lot line and a line drawn, parallel thereto at such distance as may be specified herein for any zoning district, and extending for the full width of the lot. (See Lot and Yard Area Sketch below.)
YARD, SIDE. An open yard space between the side lot line and parallel thereto extending from the front lot line to the rear lot line. (See Lot and Yard Area Sketch below.)
YARD SALE. See GARAGE SALE.
ZONING OFFICER. The Zoning Officer of the borough or his or her authorized representative.
(1980 Code, Ch. 28, Part 7, § 28-702) (Ord. 1419, passed 9-16-2013, § 702; Ord. 1462, passed 7-15-19)