Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall,
for the purpose of these regulations, have the meaning indicated:
A.
Words in the singular include the plural and those in the plural
include the singular.
B.
Words used in the present tense include the future tense.
C.
The words "person," "subdivider," and "owner" include a corporation,
an unincorporated association, and a partnership or other legal entity,
as well as an individual.
D.
The word "watercourse" includes channel, creek, ditch, dry run, spring,
and stream.
E.
The words "should" and "may" are permissive; and the words "shall"
and "will" are mandatory and directive.
[Amended 3-28-2011 by Ord. No. 730]
Other terms or words used herein shall be interpreted or defined
as follows:
A thoroughfare, publicly or privately owned, other than a
side street, which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting
property and not intended for general traffic circulation.
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has
filed an application for development, including his heirs, successors
and assigns.
An area bounded by three or more streets.
Front yard line; the line within a property defining the
minimum required distance between any building to be erected and the
edge of any required adjacent right-of-way (front lot line).
The improved or paved portion or portions of a street available
for vehicular or other traffic; the portion or portions between curbs
where curbs are used.
An area of unobstructed vision at intersections defined by
lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection
of street center lines.
A tract of one or more contiguous lots held in single ownership,
to be used as a land development for the purpose of leaseholds in
the commercial districts, as prescribed in these regulations.
A bond in cash or with an approved surety company guaranteeing
the satisfactory completion of the improvements to land in accordance
with this chapter.
Certain land developments are cited as conditional uses in
the District Regulations of
the Peters Township Zoning Ordinance.[1] These conditional uses may be allowed or denied by the
Township Council after recommendations by the Township Planning Commission,
pursuant to express standards and criteria as set forth within the
Zoning Ordinance.
A method of ownership applicable mainly to multifamily dwellings.
Under this system, a person obtains title to his individual unit and,
in addition, becomes a member of a nonprofit condominium association
and, as such, part owner of all land, buildings and amenities within
his condominium project.
As defined in the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act, a conventional
well is a vertical well bore that is drilled above the base of the
Elk Sandstone Shale Formation or its equivalent stratigraphic interval.
[Added 9-26-2016 by Ord.
No. 805]
The Council of Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
The County of Washington, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Planning Commission of the County of Washington.
A dead-end street with a vehicular turnaround at the dead
end.
An excavation; the difference in vertical elevation between
a point on the surface of original ground and a point on the final
grade; the material removed in excavation.
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.
A lot extending between and having frontage on two generally
parallel streets, excluding service streets.
An improved surface for vehicular circulation or access on
a lot or parcel of land.
Any structure, or part thereof, designed to be occupied as
living quarters as a single housekeeping unit.
A right of limited use of private property granted but not
necessarily dedicated for a public or quasi-public purpose, and within
which the owner of the property shall not erect any 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.
A licensed professional engineer registered as such in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The removal of surface materials by the action of natural
elements.
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar
material is dug into, cut, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced,
relocated or bulldozed, and shall include the conditions resulting
therefrom.
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material
is placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to a new location
above the natural surface of the ground or on top of the stripped
surface, and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom; the
difference in elevation between a point on the original ground and
a designated point of higher elevation on the final grade; the material
used to make a fill.
A relatively flat or low land area which is subject to partial
or complete inundation from an adjoining or nearby stream, river or
watercourse; and/or any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation
of surface waters from any source. See the Peters Township Zoning
Ordinance for the definitions of the following terms: "identified
flood-prone area," "one-hundred-year flood," and "regulatory flood
elevation."[2]
A gateway treatment is an area dedicated at all external
access points to new residential subdivisions that include a landscaped
median entry island or a roundabout at the external intersection.
A construction or installation of any of the following: streets,
gutters, culverts, sidewalks, storm sewers, water drainage facilities,
utilities (gas, electric, telephone services), water system, fire
hydrants, sanitary sewers, septic tanks, street signs, streetlights
and including cuts and/or fills.
A land development on one or more contiguous lots held in
single ownership for the purpose of leaseholds, condominium, or subdivision
as prescribed in these regulations.
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts
or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
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 numbers of occupants or
tenure; or
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;
A subdivision of land.
Excluding:
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;
The addition of an accessory building, including farm buildings,
on a lot or lots subordinate to an existing principal building;
Or an amusement park as defined in § 503(1.1) of the
Municipalities Planning Code.[3]
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 the land.
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.
The area contained within the property lines of a lot (as
shown on the plat), excluding space within all street rights-of-way,
but including the areas of all other easements.
Low-speed curves are horizontal traffic calming devices that
encourage low vehicle operation speeds. The radius of the curve depends
on the maximum speed desirable.
Median islands are raised islands placed between travel lanes
that introduce a horizontal displacement to reduce travel speeds.
A transportable, single-family dwelling, intended for permanent
occupancy, office, or place of assembly contained in one unit, or
in two 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; the term does not include recreational vehicles
or travel trailers.
A parcel of land in a mobile home park, improved with the
necessary utility connections and other appurtenances prescribed in
this chapter for the erection thereon of a single mobile home, which
is leased by the park owner to the occupants of the mobile home erected
on the lot. "Mobile home lot" is synonymous with "mobile home berth."
The authorization by the Council or the Planning Commission of limited changes in these regulations as provided for in § 385-11.
Concrete markers placed to monument a street on a final plat
for recording.
A land development on one or more contiguous lots held in
single ownership for the purpose of leaseholds or condominiums as
prescribed in these regulations.
A map of Peters Township showing the exact location of the
lines of existing and proposed public streets, watercourses and public
grounds, including widenings, narrowings, extensions, diminution,
openings or closings of same, as adopted by the Township Council.
"Common open space" is a parcel or parcels of land or an
area of water, or a combination of land and water within a development
site and designed as intended for the use or enjoyment of residents,
not including streets, parking lots, driveways and areas set aside
as public grounds.
A right-of-way dedicated for the use of residents to access
other rights-of-way or parcels of ground dedicated to public use.
That element of the Comprehensive Plan as adopted, which
shall show the general location, alignment, and dimensions, and the
identification and classification of existing and proposed streets,
highways, and other thoroughfares.
The Planning Commission of Peters Township.
The Comprehensive Development Plan (Master Plan) and/or Future
Land Use Plan and/or Ultimate Right-of-Way Plan and/or Official Map
or other such plans, or portions thereof, as may be adopted, pursuant
to statute, for the area of the municipality in which the subdivision
or land development will be located.
A complete and exact map or plan of a subdivision or land
development (and including all required supplementary data), prepared
for official recording as required by statute, to define property
rights and proposed streets and other improvements.
The copy of the final plat which contains the required original
endorsements and which has been recorded with the County Recorder
of Deeds.
A tentative map or plan of a subdivision or land development
(and including all required supplementary data), in lesser detail
than a final plat, showing approximate proposed street and lot layout
as a basis for consideration prior to preparation of a final plat;
said plat shall be prepared by a surveyor registered in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
A right-of-way not adopted as a public street by Peters Township,
or not having otherwise been adopted as a county, state or Township
street.
Any full-time occupied residence, school, religious institution
or other public building that may be impacted by activity associated
with oil and gas well development and/or natural gas compressor stations
or processing plants. This term shall not include any structure owned
by a grantor or lessor who has signed, or is legally subject to, an
agreement granting surface rights to drill a well and/or erect and
maintain a natural gas compressor station or processing plant.
[Added 9-26-2016 by Ord.
No. 805]
Includes:
[Amended 3-14-2016 by Ord. No. 794]
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the Council
or Planning Commission, intended to inform and obtain public comment,
prior to taking action in accordance with this chapter.
A forum held pursuant to notice under the Act of October
15, 1998 (P.L. 729, No. 93), known as the "Sunshine Act," 65 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 701 et seq.
[Amended 3-14-2016 by Ord. No. 794]
Notice published once each week for two successive weeks
in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. 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 be not more than 30 days or less than seven days from the date
of the hearing.
A right-of-way for vehicular access, which has been dedicated
to and accepted by Peters Township or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Raised crosswalks are elevated pedestrian crossings that
are similar to speed humps. They extend from curb to curb and can
be used in locations likely to have pedestrian demand such as neighborhood
recreation trails.
Any replatting or resubdivision of land, limited to changes
in lot lines on an approved final plat or recorded plats as specified
in these regulations. Other replattings shall be considered as constituting
a new subdivision of land. See also "subdivision."
The total width of any land dedicated as a street, alley,
pedestrian/bike access or for other public purposes.
See "cartway."
A type of circular intersection in which vehicular traffic
must travel in one direction around a central island. Signs usually
direct traffic entering the circle to slow down and the right-of-way
to drivers already in the circle. The central island is landscaped.
The surface water discharge or rate of discharge of a given
area or watershed after a fall of rain or snow that does not enter
the soil, but runs off the surface of the land.
A sanitary sewage collection, managed and operated by the
Peters Township Sanitary Authority or PeterSan, in which sewage is
carried from individual lots and/or units by a system of pipes to
a permanent central treatment and disposal plant.
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated
or deposited by a moving wind, water or gravity. Once this matter
is deposited (or remains suspended in water), it is considered sediment.
A covered watertight settling tank in which raw sewage is
biochemically changed into solid, liquid, and gaseous state to facilitate
further treatment and final disposal.
The face of an embankment or cut section: any ground whose
surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. Slope is expressed
in a percentage based upon vertical difference in feet/100 feet of
horizontal distance.
Chemical or structural treatment of a mass of soil to increase
or maintain its stability or otherwise to improve its engineering
properties.
See "traffic calming device."
A design condition which requires a complete stop such as the
intersection of a local residential street with a higher order roadway
type, or a T-intersection between local streets. Stop sign control
at an intersection does not qualify.
A horizontal curve with design features that encourage reduced
speeds.
A traffic calming device, the type and design of which is subject
to review by Township staff and/or their traffic engineering consultant.
A speed hump is a raised surface on the roadway that is typically
three inches to four inches in height and 12 feet in length.
See the definitions in Chapter 371, Stormwater Management, of the Code of Ordinances of Peters Township.
[Amended 3-14-2016 by Ord. No. 794]
A right-of-way to provide means of access for vehicles. The
word "street" includes the words "road," "highway," "throughway,"
"way," "avenue," "lane," "court," "drive," "circle," "trail," "place,"
and "alley." Streets are further classified according to the functions
they perform.
ARTERIALA four-lane roadway which functions as an inter-community link.
MAJOR COLLECTORA two-to-four lane roadway that functions as an intra-community link and serves as a feeder to arterial streets.
MAJOR CONNECTORA two-lane roadway which functions to facilitate the collection of traffic from local roads.
MINOR OR LOCAL ROADSA two-lane roadway which functions to give access to individual land parcels.
See "developer."
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 devises, transfer of ownership, 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 residential dwellings, shall be exempted.
The term "subdivision" shall also include any land development
(for example, but not limited to an industrial park, a shopping center
or a multiple-dwelling project), which involves installation of streets
and/or alleys, even though the streets and/or alleys might not be
dedicated to public use and the parcel might not be divided immediately
for purposes of conveyance, transfer, or sale, or even though the
owner does not transfer legal or equitable title (for example, structures
for rental purposes).
The term "subdivision" includes resubdivision.
The term "subdivision" shall refer, as appropriate in these
regulations, to the process of subdividing land or to the land proposed
to be subdivided.
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 § 385-43 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.
A licensed surveyor registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers, or carries, surface
water runoff.
Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
A street adopted as a public street by the Township, or having
become a Township street legally by acts of dominion by the Township
over an extended period of time.
Traffic calming devices are the combination of mainly physical
measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter
driver behavior and improve conditions for nonmotorized street users.
Traffic circles are raised islands located in the center
of unsignalized intersections and reduce speeds due to the horizontal
displacement required to negotiate the intersection. They are typically
landscaped with ground cover to provide aesthetic appeal.
As defined in the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act,[4] an unconventional well is a bore hole drilled or being
drilled for the purpose of or to be used for the production of natural
gas from an unconventional formation or that is deviated from the
vertical.
[Added 9-26-2016 by Ord.
No. 805]
(See "modifications.")
A permanent stream; intermittent stream; river, brook, creek;
or a channel or ditch for water whether natural or man-made.
A system for supplying and distributing water from a common
source to two or more dwellings and/or other buildings within a single
neighborhood.
A system for supplying and distributing water to a single
dwelling or other building from a source located on the same lot.
A system for supplying and distributing water from a common
source to dwellings and other buildings by a public water utility.
A map showing the various zoning districts into which the
Township has been divided for the purpose of applying the regulations
of the Zoning Ordinance.[5]
