Words used in the singular number include the
plural, and words in the plural number include the singular; words
used in the masculine gender include the feminine, and words in the
feminine gender include the masculine; the word "building" includes
the word "structure," the word "occupied" includes the words "designed
or intended to be occupied" and the word "used" includes the words
"arranged, designed or intended to be used."
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following
words shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings herein
indicated:
ACCESSORY BUILDING
A building subordinate to the main building on the same lot
and used for purposes customarily incidental to those of the main
building.
ACCESSORY USE
Use customarily incidental and subordinate to principal use
or structure.
[Added 10-11-2006 by Ord. No. 880]
AGE-TARGETED HOUSING
A development of dwelling units with three bedrooms or fewer,
which by unit floor plans (including the possibility of first-floor
master bedrooms), community rather than on-lot recreational facilities
and amenities and exterior maintenance by a homeowners' association,
is generally more attractive to older adults. An age-targeted housing
community may be voluntarily deed restricted to age-restricted housing,
but is not required to do so. The homeowners' association declaration
of an age-targeted community shall specifically include the requirements
and restrictions of this definition.
[Added 10-10-2012 by Ord. No. 918]
ALTERATION
As applied to a building or structure, any change or rearrangement
in the structural parts or in the exit facilities, or any enlargement,
whether by extension on any side or by any increase in height, or
the moving from one location or position to another.
[Amended 6-10-1970 by Ord. No. 595]
ALTERATION OR ALTER (OF HISTORIC RESOURCE)
As applied to historic resources, any act or process requiring a building permit, and any other act or process not requiring a building permit but otherwise addressed in Chapter
46 (Historic Resources) of the Township Ordinances as an action, other than demolition, requiring review by the Historical Commission and the approval of the Board of Commissioners, including without limitation the repair, replacement, reconstruction, demolition or relocation of any structure or object, or any part of a structure which constitutes the principal public street facade visible from the public right-of-way. Corner properties shall have a maximum of two facades which can be considered for reviewable actions.
[Added 12-11-2019 by Ord.
No. 962]
ANTENNA
Any system of wires, rods, discs, panels, flat panels, dishes,
whips, or other similar devices used for the transmission or reception
of wireless signals. An antenna may include an omnidirectional antenna
(rod), directional antenna (panel), parabolic antenna (disc) or any
other wireless antenna. This definition shall not include private-residence-mounted
satellite dishes or television antennas or amateur radio equipment,
including, without limitation, ham or citizen band radio antennas.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
APPLICANT
As used in Article
XIVA of this chapter, any person that applies for a WCF or wireless support building permit, zoning approval for the construction, installation or designation of a wireless support and/or permission to use the public right-of-way (ROW) or other Township-owned land or property.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947; amended 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
BASE STATION
A station at a specified site authorized to communicate with
mobile stations, generally consisting of transceivers, antennas, coaxial
cables, power supplies and other associated electronics. Base stations
also include any nontower wireless support.
[Added 5-10-2017 by Ord.
No. 951]
BILLBOARD
A sign which has a size area larger than 40 square feet and
which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment,
facility, public cause or other subject matter not located, conducted,
sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
[Added 4-13-2011 by Ord. No. 908]
BUFFER[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687; amended 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
An area designed to separate the land uses which abut it
and to ease the transition between them. Unless otherwise specified,
"buffers" may be included as part of the required setbacks and yard
areas. "Buffers" are divided into two types:
A.
SOFTENING BUFFERA buffer comprised of vegetation arranged in a specified pattern and designed to soften and partially screen the view from one side to another during all seasons of the year.
B.
SCREENING BUFFERA buffer comprised of vegetation arranged in a specified pattern and designed to largely block the view from one side to another during all seasons of the year.
BUILDING AREA
The aggregate of the maximum horizontal cross-section areas
of the buildings on a lot, excluding:
A.
Cornices, eaves, gutters or chimneys projecting
not more than 18 inches.
B.
Steps, open balconies, terraces, one-story open
porches.
C.
Bay windows not extending through more than
one story and not projecting more than five feet.
BUILDING FRONTAGE
The linear footage of a building face which serves as the
principal approach to a building and which building face fronts upon
a public street, shopping center driveway, parking area or pedestrian
mall or walkway.
[Added 5-9-1984 by Ord. No. 723]
BUILDING LINE[Amended 3-11-1970 by Ord. No.
591; 10-11-2006 by Ord. No. 880]
A.
Front: A line parallel to the right-of-way line
at a distance equal to the depth of the minimum front yard required.
B.
Side: A line parallel to the side lot line at
a distance equal to the depth of the minimum side yard required.
C.
Rear: A line parallel to the real lot line at
a distance from the rear lot line equal to the depth of the minimum
rear yard required.
CARTWAY
The portion of street or alley intended for vehicular traffic.
[Added 10-11-2006 by Ord. No. 880]
CLUB, FRATERNAL INSTITUTION
A principal building used for the meeting place of an organized
group of citizens, such as a veterans' organization, fraternal organization,
business organization, service organization and the like, in which
the activities are limited to members of the organization and their
guests and which may also provide living quarters for caretakers and
transient quarters for members.
[Added 4-9-1980 by Ord. No. 694]
CLUSTER LOT
A lot created in such a fashion to be physically grouped
or clustered with other similar lots on tracts of land of 10 acres
or more so as to preserve open space and protect environmentally sensitive
features of a tract of land.
[Added 5-14-2003 by Ord. No. 855]
CO-LOCATION
The installation of one or more wireless communications facilities,
including antennas, on a previously approved and constructed wireless
support. The term includes the placement, replacement or modification
of previously approved accessory equipment.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947; amended 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
COMMON OPEN SPACE
An outdoor portion of a development or tract of land that
is designed or functions as a recreational area and/or for the preservation
of sensitive natural features. Privately owned yards directly adjacent
to a residence shall not be considered common open space.
[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687; amended 10-11-2006 by Ord. No.
880]
CONDITIONAL USE
A use permitted in a particular zoning district to be allowed
or denied by the Township Board of Commissioners pursuant to public
notice and hearing and recommendations by the Township Planning Commission
pursuant to express standards and criteria set forth for said use
in the Zoning Ordinance.
[Added 12-13-2006 by Ord. No. 882]
CULTURAL STUDIO
An interior building area used for the creation of the products
of various artistic mediums and handicrafts and for expressions of
the creative arts. The teaching of the arts shall include the following:
fine arts, dance, drama, photography, music or similar artistic mediums.
The teaching of handicrafts shall include the following: ceramics/pottery,
needlework, knitting, weaving, jewelry making, glasswork, leatherwork,
woodwork, metalwork or the similar creation of decorative objects
made by hand. A cultural studio shall not be permitted to host exhibitions,
performances, recitals, or other events for the display of the creative
arts produced therein.
[Added 12-11-2019 by Ord.
No. 962]
DAY-CARE CENTER
A facility in which care is provided for seven or more children,
at any one time, where the child-are areas are not being used as a
family residence.
[Added 4-9-1980 by Ord. No. 694]
DEMOLITION OR DEMOLISH
The razing or destruction, whether entirely or in part, of
the exterior of a building, structure, resource, or site. Demolition
includes the removal of a building or structure from its site or the
removal or destruction of the facade or any significant exterior architectural
features which are integral to the historic character of the resource,
for whatever purpose, including new construction or reconstruction.
This definition shall not be construed to include the ordinary maintenance
or repair of any building, structure, site, or object where such work
does not otherwise require a permit and where the purpose and effect
of such work is to correct any deterioration or decay of, or damage
to, a building, structure, site, or object and to restore the same
to its condition prior to the occurrence of such deterioration, decay,
or damage.
[Added 12-11-2019 by Ord.
No. 962]
DISPENSARY
A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership,
association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which
holds a permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to
dispense medical marijuana. The term does not include a health care
medical marijuana organization under Chapter 19 of the Medical Marijuana
Act.
[Added 4-12-2017 by Ord.
No. 950]
DISPENSARY FACILITY
A building or structure and other appurtenances or improvements
where a dispensary dispenses medical marijuana.
[Added 4-12-2017 by Ord.
No. 950]
DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS (DAS)
Network of spatially separated antenna sites connected to
a common source that provides wireless service within a geographic
area or structure.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
DWELLING, MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT
A multifamily building of no more than 10 stories in height
designed primarily for multifamily residential use.
[Added 7-14-1976 by Ord. No. 655; amended 7-12-1989 by Ord. No.
771]
DWELLING, MULTIPLE
A building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence
for three or more families living independently of one another.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED
A dwelling unit having its own independent outside access,
with no other units directly above or below it, having party walls
in common with at least one other dwelling and designed to be occupied
by exclusively one family. A single-family attached dwelling structure
shall contain no more than four residential dwelling units.
[Added 11-16-2005 by Ord. No. 873]
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED
A building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence
for not more than one family and having no party wall in common with
an adjacent building.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY SEMIDETACHED
A building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence
for not more than one family and having a party wall, unpierced by
openings, in common with an adjacent dwelling, but detached from any
other building.
DWELLING, TOWNHOUSE
One of a series of three or more buildings, each having a
party wall unpierced by openings, in common with one or more other
buildings in the series, and each being designed for and occupied
exclusively as a residence for one family.
[Amended 5-12-1976 by Ord. No. 653]
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY DETACHED
A building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence
for two families, with one family living wholly or partly over the
other, and having no party wall in common with an adjacent building.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY SEMIDETACHED
A building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence
for two families, with one family living wholly or partly over the
other, and having a party wall, unpierced by openings, in common with
an adjacent dwelling, but detached from any other building.
EMERGENCY
A condition that:
A.
Constitutes a clear and immediate danger to the health, welfare,
or safety of the public; or
B.
Has caused or is likely to cause facilities in the rights-of-way
to be unusable and result in loss of the services provided.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
ESTATE LOT
A lot, a minimum of one to one and one-half acre, created
and arranged in such a fashion to preserve natural, scenic, cultural
and historic resources on tracts of land of 10 acres or more, not
necessarily arranged in a cluster fashion.
[Added 5-14-2003 by Ord. No. 855]
FAMILY
[Amended 4-9-1980 by Ord. No. 694; 11-10-2010 by Ord. No.
905]
A.
Any number of individuals living together on a nontransient
basis as a single housekeeping unit and doing its cooking on the premises,
when said individuals are related by blood, marriage or adoption,
including foster children.
B.
No more than five unrelated individuals living together on a
nontransient basis as a single housekeeping unit and doing their cooking
on the premises. The definition of "family" shall not apply to the
occupants of a club, fraternal institution, lodge, rooming house or
group home.
C.
No more than five unrelated individuals deemed to be mentally
or physically handicapped persons occupying a dwelling unit as a single,
nonprofit housekeeping unit if such occupants are handicapped persons
as defined in Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1988.
FAMILY DAY-CARE HOME
A facility in which care is provided for one or more but
less than seven children, at any one time, where the child-care areas
are being used as a family residence.
[Added 4-9-1980 by Ord. No. 694]
FCC
Federal Communications Commission.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
FENCE
Any structure of nonliving material erected for the purpose
of separating one property from another either to assure privacy or
to protect the property screened. For the purpose of this chapter,
a masonry wall is considered to be a fence; also:
[Added 10-11-2006 by Ord. No. 880]
A.
SPITE FENCEAny fence or wall which has been erected for the purpose of cutting off the light or air of any adjoining property or erected of unsightly materials for the purpose of annoyance or harassment or which has been erected to a height above that necessary for the proper and ordinary security or enclosure.
FLOOR AREA
The total area of the floor space devoted to a particular
use of a building, including space devoted to incidental purposes
related thereto, measured along interior faces of enclosing walls
or partitions with no reduction for intervening walls or partitions.
[Added 4-8-1981 by Ord. No. 702]
GARAGE, MINOR
A building, not a private garage, one story in height, used
solely for the storage of motor vehicles, and not used for making
repairs thereto.
GARAGE, PRIVATE
A building accessory to a single family or two-family dwelling
for the storage of motor vehicles owned and used by the owner or tenant
of the lot for a purpose accessory to the use of the lot. The building
shall not provide for the storage of more than two motor vehicles,
unless the lot area contains not less than 5,000 square feet for each
motor vehicle provided. The building shall not be used to store more
than one noncommercial motor vehicle owned and used by persons other
than the owner or tenant of the lot, regardless of the size of the
lot.
[Amended 7-12-1989 by Ord. No. 770]
GARAGE, PUBLIC
A building, not a private or minor garage, used for the storage
or repair of motor vehicles.
GROSS DEVELOPABLE ACREAGE
Any and all acreage in a tract or parcel of land.
[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687; 5-14-2003 by Ord. No.
855]
GROUP DAY-CARE HOME
A facility 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.
[Added 4-9-1980 by Ord. No. 694]
GROUP HOME
An establishment that provides a home, including room and
board, to persons who are residents by virtue of receiving supervised
specialized services, limited to health, social and/or rehabilitative
services that are provided by a governmental agency, their licensed
or certified agents or a responsible nonprofit social service corporation.
This category shall not include persons released from or under jurisdiction
of a government bureau of corrections or similar institution. The
number of residents shall not exceed eight persons or the occupancy
capacity of a dwelling as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of
Public Welfare, whichever is less. Supervision shall be provided by
responsible adults (professionals), whose number shall be determined
and certified by the sponsoring agency. One responsible adult shall
be available for the residents on a twenty-four-hour-a-day basis.
The use shall be licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under
the application regulations. All medical and counseling services provided
shall be restricted to the residents of the group home, with no outpatient
services. All applicable requirements of the Township Code, such as
but not limited to building, fire safety, and property maintenance,
shall be met. Group homes shall be available for annual inspection
by the Township to assure compliance with all Township codes. Parking
shall be provided in accordance with the method set forth below which
shall require the greater number of parking spaces:
[Added 11-10-2010 by Ord. No. 905]
A.
Pursuant to the provisions of §
114-134 of this chapter; or
B.
One off-street parking space shall be provided for each employee
and one off-street parking space shall be provided for every four
residents of the group home.
GROWER/PROCESSOR
A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership,
association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which
holds a permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to
grow and process medical marijuana. The term does not include a health
care medical marijuana organization under Chapter 19 of the Medical
Marijuana Act.
[Added 4-12-2017 by Ord.
No. 950]
GROWER/PROCESSOR FACILITY
A building or structure and other appurtenances or improvements
where a grower/processor grows and processes medical marijuana.
[Added 4-12-2017 by Ord.
No. 950]
HEIGHT
The height of a building shall be measured from the mean
level of the ground surrounding the building to a point midway between
the highest and the lowest points of the roof, provided that chimneys,
spires, towers, elevator penthouses, tanks and similar projections
shall not be included in calculating the height.
HEIGHT OF A WIRELESS SUPPORT
The vertical distance measured from the ground level, including
any base pad, to the highest point on a wireless support, but not
including antennas mounted on the tower and any other WCFs. If the
wireless support is on a sloped grade, then the average between the
highest and lowest grades shall be used in calculating the wireless
support height.
[Added 5-10-2017 by Ord.
No. 951]
HISTORIC BUILDING
Any complex physical construction and its appurtenances with
historic, and/or cultural, and/or archaeological, and/or scientific
significance, as listed on the Historic Resource Inventory, which
is a combination of materials assembled in an "enclosed" configuration,
created in whole or in part to shelter primary forms of human activity,
and which is permanently affixed to the land. Examples of Historic
Buildings include, but are not limited to, those listed under "Building"
in the current version of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards
for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
[Added 12-11-2019 by Ord.
No. 962]
HISTORIC LOT
A lot within a cluster or estate lot development established
to preserve existing buildings that are compatible with the neighborhood.
The structure need not be of historic significance.
[Added 5-14-2003 by Ord. No. 855]
HISTORIC OBJECT
Any simple physical construction or composition, typically
small in scale, with historic, and/or cultural, and/or archaeological,
and/or scientific significance, as listed on the Historic Resource
Inventory, which is typically singular in material combination, created
primarily for informational, functional, or aesthetic purposes, and
which is related to a specific setting or environment, often affixed
to the land, yet may be movable by nature or design. Examples of historic
objects include, but are not limited to, those listed under "Object"
in the current version of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards
for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
[Added 12-11-2019 by Ord.
No. 962]
HISTORIC RESOURCE
All historic buildings, sites, and objects which are designated
on the Township's Historic Resource Inventory.
[Added 12-11-2019 by Ord.
No. 962]
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any complex or simple physical construction, with historic,
and/or cultural, and/or archaeological, and/or scientific significance,
as listed on the Historic Resource Inventory, which is a combination
of materials assembled in an "open" configuration of interdependent
and interrelated parts in a definite pattern of organization, created
in whole or in part to facilitate secondary or indirect forms of human
activity, and which is affixed to the land. Examples of historic structures
include, but are not limited to, those listed under "Structure" in
the current version of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
the Treatment of Historic Properties.
[Added 12-11-2019 by Ord.
No. 962]
HOUSE TRAILER
A recreational vehicle requiring a separate power source
for pulling it, which may include living, sleeping, eating and sanitary
facilities, but which is designed for vacation travel and not for
long-term or permanent occupancy. If a house trailer is used for living
or sleeping purposes within the Township for an aggregate of more
than 30 days in any period of one year, it shall be considered as
a single-family dwelling for all purposes of this chapter and shall
be subject to the provisions of all ordinances and codes applicable
thereto.
[Amended 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687]
LANDSCAPE MATERIAL
Any vegetation planted or installed during land development,
or existing vegetation used to meet the landscaping requirements of
this Code.
[Added 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
LOADING AREA
A paved area used by vehicles to transfer materials to or
from structures or storage areas.
[Added 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
LOT AREA
The area of a lot of land in which a main building and accessory buildings are placed, provided that the area shall be measured to the outside border of the right-of-way of the street, or, in the case of streets identified under Chapter
89 of the Code of the Township of Springfield or as identified in the Springfield Township Comprehensive Plan, to the outside line of the ultimate right-of-way of the street.
[Amended 3-11-1970 by Ord. No. 591; 10-11-2006 by Ord. No.
880]
LOT WIDTH
The required contiguous distance which a lot must maintain
at the street line on a public street.
[Added 9-9-1987 by Ord. No. 750]
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Marijuana for certified medical use as set forth in the Medical
Marijuana Act.
[Added 4-12-2017 by Ord.
No. 950]
MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT
Act 16 of 2016, 35 P.S. § 1023.101 et seq., as
amended from time to time.
[Added 4-12-2017 by Ord.
No. 950]
MOBILE HOME
A transportable single-family dwelling, other than a house
trailer or motor home, as hereinafter described, certified by appropriate
state and federal agencies intended for permanent occupancy contained
in one or more units, designed to be joined into one integral unit
capable of again being relocated, which arrives at the 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.
[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687]
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.
[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687]
MOBILE HOME PAD
A concrete pad which must be greater than or equal to the
length and width dimensions of the mobile home.
[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687]
MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel of land of 10 acres or more under single ownership
which has been planned and improved for the placement of two or more
mobile homes for nontransient use.
[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687]
MODIFICATION
As used in Article
XIVA of this chapter, the improvement, upgrade, expansion or replacement of existing wireless support, wireless communications facilities or related equipment, including, but not limited to, any co-location, replacement or removal of WCFs.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947; amended 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
MONOPOLE
A wireless support or site which consists of a single pole
structure, designed and erected on the ground or on top of a structure,
to support communications antennas and connecting appurtenances. A
monopole is a freestanding structure which does not use the support
of guy wires.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947; amended 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
MOTOR HOME
A house trailer which combines the living section and the
power source into a single unit.
[Added 9-12-1979 by Ord. No. 687]
MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT
One or more multifamily buildings located or to be located
upon a single real estate parcel or contiguous real estate parcels.
[Added 7-12-1989 by Ord. No. 771]
NET DEVELOPABLE ACREAGE
Gross developable acreage minus 100% of lands within public
and private road rights-of-way, access or utility easements, the floodplain
conservation district, wetlands, waterbodies and watercourses, slopes
of 25% or greater, and 50% of lands within sloped areas of 15%-24%.
[Added 5-14-2003 by Ord. No. 855]
NONTOWER WIRELESS SUPPORT
Any wireless support not included within the definition of
"tower-based wireless support," including, without limitation, water
towers, utility poles, light poles and existing buildings.
[Added 5-10-2017 by Ord.
No. 951]
NO-IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESS
A business or commercial activity administered or conducted in a residential dwelling 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. The business or commercial activity must satisfy the requirements of §
114-139.2 (No-impact home-based businesses).
[Added 7-9-2003 by Ord. No. 857; amended 10-10-2018 by Ord. No. 956]
OPEN SPACE
Any portion of a parcel or area of land or water which is
open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky or is maintained
in a natural and undisturbed character. "Open space" shall not include
areas covered with buildings, sidewalks, patios, parking and loading
areas and drives or other paved areas.
[Added 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
OVERLAY ZONE
A mapped zone that imposes a set of requirements in addition
to those of the underlying zoning district. Where established, land
may be developed only as the two zoning districts are applied to the
specific property(ies).
[Added 5-14-2003 by Ord. No. 855]
PARCEL OF LAND
Any quantity of land and water capable of being described
with such definiteness that its location and boundaries may be established,
which is designated by its owner or developer as land to be used or
developed as a unit or which has been used or developed as a unit.
[Added 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
PERSONAL CARE HOME or ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE
A facility and use licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
as a personal care home and/or assisted living residence, in which
food, shelter and personal assistance or supervision is provided for
persons who require assistance or supervision in matters such as dressing,
bathing, diet, or medication, but do not require hospitalization or
care in a skilled nursing facility.
[Added 11-30-2015 by Ord.
No. 937]
PERSONS
Individuals, corporations, companies, associations, joint-stock
companies, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations
and other entities established pursuant to statutes of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, provided that "person" does not include, or apply
to, the Township or to any department or agency of the Township.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
PORTABLE ON-DEMAND STORAGE STRUCTURES (also referred to as "PODS")
Any container, storage unit, shed-like container or other
portable structure that can or is used for the storage of personal
property of any kind, and which is located for such purposes outside
an enclosed building, but shall not include an accessory building
or shed complying with all building codes and land use requirements.
[Added 2-14-2007 by Ord. No. 887]
PRIVATE AUCTION
The conduct of a sale, barter, exchange or display of any
new or used furniture, sporting goods, fixtures, vehicles, equipment,
food, clothing, metal, glass, paper, rubber, synthetics, household
goods or rummage conducted upon private premises by a person employed
for said purpose, whether compensated or not.
[Added 9-14-1983 by Ord. No. 717]
PRIVATE PREMISES
Any dwelling house, building or other structure designed
or used either wholly or in part for private residential purposes,
in a residential zoning district, whether inhabited or temporarily
or continuously uninhabited or vacant, and shall include any yard,
grounds, walk, driveway, porch, garage, steps or vestibule belonging
or appurtenant to such dwelling house or other structure.
[Added 9-14-1983 by Ord. No. 717]
PRIVATE SALES
The conduct of a sale, barter, exchange or display of any
new or used furniture, sporting goods, fixtures, vehicles, equipment,
food, clothing, metal, glass, paper, rubber, synthetics, household
goods or rummage conducted upon private premises.
[Added 9-14-1983 by Ord. No. 717]
PROFESSIONAL HOME OFFICE[Added 12-11-2019 by Ord. No. 962]
A.
A lawful occupation or profession conducted within a dwelling
and carried on by the occupants thereof, having not more than two
nonoccupant persons as employees, where no more than one client may
be on-site at any one time. A professional home office use shall be
clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for residential
purposes and shall not change the character thereof, or involve any
vehicular or pedestrian pickup, delivery or removal functions to or
from the premises in excess of those normally associated with such
residential use. There shall be no display, no stock in trade and
no outside storage of equipment upon the premises. Professional home
offices shall not include the retail sales of any items, barber shops,
beauty shops, funeral homes, or any activity involving the repair,
servicing, or cleaning of any motorized vehicles or equipment.
B.
Examples of permitted professional home offices include: accountants,
architects, artists, authors, attorneys, clergy, dentists, doctors,
engineers, musicians, optometrists, realtors, teachers/tutors and
other similar professions.
RELATED EQUIPMENT
Any piece of equipment related to, incident to, or necessary
for the operation of a wireless support or WCF. By way of illustration,
not limitation, "related equipment" includes generators and ground
cabinets.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947; amended 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
RIGHT-OF-WAY or ROW
The surface of and space above and below any real property
in the Township in which the Township has a regulatory interest, or
interest as a trustee for the public, as such interests now or hereafter
exist, including, but not limited to, all streets, highways, avenues,
roads, alleys, sidewalks, tunnels, viaducts, bridges, skyways, or
any other public place, area or property under the control of the
Township, and any unrestricted public or utility easements established,
dedicated, platted, improved or devoted for utility purposes, but
excluding lands other than streets that are owned by the Township
and also excluding pedestrian trails, footpaths and equestrian trails
under the control of the Township. The phrase "in the right(s)-of-way"
means in, on, over, along, above and/or under the right(s)-of-way.
For the purpose of this article, ROW shall include streets and roads
owned by Montgomery County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and
any other Pennsylvania state agencies.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
SEASONAL SIDEWALK CAFE
An accessory and subordinate activity of the services provided
by an existing restaurant, eating establishment or food preparation
business wherein the exterior seating area adjacent to the public
sidewalk, and/or including the public sidewalk, is used solely for
the purpose of consuming products also available within the primary
establishment on the premises.
[Added 7-13-2011 by Ord. No. 912]
SIGN
Any name, nameplate, emblem, painting, banner, pennant, placard,
billboard, poster, panel, display, illustration, structure or other
device illuminated or nonilluminated, used for visual communication,
which is affixed, painted or represented directly or indirectly upon
a building or other outdoor surface or on the interior of the building
visible from the exterior, for the purpose of bringing the subject
thereof to the attention of passersby, or advertising a business,
commodity, service or product or for identifying a business, structure
or use of land on which the sign is located.
[Amended 5-9-1984 by Ord. No. 723]
SIGN AREA
The area of the largest single face of the sign within a
perimeter which forms the outside shape, including any frame, and
forms an integral part of the display, but excluding the necessary
supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed, subject to the
following:
[Added 5-9-1984 by Ord. No. 723]
A.
For double-faced signs or V-type signs, the
interior angle of which does not exceed 45°, only one face shall
be applicable in computing "sign area."
B.
For V-type signs, the interior angle of which
exceeds 45°, both faces shall be applicable in computing "sign
area."
C.
The area of an irregularly shaped sign, including
signs consisting of separate modules, figures or letters, shall be
deemed to be the total square footage of the smallest single square
or rectangle into which all of the separate modules, figures or letters
which comprise the irregularly shaped and/or modular sign would fit.
SIGN, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD
A sign or portion thereof that can be electronically changed
or programmed (usually remotely) without altering the physical surface
of the sign.
[Added 11-10-2010 by Ord. No. 906]
SIGN, FACIAL
A sign painted on, applied on or otherwise permanently attached
parallel to and projecting not more than 16 inches from the wall to
which it is attached, of a building or storefront, designed as a unified
message.
[Added 5-9-1984 by Ord. No. 723]
SIGN, GROUND
A freestanding sign attached to a structure which is intended
and designed only to support the sign and which is embedded in the
ground or anchored in concrete.
[Added 5-9-1984 by Ord. No. 723]
SIGN, PORTABLE
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or to a building
or building surface.
[Added 5-9-1984 by Ord. No. 723]
SIGN, PROJECTING
A sign attached to and projecting more than 16 inches from
a building facade.
[Added 5-9-1984 by Ord. No. 723]
SPECIAL EXCEPTION
The permission or approval granted by the Zoning Hearing Board, in the manner provided for in Article
XVI of this chapter, in situations where provision therefor is made by the terms hereof.
STEALTH TECHNOLOGY
Camouflaging methods applied to wireless supports, WCFs,
base stations, related equipment, antennas and other facilities which
render them more visually appealing or blend the proposed facility
into the existing structure or visual backdrop in such a manner as
to render it minimally visible to the casual observer. Such methods
include, but are not limited to, architecturally screened roof-mounted
antennas or building-mounted antennas painted to match the existing
structure and facilities constructed to resemble trees, shrubs, and
light poles.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947; amended 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
STREET LINE
The dividing line between a lot and a public street, road or highway legally opened or officially plotted by the Township, provided that such line shall be measured at the outside line of the right-of-way, or ultimate right of way, for streets identified under Chapter
89 of the Code of the Township of Springfield or identified in the Springfield Township Comprehensive Plan.
[Added 3-11-1970 by Ord. No. 591; 10-11-2006 by Ord. No.
880]
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed, installed or portable, the use of which
requires a location on a parcel of land. It includes a moveable building
which can be used for housing, business, commercial, agricultural,
industrial or office purposes, either temporarily or permanently.
"Structure" also includes fences, swimming pools, tennis courts, poles,
pipelines, transmission lines and cables, tracks, signs, sheds and
other accessory construction.
[Added 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE
Any modification of a wireless support, including the placement
of any WCFs thereon, that results in the following:
[Amended 12-14-2016 by Ord. No. 947; 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
A.
For all wireless supports:
(1)
Any increase in the number of equipment cabinets beyond the
industry standard for the technology involved, and in any case an
increase in the total number of existing and new equipment cabinets
to greater than four;
(2)
Any modification that requires the excavation or deployment
outside of the current site of the wireless support;
(3)
Any modification that defeats the existing concealment and stealth
technology efforts of the wireless support;
(4)
Any modification that does not comply with the conditions associated
with the initial or subsequent approval of the construction or modification
of the wireless support.
B.
For tower-based wireless supports outside of rights-of-way:
(1)
Any increase in the height of a tower-based wireless support
by more than 10% of its existing height, or by the height of one additional
antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna by
more than 20 feet, whichever is greater, except that the mounting
of the proposed wireless communications facility may exceed the size
limits set forth herein if necessary to avoid interference with existing
antennas; or
(2)
Any increase in the horizontal width of a tower-based wireless
support by more than 20 feet, or by an amount equal to the existing
width of the tower-based wireless support, whichever is greater.
C.
For tower-based wireless supports in rights-of-way and all nontower
wireless supports:
(1)
Any increase in the height of a wireless support by more than
10% of its existing height, or by more than 10 feet, whichever is
greater; or
(2)
Any increase in the horizontal width of a wireless support by
more than six feet.
TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICE
A building and its equipment erected and used for the purpose
of facilitating transmission and exchange of telephone messages between
subscribers and other business of the telephone company, provided
that in a residential district a telephone central office shall not
include public business facilities, storage of materials, trucks or
repair facilities, or housing of repair crews.
TOWER-BASED WIRELESS SUPPORT
Any tower, monopole, or other structure which has a primary
purpose of supporting wireless communications facilities thereto,
which has received approval from the Township as required in this
chapter, to be designated as a wireless support. This definition shall
include, but not be limited to, DAS hub facilities, self-supporting
lattice towers, guy towers and monopoles.
[Added 5-10-2017 by Ord.
No. 951]
TOWNSHIP
Springfield Township, Montgomery County, PA.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
TOXIC OR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Any substance, solution or mixture which, because of its
quality, quantity, concentration, physical, chemical or infectious
characteristics, or any combination of the foregoing, presents or
may present an actual or potential hazard to the health, safety, and
welfare or to the drinking water supply if such substance, solution,
mixture or combination thereof is discharged to the land or waters
of the Township of Springfield.
[Added 2-14-2007 by Ord. No. 887]
TRAILER CAMP
Any premises used or designed to be used as a parking space
for more than one house trailer.
VARIANCE
The permission or approval granted by the Zoning Hearing Board, in the manner provided for in Article
XVI of this chapter, in situations where a literal enforcement of the provisions of this chapter would result in unnecessary hardship.
VEGETATION
Trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, grass, plants, bulbs
and other growing flora.
[Added 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
WBCA
Pennsylvania Wireless Broadband Collocation Act (53 P.S.
§ 11702.1 et seq.), as amended.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
WIRELESS
Transmissions through the airwaves, including, but not limited
to, infrared line of sight, cellular, PCS, microwave, satellite, or
radio signals.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947]
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (WCF)
The set of equipment and network components, including antennas,
nodes, control boxes, conduits, ducts, pedestals, electronics and
other equipment, used for the purpose of transmitting, receiving,
distributing, or providing wireless communications services. The term
does not include any wireless support.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947; amended 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
WIRELESS SUPPORT
Any support structure that supports wireless communications
facilities, regardless of its primary purpose, including but not limited
to towers, monopoles, buildings, water towers, utility poles and light
poles, that could support the placement or installation of WCFs if
approved by the Township. This term does not include the wireless
communications facility attached thereto.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord.
No. 947; amended 5-10-2017 by Ord. No. 951]
YARD, FRONT
The required open space extending along and back from the
street line of any street on which the lot abuts.
[Amended 3-11-1970 by Ord. No. 591]
YARD, REAR
The required open space extending along the rear lot line
(not a street line) through the whole width of the lot.
YARD, SIDE
The required open space extending along the side lot line
from the front yard setback line to the rear yard setback line.
[Amended 4-8-1981 by Ord. No. 702]