Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning given herein.
A. 
Words used in the present tense imply also the future tense.
B. 
Words used in the singular imply the plural.
C. 
The word "person" includes a partnership, corporation or other legal entity as well as an individual.
D. 
The word "shall" is to be interpreted as mandatory; the word "may" as directory and complied with unless waived.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGENT
Any person, other than the developer, who acting for the developer submits land development plans to the Township Commissioners for the purpose of obtaining approval thereof.
AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES
The use of land for farming, dairying, pasturage, apiculture, horticulture, viticulture or animal or poultry husbandry including the necessary accessory uses for packing, treating or storing the produce and equipment or housing and feeding the animals and/or the use of dwellings for families headed by a full-time farm worker. Includes land devoted to and meeting the requirements and qualifications for payments or other compensation pursuant to a soil conservation program under an agreement with an agency of the federal government.
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has filed an application for development, including his heirs, successors and assigns.
APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Every application, whether preliminary, tentative or final, required to be filed and approved prior to start of construction or development, including, but not limited to, an application for a building permit, for the approval of a subdivision plat or plan or for the approval of a development plan.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION
The one-hundred-year flood elevation. Within the approximated floodplain, the base flood elevation shall be established as a point on the boundary of the approximated floodplain which is nearest to the subdivision or development site in question.
BLOCK
An area bounded by streets.
BUILDING
Any structure or edifice designed or intended for use as an enclosure, a shelter, or for protection of persons, animals or property.
A. 
DETACHEDA building which has no party wall.
B. 
SEMIDETACHEDA building which has only one party wall in common.
C. 
ATTACHEDA building which has two or more party walls in common.
CARTWAY
The paved area of a street. Sometimes referred to as a "roadway."
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections defined by the center lines of the streets and by a line of sight between points on their center lines at a given distance from the intersection of the center lines.
COMMON OPEN SPACE
A parcel or parcels of land or an area of water, or a combination of land and water, within a development site and designed and intended for the use or enjoyment of residents of a development, not including streets, off-street parking areas and areas set aside for public facilities.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The plan, or parts thereof, which has been adopted by the Township Board of Commissioners, showing its recommendations for such systems as land uses, parks and recreation facilities, water supply, sewerage and sewage disposal, garbage disposal, transportation, highways, civic centers and other public improvements which affect the development of the Township.
CORNER LOT
A lot abutting upon two streets at their intersection.
CROSSWALK
A right-of-way, municipally or privately owned, at least 12 feet wide, which cuts across a block to furnish access for pedestrians to adjacent streets or properties.
CURB
The raised edge of a pavement to confine surface water to the pavement and to protect the abutting land from vehicular traffic.
CURB LINE
The outside edge of the cartway.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent of such landowner or tenant with the permission of such landowner who makes or causes to be made a land development.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The provisions for development, including a planned residential development, a plat of subdivision, all covenants relating to use, location and bulk of buildings and other structures, intensity of use or density of development, streets, ways and parking facilities, common open space and public facilities. The phrase "provisions of development plan," when used in this chapter, shall mean the written and graphic materials referred to in this definition.
DOUBLE-FRONTAGE LOT
A lot fronting on two streets other than a corner lot.
DRAINAGE FACILITY
Any ditch, gutter, pipe, culvert, storm sewer or other structure designed, intended or constructed for the purpose of diverting surface waters from or carrying surface waters off streets, public rights-of-way, parks, recreational areas or any part of any land development or contiguous land areas.
DRIVEWAY
A minor vehicular travel way providing access between a street and a parking area or garage within a lot or property.
DWELLING UNIT
A building or portion thereof arranged or designed for occupancy by not more than one family for living purposes and having cooking facilities.
EASEMENT
A limited right of use granted in private land for public or quasi-public purpose.
ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
FLOOD-PRONE AREA
A relatively flat or low land area adjoining a stream, river or watercourse, which is subject to partial or complete inundation; or any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOODPROOFING
Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes or adjustments to properties and structures which reduces or eliminates flood damage to lands, water and sanitary facilities, structures and contents of buildings.
FLOODWAY
The area of a floodplain, including the channel of the watercourse and adjacent land area, required to carry and discharge floodwaters of a given magnitude. For the purpose of this chapter, the floodway shall be capable of accommodating a flood of the one-hundred-year magnitude.
FRONTAGE
The horizontal or curvilinear distance along the street line upon which a lot abuts.
FUTURE RIGHT-OF-WAY
A. 
The right-of-way width required for the expansion of existing streets to accommodate anticipated future traffic loads.
B. 
A right-of-way established to provide future access to or through undeveloped land.
GRADE
The slope expressed in a percent which indicates the rate of change of elevation in feet per hundred feet.
GUTTER
That portion of a right-of-way carrying surface drainage.
IMPROVEMENTS
Pavements, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, water mains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, grading, street signs and plantings, and other items required for the welfare of the property owners and the public.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
A. 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(1) 
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or
(2) 
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features;
B. 
A subdivision of land.
C. 
"Land development" does not include development which involves:
(1) 
The conversion of an existing single-family detached dwelling or single-family semidetached dwelling into not more than three residential units, unless such units are intended to be a condominium;
(2) 
The addition of an accessory building, including farm building, on a lot or lots subordinate to an existing principal building; or
(3) 
The addition or conversion of buildings or rides within the confines of an enterprise which would be considered an amusement park. For the purposes of this subsection, an "amusement park" is defined as a tract or area used principally as a location for permanent amusement structures or rides. This exclusion shall not apply to newly acquired acreage by an amusement park until initial plans for the expanded area have been approved by the proper authorities.
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land, including the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee if he is authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner, or other person having a proprietary interest in land.
LOCATION MAP
A map showing the site with relation to adjoining areas.
LOT
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed or built upon as a unit.
LOT AREA
The region contained within the property lines of an individual lot, excluding any area within a street right-of-way, but including the area of any easement.
LOT WIDTH
The distance between the side property lines measured along the street right-of-way line.
MOBILE HOME
A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy, contained in one unit or in two or more units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used without a permanent foundation.
MOBILE HOME LOT
A parcel of land in a mobile home park, improved with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for the erection thereon of a single mobile home.
MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel or contiguous parcels of land which has been so designated and improved that it contains two or more mobile home lots for the placement thereon of mobile homes.
MULTIPLE DWELLING BUILDING
A building providing separate living quarters for three or more families.
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
A body politic and corporate created pursuant to the Act of May 2, 1945 (P.L. 382, No. 164), known as the "Municipalities Authority Act of 1945."[1]
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD
A flood that has one chance in 100 or a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any year. For the purposes of this chapter, the one-hundred-year flood (base flood), as defined by Federal Insurance Administration, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in "Flood Insurance Study, Township of Spring Garden, York County, Pennsylvania." Also, the "regulatory flood."
OWNER
The owner of record of a lot or parcel of land.
PERFORMANCE BOND
An agreement by and between a contractor and a bonding company in favor of the developer and the Township Board of Commissioners guaranteeing the completion of physical improvements.
PLAN
The map or plan of a subdivision or land development, whether sketch, preliminary or final.
A. 
PLAN, SKETCHAn informal land development plan, not necessarily to scale, indicating salient existing features of a tract and its surroundings and the general layout of the proposed land development for discussion purposes only and not to be presented for approval.
B. 
PLAN, PRELIMINARYA tentative land development plan, in lesser detail than a final plan, showing the salient existing features of a tract and its surroundings and approximate proposed street and lot layout as a basis for consideration prior to preparation of a final plan.
C. 
PLAN, FINALA complete and exact land development plan, prepared for official recording, to define property rights and proposed streets and other improvements.
PUBLIC GROUNDS
Includes:
A. 
Parks, playgrounds, trails, paths and other recreational areas and other public areas;
B. 
Sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse disposal and other publicly owned or operated facilities; and
C. 
Publicly owned or operated scenic and historic sites.
PUBLIC HEARING
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the Board of Commissioners or Planning Commission, intended to inform and obtain public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with this chapter.
PUBLIC MEETING
A forum held pursuant to notice under the Act of July 3, 1986 (P.L. 388, No. 84), known as the "Sunshine Act," 53 P.S. § 271 et seq.[2]
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not be less than seven days from the date of the hearing.
RESUBDIVISION
Any land development which has been approved by the Township which changes or proposes to change property lines and/or public rights-of-way not in strict accordance with the approved plan.
REVERSE-FRONTAGE LOT
A lot extending between and having frontage on an arterial street and minor street with vehicular access solely from the latter.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
Land opened for use as a street, alley or crosswalk.
SETBACK
The required horizontal distance between a setback line and a property or street line.
A. 
SETBACK, FRONTThe distance between the street line and the front setback line projected the full width of the lot; commonly called "front yard."
B. 
SETBACK, REARThe distance between the rear lot line and the rear setback line projected the full width of the lot; commonly called "rear yard."
C. 
SETBACK, SIDEThe distance between the side lot line and the side setback line projected from the front yard to the rear yard; commonly called "side yard."
SETBACK LINE
A line within a property and parallel to a property or street line which delineates the required minimum distance between a structure and the property or street line.
STREET
Includes street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway, lane, alley, viaduct or any other ways used or intended to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians whether public or private.
A. 
ARTERIAL STREETA street or road which is used primarily for fast or heavy traffic, including all roads classified as federal-aid highways by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
B. 
COLLECTOR STREETA street which carries traffic from minor streets to a major system of arterial streets, including the principal entrance streets of a residential development and streets within such a development.
C. 
CUL-DE-SAC STREETA street with one end open for public vehicular and pedestrian access and the other end terminating in a vehicular turnaround.
D. 
HALF OR PARTIAL STREETA street parallel and adjacent to a property line having a lesser right-of-way width than required for a satisfactory improvement and use of the street.
E. 
MINOR STREETA street which is used primarily for access to the abutting properties.
F. 
SERVICE DRIVE OR ALLEYA minor street which is used primarily for vehicle access to the back or side of properties otherwise abutting a street.
STREET GRADE
The officially established grade of the street upon which a lot fronts or, in its absence, the established grade of other streets upon which the lot abuts at the midway of the frontage of the lot thereon. If there is no officially established grade, the existing grade of the street at such midpoint shall be taken as the street grade.
STREET LINE
A line defining the edge of a street right-of-way and separating the street from abutting property or lots, commonly known as the "right-of-way line."
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two 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 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling, shall be exempted.
SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED
Where in the judgment of the Township Engineer, at least 90% (based on the cost of the required improvements for which financial security was posted pursuant to the requirements of this chapter) of those improvements required as a condition for final approval have been completed in accordance with the approved plan, so that the project will be able to be used, occupied or operated for its intended use.
TOWNSHIP SPECIFICATIONS
Township specifications established or referred to herein shall mean the "Spring Garden Township Construction and Material Specifications for Land Development" prepared by the Township Engineer and adopted by resolution of the Township Commissioners. Any specifications may be amended from time to time by resolution, which shall become thereafter part of this chapter.
UNDEVELOPED LAND
Land in parcels sufficiently large for future land development which is presently in agriculture, woodland or lying fallow.
WATER SURVEY
An inventory of the source, quantity, yield and use of groundwater and surface-water resources within the Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See now 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 5601 et seq., the Municipality Authorities Act; P.L. 382, No. 164, May 5, 1945, was repealed 6-19-2001 (P.L. 287, No. 22).
[2]
Editor's Note: See now 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.; P.L. 388, No. 84, July 3, 1986, was repealed 10-15-1998 (P.L. 729, No. 93).