For the purpose of these regulations, words used in the present tense
include the future tense, the terms "shall" and "will" are always mandatory
and the word "may" is permissive.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words shall, for the
purpose of this chapter, have the meanings herein indicated:
ALLEY
A minor right-of-way providing secondary vehicular access to the
side or rear of two (2) or more properties.
AVAILABLE SEWER
A municipal sewer is "available" if it is one thousand (1,000) feet
or less from the nearest point of a subdivision.
BUILDING LINE
The line within the property defining the required minimum distance
between any enclosed structure and the adjacent street right-of-way.
CARTWAY
That portion of the street right-of-way surfaced for vehicular use.
Width is determined from face of curb to face of curb.
CLEAR-SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area of unobstructed vision at intersections defined by lines
of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of center
lines.
COUNCIL
The legislative body of the Borough of Freedom.
COVENANT
An obligation defined by law or agreement, the violation of which
can be restrained by court action; these are usually stated in the deed.
CUL-DE-SAC
A residential street with one (1) end open to traffic, pedestrian
access and permanently terminated by a vehicular turnaround.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent of such landowner or tenant with the permission
of such landowner, who makes or causes to be made a subdivision of land or
a land development.
EASEMENT
Grant by a property owner of the use, for a specific purpose or purposes,
of a strip of land by the general public, a corporation or a certain person
or persons.
ENGINEER
The Engineer of the Borough of Freedom.
ESSENTIAL SERVICE
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by public utilities
or municipal departments or commissions, including buildings necessary for
the furnishing of adequate services for the public health, safety or general
welfare.
FRONT YARD
The open space extending across the width of the lot, between the
front building line and the street right-of-way or front.
GROUP HOUSING PROJECT
Where two (2) or more residential buildings are constructed on a
plot of ground not subdivided into customary lots and streets.
IMPROVEMENTS
Those physical changes to the land necessary to produce usable and
desirable lots from raw acreage, including but not limited to: grading, paving,
curb, gutter, storm sewers and drains, improvements to existing watercourses,
sidewalks, crosswalks, street signs, monuments, water supply facilities and
sewage disposal facilities.
LOT
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by a plat
or as otherwise permitted by law and to be used, developed or built upon as
a unit.
LOT DEPTH
The horizontal distance between the front line and the rear lot line.
MODIFICATION
An authorization recommended by the Planning Commission and approved
by Borough Council permitting subdivisions and/or land development not in
accordance with the requirements of this chapter if the literal enforcement
will exact undue hardship because of peculiar conditions pertaining to the
land in question, provided that the same will not be contrary to the public
interest and that the purpose and intent of this chapter is observed.
PERSON
A natural person, joint venture, joint-stock company, partnership,
association, club, company, corporation, business trust, organization or the
manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them.
PLAT, FINAL
A complete and exact subdivision plan, prepared for official recording
as required by statute, to define property right and proposed streets and
other improvements.
PLAT, PRELIMINARY
A tentative subdivision plan, in lesser detail than a final plan,
showing approximate street and lot layout on a topographic map as a basis
for consideration prior to preparation of a final plan.
REAR YARD
The required open space extending from the rear of the main building
and along the rear lot line (not a street line) throughout the whole width
of the lot.
RESUBDIVISION OR REPLATTING
The replatting of a recorded subdivision, in whole or in part, by
a redesign of lots, by change of size, area or by street layout.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
Any public highway, street or alley accepted by different levels
of government for public use, usually Council; all must be recorded in the
Recorder of Deeds Office, Beaver County, Beaver, Pennsylvania.
SIDE YARD
A yard between the building and the adjacent side line of the lot
extending from the front line of the building to the rear line of the building.
Corner lots shall have a street "side yard" of the same dimensions as a front
yard.
STREET MAINTENANCE
The procedure applied to new or existing streets or streets under
construction for purposes of accommodating vehicular travel with a minimum
of interruption, delay or safety hazard, including resurfacing, regrading,
drainage improvement, pothole repair, dust prevention practices and snow removal.
STREETS
A.
ARTERIALStreets serving large volumes of comparatively high-speed and long-distance traffic and include facilities classified as main and secondary highways by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways.
B.
COLLECTORStreets which, in addition to giving access to abutting properties, intercept minor streets and provide routes, carrying considerable volumes of local traffic to community facilities and to arterial streets.
C.
LOCALStreets used primarily to provide access to abutting properties.
SUBDIVIDER
The owner or authorized agent of the owner of the subdivision.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any
means into two (2) or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land,
including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate
or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees,
transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that
the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of
more than ten (10) acres, not involving any new street or easement of access
or any residential dwelling, shall be exempted.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
A map showing ground elevations by contour lines and the location
of important natural and other objects.