[Amended 9-1-1992 by Ord. No. 219]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following
words and phrases shall be construed throughout this chapter to have
the meanings herein indicated. The singular shall include the plural,
and the plural shall include the singular. The word "occupy" includes
the words "designed or intended to be occupied." The word "use" includes
the words "arranged, designed or intended to be used." The present
tense shall include the future tense. The word "shall" is always mandatory.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A building subordinate to and on the same lot with the principal
building on a lot, used for purposes customarily incidental to those
of the principal building, and not to be used for residential purposes
unless such building was originally designed for residential uses,
as in conjunction with an institution.
A use on the same lot with and customarily incidental and
subordinate to the principal use of land or of a building.
[Added 5-5-2009 by Ord. No.
347]
ADULT ARCADEAny place to which the public or private members are permitted or invited wherein coin-operated, slug-operated or for any form of consideration, an electronically, electrically or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machine, projector, video or laser disc player or other image-producing device is maintained to show images to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time and where the images so displayed are distinguished or characterized by the depicting or describing of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
ADULT BOOKSTORE, ADULT NOVELTY STORE or ADULT VIDEO STOREA commercial establishment which, as one of its principal purposes, offers for sale or rental for any form of consideration any one or more of the following: books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes or video reproductions, slides or other visual representations which are characterized by the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas; or instruments, devices or paraphernalia which are designed for use in connection with specified sexual activities. A commercial establishment may have other principal business purposes that do not involve the offering for sale or rental of material depicting or describing specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas and still be categorized as an adult bookstore, adult novelty store or adult video store. Such other business purposes will not serve to exempt such commercial establishment from being categorized as an adult bookstore, adult novelty store or adult video store so long as one of its business purposes is the offering for sale or rental for consideration the specified materials which are characterized by the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
ADULT CABARETA nightclub, bar, restaurant or similar commercial establishment which regularly features: persons who appear in a state of nudity or seminudity; or live performances which are characterized by the exposure of specified anatomical areas or by specified sexual activities; or films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other photographic reproductions which are characterized by the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
ADULT MOTION-PICTURE THEATERA commercial establishment where, for any form of consideration, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or similar photographic reproductions are regularly shown, which are characterized by the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
ADULT BUSINESSAn establishment with a substantial or significant portion of its business distinguished or characterized by its emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to nude persons, human body reproductive organs and features or sexual activities, or an establishment with a designated segment or section devoted to the sale or display of such material or entertainment. These uses include adult arcades, adult bookstores, adult novelty stores, adult video stores, adult cabarets, adult motion-picture theaters, adult theaters, escort agencies, nude model studios and sexual encounter centers.
ADULT THEATERA theater, concert hall, auditorium or similar commercial establishment which regularly features persons who appear in a state of nudity or seminudity or live performances which are characterized by the exposure of specified anatomical areas or by specified sexual activities.
ESCORTA person who, for consideration, agrees or offers to act as a companion, guide or date for another person or who agrees or offers to privately model lingerie or to privately perform a striptease for another person.
ESCORT AGENCYA person or business association who or which furnishes, offers or advertises to furnish escorts for a fee, tip or other consideration as part of its business.
NUDITY or STATE OF NUDITYThe showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering, the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple or the showing of the covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.
SEMINUDE or SEMINUDE CONDITIONThe state of dress in which clothing partially or opaquely covers specified anatomical areas.
SEXUAL ENCOUNTER CENTERA business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its principal business purposes, offers for any form of consideration physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between persons of the opposite sex or activities between male and female persons and/or persons of the same sex when one or more of the persons is in a state of nudity or seminudity.
SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREASHuman genitals, pubic region, anus, buttocks, female breast(s) below a point immediately above the top of the areola, or human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely covered.
SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIESIncludes any of the following: the fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus or female breasts; sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including intercourse, oral copulation, masturbation or sodomy; or excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth above.
The cultivating of soil and the raising and harvesting of
products of the soil, including but not limited to nurseries, nursery
sales yards, horticulture, forestry and animal husbandry.
A farm building, structure or facility designed, constructed
and/or operated for the intensive and accelerated raising of poultry,
animal or agricultural produce and/or byproducts of the same for commercial
sale.
A strip of land over which there is a public or private right-of-way
which serves as the secondary means of vehicular access to the side
or rear of two or more properties. Frontage on such a right-of-way
shall not be construed as satisfying the requirements of the chapter
related to frontage on a dedicated street.
Any change in supporting members of a building, such as bearing
walls, columns, beams or girders; any addition to a building; any
change in use from one district classification to another; or removal
of a building from one location to another.
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. An antenna shall not include tower-based wireless
communications facilities defined below.
[Added 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
A room or group of rooms in an apartment house or multifamily
structure designed for and being intended for use and occupancy exclusively
as a residence for only one family.
A flood which has a one-percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year, which is also called the one-hundred-year
flood or one-percent annual chance flood.
[Added 10-4-2016 by Ord.
No. 378]
A strip of land adjacent to the boundary of a property or
district of a width not less than that designated by this chapter
and on which is placed evergreen shrubbery, hedges, evergreens or
other suitable plantings of sufficient height and density to constitute
an effective screen and give maximum protection and immediate screening
to an abutting property or district.
Any structure having enclosing walls and roof and permanently
located on the land.
The aggregate of the maximum horizontal cross-section areas
of all buildings on a lot, including accessory structures, above the
ground level, measured at the greatest outside dimensions.
[Amended 12-16-1997 by Ord. No. 268]
A wind energy facility and/or system designed to be permanently
mounted on a building or other inhabitable structure, including wind
turbines of any rated nameplate capacity designed to be operated in
direct contact with a building. Other wind energy facilities and/or
systems primarily used for land-based applications which may be permanently
mounted and operated on a building are also included in this definition.
[Added 1-19-2010 by Ord. No. 352]
A building in which is conducted the principal use of the
lot on which it is situated.
The line which establishes the minimum depth of front, side
and rear yards. The front building line is a line parallel to the
right-of-way at a distance therefrom equal to the depth of the front
yard required for the district in which the lot is located. The side
building line is a line parallel to the side property line at a distance
therefrom equal to the depth of the side yard required for the district
in which the lot is located. The rear building line is a line parallel
to the front building line at a distance from the rear lot line equal
to the depth of the rear yard required for the district in which the
lot is located.
That portion of a street or alley intended for vehicular
use.
An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections defined
by the right-of-way lines of the street and by a line of sight between
a point on the right-of-way lines and a given distance from the intersection
of the right-of-way lines.
An institution or other residence which provides temporary
or permanent housing for individuals who are not related by blood,
marriage or adoption, including foster children, to the operator and
who are unable to provide a home for themselves, such as children,
the aged, the indigent or the handicapped.
Maps, charts and text duly adopted by the Doylestown Township
Board of Supervisors as the Official Comprehensive Plan of the Township.
Any use that is permitted subject to additional conditions,
as specified in this chapter, beyond those contained in the general
provisions of this chapter and the specific provisions of the particular
district in which the lot is located and subject to the approval of
the Board of Supervisors.
Any combustible or explosive composition or any substance
or combination of substances intended to produce visible and/or audible
effects by combustion and which is suitable for use by the public
that complies with the construction, performance, composition and
labeling requirements promulgated by the Consumer Products Safety
Commission in 16 CFR (relating to commercial practices) or any successor
regulation and which complies with the provisions for "consumer fireworks"
as defined in the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Standard
87-1, including but not limited to Sections *3.1 and *3.5, or any
successor standard. The term does not include devices such as "ground
and hand-held sparkling devices," as defined in APA Standard 87-1,
Section *3.1.1, "novelties" as defined in APA Standard 87-1, Section
*3.2, or "toy caps" as defined in APA Standard 87-1, Section *3.3.
[Added 8-21-2018 by Ord.
No. 390]
A street with one end open for public vehicular and pedestrian
access and the other end terminating in a vehicular turnaround.
Calendar days.
Final adjudication of any board or other body granted jurisdiction
under this chapter, either by reason of the grant of exclusive jurisdiction
or by reason of appeals from determinations. All decisions shall be
appealable to the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County and the judicial
district wherein the Township lies.
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
An unenclosed patio or porch attached to or immediately adjoining
a dwelling unit.
[Amended 9-1-1992 by Ord. No. 219]
The number of dwelling units per acre.
The number of dwelling units per the net buildable site area, as determined in Article V.
Final action by an officer, body or agency charged with the
administration of this chapter or applications thereunder, except
the Board of Supervisors and Zoning Hearing Board. Determinations
shall be appealable only to the boards designated as having jurisdiction
for such appeal.
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the placement
of manufactured homes, streets or other paving, utilities, filling,
grading, excavation, mining, dredging, or drilling operations and
the subdivision of land.
[Amended 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401]
Defined as more fully set forth in 27 CFR 555.11 (Meaning
of terms), incorporated herein by reference, which meet the types
of display fireworks devices set forth in the APA Standard 87-1, Section
*4.1, and which comply with requirements for display fireworks set
forth in APA Standard 87-1.
[Added 8-21-2018 by Ord.
No. 390]
A zoning district as laid out on the Zoning Map,[1] along with the regulations pertaining thereto.
A building occupied by and maintained exclusively for faculty,
students or other such persons affiliated with a school, church, recreational
or educational facility or other recognized institution.
A minor vehicular right-of-way providing access between a
street and a parking area or garage within a lot or property.[2]
A building designed for and occupied exclusively for residential
purposes, excluding hotel, rooming house, tourist home, institutional
home, guesthouse, residential club, motel, motor court and the like,
but including the following:
SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHEDA building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for only one family and having no party wall in common with an adjacent building. Where a private garage is structurally attached to such a building, it shall be considered a part thereof.
SINGLE-FAMILY SEMIDETACHEDA building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for only one family and having a party wall in common with one adjacent building; a single-family twin dwelling. Where a private garage is structurally attached to such a building, it shall be considered a part thereof.
TWO-FAMILY DETACHEDA building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for two families living independently of each other with one family wholly or partly over the other and having no party wall in common with an adjacent building: a detached duplex dwelling. Where a private garage is structurally attached to such a building, it shall be considered a part thereof.
TWO-FAMILY SEMIDETACHEDA building designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for two families living independently of each other with one family living wholly or partly over the other and having a party wall in common with an adjacent building: a semidetached duplex dwelling. Where a private garage is structurally attached to such a building, it shall be considered a part thereof.
MULTIFAMILYA building, not a townhouse, on a lot designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for three or more families living independently of one another, with or without the provisions of meal service for its tenants and guests and with or without a central dining room, but without meal service for the general public and without habitable rooms in the basement: an apartment house or apartment complex.
SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHEDA dwelling on a lot designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for one family, having independent outside access and attached to but separated from adjoining dwellings by not more than two party walls: a townhouse dwelling.
Any room or group of rooms located within a residential building
and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which arc used
or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, and eating by
one family. An accessory dwelling unit as permitted herein shall,
for the purposes of this chapter, be considered to be part of a single
dwelling unit even though it may contain facilities which are used
or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating by
family members. This excludes housing operated by organizations and
private clubs that limit occupancy to members, i.e., dormitories,
fraternities, sororities.
[Amended 5-4-1993 by Ord. No. 224; 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401]
A right-of-way or restriction granted for limited use of
private land within which the owner of the property may be restricted
from erecting permanent structures but shall have the right to make
any other use of the land which is not inconsistent with the rights
of the grantee.
Any vehicle that is licensed and registered for operation
on public and private highways, roads, and streets; and operates either
partially or exclusively using an electric motor powered by an externally
charged on-board battery.
[Added 4-18-2023 by Ord. No. 410]
The equipment, including the cables, cords, conductors, connectors,
couplers, enclosures, attachment plugs, power outlets, power electronics,
transformer, switchgear, switches and controls, network interfaces,
point of sale equipment, and associated apparatus designed and used
for the purpose of transferring energy from the electric supply system
to a plug-in electric vehicle. "EVSE" may deliver either alternating
current or, consistent with fast charging equipment standards, direct
current electricity. "EVSE" is synonymous with "electric vehicle charging
station."
[Added 4-18-2023 by Ord. No. 410]
Those walls opposite to and parallel with one another or
walls or wall lines extended off opposite walls intersecting at angles
of less than 60°.
Any group of individuals. related or unrelated, living together
as a household unit where the residents may share living expenses,
chores, eat meals together and are a close group with social, economic,
and psychological commitments to each other. This definition does
not apply to those persons residing in housing operated by organizations
and private clubs that limit occupancy to members, i.e., dormitories,
fraternities, sororities.
[Amended 5-4-1993 by Ord. No. 224; 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401]
Federal Communications Commission.[3]
[Added 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
Any composition or device for the purpose of producing a
visible or an audible effect for entertainment purposes by combustion,
deflagration, or detonation that meets the definition of 1.4 (G) fireworks
or 1.3 (G) fireworks, as set forth in the latest edition of the International
Fire Code, including, but not limited to, those compositions or devices
defined in APA Standard 87-1.
[Added 8-21-2018 by Ord.
No. 390]
A relatively flat or low land area adjoining a river, stream
or watercourse which is subject to partial or complete inundation;
and an area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff
of surface waters from any source.
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent
land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood
without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than
one foot.
[Amended 10-4-2016 by Ord. No. 378]
A mortuary, including auditorium, crematorium, funeral equipment
sales, laboratory and temporary storage facilities, but not including
cemeteries, columbariums, mausoleums or any other permanent storage
facility.
PRIVATE GARAGEA building accessory to or an integral part of a single-family or two-family dwelling for the storage of one or more motor vehicles owned and used by the owner or tenant or members of his household.
PUBLIC GARAGEA building, other than a private or a storage garage, used for the storage, service or repair of motor vehicles.
STORAGE GARAGEA building, not a private or public garage, one story in height, used solely for the storage of automobiles but not for the sale, service or repair of automobiles.[4]
The mean elevation of the ground surrounding a building,
calculated as an average of the highest and lowest elevations.
A horticultural use or operation occurring within a partially
or totally enclosed structure, including but not limited to the sale
of products produced in such structure.
A dwelling in which temporary sleeping accommodations are
provided for compensation for no more than 10 persons at any given
time.
An administrative proceeding conducted by the Board of Supervisors
or the Zoning Hearing Board pursuant to this chapter.
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
A building's vertical measurement from the mean level of
the ground surrounding the building to a point midway between the
highest and the lowest points of the roof. Farm silos and church steeples
shall be considered as accessory irregularities which are exempt from
the height limitations for principal buildings or uses.
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 some customer, client or patient traffic,
whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, meeting location, delivery
or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally
associated with a residential use.[5]
[Added 11-18-2008 by Ord. No. 345]
A building used for the purpose of furnishing for compensation
temporary lodging to the public and having lodging accommodations
for more than 10 persons.
The distance measured from the surface of the tower foundation
to the height of the wind turbine hub, to which the blade is attached.
[Added 1-19-2010 by Ord. No. 352]
Any surface which does not absorb rain; all buildings, parking
areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks, and any areas in concrete, asphalt,
packed stone or other equivalent surfaces.
[Amended 11-4-1991 by Ord. No. 208]
The total area of all impervious surfaces divided by the net buildable site area, as defined in Article V.
A plant that is determined to be a serious threat to the
native ecosystem and which typically grow quickly and aggressively,
spreading and displacing other plants. Such plants include flowers,
grasses, shrubs, trees and vines, as defined and listed by the Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in their "List of
Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania," as amended.
[Added 9-21-2010 by Ord. No. 355]
A lot, land or structure or part thereof used primarily for
the collection, storage and sale of wastepaper, rags, scrap metal
or discarded material or for the collection, dismantling, storage
or salvaging of machinery or vehicles not in operating condition and
for the sale of parts thereof.
Any establishment wherein four or more dogs and other domesticated
pets four months of age or older are kept for the purpose of breeding,
boarding, sale or show purposes.
Year-round bodies of water. The shorelines of such bodies
shall be measured from the permanent pool elevation.
A right-of-way established and shown on a final record plan
on file at the Township Office. The legal right-of-way shall be the
future or ultimate right-of-way.
Includes all cattle, horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, hogs,
sheep, goats, rabbits, hares, poultry and any other similar creature
raised for human use or profit, but shall not include dogs, cats or
similar creatures customarily kept as household pets.
A space, accessible from a street or driveway, in a building
or on a lot for the temporary use of vehicles while loading or unloading
merchandise or materials, but not to be used for storage.
A parcel of land, set aside from other parcels, in one ownership
and not divided by any street and not including any land within the
right-of-way of any public or private street even if the ownership
to such right-of-way is the owner of the lot, and not including future
easements.
The total horizontal area of the lot lying within the lot lines, provided that no area of land lying within any street or legal right-of-way and no area which is to be part of future easements for aboveground drainage facilities, including, but not limited to, detention basins, retention basins and swales, shall be deemed a portion of any lot area. In addition, the minimum lot area required by this chapter in any zoning district, up to a maximum of 40,000 square feet, shall not include the area of any lands which contain floodplains, wetlands, waters of the commonwealth, lakes, ponds, streams and watercourses, as referenced in § 175-27 of this chapter.
[Amended 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 193; 2-20-1996 by Ord. No.
249]
A lot which has an interior angle of less than 135° at
the intersection of two street lines. A lot abutting on a curved street
shall be considered a corner lot if the tangents to the curve at the
points of intersection of the side lot lines intersect as an interior
angle of less than 135°.
A lot other than a corner lot.
A property boundary line of any lot held in single and separate
ownership, except that in the case of any lot abutting a street, the
lot line for such portion of the lot as abuts the street shall be
deemed to be the same as the street line and shall not be the center
line of the street or any other line within the street line even though
such may be the property boundary line.
An interior lot having frontage on two parallel or approximately
parallel streets.
The horizontal distance between the side lines of the lot
measured at the building setback line.
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, and which
is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling
with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required
utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and
electrical systems contained in the structure. The term does not include
any self-propelled recreational vehicle. A manufactured home is designed
and constructed to the Federal Manufactured Construction and Safety
Standards and is so labeled.
[Amended 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195; 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401]
A parcel or contiguous parcels of land which has been so
designated and improved that it contains two or more manufactured
home lots for the placement thereon of manufactured homes.
[Amended 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195; 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401]
A parcel of land in a manufactured home community, improved
with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary
for the erection thereon of a single manufactured home.
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195; 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401]
Marijuana for certified medical use as legally permitted
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with Act 16 of 2016, as amended.
[Added 6-20-2017 by Ord.
No. 383]
Act 16 of 2016, 35 P.S. § 1023.101 et seq., as
amended.
[Added 6-20-2017 by Ord.
No. 383]
Refer to definition as provided by Act 16 of 2016, 35 P.S.
§ 1023.101 et seq., as amended.
[Added 6-20-2017 by Ord.
No. 383]
Refer to definition as provided by Act 16 of 2016, 35 P.S.
§ 1023.101 et seq., as amended.
[Added 6-20-2017 by Ord.
No. 383]
Any aggregate or mass of mineral matter, whether or not coherent.
The term includes, but is not limited to, limestone and dolomite,
sand and gravel, rock and stone, earth, fill, slag, iron ore, zinc
ore, vermiculite and clay, anthracite and bituminous coal, coal refuse,
peat and crude oil, and natural gas.
[Added 1-15-2019 by Ord.
No. 394]
The removal of any aggregate or mass of mineral matter, whether
or not coherent. The term includes, but is not limited to, limestone
and dolomite, sand and gravel, rock and stone, earth, fill, slag,
iron ore, zinc ore, vermiculite and clay, anthracite and bituminous
coal, coal refuse, peat and crude oil, and natural gas.
[Added 1-15-2019 by Ord.
No. 394]
A facility associated with the sale of motor vehicle fuel,
including but not limited to gasoline, diesel, electricity and other
alternative fuels, that also offers for sale grocery type items, and
including items from the following groups: beverages, snacks (including
confectionery), dairy products and tobacco. Food preparation for take-away
consumption shall be permitted. The use may provide for indoor automated
teller machines and financial services, indoor public telephone facilities,
indoor vending machines, electric vehicle charging stations, and air
pumps for the inflation of tires.
[Added 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401; amended 4-18-2023 by Ord. No. 410]
The Township of Doylestown.
The National Fire Protection Association Standard 1124, Code
for the Manufacture, Transportation, and Storage of Fireworks and
Pyrotechnic Articles, 2017 edition, or any subsequent edition.
[Added 8-21-2018 by Ord.
No. 390]
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.
[Added 11-18-2008 by Ord. No. 345]
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.
[Amended 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
A structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed
to comply with the applicable use or extent of use provisions in this
chapter or any amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such
structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of this chapter
or any amendment or prior to the application of such chapter or any
amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such nonconforming
structures include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs.
[Added 11-4-1991 by Ord. No. 208]
A use of a building or lot which does not comply with the
applicable use regulations of this chapter or amendments thereto for
the district in which it is located but which was in existence at
the time the use regulations became effective and was lawful at the
time it was established.
All non-tower wireless communications facilities, including,
but not limited to, antennas and related equipment. Non-tower WCFs
shall not include support structures for antennas and related equipment.
[Added 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
Articles of trade having amusement value and whose appeal
is often transitory, and which is limited to those items for sale
described in American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Standard 87-1,
Section *3.2.
[Added 8-21-2018 by Ord.
No. 390]
A plant that is determined to be injurious to public health, crops, livestock, agricultural land or other property. Such weeds are listed on Pennsylvania's Noxious Weed Control List (as amended) and may include plants that are considered locally injurious as listed in Chapter 62 of the Code of Doylestown Township.
[Added 9-21-2010 by Ord. No. 355]
A licensed establishment which provides full-time convalescent
or chronic care for three or more individuals who are not related
by blood or marriage to the operator and who, by reason of chronic
illness or infirmity, are unable to care for themselves. No care for
the acutely ill or surgical or obstetrical services shall be provided
in such a home.
A certificate stating that all work indicated on a building
permit has been satisfactorily completed or, in cases not involving
construction, that a proposed new use is in conformity with this chapter
and the building or lot may be occupied.
A sign, including the supporting structure, framework, and
power sources, if any, which advertises, draws attention to or promotes
any product, article of business, service or activity sold, occurring
or located, temporarily or permanently, on a property other than that
upon which the sign is located.
[Added 3-6-2007 by Ord. No. 337]
That area of land and/or water to be restricted from future
development for the purpose of protecting natural features, providing
buffers or for recreational purposes. Open space does not include
land occupied by structures, roads, road rights-of-way, parking lots,
land reserved for future parking lots, stormwater detention basins
or retention basins or areas of public facilities, such as community
septic systems, nor does it include any portion of the minimum lot
areas as required by this chapter. Certain public utilities may occupy
a portion of the open space if approved by the Board of Supervisors.
[Amended 12-16-1997 by Ord. No. 268]
The total amount of open space within a site divided by the
base site area.
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 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
The words "Commission" or "Planning Commission" shall always
refer to the Doylestown Township Planning Commission.[6]
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the Board
of Supervisors or the Planning Commission, intended to inform and
obtain public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with this
chapter.
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
A forum held pursuant to notice under the Act of July 3,
1986, P.L, 388, No. 84, known as the "Sunshine Act," as amended.[7]
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
Notice published once each week for two consecutive weeks
in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. Such notice
shall state the date, time and place of hearing and the particular
nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication
shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not
be less than seven days from the date of the hearing.
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
A private or municipal corporation organized and existing
for the distribution and sale of water, electricity, gas or the collection
and disposal of sanitary waste or sewage, provided that the same are
regulated in whole or in part by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
A public utility shall not include a corporation or other entity engaged
in the wireless communication industry.
[Amended 12-16-1997 by Ord. No. 268]
A building or structure and its equipment used for the transmission
and exchange of telephone, radio, gas, power, sewer and water facilities.
Water supply provided by a public utility.
Any natural or excavated opening in the ground from which
clay, gravel, slate, limestone, sandstone or other rocks or minerals
or material are obtained by stripping, digging, blasting or other
means, except for anthracite or bituminous coal stripping. "Blasting"
shall mean the explosion of dynamite, black powder, fuse, blasting
cap, detonators, electric squibs or other explosives as defined in
the Regulation for Pits and Quarries, 1959 Edition, issued by the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Labor and Industry,
as amended.
Institutions of a religious, educational, charitable or philanthropic
nature, including places of worship, hospitals or other community
organizations.
Equipment including boats, boat trailers, travel trailers,
pickup campers or coaches designed to be mounted on automotive vehicles,
motorized dwellings, tent trailers, recreational vehicles and the
like, and cases or boxes used for transporting recreational equipment,
whether occupied by such equipment or not.
Any letter, review, memorandum, compilation or similar writing
made by any body, board, officer or consultant, other than a solicitor,
to any body, board, officer or consultant for the purpose of assisting
the recipient of such report in the rendering of any decision or determination.
All reports shall be deemed recommendatory and advisory only and shall
not be binding upon the recipient, board, officer, body or agency
nor shall any appeal lie therefrom. Any report used, received or considered
by the body, board, officer or agency rendering a determination or
decision shall be made available for inspection to the applicant and
all other parties to any proceeding upon request, and copies thereof
shall be provided at the cost of reproduction.
[Added 9-1-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
The surface of and the space above and below any real property
in the Township in which the Township or commonwealth 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 or commonwealth, 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 or commonwealth. The phrase "in the right(s)-of-way"
means in, on, over, along, above and/or under the right(s)-of-way.
[Amended 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
FUTURE RIGHT-OF-WAYThe surface of, as well as the space above and below, an area of land required for the widening of existing streets to accommodate anticipated future traffic or to provide future access to or through undeveloped land.
ULTIMATE RIGHT-OF-WAYThe future or planned width of highways in the public domain as shown on the Official Ultimate Right-of-Way Map on file at the Township office.[8]
Senior citizen housing shall be in the form of a planned community for senior citizens which provides proper care, supervision, living accommodations and recreation for said senior citizens and shall comply with the specific regulations set forth in Article XII, Commercial Retirement District. Such use may include life-care and continuing-care facilities.
A currency-activated device for personal use or pleasure,
including, but not limited to, devices for washing, drying, cleaning,
change or amusement, but specifically excluding vending machines and
automatic bank teller machines.
[Added 2-20-1996 by Ord. No. 249]
Any area of land, including structures thereon, or any building
or part thereof that is used for the sale of gasoline or other motor
vehicle fuel or accessories and which may or may not include facilities
for lubrications, washing or otherwise servicing motor vehicles but
which shall not include painting or body or fender repairs.
[Added 4-18-2023 by Ord. No. 410]
[Amended 11-4-1999 by Ord. No. 208; 12-5-2000 by Ord. No. 297]
CENTRALIZED SEWAGE SYSTEMAny sewage collection and treatment system in which sewage is collected from buildings and directly piped to an approved sewage treatment system, plant or central septic tank system and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection or any other municipal, county, federal or state governmental agency having jurisdiction.
PRIVATE ON-LOT SEWER SYSTEMA system of piping, tanks and other facilities approved by the Bucks County Department of Health, serving one or more buildings located on a single lot, which collects and disposes of sewage in whole or in part into the soil on the same lot.
The visible flicker effect when rotating turbine blades cast
shadows on the ground and nearby structures causing the repeating
pattern of light and shadow.
[Added 1-19-2010 by Ord. No. 352]
Renting for a period of 30 consecutive days or less any dwelling
unit, in whole or in part, for exclusive transient use. "Exclusive
transient use" shall mean that no resident of the dwelling unit lives
on-site, in the dwelling unit, throughout any visitor's stay. Rentals
of units located within Township-approved hotels, motels, inns, and
bed-and-breakfasts shall not be considered short-term rentals as defined
herein.
[Added 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401]
Any name, nameplate, poster, panel, display, illustration,
structure or device used for visual communication which is affixed,
painted or represented directly or indirectly upon a building or other
surface, including signs visible from the outside which are inside
windows or doors, for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof
to the attention of the public or advertising a business, commodity,
service or product or for identifying a business, structure or use
of land.
[Amended 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 194]
All land area within the site as defined by the deed and
determined by a site survey.
The site area minus existing road and utilities rights-of-way,
land which is not contiguous or is separated from the parcel by a
road or other public easement and land shown on previous subdivisions
or land development plans as reserved from development for natural
resource reasons, recreation and/or open space preservation.
A permission or approval granted to use land for a purpose
other than those specified as uses permitted outright within a zoning
district, granted by the Township Zoning Hearing Board in accordance
with the standards contained in this chapter.
That part of a building located between the surface of any
floor and the floor or roof next above. The first story of a building
is the lowest story having 50% or more of its area above grade level
or having the floor at the level of the exterior grade on one or more
sides.
[Added 4-15-2003 by Ord. No. 309]
A right-of-way municipally or privately owned, serving as
a means of vehicular and pedestrian travel, furnishing access to abutting
properties and space for public utilities.
The dividing line between a lot and the future or ultimate
right-of-way line of a public street, road or highway legally opened
or officially platted or between a lot and a privately owned street,
road or highway over which the owners or tenants of two or more lots
held in single and separate ownership have the right-of-way.
Any man-made object having an ascertainable location on or
in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
[Amended 12-16-1997 by Ord. No. 268]
Any pool which is used or intended to be used for swimming
or bathing, over 18 inches in depth or with a surface area of 150
square feet or more. For the purposes of this chapter, a swimming
pool is considered an accessory structure.
A structure other than a permanent facility with fixed utility
connections, which is in use or in place for a period of 20 consecutive
calendar days or less, and is dedicated to the storage and sale of
consumer fireworks and related items; the term includes temporary
retail sales stands, tents, canopies, and membrane structures meeting
the specifications of NFPA 1124. The term shall not include a facility
that is not licensed to sell consumer fireworks under this chapter.
This definition is limited to the portions of the chapter related
to the sale of consumer fireworks.
[Added 8-21-2018 by Ord.
No. 390]
Any structure that is used for the purpose of supporting
one or more antennas, including, but not limited to, self-supporting
lattice towers, guy towers, monopoles, utility poles, light poles,
and hub facilities for distributed antenna systems.
[Added 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
Doylestown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
[Added 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
A vehicular portable structure built on a chassis designed
as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation, vacation and other
short-term uses, having a body width not exceeding eight feet and
a body length not exceeding 32 feet.
An area that is radial to the trunk of a tree. The tree protection
area shall be 15 feet from the trunk of the tree to be retained or
the distance from the trunk to the dripline (the line marking the
outer edge of the branches of the tree), whichever is greater. Where
there is a group of trees or woodlands, the tree protection area shall
be the aggregate of the protection zones for the individual trees.
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
The distance measured from the surface of the tower foundation
to the highest point of the turbine rotor plane.
[Added 1-19-2010 by Ord. No. 352]
A structure which contains the blades and hub that are used
to capture wind for purposes of energy conversion. The wind rotor
is usually located on a tower and, along with other generating and
electrical storage equipment, forms the wind energy facility.
[Added 1-19-2010 by Ord. No. 352]
The specific purpose, activity, occupation or business operation
carried on or intended to be carried on in a building or other structure
or on a tract of land.
Permission or approval granted by the Zoning Hearing Board
in accordance with this chapter constituting a modification of or
deviation from the exact provisions of this chapter as applied to
a specific piece of property.
[Added 2-20-1996 by Ord. No. 249; amended 12-16-1997 by Ord. No.
268]
SERVICE MACHINEA device for personal or business use or pleasure, including, but not limited to, devices for washing, drying, cleaning, change, letter or package delivery services or amusement, but specifically excluding United States Postal Service facilities.
VENDING MACHINEA device for dispensing merchandise, including, but not limited to, devices dispensing beverages, candy, tobacco products, toiletries, dairy products, ice or food, newspapers, brochures, sales literature, but excluding automatic bank teller machines.
A storehouse for materials and merchandise from which they
may be distributed.
MINI WAREHOUSEA building or group of buildings with individual, controlled access compartments for rental storage for nonbusiness use.
A natural channel or conveyance of surface water having defined
bed and banks with perennial flow.
[Added 10-4-2016 by Ord.
No. 378]
Areas of undrained, saturated soils, supporting wetland vegetation,
where the water table is at or near the surface or where shallow water
covers the site due to permanent or seasonal inundation of surface
water or groundwater or other areas meeting the wetlands criteria
set by the Department of Environmental Resources or the United States
Army Corps of Engineers.
A wind energy conversion system that converts wind energy
into electricity through the use of a wind turbine generator, and
includes the nacelle, rotor, tower, and pad transformer, if any.
[Added 1-19-2010 by Ord. No. 352]
An electric generating facility, whose main purpose is to
supply electricity, consisting of one or more wind turbines and other
accessory structures and buildings, including substations, metrological
towers, electrical infrastructure, transmission lines and other appurtenant
structures and facilities.
[Added 1-19-2010 by Ord. No. 352]
Transmissions through the airwaves, including, but not limited
to, infrared, line-of-sight, cellular, PCS, microwave, satellite,
or radio signals.
[Added 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
The antennas, nodes, control boxes, towers, poles, conduits,
ducts, pedestals, electronics and other equipment used for the purpose
of transmitting, receiving, distributing, providing, or accommodating
wireless communications services.
[Added 9-30-2014 by Ord. No. 373]
Areas, groves or stands of mature or largely mature trees
(i.e., at least six inches in diameter measured at a height of 4.5
feet above grade level) covering an area of 1/4 acre or a grove of
trees forming one canopy where 10 or more trees measure at least 10
inches in diameter measured at a height of 4.5 feet above grade level.
[Amended 6-1-1993 by Ord. No. 229]
An open, unoccupied space on the same lot with a building
or other structure or use, open and unobstructed from the ground to
the sky except for vegetation and accessory uses and/or structures
to the extent specifically permitted by this chapter.
[Amended 9-1-1992 by Ord. No. 219]
FRONT YARDThe open unoccupied space between the front building line and the street right-of-way line for the full width of the lot.
SIDE YARDThe open unoccupied space extending from the front yard to the rear yard between the side building line and the side lot line.
REAR YARDThe open unoccupied space between the rear building line and the rear lot line for the full width of the lot.
The Zoning Hearing Board of Doylestown Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said map is on file in the
Township offices.
[3]
Editor’s Note: The former definitions of “flood,”
“flood fringe” and “flood, one-hundred-year,”
which immediately followed this definition, were repealed 10-4-2016
by Ord. No. 378.
[4]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "gasoline service
station," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 4-18-2023 by Ord. No. 410. See now the definition of "service station."
[5]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "home
occupation," which immediately followed, was repealed 11-18-2008 by
Ord. No. 345.
[7]
Editor's Note: See now 65 Pa.C.S.A. §
701 et seq.
[8]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "rooming house/boardinghouse,"
which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 2-16-2021 by Ord. No. 401.
