ACCESSORY BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR USE—a building, structure or use or portion of a building, structure or use customarily incidental or subordinate to the principal building, structure or use and located on the same lot with such building, structure or use. Accessory buildings, structures or uses include, but may not be limited to a private garage, garden, shed or barn, private playhouse, private greenhouse, private swimming pool and the like.
ALLEY—a public thoroughfare having a right-of-way width of 20 feet or less regardless of how named.
ALTERATION OF BUILDING—as applied to a building or structure, a change or rearrangement in the load-bearing and non-load-bearing members, resulting in the extension of any side or the increase in height. The moving of the building or structure from one location or position to another or the conversion of one use to another by virtue of interior change shall also constitute an alteration of building.
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE STATION—buildings and premises where gasoline, oil, grease, batteries, tires and automobile accessories, or any combination thereof, are sold at retail. This could include normal mechanical repairs, but not including body work, painting, spraying or minor welding or storage of automobiles not in operating condition and not on the premises for normal mechanical repairs.
BASEMENT—a story partly underground, but having one-half or more of its height (measured from floor to ceiling) above the average level of the adjoining ground. A basement shall be counted as a story for the purpose of height measurement or determining square footage, only if the vertical distance between the ceiling and the average level of the adjoining ground is more than five feet, or is used for business or as a dwelling unit.
BETTING PARLOR—an indoor establishment in which legal betting activities are conducted, including pari-mutuel wagering activities but excluding "games of chance" under the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, 10 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 311 et seq. The term shall specifically include "non-primary locations" as defined in the Race Horse Industry Reform Act, as amended, 35 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 325.101 et seq. [Ord. 231]
BOARDING HOUSE—a building containing a single dwelling unit where lodging is provided with or without meals for three or more persons, who are not members of the operator's family, and by prearrangement for definite periods of time and for compensation, whether direct or indirect, but not to include rest homes or homes for the aged.
BUFFER STRIP—a row of plant materials or fencing providing a barrier to visibility, air borne particles, glare, noise or other potential adverse influences on or from adjacent areas.
BUFFER YARD—a yard area intended to provide separation between specified zoning districts at their boundaries, and consisting of grass, sod, ground cover and a buffer strip.
BUILDING—any structure having a roof supported by columns, piers, or walls, including storage sheds, or having other support and any unroofed platform, terrace or porch having a vertical face higher than three feet above the level of the ground from which the height of the building is measured.
BUILDING AREA—the aggregate of the floor area of all enclosed and roofed spaces of the principal building and all accessory buildings. Such areas shall be computed by using outside building dimensions measured on a horizontal plane at ground level.
BUILDING COVERAGE—the percentage of the lot area covered by the ground level of a building. [Ord. 114]
BUSINESS OFFICE—a business establishment which does not offer, on the premise, a product or merchandise for sale to the public but offers a service to the public. However, personal services such as barber and beauty shops and repair services are not to be included within the definition of business offices.
CAR WASH—a building or portion thereof where automobiles are cleaned, using a conveyor, blower, steam-cleaning equipment, or other device.
CASE-IN-CHIEF—the part of a public hearing in which the applicant presents evidence to support his claim or defense. [Ord. 451]
CELLAR—part of a story, partly underground, and having more than one-half of its height (measured from floor to ceiling) below the average level of the adjoining ground. A cellar shall not be considered a story in determining the permissible number of units.
CENTRALIZED SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM—a publicly-owned or privately owned utility system designed to collect, centrally treat and dispose of sewage from customers in compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resource’s and Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s regulations.
CENTRALIZED WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM—a publicly-owned or privately-owned utility system designed to transmit water from a common source(s) to customers in compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resource’s and Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s regulations.
CHURCH—a building or group of buildings including customary accessory buildings designed or intended for public worship. For the purpose of this Part, the word church shall include: chapels, cathedrals, temples and similar designations as well as parish houses, convents and such accessory uses.
CLUB, LODGE OR SOCIAL BUILDING—a building to house a club or social organization not conducted for private profit and which is not an adjunct to or operated by or in connection with a public tavern, cafe or other public place.
COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE—any vehicle other than a passenger car, station wagon, motorcycle or similar vehicle, and other than a pick-up or other truck with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or less. Construction or other similar vehicles or equipment not designed and intended for passenger use or for on-the-road hauling shall be deemed commercial motor vehicles.
COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM—a solar energy system designed to generate electricity for sale or other distribution beyond the lot on which it is generated. It is recognized that solar energy systems are designed to meet peak electricity requirements of the structures on the lot on which the system is located and, therefore. may have excess generating capacity beyond on-lot needs during non-peak hours. A system designed to meet reasonably anticipated peak electricity requirements of the structures on the lot shall not be considered a commercial generating system and excess energy generated by such system may be sold or otherwise diverted to off-site use; provided, that in no case can the excess energy generated annually exceed the annual total energy consumption of all uses on the lot on winch the system is located. [Ord. 520]
COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES (CRFs)—a building, commonly known as a group home, designed for and occupied by people who need supervised living arrangements or care. Group homes serve clients who are in a protected class and those who are not.
A. Small CFR is occupied by no more than six residents.
B. Large CFR is occupied by seven or more residents.
[Ord. 320]
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN—the official Comprehensive Plan for Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, including recommendations for land use, transportation and community facilities.
CONDITIONAL USE—a use for which the Hanover Township Council may grant permission following a review and report of the Planning Commission, a public hearing and findings of fact consistent with the provisions of this Chapter, and provided that use complies with the specified conditions and standards outlined in this Chapter. [Ord. 232]
CONSTRUCTION—the construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair extension, expansion, alteration, or relocation of a building or structure, including the placement of mobile homes. [Ord. 56]
CORNER LOT—a lot which has an interior angle of less than 135 degrees at the intersection of two street lines. A lot abutting upon a curved street or streets shall be considered a corner lot if the tangents to the curve at the points beginning with the lot or at the points of intersection of the side lot lines with the street right-of-way lines intersect at an interior angle of less than 135 degrees.
COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION—the Joint Planning Commission of Lehigh and Northampton Counties.
COURT—an unobstructed open area, bounded on three or more sides by the walls of a building or buildings. It does not include any such area with no windows opening upon it.
DAY CARE CENTER—any premises in which child day care is provided simulta neously for six or more children who are not relatives of the operator. Nursery schools are deemed to be day care centers.
DAY CARE HOME—any premises in which child day care is provided simultaneously for less than six children who are not relatives of the operator.
DECORATIVE LIGHTING SES—a solar energy system providing power exclusively for a light to which it is attached, together not more than 2 feet in height, providing illumination for driveways, sidewalks and landscaping decor. [Ord. 520]
DEVELOPER—any landowner, agent of such landowner, or tenant with the permission of such landowner, who makes or causes to be made a subdivision of land or a land development. [Ord. 269]
DEVELOPMENT—any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the subdivisions of land, the placement of mobile homes, streets, and other paving utilities, filling, grading, excavation, mining, dredging, or drilling operations. [Ord. 56]
DRIVE-IN SERVICE PLACES—an establishment or activity where patrons are served with food, soft drinks, ice cream and similar confections or where patrons are provided professional or personal services for consumption outside the confines of the principal building or in vehicles parked upon the premises, regardless of whether or not, in addition thereto, seats or other accommodations are provided for the patrons. Drive-in theaters shall not be included.
DWELLING UNIT—a room or group of rooms located within a building and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating by one family or group of unrelated people who need supervised living arrangements or care. [Ord. 320]
EARLY SUPPRESSION FAST RESPONSE (ESFR) SPRINKLER SYSTEM—as defined in the National Fire Protection Association Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems (2019 Edition and as amended). [Ord. 625]
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN (EMS)—any sign, display, device or portion thereof with messages, images or symbols created by lights, light emitting diodes, liquid crystal components, neon or plasma light segments, or similar devices or various combinations of the same that change at intermittent intervals by electronic process or remote control. Electronic message sign (EMS) does not include instructional or other messages of letters less than one inch in height displayed on fuel pumps, drive-through facilities or other outdoor appliances. A sign that changes no more than one time in any 24-hour period shall not be considered an electronic message sign. [Ord. 475]
EXPRESSWAY—a limited access highway with no intersections or other cross streets or direct access from abutting lots. [Ord. 461]
FACADE—the total wall surface, including door and window area, of a building’s principal face. In the case or corner buildings which front on more than one street, only one face shall be used to calculate facade area.
FAMILY—one or more persons occupying a single dwelling unit and doing their own cooking and living together as a separate housekeeping unit in relationship based upon birth, marriage, adoption, or other domestic bond.
FENCE—an artificially constructed barrier of wood, masonry, stone, wire, metal or other manufactured material or combination of materials erected other than an absorptive sound mitigation barrier or other structure erected in accordance with Section 22-504. [Ord. 625]
FLOOD—a temporary inundation of normally dry land areas. [Ord. 56]
FOOD PROCESSING, PREPARATION, PACKAGING AND RELATED DISTRIBUTION—a food processing business combining elements associated with the handling, storage, packaging, labeling, preserving, preparation and processing of food and beverages, assembly of raw or cooked food products for packaged meals or specialty products, with ancillary distribution activities for wholesale sale, prepared or processed food order fulfillment, or contract processing. No retail sales or food consumption is permitted on the premises. Storage and distribution shall be only for the types of activities referenced herein. These facilities do not include slaughtering activities. [Ord. 644]
GOVERNMENTAL USES—municipal, County, State or Federal government buildings or facilities designed and intended to be occupied by the government or designed and intended for public use sponsored by such governments.
GROSS HABITABLE FLOOR AREA—the sum of the gross horizontal areas of the floor or floors of a building which are enclosed and usable for human occupancy. Said areas shall be measured between the inside face of exterior walls.
GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM—a solar energy system which is supported in whole or part by anything other than a primary building or accessory building, such as a solar energy system mounted on the groun, parking lot, tree, sign post. etc., not including a pole-mounted solar panel. [Ord. 520]
HANDICAP—a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person’s major life activities, a record of having such an impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment, but such term does not include illegal use of or addition to a controlled substance. [Ord. 320]
HEIGHT OF BUILDING OR STRUCTURE—the vertical distance derived from the average finished grade at the foundation corners of the building or structure, to the highest point of the building or structure excluding a chimney or other similar structure.
HELICOPTER—A rotorcraft that, for its horizontal motion, depends on its engine-driven rotors. [Ord. 150]
HELIPORTS—
HELIPORT—An area of land, water or a structural surface which is designed, used or intended to be used for the landing and take-off of helicopters.
PUBLIC USE HELIPORT—Any heliport open to the general public and not requiring prior permission of the owner and/or operator to land.
PRIVATE USE HELIPORT—Any heliport that restricts usage to the owner and/or operator or to persons authorized by the owner and/or operator.
PERSONAL USE HELIPORT—Any heliport used exclusively by the owner and/or operator.
HOME OCCUPATION—any use such as handicrafts, music instruction, beauty shops, barber shops, dressmaking, laundering, preserving, millinery and home cooking, which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the building for dwelling purposes. The office or studio in the residence of a physician, surgeon, dentist, artist, lawyer, architect, engineer, teacher, accountant, musician or other similar professional, but not including photo studio, music school, dance school, business school or school of any kind with organized classes or similar activity.
HOSPITAL—a building used for the diagnosis, treatment or other care of human ailments, unless otherwise specified. A hospital shall be deemed to include a sanitarium, clinic, convalescent home, nursing home, rest home, or other building with an equivalent appellation.
HOTEL, MOTEL, MOTOR INN—a building containing 10 or more guest rooms, or a group of such buildings especially designed for the temporary lodging of transient guests, provided that no room shall have cooking facilities of any kind. Such establish ment shall furnish to the occupants customary hotel services such as maid service, and the furnishing and laundering of linen. Eating and drinking facilities may be accessory to the hotel or motel.
HOUSEHOLD PETS—domestic animals normally considered to be kept in or in conjunction with a dwelling unit for the pleasures of the resident family, such as dogs, cats, small birds, gerbils and other similar pets normally sold by retail pet stores.
INTENSE OFFICE USES—general business offices in which the highest number of employees during any shift exceeds one employee for every 200 square feet of gross floor area of the office. [Ord. 408]
JUNKYARD—any place where discarded materials or articles including, but not limited to, scrap metal; scrapped, abandoned or junked motor vehicles, machinery, equipment, paper, glass containers and structures are stored, disposed of or accumu lated.
LANDOWNER—the legal or beneficial owner or owners of land including the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee if he is authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner, or other person having a proprietary interest in land. [Ord. 269]
LOT—a parcel of land used or set aside and available for use as the site of one or more buildings accessory thereto or for any other purpose, in one ownership and not divided by a street, not including any land within the limits of a public or private way upon which said lot abuts, even if the ownership to such way is in the owner of the lot. A lot for the purpose of this Part may or may not coincide with a lot of record.
LOT AREA—an area of land which is determined by the limits of the property lines bounding that area and expressed in terms of square feet or acres. Any portion of a lot included in a street right-of-way or other public easement or right-of-way shall not be included in calculating lot area.
LOT COVERAGE—that percentage of the lot area which may be covered by impervious material including buildings, driveways, parking areas, walks, and any other surface that prohibits the absorption of stormwater and ground-mounted solar energy systems (“SES”). An SES shall be that area within the perimeter of a solar panel array, not the individual solar panels. [Ord. 520]
LOT DEPTH—the distance along a straight line drawn from the midpoint of the front lot line to the mid-point of the rear lot line.
LOT FRONTAGE—a property line or portion thereof which is co-existent with a street line. In the case of a street of undefined width, said property line shall be assumed to parallel the center line of the street at a distance not less than 28.5 feet therefrom.
LOT, INTERIOR—a lot other than a corner lot.
LOT LINE—a line forming the front, rear or sides of lots or parcels of property as described in the recorded title.
LOT LINE, FRONT—the street line at the front of a lot. In the case of a corner lot, the owner may designate either street line as the front lot line.
LOT LINE, REAR—any lot line which is parallel to or within 45 degrees of being parallel to a street line, except for a lot line that is itself a street line, and except that only in the case of a corner lot, the owner shall have the option of choosing which of the two lot lines that are not street lines is to be considered a rear lot line. In the case of a lot having no street frontage or a lot of an odd shape, only the one lot line furthest from any street shall be considered a rear lot line.
LOT LINE, SIDE—any lot line not a front lot line nor a rear lot line.
LOT, THROUGH OR DOUBLE FRONTAGE—a lot having its front and rear yards each abutting on a street as defined herein. The front yard regulations of the zone in which such lot is located shall apply to both frontages. Furthermore, no garage or other accessory building shall be placed closer to the rear street line than the required front yard regulations of the subject zone.
LOT, WIDTH—the distance between straight lines connecting the ends of the front and rear lot lines measured at the required building setback lines.
LOW-RISE APARTMENTS—a residential structure (not including single family attached dwellings) with a maximum height of three stories or 35 feet, with three or more dwelling units for rent or sale.
MID-RISE APARTMENTS—a residential structure having a minimum height of four stories and a maximum height of six stories, with dwelling units for rent or sale and with or without accessory uses.
MINIMUM HABITABLE FLOOR AREA—the minimum required floor area of a dwelling unit which is enclosed and usable for human occupancy. Said areas shall be measured from the inside face of all walls and shall not include areas not normally used as dwelling spaces such as cellars and garages, air shafts, plumbing shafts and mechanical equipment rooms.
MOBILE HOME—a single family detached dwelling unit manufactured in one complete section, designed for long-term occupancy containing sleeping accommodations, a flush toilet, a bath or shower, kitchen facilities, with plumbing and electrical connections provided for attachment to outside systems; and designed to be transported, after fabrication, on its own wheels, or on flatbed or other trailers; arriving at the site where it is to be occupied as a complete dwelling, which may include major appliances and furniture, and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations. For purposes of this Part, modular and sectional dwelling units and travel trailers are not considered as mobile homes, except in those portions of this Chapter dealing with flood plain hazards and management. [Ord. 198]
MODULAR OR SECTIONAL DWELLING UNIT—a single family detached dwelling unit manufactured in two or more sections designed for permanent occupancy, and transported to a building site in sections which are fastened together and mounted on a permanent foundation ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operation. For purposes of this Chapter, modular or sectional dwelling units include pre-fabricated and other similar types, but mobile homes and travel trailers are not considered as modular or sectional dwelling units. For purposes of this Chapter, modular or sectional dwelling units may be single family detached, single family attached or multi-family dwellings.
MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING—a dwelling unit in a building or group of buildings containing three or more dwelling units as in low-rise apartments or mid-rise apartments.
NO-IMPACT HOME BASED BUSINESS—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 neither customer, client, or patient traffic, nor pickup, delivery, or removal functions in excess of those normally associated with residential use. The business or commercial activity must satisfy each of the following requirements:
(1) The business activity shall be compatible with the residential use of the property and surrounding residential uses;
(2) The business shall employ no employees other than family members residing in the dwelling;
(3) There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling or inventory of a substantial nature;
(4) There shall be no outside appearance of a business use, including, but not limited to, parking, signs or lights;
(5) The business activity may not use any equipment or process that creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical or electronic interference, including interference with radio or television reception, which is detect able in the neighborhood;
(6) 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;
(7) The business activity shall be conducted only within the dwelling and may not occupy more than 25% of the habitable floor area; and
(8) The business may not involve any illegal activity.
[Ord. 451]
NON-CONFORMING LOT—a lot of record existing at the date of adoption of this Zoning Chapter or due to subsequent zoning amendment, which fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located by reason of such adoption or amendment. [Ord. 269]
NON-CONFORMING SIGN—a sign which does not conform to the controls regulating signs in this Chapter.
NON-CONFORMING STRUCTURE—a structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable use or extent of use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of such ordinance or amendment or prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such nonconforming structures include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs. [Ord. 269]
NON-CONFORMING USE—a use whether of land or of structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of such ordinance or amendment, or prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. [Ord. 269]
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). [Ord. 56]
OPEN LOT—an unoccupied area open to the sky, usually in a natural state, but including squares, plazas and formal gardens. Also the unoccupied area open to the sky on the same lot with a principal and/or accessory building.
PARKING SPACE—a stall or berth used for parking motor vehicles, the area of which is not less than 180 square feet exclusive of a street or alley and to which there is access from a street or alley.
PERMIT—permit means a zoning permit issued pursuant to this section unless some other type of permit is indicated from the context of the section. [Ord. 103]
PERSONAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS—places primarily providing services, which do not involve retail sales or professional advisory services, oriented to serving personal needs such as barber and beauty shops, shoe repair shops, household appliance repair shops, dry cleaning and laundry pick-ups, shoe shine parlors and other similar establishments.
PLAN (CERTIFIED)—a plan prepared by a registered professional engineer, architect, landscape architect or surveyor.
PLANNED AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT—a totally planned development necessary and appropriate for the function of an airport, combined in a single, unified development project including such uses as air passenger terminals, passenger services, general aviation sales and services, corporate aircraft facilities, and other activities which are functionally dependent upon or related to air transportation.
PLANNED BUSINESS CENTER DEVELOPMENT—a business and shopping area of integrated design and development and including, but not limited to, such uses as retail shops, personal service establishments, professional and business offices, banks, post office, restaurants, theaters and auditoriums, and housed in an enclosed building or buildings and utilizing such common facilities as customer parking, pedestrian walks, loading and unloading space, utilities and sanitary facilities.
PLANNED COMMERCE UNIT DEVELOPMENT—a planned commerce-business area where multiple yet distinct land uses are combined into a single unified development project, to encourage a planned arrangement of individually owned and operated uses within complementary functional categories, including professional and business offices, retail sales and commercial services, lodging, recreation/leisure lime and specialized commercial business.
PLANNED NEIGHBORHOOD CONVENIENCE CENTER—a totally planned commercial development on contiguous land under single ownership or control intended and planned to primarily serve the daily and convenient shopping and personal needs of nearby residential developments.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT—a contiguous area of land, controlled by a “landowner” to be developed as a comprehensively planned entity for a number of dwelling units, the plan for which does not necessarily correspond in lot size, bulk, or type of dwelling, density, lot coverage or required open space to the regulations in any one residential district established by any article of this Zoning Chapter. In the above definitions, “landowner” shall mean the legal or beneficial owner or owners of all the land proposed to be included in a Planned Residential Development. The holder of an option or contract to purchase, a leasee having a remaining term of not less than 40 years, or other person having an enforceable proprietary interest in such land, shall be deemed to be a landowner.
POLE BUILDING—A structure resting on point footers (non-contiguous footers) at supporting columns without a supporting foundation under the perimeter walls of the structure. [Ord. 501]
POLE-MOUNTED SOLAR PANEL—a solar panel or panels mounted on a pole with a total area of not more than 8 square feet, for the exclusive purpose of providing energy to i) heating for a pool, or ii) power for a system of outdoor lights, or iii) any phone, camera, lighting fixture or similar device mounted on such pole. [Ord. 520]
PRINCIPAL BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR USE—a structure or use in which is conducted the main or principal use of the lot on which said structure or use is located.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICES—offices of members of a recognized profession maintained for the conduct of such professions. Such professions shall be limited to those of medicine (but not veterinary medicine), law, architecture, city planning, engineering, real estate, insurance, accounting, art, music, religion and other professions which require a similar degree of training and experience.
PROTECTED CLASS—includes handicapped or disabled persons. [Ord. 320]
PUBLIC HEARING—a formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the governing body or planning agency, intended to inform and obtain public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with this act. [Ord. 269]
PUBLIC MEETING—a forum held pursuant to notice under the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L. 388, NO. 84), known as the “Sunshine Act.”
PUBLIC NOTICE—notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication of the notice shall be no more than 30 days and the second publication shall be not less than 7 days from the date of the hearing. [Ord. 518]
PUBLIC UTILITY INSTALLATION—hydroelectric and electric lines, power plants and electric sub-stations, pumping and boating station, pipelines, sewage treatment plants, water plants, telephone service and other similar facilities necessary to serve demonstrated public needs.
REAR DWELLING—a dwelling located on the same lot and to the rear of the principal building for which the lot is used.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE OR UNIT—a vehicle or piece of equipment, whether self- powered or designed to be pulled or carried, intended primarily for leisure time or recreational use. Recreational vehicles or units include travel trailers, truck-mounted campers, motor homes, folding tent campers and autos, buses or trucks adapted for vacation use and other vehicles not suitable for daily conventional family transporta tion, snowmobiles, mini-bikes, all-terrain vehicles, go-carts and boat trailers are also deemed to be recreational vehicles.
REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION—the 100 year flood elevation plus a freeboard safety factor of 1 1/2 feet. [Ord. 56]
SETBACK LINE—a line which, between it and the street or lot line, no building, structure or use or portion thereof, except as provided in this Zoning Chapter may be erected or occupied above or below grade. The setback line is considered to be a vertical surface intersecting the ground along such line.
SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED DWELLING—a building, commonly known as a townhouse, designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for only one family and having i) only one dwelling unit from ground to roof, ii) independent outside access, iii) at least two other dwellings built in conjunction therewith and iv) any portion of one or two walls in common with an adjoining building.
SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED DWELLING—a building, commonly known as a single family house, designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence having i) only one dwelling unit from ground to roof, ii) independent outside access and iii) open space on all sides. Where a private garage is structurally attached to such a dwelling, it shall be considered as a part thereof.
SIGN—any permanent or temporary structure or part thereof, or any device attached, painted or represented directly or indirectly on a structure or other surface that shall display or include any letter, word, insignia, flag, or representation used, as, or which is the nature of, an advertisement, announcement, visual communication, direction, or is designed to attract the eye, or bring the subject to the attention of the public. Flags of any governmental unit or branch of any charitable or religious organization, interior signs not visible from a public right-of-way or adjoining property, and cornerstones built into or attached to a wall of a building are excluded.
BUSINESS OR IDENTIFICATION SIGN—A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, product, service, activity or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING SIGN (BILLBOARD)—A board, panel or tablet used for the display of printed or painted advertising matter which directs attention to a business, product, service, activity or entertainment not necessarily conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where such a sign is located.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN—An advertising sign or device intended to direct or point toward a place, or object, or one that points out the way to either an unfamiliar or a known place or object that obviously could not be easily located without such a sign or device.
FLASHING SIGN—A sign, the illumination of which is not kept constant in intensity at all times when in use, and which exhibits sudden or marked changes in lighting effects. Illuminated signs which indicate the time, temperature, date or other similar information shall not be considered flashing signs.
FREE-STANDING SIGN—A sign supported by, or suspended from, a freestand ing column or other support located in or upon the ground surface.
ILLUMINATED SIGN (DIRECTLY)—A sign designed to give forth artificial light directly (or through transparent or translucent material) from a source of light within such sign, including but not limited to neon and exposed lamp signs. Festoon lighting shall be deemed a directly illuminated sign comprised of either a group of incandescent light bulbs hung or strung overhead or on a building or structure, or light bulbs not shaded or hooded or otherwise screened to prevent the direct rays of the light from shining on an adjacent property or right-of-way.
ILLUMINATED SIGN (INDIRECTLY)—An illuminated, non-flashing sign with illumination derived from an external artificial source and so arranged that no direct rays of light are projected from such artificial source to areas other than the sign being illuminated.
NAME PLATE SIGN—A sign which states the name or address or both of the occupant of the lot where the sign is located.
PARALLEL SIGN—A sign which is mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface not extending beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which it is mounted and not projecting more than 15 inches from the wall surface.
PROJECTING SIGN—A sign which is attached directly to the structure wall and which extends more than 15 inches from the face of such wall.
ROOF SIGN—A sign erected upon or above the roof or parapet of a building.
WINDOW SIGN—A temporary or permanent sign which is oriented to the public right-of-way, is legible to persons in vehicles, and is located on the outside or inside of a window to direct attention to an activity conducted on the same lot.
SIGN OFF-PREMISES—a sign which directs attention to a person, business, profession, product, home occupation or activity not conducted on the same lot.
SIGN, ON-PREMISES—a sign which direct attention to a person, business, profession, home occupation or activity conducted on the same lot.
SOLAR ENERGY—radiant energy, direct, diffuse or reflected, received from the sun. [Ord. 520]
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM—any collector of solar energy, photoelectric cell or other solar energy device or any structural design feature, together with all related equipment, mounted on a structure or an the ground, which converts solar energy to usable thermal, mechanical. chemical or electrical energy. [Ord. 520]
SOLAR PANEL—a structure containing one or more receptive cells, the purpose of which is to convert solar energy into usable electrical energy, heat, water, produce hot air or perform any other similar function by way of a solar energy system. [Ord. 520]
SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE—a use for which the Zoning Hearing Board may grant permission following a review and report of the Planning Commission, a public hearing and findings of fact consistent with the provisions of this Chapter, and provided the use complies with specified conditions and standards outlined in this Chapter.
STORY—that part of a structure included between any floor and the floor or roof next above. When applied to the permissible height of buildings, the term “story” shall not include a basement if the basement is not designated for living quarters and if the floor thereof is more than four feet below the average ground level.
STREET—any road, highway, avenue, street, parkways, lane or other way, public or private, set aside and commonly used by the public for street purposes, and shown upon the Official Map or upon a filed plat. An alley which provides the primary means of access to two or more dwellings shall be considered a street.
STREET LINE—a street line is the right-of-way or established property line of a street as indicated by dedication or by a deed of record. In all subdivision or land development plans the street line shall be considered as the future right-of-way line as indicated by the Township “Subdivision and Land Development Chapter” and “Comprehensive Plan,” and all setbacks shall be measured from the future line.
STRUCTURE—anything constructed or erected, which requires its permanent location on or below the ground, or which is permanently attached to something having permanent location upon the ground, excepting fixed and movable awnings. A building shall be construed to be a structure.
SWIMMING POOL, PRIVATE—any receptacle or artificially constructed container for water, whether erected above or below ground level, having a wall depth of two feet or more at any point within its perimeter, intended or adapted for the purposes of immersion or partial immersion of human being therein, used in connection with dwelling units, available only to the family of the dwelling unit holder and their private guests, not open to the public, and not otherwise regulated by any statutes or by rules and regulations other than those of the Township and the State of Pennsylvania.
SWIMMING POOL, PUBLIC OR SEMI-PUBLIC—any swimming pool other than a private swimming pool, including publicly and privately owned pools open to the general public and pools owned and operated in conjunction with membership organizations, motels, hotels, and other similar uses.
TRAVEL TRAILER—a vehicular non-powered, portable structure built on a chassis, designed as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation, vacation, and other short-term uses.
TILLING OF THE SOIL—the cultivation of soil and the raising and harvesting of products of the soil including horticulture, nurserying, forestry and the raising and keeping of field and truck crops.
TWO-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLING—any building under one roof designed or arranged for occupancy by two households living as families and with individual and separate complete living facilities and not exceeding three stories in height.
USE—the specific purpose for which land or a building is designed, arranged, or intended, or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained.
VARIANCE—a granting of permission to use or alter land or structures which requires a variation or adaptation from the strict application of the Zoning Chapter require ments. Variances are granted only in the case of exceptionally irregular, narrow, shallow or steep lots, or other exceptional physical conditions whereby strict application of regulations would result in practical difficulty and unnecessary hardship not self- imposed. Variances are granted only if specific requirements are met. A variance may not be granted to permit a use which is not permitted in the Zoning District involved.
VETERINARY OFFICE—any building used for the treatment and limited temporary boarding of small domestic animals such as dogs, cats, goats, rabbits, and birds or fowl by a veterinarian. Such use shall not be construed as a home occupation or a professional office under the definitions and terms of this Chapter.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY (WCF)—has the meaning as set forth in § 27-521.
YARD—
YARD, FRONT (REQUIRED)—An area extending along the full length of a front lot line wholly between side lot lines and back to a line drawn parallel to the front lot line at a distance therefrom equal to the depth of the required front setback of the zone wherein the lot is located.
YARD, REAR (REQUIRED)—An area extending along the full length of a rear lot line wholly between side lot lines and back to a line drawn parallel to the rear lot line at a distance therefrom equal to the depth of the required rear setback of the zone wherein the lot is located.
YARD, SIDE (REQUIRED)—An area extending from the front setback line to the rear setback line along a line drawn parallel to the side lot line at a distance therefrom equal to the width of the required side setback of the zone wherein the lot is located and excluding any area encompassed within a required front or rear yard.
ZONING OFFICER—the duly authorized and designated official of the Township responsible for administering and enforcing the Zoning Chapter of the Township.
(Ord. 45, Z-§ 201, 5/12/76; as amended by Ord. 56, 6/14/78; by Ord. 103, 4/8/81; by Ord. 114, 3/10/82; by Ord. 137, § 2, 4/13/83; by Ord. 150, 3/14/84; by Ord. 198, § 3, 11/12/86; by Ord. 231, 11/8/1989, § 1; by Ord. 232, 11/8/1989, § 1; by Ord. 231, 11/8/1989, § 1; by Ord. 232, 11/8/1989, § 1; by Ord. 269, 10/16/1991, § 1*; by Ord. 320, 7/5/1995, § 1; by Ord. 408, 4/4/2001, § 1; by Ord. 451, 10/20/2004, § 2; by Ord. 461, 10/19/2005, § 1; by Ord. 475, 7/18/2007, § 1; by Ord. 501, 3/17/2010, § 1; by Ord. 518, 6/15/2011, § 1; by Ord. 520, 7/6/2011, §§ 1, 2; and by Ord. 589, 10/4/2017, § 1; by Ord. 625, 12/2/20, § 2; and by Ord. 644, 5/3/2023, § 1)
* Ord. 269 designated Chapter 27, § 208, as amended.