[Ord. 5/3/1982, § 201; as amended by Ord. 102-2002, 8/5/2002, § 1; by Ord. 111-2003, 11/3/2003, § 1; and by Ord. 159-2010, 10/4/2010, § 1]
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms and phrases have the meaning indicated herein:
ABUTTING OWNERThe owner of record of a parcel of land which is contiguous, at any point, to the parcel to be subdivided and/or developed or which has frontage on a common road or street (public or private) across from the parcel to be subdivided and/or developed.
ACCELERATION LANEAn added roadway lane which permits integration and merging of slower moving vehicles into lanes of the main vehicular flow.
ACCEPTABLE OUTFALLThe point where stormwater can be released to a channel or other body of water without causing erosion to or sedimentation of the receiving channel or other body of water. The outlet shall include structural and vegetative measures to assure nonerosive velocities or rates of flow.
ACCESSA way or means of approach to provide physical ingress to and egress from a parcel, tract or other lot.
ACCESSORY BUILDINGA building subordinate to the principal permitted building on a lot and used for purposes customarily incidental to those of such principal buildings.
ACCESSORY USEA use conducted on the same lot as a principal permitted use to which it is related and which is located either within the same structure(s) or in an accessory building or structure. A use which is clearly incidental to, and customarily found in connection with, a particular principal permitted use.
ADVERSE EFFECTSResults contributing to a harmful or degraded condition and/or producing an unfavorable outcome.
AGENTAny person or entity, other than the landowner or developer, who, acting upon written authority for the landowner or developer, files subdivision and/or land development plans with the Township for the purpose of obtaining approval thereof.
AGRICULTUREThe cultivating of the soil, the raising of livestock and poultry and the harvesting of the products of the soil, including horticulture and forestry.
ALLEYA right-of-way providing secondary vehicular access to the side or rear of two or more lots.
ALTERATIONAny change in the exterior or structural portions of a building; any change to or in a building which would alter its use classification.
ALTERNATIVESChoices between or among two or more plans, layouts, approaches, solutions and/or outcomes.
APPLICANTA landowner or developer, who has filed an application for subdivision and/or land development, as hereinafter defined, including his heirs, successors, assigns and grantees.
APPLICATION FORMA form available from the Township Secretary (included in the Appendix of this chapter) which is to be used to provide information to aid in the review of a subdivision and/or land development plan and for general administrative purposes.
APPLICATION FOR SUBDIVISION AND/OR LAND DEVELOPMENTThe action taken to complete, sign and file the application form as therein provided and as provided by this chapter, which shall also include the filing of the number and types of plans, documents and other submissions required by this chapter for the review and/or approval of a preliminary plan and thereafter a final plan, and the necessary fees in accordance with the prevailing application fees; an application, whether preliminary or final, required to be filed and approved prior to the conveyance or other transfer of lots and/or the commencement of construction and development, including an application for the approval of a subdivision plat or plan and an application for the approval of a development plan. No application shall be complete, considered filed or considered as accepted by the Township until all of the foregoing requirements have been fulfilled.
ARCHITECTA person duly registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to practice architecture.
BENEFICIAL EFFECTSResults contributing to an improvement in condition and/or producing a favorable outcome.
BERMA mound of earth which serves purposes such as: directing the flow of surface water runoff, preventing soil erosion or supporting plant materials to aid in screening.
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCESCharacteristics of the natural environment manifest in its flora and fauna. The disposition of these characteristics is typically expressed in vegetation and/or wildlife units such as: tree, woodland or forest stands and related understory and ground cover growth; and aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and/or their habitats.
BLOCKA developed area bounded by three or more streets.
BUILDABLE AREAThe area of a lot remaining after the minimum yard and setback requirements of the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27] have been met within which a principal permitted building shall be located. Such setback requirements include yard setback and setbacks from flood hazard and flood fringe areas, and such features as area of steep slope and very steep slope, and easements. Where a buildable area is shown on a plan as extending into a Flood Hazard District, a Steep Slope Conservation District or any other area which may involve a conditional use or special exception, those portions of the buildable area extending into any such areas shall be delineated, depicted, and otherwise noted on all plans in an accurate and conspicuous manner to disclose the specific uses which may occur in such areas.
A person, who is not necessarily the owner of the land or agent of the same, who by contract or other agreement is charged with the responsibility of construction of buildings or other structures, or of making any construction improvements on any parcel of land.
BUILDINGAny structure having a roof supported by walls or columns and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any individual, animal, process, equipment, goods or materials of any kind or nature.
BUILDING COVERAGEThe relation of the total ground floor area of all buildings on a lot to the lot area on which they are located.
BUILDING LINEThe line which establishes the minimum depth of front yard for the particular district as measured from the street line.
BUILDING PERMITA document issued by the Township granting permission for the construction, repair, alteration of or addition to a structure.
BUILDING, PRINCIPALA building in which is conducted the principal permitted use of the lot on which it is situated.
CALIPERThe diameter of a tree trunk measured at a point 4 1/2 feet from the ground surface at the center of the base of the tree.
CAPPED SEWERSSanitary sewage facilities which are installed and capped where existing sanitary sewer facilities are not accessible and available, but are proposed in the official sewage facilities plan of the Township. Such facilities shall include sanitary sewers, force mains, pumping stations, and all other appurtenances necessary to serve the entire subdivision and/or land development.
CARTWAYArea of a road or other street within which vehicles are permitted including travel lanes but not including shoulders, curbs, gutters, sidewalks or drainage swales.
CATCH BASINAn area which conveys the normal continuous or intermittent flow of water.
CHANNELAn area which conveys the normal continuous or intermittent flow of water.
CLEAR SIGHT DISTANCEThe required length of a line of unobstructed vision from a point 4 1/2 feet above the center line of a street to the nearest point at the top of an object four inches high on the same center line and to another object 4 1/2 feet high on the same center line.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLEAn area of unobstructed vision at street intersections defined by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of street center lines.
COMMUNITY FACILITIESThe services which provide for various community health, education, safety, leisure, and like needs and the locations at which these services are provided. Typical community facilities include: schools, parks and recreation areas, libraries, hospitals and other health-care facilities, fire protection, police, ambulance and rescue service and postal services.
COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMA well or series thereof with facilities serving more than one lot or one building, which along with its appurtenant facilities is administered and/or maintained by such organizations as a homeowners association or other entity having the right or obligation to administer and/or maintain same.
COMPREHENSIVE PLANThe Charlestown Township Comprehensive Plan, as adopted in 2001, as may be amended from time to time, including maps, tables and text which constitute a policy guide for decisions regarding land use, circulation, community facilities and utilities in the Township.
CONDITIONAL USEA use which is not appropriate to a particular zoning district as a whole, but which may be suitable in certain locations within the district only when specific conditions and factors prescribed for such cases within the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27] area present. Conditional uses and applications for permits therefore, are allowed or denied by the Board of Supervisors after recommendations are provided by the Planning Commission in conjunction with subdivision and/or land development plans and applications, unless no subdivision and/or land development application is filed as to the tract on which a conditional use is proposed in which case they are allowed or denied by the Board of Supervisors after recommendations are provided by the Planning Commission.
A plan filed as and forming a part of the preliminary plan and the final plan detailing the measures to be taken by the landowner or developer for the purposes of the protection of watercourses, notable trees and other important natural features and the control and other management of surface water runoff, erosion and sedimentation, which includes all information required in the Stormwater Management Ordinance [Chapter
23] and any other Township ordinances, codes, regulations, plans and maps, as amended from time to time.
Any disturbance of the land or the erection of structures thereon, including the cutting of trees or clearing of brush, provided, however, that staking or the clearing for survey lines, or performing engineering or other scientific tests to obtain data shall not be deemed as construction.
CONTINUOUS VISUAL BUFFERA visually impenetrable screen created through the effective use of plan materials, fencing, walls and/or earthen berms.
CONTOURAn invisible line on the surface of the earth along which all points are at the same elevation above sea level. Such lines are represented on maps relative to data furnished by such agencies as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) or other organizations duly certified to produce such information.
CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREASAreas including: flood hazard and high groundwater areas; wetlands and hydric soils; one-hundred-foot wetland buffers; one-hundred-foot stream valley buffers; prime agricultural soils; prime agricultural land; steep and very steep slopes; prime woodlands; visually sensitive areas and historic and cultural sites and structures.
CUL-DE-SACA street having vehicular access to and from another street at one end and terminating in a vehicular turn around at the other end.
CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTA representation of man's influence on land and/or water through the use, organization, adornment and maintenance of property and structures.
CULVERTA structure designed to convey water under a street or pedestrian walk.
CURBA stone or concrete boundary marking the edge of the cartway or paved area.
CUTA portion of land or other area from which earth has been removed or will be removed by excavation; or, the depth below the original ground surface or excavated surface.
DATE OF FILINGThe data on which a complete application for subdivision and/or land development, as herein defined, has been submitted to the Township Secretary and accepted by the Township.
DATUMA reference point from which elevations are measured. The standard datum is sea level as established by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
DECELERATION LANEAn added roadway lane that permits vehicles to slow down and leave the main vehicular flow.
DEDICATIONA gift or other donation of property by the owner thereof to the Township or other entity.
DEEDA legal document conveying an estate or other right, title or interest in property.
DETENTION BASINA structure designed, built and used for the temporary storage of stormwater runoff.
DEVELOPERAny landowner, equitable owner, or authorized agent of such landowner who makes or causes to be made a subdivision of land or a land development.
DITCHA small drainage channel.
DRAINAGEA system for conveying surface water or groundwater from the land by facilities or structures which serve to control or otherwise manage runoff and minimize sedimentation and soil erosion during an after construction or development.
DRAINAGE FACILITYAny trench, ditch, swale, gutter, pipe, culvert, storm sewer or other similar depression or structure designed, intended or constructed for the purpose of diverting surface water or conveying surface water or groundwater from a subdivision, land development area or contiguous areas.
DRAINAGE PLANA plan which depicts existing and proposed drainage as required by this chapter.
DRAINAGEWAYAny watercourse or trench, ditch, swale, gutter, pipe, culvert, storm sewer or other similar depression or structure in which water flows in a definite direction either continuously or intermittently and has a definite channel, bed and banks, and includes any area adjacent thereto subject to inundation by reason of overflow.
DRIVEWAYAn individual or shared portion of a lot which provides access for vehicles to a parking space, garage, dwelling or other structure from a street.
DRYWELLA covered pit with open jointed lining through which water from roofs, basement floors or areaways may seep or leech into the surrounding soil.
DWELLINGA building designed for and occupied exclusively for residential purposes, including a mobile home.
DWELLING UNITA building, or portion thereof, providing complete housekeeping facilities for one family.
EASEMENTA right, privilege or other interest granted or reserved for the use of land for a particular purpose.
ECONOMIC AND FISCAL CHARACTERISTICSCharacteristics related to the expenditures and revenues in conjunction with the management of income of a household, private business, community, association and/or government.
END LINEThe line which represents the termination area of a shared driveway.
ENGINEERA person duly registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to practice professional engineering.
ELEVATIONA vertical distance above or below a fixed reference level; a scale drawing of the front, rear or side of a building.
ENLARGEMENTAn addition to the floor area of an existing building, an increase in size of another structure or an increase in that portion of a tract of land occupied by an existing use.
ENVIRONMENTThe conditions, resources and/or characteristics which exist within and surround the area to be affected by a proposed subdivision and/or land development including: natural elements such as land, water, air, minerals, natural flora and natural fauna; and man-made components such as objects of historic or aesthetic significance, infrastructure, and man-related attributes of a social and economic nature.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORTAn assessment which objectively describes, analyzes and documents both the beneficial and adverse environmental effects of a proposed subdivision and/or land development and the measures to be undertaken to mitigate adverse effects in accordance with the provisions set forth in this chapter and the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27].
Removal or recovery by any means whatsoever of soil, rock, minerals, mineral substances or organic substances other than vegetation from water or land or beneath the surface thereof, whether exposed or submerged.
FILLMaterial such as sand, gravel, earth and other suitable and approved composition; or, 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 a stripped or otherwise cut surface.
FLOODINGA general or temporary condition of partial or complete inundation or areas from the overflow of inland waters and/or the unusual and rapid accumulation of water on or under the ground.
FLOOD FRINGE AREAAn area which contains soils with high water table or seasonal high water table characteristics. Such areas are located primarily adjacent to a flood hazard area. Soils in the flood fringe area include:
| Croton silt loam |
| Glenville silt loam |
| Guthrie silt loam |
| Lawrence silt loam |
| Readington silt loam |
Any area that is identified pursuant to §
27-1103, Subsection 5, of the Charlestown Township Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27], and a setback area as prescribed in §
27-1612 of the Charlestown Township Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27].
Any land area susceptible to flooding from any source.
FORESTED AREASThose areas of extensive vegetation in which the dominant plans are trees that are indigenous to the area.
GARAGE, PRIVATEAn accessory building or part of a principal permitted building used for the storage of motor vehicles owned and used by the owner or tenant of such principal permitted building.
GRADEThe slope of a street, road or other installation expressed as a percent; or, the elevation of existing, finished or proposed conditions as hereinafter defined.
GRADE, EXISTINGThe elevation, relative to a given datum, of the ground surface prior to any excavation, cut or fill.
GRADE, FINISHEDThe elevation, relative to a given datum, of the ground surface after completion of any excavation, cut or fill.
GRADE, PROPOSEDThe elevation, relative to a given datum, of the ground surface proposed to be achieved by excavation, cut or fill.
GRADINGThe changing of the surface of the ground by cutting, filling or excavation, including land in its cut or filled condition.
GUARANTEE, COMPLETIONThe financial security that may be accepted by the Township as a guarantee that improvements required as part of an application for subdivision and/or land development are completed to the satisfaction of the Township. Such financial security shall include, but is not limited to, performance bonds, federal or commonwealth chartered lending institution irrevocable letters of credit, and restrictive or escrow accounts in such lending institutions.
GUARANTEE, MAINTENANCEThe financial security that may be accepted by the Township as a guarantee that improvements required as part of an application for subdivision and/or land development will be in first class condition, state of repair and working order for a specific period of time. Such financial security shall be similar to that accepted for a completion guarantee.
GUTTERPortion within a street right-of-way, outside the cartway, designed for surface drainage, whether paved or otherwise.
HISTORIC RESOURCESSites, areas, structures, trails and/or routes which are valued due to their significance as example and/or locations of events, customs, skills and/or arts of the past, including those having a present significance.
IMPACTThe power of an event to produce changes in a condition. In the context of impact exerted on the environment, changes which affect the existing conditions and/or quality are of greatest concern.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACEA surface which has materials that do not normally absorb rainfall or surface water such as buildings, paved parking areas, paved walks and similar surfaces.
IMPOUNDMENTA body of water, such as a pond, detention or retention basin, confined by a headwall, dike, floodgate or other barrier, in the nature of a dam.
IMPROVEMENTSPhysical additions and changes to land such as grading, paving, curbing, fire hydrants, water mains, sanitary sewers, capped sewers, storm sewers, storm drains, catch basins, culverts, sidewalks, monuments, crosswalks, bridges, earthworks, street lights, wells, on-site sewage disposal systems, street trees and other plantings, and other structures that may be necessary to produce usable and desirable land development.
IMPROVEMENTS AGREEMENTA list of improvements approved by the Township which the landowner or developer agrees to install as a prerequisite to final plan approval.
INFRASTRUCTUREThe basic installations and facilities on which the continuance and growth of a community depend such as roads, schools, electrical transmission facilities, transportation and communication systems.
INTERIOR LOTAny lot which only has access to a street by an easement or right-of-way such as a shared driveway and may be characterized as "landlocked" in that said lot does not front on a dedicated street; any lot which has limited frontage to a dedicated street by virtue of being a flag-shaped lot.
INVERTThe lowest visible surface of a drainage conduit or channel.
LAND DEVELOPMENTThe improvement of one or more lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving a group of two or more principal permitted buildings, or the division or allocation of land between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of, streets, common areas, leaseholds, building groups or other features; a subdivision of land. For purposes of the Stormwater Management Ordinance [Chapter
23], the term "land development" shall also include any attention to land, not used for agricultural purposes, which includes earth moving, filling or cutting on a tract of one or more acres, including but not limited to road construction, utility installation, public, commercial or industrial facility construction, and mining and quarrying.
The record holder of legal title to land; the rightful 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 expressly under the lease to exercise the rights of the owner, of the land which is the subject of an application for subdivision and/or land development.
LAND PLANNERA person who is recognized as a certified planner by the American Institute of Certified Planners, an Institute of the American Planning Association.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTA person duly registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to practice landscape architecture.
LAND USEThe use to which land is used, arranged and the like typically expressed in terms of the type of activity or development which exists such as: agricultural, residential, business, office, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational, municipal and the like whether such use is principal or accessory.
LOAD BEARING FILLAny facility, earthwork or fill placed in a controlled manner and compacted to support structural foundations and the buildings and other structures thereon, vehicular traffic or improvements in accordance with the highest standards of professional engineering.
LONG-TERM EFFECTSResults which are manifest for, or extending over, a long period of time.
LOTA parcel of land which is intended for transfer of ownership, improvement or development, and which conforms to the provisions of this chapter, the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27] and all other Township ordinances, codes, regulations, plans and maps; a parcel or tract of land.
The total area within the lot lines of a lot, excluding any street rights-of-way.
LOT, CORNERA lot or parcel of land abutting upon two or more streets including shared driveways at their intersection, or upon two parts of the same street including shared driveways forming an interior angle of less than 135°.
LOT LINEA property boundary line of any lot held in single and separate ownership. In the case of any lot abutting a street including shared driveways, the lot line for such portion of the lot as abuts such street including shared driveways 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.
LOT LINE, FRONTThe lot line abutting a street including shared driveways and coinciding with the street line. In the case of a corner lot, whichever street abutting lot line is elected by the landowner or developer when filing any application for subdivision and/or land development, subject to the approval of the Township Engineer and the Planning Commission, may be deemed the front lot line. In the case of an interior lot, the landowner or developer when filing any application for subdivision and/or land development may select the front lot line, subject to the approval of the Township Engineer and the Planning Commission. The foregoing election does not apply in the case of a street which is a shared driveway.
LOT LINE, REARA lot line opposite and most distant from the front lot line. If the rear lot line is less than 10 feet in length within the lot, between the side lots lines, parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line, and such line shall be coextensively shown on any plans.
MARKERAn iron pipe or steel bar 3/4 of an inch in diameter, and 30 inches in length.
METES AND BOUNDSA method of describing the boundaries of land by directions or bearings and distances from a known point of reference, including the content of the land and each lot in square feet and acres and fractions thereof.
MITIGATIONThe act of precluding a potentially adverse effect and/or making a potentially adverse effect less severe through measures which will improve a condition and/or lessen the impact.
MOBILE HOMERefer to Part
8, §
22-801, for definitions of "mobile home," "mobile home lots," "mobile home park," etc.
A permanent marker of stone or concrete, set to mark a boundary or a control point in a survey which shall be six inches square by 30 inches in length, on top of which is permanently inscribed a center mark.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENTA composition of land, water and/or air represented by its inherent physical and biological resources.
NOTABLE TREESTrees of twelve-inch caliper or greater which are indigenous to the Township.
OCCUPANCY PERMITA document issued by the Township Zoning Officer allowing the occupancy or other use of a permitted building or other structure and certifying that the building or other structure and the use thereof has been constructed and will be used in compliance with all applicable Township ordinances, codes, regulations, plans and maps, as amended from time to time.
OFFICIAL MAPA legally adopted map that conclusively shows the location of existing and proposed public streets, watercourses and public grounds.
OFFICIAL SEWAGE FACILITIES PLANThe plan adopted by the Township and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection which sets forth recommendations for the provision of adequate sewage systems in the Township in accordance with the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.
ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSALA single system of piping, a septic tank or other approved facility serving a single lot and collecting and disposing of sewage in whole or in part into the soil through a septic tank filter field.
ON-SITE WATER SUPPLYAn individual well serving one lot and/or a water supply on a lot occupied or to be occupied and serving permitted buildings.
OPEN SPACELands characterized as critical environmental areas or used for noise and/or visual buffers or for other purposes as described in the "Open Space Provisions," Part
15, of the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27].
A reasonably level space, available for the parking of one motor vehicle, not less than 10 feet wide having an area of not less than 200 square feet exclusive of passageways, driveways or other means of circulation or access. A parking space shall include either covered garage space or uncovered parking lot space located off the street right-of-way.
PERMEABLEPorous to water or to other liquids.
PHYSICAL RESOURCESCharacteristics of the natural environment manifest in its: landforms, soils, geological structure of surface and/or subsurface rock, minerals, natural bodies of water and/or man-made impoundments, watercourses, groundwater and the like. The disposition of these characteristics is typically expressed in physiographic, topographic and/or hydrologic units such as: rock formations, slopes, elevations, soil types, watersheds, surface water types, wetlands, floodplains, aquifers or aquifer recharge areas and the like.
PLANA draft, diagram or drawing or set thereof showing the present and proposed physical features of and improvements to land and the proposed development thereto; see also Part
4 for classification and requirements of plans. The term "plan" includes profiles, cross-sections and the like.
A plan prepared by a surveyor or engineer showing dimensions and locations of all improvements as actually constructed.
PLAN, FINALA subdivision plan and/or land development plan prepared for official recording purposes depicting all features required in §§
22-403 and
22-404 herein and all plans, documents and submissions required therein.
A plan prepared by an engineer, architect or landscape architect showing the construction details of streets, drains, sewers, bridges, culverts and other improvements as required by this chapter, and shall include horizontal plans, profiles and cross-sections.
PLAN, LAND DEVELOPMENTA sketch, preliminary or final plan including written and graphic documentation showing the provision for development of a subject tract when plans of subdivision would not be applicable.
PLAN, PRELIMINARYA subdivision and/or land development plan filed as a basis for consideration and approval prior to preparation of a final plan depicting all features required in §
22-403 herein, including an improvements construction plan, conservation plan and all other plans, documents and submissions required therein.
A plan prepared by an engineer, architect or landscape architect, showing the vertical section of the existing grade and proposed grade along the center line of any proposed street and any street appurtenances to be constructed or installed, which must include cross-sections of the street and other improvements construction.
PLAN, RECORDA final plan prepared for recording by an engineer, architect, landscape architect or surveyor, showing the ultimate width of streets, the lot lines, easements and any other relevant information pertaining to a subdivision and/or land development as required by this chapter.
PLAN, SKETCHA schematic plan, not necessarily to exact scale, indicating topographic, vegetative and other salient existing features of a tract and its surroundings and the general layout of the proposed subdivision and/or land development in sufficient detail to allow for disclosure of all significant review matters prior to the filing of a preliminary plan for a proposed subdivision and/or land development.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTAn area of land, controlled by a landowner, to be developed as a single entity for a number of swellings and a minimum percentage of open space in accordance with the requirements for planned residential development of the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27].
An individual duly appointed by the Board of Supervisors who serves as the Secretary for the Township Planning Commission.
PLANNING CONSULTANTA certified planner, recognized as such by the American Institute of Certified Planners, an Institute of the American Planning Association, who provides technical assistance to the Township in matters such as subdivision and/or land development.
PLANTING, SCREENA planting strip five feet in width having an initial height of not less than four feet which shall provide a continuous visual buffer.
PLANTING STRIPA strip of land lying between the curb line, or edge of the cartway, and the sidewalk or walkway and any area requiring a planting screen as specified in this chapter, the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27] or any other Township ordinances, codes, regulations, plans and maps.
A map representing a tract of land, showing the boundaries and location of individual properties and streets. A map or plan of a subdivision or land development, whether preliminary or final.
PONDA natural or artificial body of water which retains water on a year round basis and is less than two acres in size. (The shoreline of a pond shall be measured from the spillway crest elevation rather than the permanent pool elevation should there be a difference in the two elevations.)
PRIMARY EFFECTSResults of a direct nature which have a principal influence on a particular condition or state.
PRIME AGRICULTURAL LANDLand used for agricultural purposes that contains soils of the first, second or third class as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, County Soil Survey.
PRIME AGRICULTURAL SOILSThose soils possessing the greatest production capability for crops, Class I, II, and III, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
PUBLIC NOTICENotice published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township, which states 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 nor less than seven days from the date of the hearing.
PUBLIC SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMAny system, other than an on-site sewage disposal system, which is administered and operated by the Valley Forge Sewer Authority or other governmental agency, authority, or commission for the collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal of wastes.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMAny system for water distribution and water supply, other than an on-site water supply system, which is owned, administered and operated by an organization which is regulated by a governmental agency, authority of commission.
RESTRICTIONA limitation on property which may be created in a deed, lease, mortgage, through certain zoning, subdivision or other Township codes, ordinances, regulations, plans or maps of conditions of approval of an application for subdivision and/or land development.
RESUBDIVISIONThe further division of lots or the relocation of lot lines of any lot or lots within a subdivision previously made and approved or recorded; or, the alteration of any streets or the establishment of any new streets within any such subdivision. Resubdivision does not include conveyances made so as to combine entire existing lots by deed or other instrument.
RETENTION BASINA pond, pool, or other reservoir of water designed, built and used to permanently retain stormwater and surface water runoff.
REUSEA use for an existing building or parcel or lot of land other than the use for which it was originally intended or made.
REVIEWAn examination of the sketch, preliminary and/or final plan by the Township Planning Commission, Township Engineer, planning consultant, other Township officials, representatives and bodies and the Board of Supervisors to determine compliance with this chapter and its regulations, design standards and all other Township ordinances, codes, regulations, plans or maps.
RIGHT-OF-WAYA strip of land granted or reserved for public or private use.
SANITARY SEWAGEAny liquid waste containing animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution, or the water-carried waste resulting from the discharge of water closets, laundry tubs, washing machines, sinks, dishwashers, or any other source of water-carried waste of human origin.
SCALEThe relationship between distances on a map and the actual ground distances.
SCREENINGThe use of plant materials, fencing, walls and/or earthen berms, or combinations thereof, to aid in the concealment of such features as parking areas and vehicles within them, and to provide privacy between two or more different land uses or activities; a visual and/or sound buffer or other barrier.
SEASONALLY HIGH WATER TABLE SOILSSoils in which the groundwater surface is 18 inches or less from the ground surface at certain times of the year, as specified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or as determined by field investigation.
SECONDARY EFFECTSResults of an indirect nature which have an influence on a particular condition or state derived from a primary effect.
SEDIMENTDeposited silt or other matter that is being or has been moved from its site of origin by water or other means of erosion.
SEPTIC SYSTEMAn underground system with a septic tank and filter field used for the decomposition of domestic wastes and its safe disposal.
SEPTIC TANKA water-tight receptacle that receives the discharge of sewage from a building, sewer or part thereof, and is designed and constructed so as to permit settling of solids from this liquid, digestion of the organic matter, and discharge of the liquid portion into a disposal area.
SEPTIC TANK FILTER FIELDA system of open jointed popes intended to distribute septic tank effluent into the ground for absorption and evaporation.
SERVICE ROADA separate and subordinate cartway abutting or within the right-of-way of a street which is parallel to and connected at controlled intervals with the principal cartway, and which serves as the means of access to abutting lots.
SETBACK AREAThe area to be designated, delineated, depicted and otherwise noted on any plan as separating buildings or groups of buildings, or the area separating parking areas from loading zones from buildings and groups of buildings or the lines of the buildable areas and the lot lines. Setback areas also include the area separating a building or a group of buildings or their parking areas from the street line and other lines.
SEWAGEThe total of organic waste and waste water generated by residential, industrial, commercial, institutional or other establishments.
SEWERAny pipe or conduit used to collect and carry away sewage or stormwater runoff from the generating source of origin to treatment plans and to a receiving stream or other drainageway.
SEWERAGEAll effluent carried by sewers whether it is sanitary sewage, residential, commercial or industrial wastes or stormwater runoff; or, the entire system of sewage collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal.
SEWERED AREAThe portion of the Township designated in the official sewage facilities plan in which there is, or may be, constructed a public sewer system.
SHADE TREEA woody plant, usually deciduous, which normally grows with one main trunk to a height in excess of 40 feet and has a canopy which screens and filters, the sun in the summer, and winter, respectively.
SHORT-TERM EFFECTSResults which are manifest for, or extending over, a short period of time.
SIDEWALKA paved, surfaced or leveled area, paralleling and separated from the cartway of the street, used as a pedestrian walkway.
SIGNA structure, building, wall or other outdoor surface, or any device used for visual communication which is used for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the public or to display, identify or publicize the name or product or service of any person.
SILTFinely divided particles of soil or rock, often carried in cloudy suspension in water and eventually deposited as sediment.
SITEA tract or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land.
SOIL EROSIONThe detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments, or the wearing away of the land surface by water, wind, and ice.
SOIL PERCOLATION TESTA field test in accordance with criteria of the Chester County Health Department conducted to determine the suitability of the soil for on-site sewage disposal facilities by measuring the absorptive capacity of the soil at a given location and depth.
SOIL SURVEYA report entitled, "Soil Survey-Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania," published May 1963 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.
SOLID WASTEGarbage, refuse or other discarded materials including, but not limited to, non-liquid waste materials resulting from industrial, commercial, institutional, agricultural and residential activities.
STEEP SLOPESThose areas of land which are characterized by a change in elevation of 15% or more but not exceeding 25% over a specified distance or contour.
STORM SEWERA sewer that carries storm, surface and groundwater drainage but excludes sewage and residential, commercial and industrial wastes.
STORMWATERWater which accumulates from precipitation and is manifest in surface runoff.
STORMWATER DETENTIONAny storm drainage technique that retards or detains runoff, in rate, volume, or otherwise, such as a detention or retention basin, parking lot storage, rooftop storage, porous pavement, dry wells or any combination thereof.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLANA plan for controlling surface water runoff so that it will preclude erosion or flooding and/or the adverse effects of impervious areas on surface water runoff as required by the Township ordinances, codes, regulations, plans and maps.
STREETA public or privately owned right-of-way, serving as a means of vehicular and pedestrian travel, furnishing access to abutting lots and used to provide space for installation improvements such as sewers, other utilities, street trees, sidewalks.
STREET LINEThe dividing line between a lot and the outside boundary or right-of-way line of a public street, road, or highway legally open or officially platted or between a lot and a privately owned street (such as a shared driveway) or road over which the owners or tenants of two or more lots, each held in single and separate ownership, have the right of access.
STREET, LOCAL PRIMARYA street intended to serve a principal role in providing access to lots abutting thereon, and as a means of collecting traffic from local secondary streets and gaining access to collector streets.
STREET, LOCAL SECONDARYA street intended to serve a principal role in providing access to lots abutting thereon, and to loop and cul-de-sac streets and as the means for gaining access to local primary streets.
STREET, LOOPA local street which has its only ingress and egress at two points of the same connecting street, or, at one point with the connecting street, as would be the case if the loop street were in the form of a circle.
STREET, MINOR ARTERIALA street intended to serve a principal role in accommodating traffic from collector streets and in carrying relatively large volumes of long distance traffic between principal arterials and other minor arterials.
STREET, PRIVATEA street not offered or required to be offered for dedication or duly accepted by the Board of Supervisors as a public street.
STREET, RURAL COLLECTOR-MAJORA street intended to serve a principal role in collecting traffic from minor collectors and local streets, and used primarily as the means of access for through traffic within the Township and to areas adjacent thereto, and from minor arterial or principal arterial streets.
STREET, RURAL COLLECTOR-MINORA street intended to serve a principal role in collecting traffic from local streets, and used primarily as the means of access for through traffic between residential neighborhoods and other areas within the Township and to areas adjacent thereto, and from major collectors and arterials.
STREET TREEA shade tree within a street right-of-way not less than four inches in caliper. Street trees recommended for use in the Township are listed in the Appendix of this chapter.
STRIPPINGCutting or any other activity which removes the vegetative surface cover such as tree removal, clearing, grubbing and removal of top soil.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONAny change in or addition to the supporting or structural members of a building or other structure, such as the bearing walls, partitions, columns, beams or girders, or any change which could convert an existing building or other structure into a different structure, or adapt it to a different use.
STRUCTUREAny man-made object or improvement having an ascertainable stationary location on land or in the water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVISIONThe 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 the existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, conveyance or other transfer of ownership or building or lot development, provided, however, that the division of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres not involving any new street or easement of access may be exempted.
SUBDIVISION, MAJORAny subdivision that is not a minor subdivision, and any subdivision that may involve any portion of a minor subdivision combined with a major subdivision.
SUBDIVISION, MINORThe following qualify as a minor subdivision:
(1) Two lots of the minimum lot area required in the applicable District, proposed for single-family detached dwelling units, provided the parent tract has not been subdivided in the previous four years.
A residential lot subdivision for single-family detached dwelling units, where the proposed lot sizes average 10 acres each, and the lots are deed restricted in perpetuity against further subdivision. Such lots are intended to conserve the natural, scenic, and historic values of the environment.
SURVEYORA person duly registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to practice surveying.
SWALEAn elongated depression in the ground which channels surface water runoff.
TOWNSHIP ENGINEERA professional engineer (P.E.) licensed as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, duly appointed as the engineer for the Township; or, a firm of such engineers employed by the Township or retained as a consultant thereto.
TOWNSHIP SECRETARYAn individual duly appointed by the Board of Supervisors who serves as Secretary to the Township.
TRACTAn area, lot, parcel, site, or property which is the subject of a subdivision and/or land development application.
TRANSPORTATION (CIRCULATION)A system for the movement of people or goods including conveyors such as streets and highways, accessory facilities such as parking facilities and driveways, attributes of conveyance such as traffic volumes, trip generation and traffic controls.
USEThe specific purpose for which land or a building is proposed to be subdivided and/or developed or is otherwise designed, arranged, intended or for which it is proposed or may be occupied or maintained.
UTILITIESFacilities such as sewers, water mains, fire hydrants, street lights and other facilities of the same general character; installations of a community which pertain to their consumption and emission characteristics, including facilities such as those used for water supply, sewage disposal, refuse disposal, storm drainage, communications and electrical transmission.
VERY STEEP SLOPESThose areas of land which are characterized by a change in elevation of 25% or more over a specified distance or contour.
VISUAL RESOURCESCharacteristics of the natural and/or cultural environment which are visible. The visual resources of a particular area are typically expressed in terms of their visibility, character and/or attractiveness relative to their amenity value and/or quality, or lack of it.
WALKWAYA thoroughfare for pedestrian travel.
WATERCOURSEA stream with year-round or substantially year-round flow such as a stream, creek or run.
YARDAn open area that lies between the permitted principal or accessory building or buildings and the nearest lot line. Such yard shall be unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except as provided otherwise in §
27-1603 of the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27].
A yard extending the full width of the lot along the front lot line and extending in depth from the front lot line to the nearest point of the permitted principal accessory building or buildings on the lot.
YARD LINEA line drawn parallel to a lot line at a distance therefrom equal to the depth of the required yard.
YARD, REARA yard extending the full width of the lot along the rear lot line and extending in depth from the rear lot line to the nearest point of the permitted principal or accessory building or buildings on the lot.
YARD, SIDEA yard extending the full depth of the lot along the side lot line and extending in width from such side lot to the nearest point of the permitted principal or accessory building or buildings on the lot.
ZONING ORDINANCEThe Charlestown Township Zoning Ordinance of 1979 [Chapter
27], as amended from time to time.