[Ord. 6/20/1979]
1. 
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and phrases shall be construed throughout this chapter to have the meanings indicated below:
A. 
The present tense includes the future; the singular includes the plural, and the plural the singular; the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter; the word "person" includes any individual, estate, trust, fiduciary, partnership, firm, association, corporation or organization; the words "occupied" or "used" shall be considered to be followed by the words "or intended," arranged or designed to be occupied or used; the word "structure" includes "building," and the word "shall" is always mandatory.
B. 
The word "Township" means Charlestown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; the term "Board of Supervisors" means the Board of Supervisors of said Township; the term "Planning Commission" means the Planning Commission of said Township; and the term "Zoning Hearing Board" means the Zoning Hearing Board of said Township.
[Ord. 6/20/1979; as amended by Ord. 60-1991, 8/12/1991, § 1; by Ord. 80-1999, 2/1/1999, § 1; by Ord. 82-1999, 10/4/1999, § 2; by Ord. 103-2002, 8/19/2002, § 1; by Ord. 105-2002, 8/5/2002, § 2; by Ord. 107-2003, 8/4/2003; by Ord. 108-2003, 9/15/2003, § 1; by Ord. 112-2003, 11/17/2003, § 1; by Ord. 114-2003, 11/17/2003, § 1; by Ord. 115-2004, 2/23/2004, § 1; by Ord. 116-2004, 3/1/2004, § 1; by Ord. 125-2004, § 1; by Ord. 127-2004, 12/20/2004, § 1; by Ord. 132-2005, 11/21/2005, § 1; by Ord. 145-2008, § 1; by Ord. 146-2008, 4/7/2008, § 1; by Ord. 158-2010, 6/21/2010, § 1; by Ord. 163-2010, 12/6/2010, § 1; by Ord. 164-2010, 12/6/2010, § 1; by Ord. 165-2010, 12/6/2010, § 1; by Ord. 166-2010, 12/6/2010, § 1; by Ord. 171-2011, 4/4/2011, § 1; and by Ord. 179-2013, 8/5/2013, § 1]
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms and phrases have the meaning indicated herein or as provided in §§ 27-1108 and 27-1401:
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL
The sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated dB(A).
ACCESSORY BUILDING
An accessory structure which is a building.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A building or other structures subordinate to the permitted principal building on a lot and used for purpose customarily incidental to those of such principal building. Where an accessory structure is attached to a permitted principal building in a substantial and permanent manner, as by a wall or roof, such accessory structure shall be considered part of such principal building.
ACCESSORY USE
A use conducted on the same lot as a permitted principal use to which it is related and which is located either within the same structure(s) or in an accessory building or other structure. A use which is clearly incidental to, and customarily found in connection with, a particular permitted principal use.
ACTIVE RECREATION FACILITIES
A type of open space or common TND open space designed for energetic pursuits, consisting of surfaces and/or equipment such as playfields, play courts, playgrounds, tot lots, fitness clusters, swimming pools, and accessory structures integral thereto such as sidewalks, trails and parking areas, and trails and paths that meander through other types of open space.
ADAPTIVE REUSE
A use permitted in a principal or accessory building identified as an historic resource as described and subject to the provisions of §§ 27-1619, Subsection 2, and 27-1619, Subsection 3.
AGRICULTURE (OR AGRICULTURAL USE)
The cultivating of the soil, the raising, housing or keeping of livestock or poultry, or both, or the harvesting or storage of the products of the soil, including horticulture and forestry, excluding commercial greenhouses.
ALLEE
An arrangement of street trees, whereby a canopy effect is created due to the regular and combined spacing of the trees.
ALLEY
Land over which there is a right-of-way, municipally or privately owned, serving as a secondary means of access to two or more lots to the rear and/or side of a building.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
A source of energy generated from solar, water, wind, geothermal, or similar non-fossil-fuel sources.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEM
An energy system capable of converting solar, wind, or the earth's geothermal properties into a viable energy source. For purposes of this chapter, such facilities include and are limited to solar energy systems, wind energy systems, and geothermal systems primarily installed to offset on site energy usage.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
ALTER OR ALTERATION
Any enlargement, rearrangement or other change of or in the exterior or structural portions of a structure or the exit or other access facilities thereof; or, any change to or in a structure which affects its use classification.
AMBIENT NOISE
The all encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being usually a composite of sounds from many sources near and far.
ANTENNA
Any system of wires, rods, discs, panels, flat panels, dishes, whips, or other similar devices used for the transmission or reception of wireless signals. An antenna may include an omnidirectional antenna (rod), directional antenna (panel), parabolic antenna (disc) or any other wireless antenna. An antenna shall not include tower-based wireless communications facilities defined herein.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
ANTIQUE SHOP
A retail establishment with items for sale that are considered to be of collectible, heirloom or heritage value due to their age, scarcity, significance, or artistic quality.
APPLICANT
A person who or which is a landowner or developer or authorized agent thereof who has filed an application for approval of a subdivision and/or land development or for any other approval or permit from the Township including his, her or its heirs, successors and assigns.
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
See "dwelling, assisted living facility."
BAR
A business enterprise primarily engaged in the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. See also "cafe."
BASEMENT
An enclosed area partly underground but having less than half its clear height below the average grade of the adjoining ground. See also "cellar" and Illustration I.
BED AND BREAKFAST INN
A building containing eight or fewer guest rooms, converted or designed for the temporary lodging of transient guests, in accordance with § 27-1619, Subsection 1A.
BOREHOLE
A hole drilled or bored into the earth into which piping is inserted for use in a geothermal system.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
BUILD-TO LINE
The line that defines the placement of the building from the street on which the building fronts. The build-to line of the building forms the street wall line. On a corner lot, the build-to line is located on each side of a lot abutting a street.
BUILDING
Any structure having a roof, self-supported or supported by walls, columns or air pressure, which is permanently affixed to the ground, used or occupied for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any individual, animal, process, equipment, goods or materials of any kind or nature.
BUILDING AREA
The maximum horizontal cross-section of a building, including porches, balconies and raised platforms, but excluding cornices, roof overhangs or gutters projecting not more than three feet from the adjacent building wall, and steps and terraces not more than three feet above grade.
BUILDING COVERAGE
The percentage of the net lot area covered by the ground floor area of all buildings on the lot, excluding any building or other structure located completely underground.
BUILDING HEIGHT
See "height."
BUILDING LINE
The line which establishes the minimum depth of the front yard of a lot for the particular district as measured from the street line.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL
A building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot on which it is situated.
BULK
The term used to described the size of buildings or other structures and their relationship to each other, to open areas such as yards and to lot lines. The term may include: the size; height and floor area of buildings or other structures; and, all open areas in yard space relating to buildings and other structures.
CABANA
An accessory building adjacent to a private swimming pool used exclusively for showering and dressing in connection with a private swimming pool, having no service connection for electricity, water and/or septic disposal independent of the principal building, and having no facilities for overnight sleeping or cooking.
CAFE
A commercial establishment like a coffee shop or tearoom at which food and beverages are sold. Such facility is smaller than a restaurant and has seating for less than 40 persons.
CAFETERIA
A business enterprise engaged in preparing and serving a full line of food and beverages primarily through the use of a service line where the customer serves himself or is served from displayed selections, and where table or booth seating facilities are provided; limited waiter or waitress service may be provided. See also "restaurant."
CAMPER TRAILER
A travel trailer with a collapsible top which has a body width exceeding eight feet, a body length not exceeding 10 feet and a height measured from the ground, when collapsed, not exceeding four feet. See Illustration VIII.
CAMPUS-TYPE SETTING
A built environment in which buildings envelope common areas such as a plaza, green or square, mini-park, and other like areas that may provide gazebos, pavilions, pergolas, benches and landscaping similar to the places shown in Exhibit B, General Manual of Written and Graphic Design Guidelines, Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) District, for Common TND Open Space.
CELLAR
A portion of a building partly or wholly underground, having half or more than half of its clear height below the average grade of the adjoining ground. See also "basement" and Illustration I.
CHARITABLE USE
A use by a nonprofit or eleemosynary organization that provides a service beneficial to the general public or to a significant portion of the public for no fee or at a fee which is recognized as being less than that charged by a profit-making organization.
CHICKEN, DOMESTIC
Female of species Gallus domesticus, kept for noncommercial purposes in accordance with § 27-1620.
CIVIC ART
Civic features of a TND such as pavilions, pergolas, benches, sculpture gardens, fountains, monuments and the like.
CIVIC USE
A meeting hall, fire station, mail facility, school, church, library, museum, community center, or other like type place that is a community facility within a TND.
CLUB OR LODGE
A social, professional or philanthropic organization or any building which serves as a meeting place for such organization which is not an adjunct to or operated by or in connection with a public tavern, cafe or other public place, but which may include recreational and/or dining facilities for the membership and their guests. The club or lodge shall be characterized by the payment of dues, regular meetings, and a constitution and by-laws.
CO-LOCATION
The placement or installation of a new wireless communications facility on previously approved and constructed wireless support structures, including self-supporting or guyed monopoles and towers, electrical transmission towers, water towers or any other structure not classified as a wireless support structure that can support the placement or installation of a wireless communications facility if approved by the Township. The term includes the placement, replacement or modification of accessory equipment within a previously approved equipment compound.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
COLLEGE
See "university."
COMMERCIAL EQUESTRIAN USE
Any equestrian use for which a fee or payment is made, either directly or indirectly, if the equestrian activities are included as part of an educational, camp or other program for which a fee is charged.
[Added by Ord. No. 214-2021, 4/5/2021]
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, designed and intended for the use and enjoyment of residents of the planned residential development, not including streets, off-street parking areas and areas set aside for public facilities. See Part 15.
COMMON TND OPEN SPACE
A non-commercial outdoor area within a TND tract, which if not specified otherwise is exclusive of streets, alleys, sidewalks, street edge strips, residential lot areas (or lot area equivalents), and parking not accessory to active recreation facilities, which are designated, reserved, and maintained as active recreation facilities, passive open space areas, and/or natural resource conservation areas.
COMMUNICATION TOWER
A structure erected for the sole purpose of holding antennae or other communications and telecommunications devices specifically for communications by a person holding a valid active license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. Such structures as used for radio transmission, television, earth satellite stations and similar structures shall be deemed as communication towers.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The 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 development, land use, circulation, community facilities and utilities in the Township.
CONDITIONAL USE
A 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, factors or provisions prescribed for such cases within this chapter are present. Conditional uses and applications for permits therefor, are allowed or denied by the Board of Supervisors after recommendations are provided 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 lot on which a conditional use is proposed in which case they are allowed or denied by the Board of Supervisors.
CONDOMINIUM
Real estate, portions of which are designed for separate ownership, and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely by the owners of those portions.
CONFERENCE CENTER
A facility with overnight lodging, at which meetings, seminars and conferences are conducted.
CONSTRUCTION OPERATION
The erection, repair, renovation, demolition or removal of or otherwise doing any work for, to, on or with regard to any building or structure; and the excavation, filling and grading of lots in connection therewith.
CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY (CCRC)
A residential living environment and care facilities with a view toward: creating provisions for sustenance, housing, physical, spiritual, cultural, social and medical needs; allowing for care of residents as well as for operation and maintenance of residential living units; allowing for medical services for residents in the form of an infirmary for the temporary care of such residents and the treatment of their medical problems; and, allowing for independent living and assisted living, as well as skilled nursing facilities for both long-term and short-term care. The CCRC may include accessory uses primarily for the benefit of the CCRC residents such as: gift shops; personal services such as barber shops or beauty salon; cafeteria; community center; and library.
CONTINUOUS VISUAL BUFFER
A visually impenetrable screen created through the effective use of plant materials, fencing, walls and/or earthen berms.
CONTRACTORS YARD
A lot or a portion of a lot used to store and maintain construction equipment and other materials customarily required in the building trade by a building contractor or landscape contractor.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
CONVENIENCE STORE
A retail store of not more than 5,500 square feet of gross floor area for the sale of food and beverage for off-premises consumption, personal care items and other similar items. This use may include ATM machines and the retail sale of automotive fuel under a canopy.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
CONVENTIONAL LOT
A lot which is part of a conventional lot development.
CONVENTIONAL LOT DEVELOPMENT
A subdivision or land development where all of the tract area is consumed by lots for dwellings, streets, stormwater management facilities and utility installations and no common open space is provided, and the use is governed by the conditional use process.
CORNER LOT
See "lot, corner."
CORNER STORE
A commercial building that is less than 2,500 square feet in gross floor area, in which the sale of retail items including groceries is offered for the convenience of the neighborhood within a ten-minute walk of most of the homes in the TND District.
CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS
Areas 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.
CULTURAL USE
A use by a nonprofit historic, educational or like organization which is available to the general public in the form of a museum, botanical garden or like facility.
DAY CARE CENTER
A business enterprise providing care of three or more children less than seven years old and licensed and operated in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
DECIBEL (DB)
A unit for measuring the sound pressure level equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter).
DEMOLITION
Any alteration that involves the razing, dismantling, tearing down, destruction, removal or relocation of all or any part of an historic structure as defined in § 27-1810 of this chapter, including demolition by neglect. Demolition shall not include the razing, dismantling, tearing down, destruction, removal or relocation of any interior structural or architectural feature not visible from the exterior of the historic structure and where not compromising the structural integrity of the historic structure.
DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT
Any demolition of an historic structure as defined in § 27-1810 of this chapter that results from the absence of routine maintenance or repair, or the failure to secure a structure from the elements or human intrusion, leading to structural weakness, decay or deterioration, resulting or potentially resulting in the effective demolition of the historic structure or part thereof.
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE (DRC)
A committee of three persons appointed by the Board of Supervisors to oversee the detailed design process of a TND, as illustrated in Exhibit F. The DRC shall consist of: one member of the Planning Commission; one member of the Board of Supervisors; and one Town Planner/Township Planning Consultant.
DESIGNATED OPEN SPACE
Areas defined to meet the requirements for open space in the Planned Residential Development Districts.
DEVELOPER
Any person who or which is a landowner, equitable owner or authorized agent of such landowner who makes or causes to be made a subdivision of land or an application for tentative or final plan approval for a planned residential development or preliminary or final plan approved for a subdivision or a land development.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The provisions for development of a planned residential development, including 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.
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY PLAN
A concept plan (Exhibit C of Part 22) dated December 6, 2007, for the TND District which outlines areas for various intensities of use.
DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS (DAS)
A network of spatially separated antenna sites connected to a common source that provides wireless service within a geographic area or structure.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
DISTRIBUTION CENTER
An establishment engaged in the receipt, storage, and distribution of goods, products, cargo, and materials.
[Amended by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
DORMITORY
A building, as at a college, containing a number of private or semiprivate rooms for residents, along with common bathroom facilities.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
DRIVEWAY
An accessory structure which provides motor vehicle access for or to a lot.
DUPLEX
A building designed for and occupied exclusively for residential purposes, structurally connected and having one side party wall in common with one other building; where the other building is a dwelling, each is commonly referred to as a "twin" dwelling.
DWELLING (OR DWELLING UNIT)
A building or entirely self-contained portion thereof used or occupied exclusively for residential purposes, including a mobile home, providing complete housekeeping facilities for one family, including independent cooking, water supply, sanitary and sleeping facilities and physically separate from any other dwelling whether or not in the same building. Dwelling units are further classified as follows:
(1) 
SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHEDA building having only one dwelling unit from ground to roof, independent outside access and setbacks on all sides.
(2) 
(a) 
TWIN OR SEMI-DETACHEDA building containing two dwelling units, separated by a party wall, side by side, each having independent outside access and setbacks on three sides.
(b) 
DUPLEXA building containing two dwelling units over and under, each of which has independent outside access and setbacks on all sides.
(3) 
Multi-family. A building containing three or more dwelling units including, but not limited to, the following: townhouse (single-family attached), stacked flats and apartment buildings.
(a) 
TOWNHOUSE OR ATTACHEDA building containing not more than six dwelling units, each of which is separated by party walls on opposite sides, and each of which has only one dwelling unit from ground to roof, independent outside access, not more than two walls in common with adjoining units, and setbacks to the front and rear (internal units) or front, rear, and one side (end units). Each unit can be referred to as an attached unit, particularly when separately owned.
(b) 
STACKED FLATSDuplex-type (single story per unit) dwelling located within a townhouse-type building, and having no more than two party walls separating it from either townhouse units or other stacked flats.
(c) 
APARTMENTA building containing three or more dwelling units separated by party walls, and which may have more than one dwelling unit from ground to roof, common outside accesses, and hallways. Apartment units also include dwellings located above ground-floor retail or office uses.
(4) 
DWELLING, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITYA dwelling that is licensed as a personal care home by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a type of multi-family dwelling.
(5) 
DWELLING, INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITYA dwelling that is licensed as a personal care home by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a type of multi-family dwelling.
(6) 
DWELLING UNIT, ACCESSORYA dwelling unit that is either attached to the principal permitted building or to a permitted accessory building on a lot that has common utilities with the principal permitted building and serves as a mother-in-law type suite, or a granny-flat type suite.
ELECTRONIC GAMES
Coin-operated electronic or mechanical amusement devices, including but not limited to baseball and football games, pinball machines and video games, as an accessory use to a restaurant, bar or cafe.
EMERGENCY
Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical or mental trauma to an individual, or property damage.
EMERGENCY WORK
Any work performed for the purpose of preventing or mitigating the physical or mental trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency.
ENLARGEMENT
An addition to the gross floor area of an existing building, an increase in size of a structure or an increase in the use of that portion of a lot occupied by an existing use.
EQUESTRIAN ACADEMY
The commercial equestrian use of a property in which 10 or more horses are sheltered on the property, provided that equestrian events conducted on the property shall involve no more than 150% of the number of horses sheltered on the property and shall not be conducted on consecutive days. An equestrian academy is allowed only as a conditional use in the FR District in accordance with § 27-407, Subsection 2. The number of horses that may be sheltered on a property used as an equestrian academy shall not exceed that permitted by § 27-1615.
[Added by Ord. No. 214-2021, 4/5/2021]
EQUESTRIAN ACCESSORY USE
An accessory and incidental agricultural use to a principal permitted residential use in the FR District, whereby the landowner with fewer than 10 horses sheltered on the property engages in any equestrian use, which may or may not involve payment, provided such activities are limited to the horses sheltered on the property.
[Added by Ord. No. 214-2021, 4/5/2021]
EQUESTRIAN EVENT
The showing of horses or staging of competitive equestrian events, whether or not for a fee to participants or spectators.
[Added by Ord. No. 214-2021, 4/5/2021]
EQUESTRIAN USE
Any of the following activities:
[Added by Ord. No. 214-2021, 4/5/2021]
(1) 
INSTRUCTIONIndividual or group riding lessons on a horse and/or nonmounted instruction.
(2) 
RENTINGAn activity where horses can be rented for riding on that property.
(3) 
BOARDING/TRAININGThe sheltering of a horse, which may also include feeding, grooming, exercising, training, etc.
(4) 
REHABILITATIONRelated to horses being treated for injury, health issues, and general well-being.
(5) 
RIDINGAn activity where a person sits on a horse with or without a saddle.
(6) 
DRIVINGAn activity that involves a horse and the use of a carriage.
(7) 
EQUESTRIAN EVENTThe showing of horses or staging of competitive equestrian activities, whether or not for a fee to participants or spectators.
EQUINE ANIMAL
A horse, pony, mule, or donkey.
[Added by Ord. No. 214-2021, 4/5/2021]
FAMILY
Any number of individuals living together as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit and doing their cooking on the premises at which they are living together, excluding, however, occupants of a club, fraternity house, lodge, residential club or rooming house or group quarters.
FARMERS/GROWERS MARKET
A retail establishment at which fruits, vegetables, breads, eggs, milk, cheese, meat, flowers, and the like are sold by persons who typically grow, harvest, or process such items from their farm or agricultural operation.
FCC
Federal Communications Commission.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
FLEX SPACE
A building designed for one or more of the following uses and no others: office, assembly, warehousing/storage or light manufacturing. Each flex space building shall have no less than 30% of the building used for office space. Warehousing, assembly or light manufacturing shall be a use which shall occupy no more than 70% of the building area.
FLOOD HAZARD AREA
Any area which is identified pursuant to § 27-1103, Subsection 5, as such and a setback area as prescribed in § 27-1612 from the banks of any watercourse, lake or pond.
FLOOD HAZARD DISTRICT
An overlay zoning district which is comprised of both flood hazard areas and high groundwater areas.
FLOOR AREA
The horizontal area of a story of a building, measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls, or in the case of a common wall separating two buildings, from the center line of such common walls, and including porches, balconies and raised platforms, but excluding cornices, roof overhangs or gutters projecting not more than three feet from the adjacent building wall, and steps and terraces not more than three feet above grade.
FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR)
The gross floor area of all buildings on a lot divided by the lot area. See Illustration III.
FOOTPRINT
The outer perimeter of the walls of a building.
FORESTED AREAS
Those areas of extensive vegetation in which the dominant plants are trees that are indigenous to the area.
FORESTRY
The systematic management and maintenance of forests and woodlands for purposes such as: the production of timber and other forest products, watershed protection, recreation and open space preservation, and conservation.
FOWL
Includes any duck, turkey, goose or other domestic fowl excluding chickens.
FRONTAGE
See "lot frontage."
FRONT LOT LINE
See "lot line, front."
FRONT YARD
See "yard, front."
GARAGE, PARKING
See "parking garage."
GARAGE, PRIVATE
An accessory use or part of a permitted principal building used for the storage of motor vehicles owned and used by the owner, residents, employees or visitors of such permitted principal building.
GARDEN CENTER/PLANT NURSERY
A retail sales and service establishment where gardening and landscaping supplies and materials are sold, including such items as plants, topsoil, mulch, fertilizer, tools, and equipment.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM
An energy generating system that uses the earth's thermal properties in conjunction with a heat exchanger and heat pump to heat and cool buildings. Such systems are categorized as:
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
(1) 
CLOSED LOOP GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMA type of geothermal heating and/or cooling system that utilizes a pressurized heat exchanger consisting of pipe, a circulating pump, and a heat pump in which the heat transfer fluid is not exposed to the atmosphere. The heat transfer fluid is potable or beneficial reuse water and may have approved antifreeze added.
(2) 
OPEN LOOP GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMA type of geothermal heating and/or cooling system that utilizes a water pump to deliver water from a well or other source to a heat exchanger. The discharge water from the heat exchanger may be returned to the subsurface through an injection or recharge well or infiltration bed, or may be discharged into a pond, lake, or stream.
GRADE
The average level of ground around a building or other structure, to be determined by taking grades at two-foot intervals (or multiples thereof) starting from the beginning of a will or side of a structure, to the end thereof around the perimeter of the building or other structure to the point of beginning, using finished grade elevations to the extent they are not higher or lower than eight feet above the natural grade. See Illustration IV.
GREEN
A plaza, square, courtyard, pocket park, promenade, lawn area, or other outdoor space in which features such as pavers, benches, gazebos, pergolas, trellises, planters, plantings, lighting, sculpture, and the like, are installed and maintained.
GREEN COURT LOT
A lot that has frontage on a green, not a street, as a compliant open space amenity of a TND.
GROSS DENSITY
The total land ownership identified in an application for a planned residential development divided by the number of dwellings to be occupied thereon, expressed in dwelling units per acre, such ownership excluding rights-of-way of existing streets.
GROSS FLOOR AREA
The sum of the floor areas of all stories and levels of a structure, excluding floor area devoted to parking but including any basement or cellar used for the principal use or for a dwelling unit by other than a janitor or watchman.
GROSS LAND COVERAGE
That percentage of the lot area covered by the combined area of all buildings, other structures and paved or other impervious areas on the lot.
GROUND ARRAY
An arrangement of solar panels and/or solar collectors and their support structures directly supported by the ground and not mounted on a building.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
GROUP HOME
Any of the following facilities licensed, operated or permitted under the authority of the Department of Welfare of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or other state department or agency: group foster homes for children; community residential facilities for those with an intellectual disability; community residential facilities for the psychiatrically disabled; and family-based group homes. This definition does not include day-care centers, nursing homes, general or special hospitals, prisons, jails, or dormitories.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
GUEST HOUSE
A building accessory to a single-family detached dwelling used exclusively for temporary residential purposes, having no service connection for electricity, water and/or septic disposal independent of the principal building, and having no facilities for cooking.
HALF STORY
An uppermost story in which the floor are having a clear height of at least 66 inches is one-third or less of the floor area of the story next beneath it.
HEIGHT
(1) 
HEIGHT OF BUILDINGThe vertical distance from the average grade taken at ten-foot intervals along the base of the perimeter building wall, using finished grade elevations, to the level of the top of the highest roof beams of a flat roof of a building or to the mean level of a sloped roof of a building, provided that chimneys and spires shall not be included in measuring the height. See Illustration IV. Finished grade shall be no higher than two feet above the original grade on one side of the building, and all other sides shall be no more than eight feet above the original grade.
(2) 
HEIGHT OF ANY OTHER STRUCTUREThe vertical distance from the average grade along or around the base of any structure that is not a building, using finished grade elevations but not higher than the original grade, to the highest point of any such structure.
HELISTOP
A designated land area or roof structure used as a helipad for the pickup or discharge of passengers and cargo that does not provide helicopter maintenance and repair facilities or fueling services.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
HIGH GROUNDWATER AREA
An area which contains soils with high water table or seasonal high water table characteristics. Soils in the high groundwater area include:
(1) 
Croton silt loam.
(2) 
Glenville silt loam.
(3) 
Guthrie silt loam.
(4) 
Lawrence silt loam.
(5) 
Readington silt loam.
(6) 
Chewacla silt loam.
(7) 
Wehadkee silt loam.
(8) 
Worsham silt loam.
HISTORIC RESOURCE
A building shown as a Class I Historic Resource, or Other Historic Resource of Local Significance on the Historic Resources Map (see Appendix Figure 11).
HOME OCCUPATION
An occupation principally of a service character accessory to and customarily incidental to the use of a dwelling by a resident thereof, the conduct of which is clearly secondary to the use of the dwelling for living purposes, does not change the character thereof or have any exterior evidence of such secondary use, does not involve the keeping of a stock of merchandise or other goods for sale in connection therewith, and is in accordance with § 27-1614. Tutoring and instruction, including art, music, voice, violin or other musical instrument, limited to a single pupil at a time shall be deemed a home occupation. Group instruction in dancing or vocal or instrumental music, tearooms, barber shops, beauty parlors, real estate offices, insurance offices and tourist homes are not home occupations. The practice by an individual of the professions of medicine, dentistry, law, engineering, architecture, accounting and other professions of a similar type regulated under the laws of the commonwealth in the same fashion as any one of the foregoing specified professions, and other occupations including manufacturer's representative, insurance salesperson, dressmaker and milliner, limited to a single client at time shall be deemed a home occupation, unless such occupation is a major home occupation as defined below.
HOME OCCUPATION, MINOR
A type of home occupation that is regulated in § 27-1614.
HOME OCCUPATION, MAJOR
A home occupation that involves tutoring and instruction limited to up to three pupils at a time, or that involves the practice of a profession limited to up to three clients at a time, as provided in § 27-1619 and in accordance with § 27-1614.
HORTICULTURE
The art and practice of propagating and cultivating plants for their produce or for ornament, excluding commercial greenhouse.
HOSPITAL
Shall be deemed to include sanitarium, clinic, rest home, nursing home, convalescent home and any other place for diagnosis, treatment or other care of human ailments.
HOTEL
A facility offering short-term overnight lodging accommodations to the general public and which may include additional accessory use facilities and services, such as restaurants, meeting rooms, personal services, and recreational facilities.
IGSHPA
The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface or surfaces which have materials that do not normally absorb rainfall or surface water such as buildings, paved parking areas, paved walks, stoned parking areas, solar panels, solar energy collectors, and driveways and similar surfaces determined to be impervious by the Township. Unless specifically stipulated within this chapter, semipervious paving surfaces shall be considered as being impervious coverage. Walking trails and/or frontage sidewalks shall not be considered as being impervious for the purpose of measuring impervious coverage, but shall be considered as such for the purpose of stormwater management calculations.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE COVERAGE
The percentage of the net lot area covered by an impervious surface.
IMPULSIVE SOUND
Sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of impulsive sound include explosions, drop forge impacts and the discharge of firearms.
INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY
See "dwelling, independent living facility."
INDOOR RIDING ARENA
A building that is specially designed for indoor horse riding and related uses.
[Added by Ord. No. 214-2021, 4/5/2021]
INTERIOR LOT
Any lot which only has access to a public 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 public street; any lot which has limited frontage to a public street by virtue of being a flag-shaped lot.
JUNK
Scrap, copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper, trash, rubber debris, waste, iron, steel and other old or scrap ferrous or nonferrous material, including wrecked, scrapped, ruined, dismantled, or junked motor vehicles, or parts thereof.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
JUNKED VEHICLE
Any motorized vehicle may be considered a junked vehicle where the vehicle constitutes a public danger, inconvenience or distraction and where at least one or more of the following conditions are found applicable:
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
(1) 
The vehicle is inoperable, as the result of a collision or other source of damage to said vehicle, for a period in excess of 10 calendar days.
(2) 
The vehicle is in a dismantled or partially dismantled condition and remains inoperable for a period in excess of 10 calendar days.
(3) 
The vehicle does not bear, as required by the Motor Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, all of the following:
(a) 
A valid registration plate assigned to said vehicle.
(b) 
A current certificate of inspection for said vehicle.
(c) 
An ascertainable vehicle identification number.
(4) 
The vehicle is inoperable as a result of a mechanical failure which goes unrepaired for a period in excess of 30 calendar days.
(5) 
The vehicle has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than 48 hours.
(6) 
The vehicle is parked and positioned on the premises so as to constitute an attractive nuisance and a hazard to others.
(7) 
A boat or personal watercraft which has not been maintained in seaworthy condition and/or is positioned so as to constitute an attractive nuisance and/or a hazard to others shall, for the purpose of this chapter, be construed as a junked vehicle.
JUNKYARD
Any outdoor establishment, place of business, or activity which is maintained, used or operated for storing, keeping, buying or selling junk; for the maintenance or operation of a scrap metal processor; or for the storage of three or more junked vehicles.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
KENNEL
A use which includes as a principal purpose the housing, grooming, breeding, boarding, and/or training of dogs and other domesticated animals, not belonging to the property owner or occupant.
LABORATORY
A building or group of buildings in which are located the facilities for scientific research, investigation, testing and experimentation, but not including the manufacture of products for sale.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities: a subdivision of land; or 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.
LANDOWNER
The person who or which is the legal or beneficial owner or owners of land; 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 expressly under the lease exercise the rights of the landowner, or other persons having a proprietary interest in land.
LENGTH OF, BUILDING OR OTHER STRUCTURE
The horizontal distance between the furthermost walls of a building or other structure, including any attached carports, porches and other structures accessory thereto.
LIMITED AUTO REPAIR SHOP
A building and premises at which automobile maintenance, mechanical repair, detailing, and other service is provided, excluding: retail sales of motor vehicles; the sale or storage of motor vehicle fuels, oils or fluids (except when sold or stored for use in maintenance service being performed on the premises); auto body work (such as auto body repair, restoration and painting); and any outside storage of motor vehicle accessories or outdoor storage of motor vehicles (except for required off-street parking). A limited auto repair shop may entail incidental sale of automobile parts or accessories (such as tires and batteries) when purchased for installation in vehicles there being serviced. A limited auto repair shop does not include, as a principal use, a retail automotive accessories or parts store, or a specialty retail automotive service use such as a car wash, convenience oil change, or tire sales center.
LIVE-WORK UNIT
A commercial use, such as a shop, studio, office, or other place of business in combination with a dwelling unit located above such place of business. A person or persons other than the proprietor of the business may occupy a live-work unit, when located in the neighborhood center of the TND District.
LIVESTOCK
Animals, of any kind, raised for sale, resale, food, agricultural field production, or pleasure, including the keeping of one or more horses or ponies, but excluding common domestic pets such as cats and dogs.
LOADING SPACE
An off-street space, accessible from a street or way, in a building or on a lot, for the temporary use of vehicles while loading or unloading merchandise, materials, products or other goods.
LOGISTICS PARK or LOGISTICS CENTER
An e-commerce/warehouse distribution center containing warehouse and related office space.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
LOT
A parcel of land, the land area of which is contiguous and undivided by a street and which conforms to the provisions of this chapter, the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22] and all other Township ordinances, codes, regulations, plans and maps; or, any other parcel or tract of land whether or not improved.
LOT AREA
The total horizontal area within the lot lines of a lot, excluding both any area within a street or street rights-of-way and the area of any right-of-way or easement exclusive to the holder thereof.
LOT AREA EQUIVALENT
An area of land that envelops a building to be conveyed as a condominium with a footprint-based deed, which is shown on a plan with dashed lines to demonstrate compliance with applicable area and bulk regulations, similar to a conventional lot with fee simple lot lines and yard setback lines.
LOT, CORNER
A lot located at the junction of two or more intersecting streets where the interior angle formed by the intersection of the streets is 135° or less. See Illustration V.
LOT, FRONT
A lot (other than a corner lot) having a lot line which abuts the right-of-way line of a street to which the lot has direct lawful access as of right over or through the lot line abutting said right-of-way line.
LOT LINE
A 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, FRONT
The lot line abutting a street including shared driveways and parallel with the street 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.
LOT LINE, REAR
A lot line opposite and most distant from the front lot line; if the rear lot line is less than 10 feet in length, or if the lot forms a point at the rear, the rear lot line shall be deemed to be a line 10 feet in length within the lot, between the side lot lines, parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line, and the setback from which shall be coextensively shown on any plans.
LOT LINE, SIDE
Any lot line other than a front or rear lot line.
MANUAL OF WRITTEN AND GRAPHIC DESIGN GUIDELINES
A document that provides written and graphic design guidelines for the TND District in accordance with Part 22 and Exhibits A and B.
MANUFACTURING
A use involving as a principal purpose the transformation of materials into new products, including the assembling of congruent parts, the creation of products, and the blending of materials.
MEMBERSHIP CLUB (OR PRIVATE CLUB)
A not for profit corporation organized to benefit exclusively its membership and the guests thereof, including land, buildings and facilities for recreational, athletic, social, professional and cultural purposes. The members of the organization shall have a financial interest in, and method of control of, the assets and management of the membership club.
MINERAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION
The extraction of minerals from the earth or from waste or stock piles or from pits or banks by removing the strata or material which overlies or is above or between them or otherwise exposing and retrieving them from the surface, including but not limited to strip, drift, and auger mining, dredging, quarrying, and leaching, and activities related thereto, but not including those mining operations carried out beneath the surface by means of shafts, tunnels or other underground mine openings.
MIXED-USE
A combination of two or more uses in a building or on a lot.
MOBILE HOME
A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy 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 which is constructed so that it may be used without a permanent foundation, but with the same, or equivalent, electrical, plumbing, water supply and sanitary facilities as for a conventional dwelling. A mobile home shall include any addition or accessory structure, such as porches, sheds, decks or additional rooms.
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, which is leased by the park owner to the owner or occupants of the mobile home erected on the lot.
MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel of land under single ownership which has been planned and improved for the placement of mobile homes for non-transient use, consisting of two or more mobile home lots.
MODIFICATION or MODIFY
The improvement, upgrade or expansion of existing wireless communications facilities or base stations on an existing wireless support structure or the improvement, upgrade or expansion of the wireless communications facilities located within an existing equipment compound, if the improvement, upgrade, expansion or replacement does not substantially change the physical dimensions of the wireless support structure.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
MONOPOLE
A wireless communications facility or site which consists of a single pole structure, designed and erected on the ground or on top of a structure, to support communications antennas and connecting appurtenances.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
MOTOR HOME
A portable, temporary abode designed to be used for travel, recreation and vacation, constructed as an integral part of a self-propelled vehicle, and measuring at least 227 inches in length, 85 inches in height or 80 inches in width. See also "camper trailer," "mobile home," "travel trailer," "pickup coach" and Illustration VIII.
MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICE STATION
A building or place of business where automobile accessories, including tires and batteries, are sold at retail and installed therein and at which maintenance and other service for automobiles is provided including the sale of motor vehicle fuels, but excluding auto body repair and painting. A motor vehicle service station may include, as an accessory use, the retail sale of such items as newspapers, coffee, take-out foods, and dry goods, provided that such retail sale space does not exceed 1,000 square feet of building area.
MUFFLER OR SOUND DISSIPATIVE DEVICE
A device designed or used for decreasing or abating the level of sound escaping from an engine, machinery or like system.
MUNICIPAL USE
Publicly owned uses such as: parks, playgrounds and other recreational, cultural and conservation areas; the sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse disposal and other public facilities owned or operated for the good and well-being of the Township; and, activities regularly conducted by the Township at such sites and/or facilities.
NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AREAS
A type of common TND open space maintained for such purposes as tree protection, meadow management, floodplain conservation, soil conservation, steep slope conservation, water quality protection, groundwater recharge, stormwater management with naturalized landscaping, wildlife habitat protection, scenic amenity, and visual buffering.
NET LOT AREA
The total horizontal area within the lot lines of a lot following exclusion of:
(1) 
Seventy-five percent of the aggregate horizontal area of all floodway, flood fringe, and general floodplain areas as defined in § 27-1103, Subsection 5C, of this chapter, and 75% of the aggregate horizontal area of all one-hundred-year floodplains.
(2) 
Wetland areas within the subject-matter jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and/or the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and fifty-foot wetland buffers.
(3) 
Areas of very steep slope as defined in § 27-1202, Subsection 3C, of this chapter.
(4) 
Twenty-five percent of the areas of steep slope as defined in § 27-1202, Subsection 3B, of this chapter.
(5) 
Areas within an existing, public or private easement (other than conservation easements) or right-of-way, the terms or conditions of which restrict or limit the nature, dimensional characteristics, or intensity of development or development activities within the said easement or right-of-way.
(6) 
In the case of an interior lot, any right-of-way or easement connecting such interior lot to a road or street.
NET TRACT AREA
The total horizontal area within the property lines of the tract to be developed, following exclusion of:
(1) 
Seventy-five percent of the aggregate horizontal area of all floodway, flood fringe, and general floodplain areas as defined in § 27-1103, Subsection 5C, of this chapter, and 75% of the aggregate horizontal area of all FEMA one-hundred-year Floodplains as depicted on Map C-12, Flood Hazard Areas, in the Charlestown Township Comprehensive Plan of 2001.
(2) 
Wetland areas within the subject-matter jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and/or the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and Wetlands and fifty-foot Wetland Buffers as depicted on Map C-11, Wetlands & Wetland Buffers, in the Charlestown Township Comprehensive Plan of 2001.
(3) 
Areas of very steep slope as defined in § 27-1202, Subsection 3C, of this chapter.
(4) 
Twenty-five percent of the areas of steep slope as defined in § 27-1202, Subsection 3B, of this chapter.
(5) 
Areas within an existing, or proposed, public or private easement (other than conservation easements) or right-of-way, the terms or conditions of which restrict or limit the nature, dimensional characteristics, or intensity of development or development activities within the said easement or right-of-way.
(6) 
In the case of an interior lot, any right-of-way or easement connecting such interior to a road or street.
NOISE
Any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or animals or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans or animals.
NOISE DISTURBANCE
Any sound which (1) endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, or (2) endangers or injures personal or real property, or (3) is in excess of the sound levels by zoning districts established in Part . . .
NON-TOWER WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (NON-TOWER WCF)
Non-tower wireless communications facilities, including, but not limited to, antennas and related equipment. Non-tower WCFs shall not include support structures for antennas and related equipment.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot of record existing at the passage of this chapter or of subsequent zoning amendments, which does not have the minimum width or other required dimensions, does not contain the minimum area for the district in which it is located or otherwise does not conform to permit as of right the construction of a principal building otherwise permitted as of right in the district in which the lot is located.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
A structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable use provisions of this chapter where such structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment thereof which has continued to exist thereafter at all times. Such nonconforming structures include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs.
NONCONFORMING USE
A use, whether of land or of structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions of this chapter where such use lawfully in existence prior to the enactment thereof which has continued to exist thereafter at all times.
NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION OR NONPROFIT CORPORATION
A corporation formed or existing under the not for profit corporation law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
NURSERY SCHOOL
A school authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for children prior to first grade.
OFFICE
A use in a building at which general business, professional business, governmental business, and/or business of an institution or industry is conducted.
ON-SITE DOMESTIC WASTE DISPOSAL (ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL)
A single system of piping, a septic tank or other approved and permitted 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, by evaporation or otherwise.
ON-SITE WATER SUPPLY
An individual well serving one lot and/or a water supply on a lot occupied or to be occupied and serving one permitted principal building and accessory structures on the same lot.
ON-STREET PARKING
Parking that is adjoining the curb line of a street, and that is either parallel to or at a 45° angle from the curb line.
OPEN SPACE
Lands characterized as critical environmental areas or used for noise and/or visual buffers and described in the open space provisions, Part 15.
OPEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT
A subdivision or land development which is an alternative to conventional lot development, in which lots are arranged with particular consideration of and sensitivity toward critical environmental areas, by allocating open space for various conservation and/or recreation purposes in compliance with § 27-404 and Part 15.
OPEN SPACE OPTION
An option that provides an alternative to conventional single-family detached dwellings which allows for the grouping of lots and the preservation of open space in accordance with Part 4.
PARKING AREA
An off-street area containing one or more parking spaces with passageways and driveways appurtenant thereto.
PARKING GARAGE
A structure, other than a ground surface parking area, for the storage or parking of motor vehicles and in which no other use is conducted.
PARKING LOT GREEN
A green, as defined in this § 27-202, within a parking lot.
PARKING SPACE
A space not in excess of 7% slope as to single-family detached dwellings and as to all other uses not in excess of 5% slope, 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. To qualify as a parking space, the space in question shall have direct access to or from a street, driveway or other means of motor vehicle circulation or access abutting such space such that another motor vehicle parking in abutting space in no way limits the movement of any motor vehicle. A parking space shall include either covered garage space or uncovered parking lot space located off the street right-of-way.
PASSIVE OPEN SPACE AREAS
A type of open space or common TND open space designed for informal pursuits that require a minimal amount of land development, involving activities such as walking, sitting, gardening, picnicking, and nature study.
PER ACRE
Per net acre of land in a tract, i.e., the acreage of a tract less the amount thereof within a street right-of-way or within an easement, the area of which is exclusive to the holder thereof.
PERSON
Any individual, association, trust, partnership or corporation, and includes any members, director, officer, employee, partner or principal thereof. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, person includes the individuals who are members, trustees, partners, directors, officers, managers and supervisors, or any of them, of partnerships, associations, corporations or other form of entity.
PERSONAL SERVICE SHOP
A shop for a barber, beautician, shoe repairman, tailor, dress maker, and the like.
PICKUP COACH
A device designed to be mounted on a truck chassis for occupancy as a temporary abode for travel, recreation or vacation. See "camper trailer," "mobile home," "motor home," "travel trailer" and Illustration VIII.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
An area of land, controlled by a landowner, to be developed as a single entity for a number of dwellings and a minimum percentage of open space in accordance with the regulations for planned residential development of this chapter.
PONY
A small horse of any of a number of breeds usually not over 58 inches high at the withers.
PORCH
An unenclosed extension of a building no smaller than seven feet deep by 14 feet wide.
POULTRY
Domestic fowl raised for meat or eggs; chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and the like.
PRIMARY FACADE
The facade of a building along a street.
PRIMARY STREET
A street on which a building has frontage. On a corner lot there are two primary streets.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND
Land 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 SOILS
Those soils possessing the greatest production capability for crops. Important Farmlands, and Additional Farmlands of Statewide Importance, as defined, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, are considered as prime agricultural soils.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING
A building in which is conducted or is to be conducted the principal use of the lot on which such building is situated.
PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE
A structure, not qualifying as a building, in, on or by which the principal use of the lot on which such structure is situated is conducted or is to be conducted.
PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
An institution conducting a regularly scheduled curriculum of study similar to that of the public elementary schools and operated in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOL
An institution conducting a regularly scheduled curriculum of study similar to that of the public secondary schools and operated in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
PUBLIC HEARING
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, or the Zoning Hearing Board, 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 "Sunshine Act," 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township stating the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing or meeting. The first publication shall be not more than 30 days and the second publication shall not be less than seven days from the date of the hearing or meeting.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
The legal right-of-way for any street, sidewalk, alley or similar place which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity for the purpose of at least providing passage, repassage and other traverse thereover by motor vehicles.
PUBLIC SCHOOL
An educational institution operated by a public school district in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
PUBLIC SEWER (OR PUBLIC SANITARY SEWAGE SYSTEM)
Any 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 SPACE
Any real property or structures thereon which are owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
PUBLIC UTILITY
Any person duly authorized to furnish to the public, under public regulation, electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, steam, cable television or telephone or telephone service.
PUBLIC WATER (OR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM)
Any system for water distribution and water supply, other than an off-site water supply system which is regulated as to service or rates by a governmental agency, authority or commission.
PURE TONE
Any sound which can be heard as a single pitch or a set of single pitches. For the purpose of this chapter, a pure tone shall exist if the 1/3 octave band sound pressure level in the band with the tone exceeds the arithmetic average of the sound pressure levels of the two contiguous octave bands by five dB for center frequencies of 500 Hz and above by 8 dB for center frequencies between 160 and 400 Hz and by 15 dB for center frequencies less than or equal to 125 Hz.
QUARTERS FOR GUESTS AND SERVANTS
See "guest house."
REAL PROPERTY
All land whether publicly or privately owned, whether improved or not improved, with or without structures, exclusive of any areas devoted to public rights-of-way.
REAR LOT LINE
See "lot line, rear."
REAR YARD
See "yard, rear."
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Facilities designed and used for active and passive participatory athletic and general recreation activities, such as fitness clubs, gymnasiums, skating rinks, swimming pools, tennis courts and ball fields; excluded are facilities intended for spectator activities, such as stadiums and arenas, and any structure in which is maintained for the amusement, patronage or recreation of the public more than three electronic games.
RELIGIOUS USE
A use involving a structure or place in which worship and ceremonies pertaining to a particular system of beliefs are held.
RESIDENTIAL USE AREA
The aggregate area of buildings in a TND that comprise one or more dwelling units, and the off-street parking, landscaping, and portions of a TND tract area associated with such buildings, exclusive of streets, sidewalks and street edge strips and required common TND open space, which delineate a portion of a TND tract for the purpose of establishing compliance with specified area and bulk regulations.
RESTAURANT
A building used for the purpose of furnishing food and beverage to the public to be consumed within the building, and on the premises in a courtyard enclosed by a fence, hedge or wall, or as an outdoor cafe in a TND District, in which food is thereby prepared, with an area within the building of not less than 2,500 square feet, equipped with tables and chairs accommodating at least 40 persons at one time excluding counter or bar service seating areas. The building shall have separate toilet facilities for men and women customers and separate toilet facilities for men and women employees. See also "cafeteria" and "cafe."
RETAIL USE
A building that houses a store or like-type establishment, that offers goods and products for retail sale to the general public.
RETAIL USE AREA
The aggregate area of a building and/or buildings in a TND that provide for the retail sale of goods and products to the general public, office use, and/or personal service shop use, and the parking sidewalks, landscaping and other outdoor amenities associated with such building(s), which delineate the portion of a TND tract for the purpose of establishing compliance with specified area and bulk regulations.
ROOFTOP ARRAY
An arrangement of solar panels or solar collectors, including frames mounted on a roof of a building, whether pitched or flat.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
SCREENING
The use of plant materials, fencing, walls and/or earthen berms 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.
SELF-STORAGE FACILITY
A building or group of buildings containing separate, individual, and private storage spaces of varying sizes available for lease or rent for varying periods of time.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
SETBACK AREA
The area to be designated, delineated, depicted and otherwise noted on any plans 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.
SHADE TREES
A 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 summer, and winter, respectively.
SHADOW FLICKER
The shadows cast by a wind energy system's moving blades on a sunny day.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
SHARED DRIVEWAY
A private way entirely upon one lot to which no more than two other lots lacking a front lot line on a public street abut and have direct lawful access by recorded grant of easement for at least passage, repassage or other traverse by motor vehicle, the length of which from the street line of a street other than another shared driveway to the end line of said way is not in excess of 1,000 feet and the grade of which conforms to the minimum and maximum grade requirements for driveways set forth in the Charlestown Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 1982 [Chapter 22], as amended from time to time.
SHORT-TERM LODGING
The occupancy of a portion of an owner-occupied single-family detached dwelling in the FR District for temporary rental occupancy by transient visitors.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
SIDE LOT LINE
See "lot line, side."
SIDE YARD
See "yard, side."
SIGN
Any permanent or temporary structure or part thereof, or any device attached, painted or represented directly or indirectly on a structure or other surface that shall display or include any letter, work, insignia, flag or representation used, as, or which is in the nature of, an advertisement, announcement, visual communication, direction, or is designed to attract the eye or bring the subject to the attention of the public. Flags of any governmental unit or branch of any charitable or religious organization, interior signs not visible from a public right-of-way or adjoining property, and cornerstones built into or attached to a wall of a building are excluded.
SIGN, ACCESSORY
Any sign which specifically relates to the permitted use of the premises on which said sign is erected and which serves as a further description of products available to or services provided for the general public.
SIGN AREA
The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including any supporting framework and bracing which are incidental to the display itself. Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to or within a surface, building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other shape, including the sign background, which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
SIGN, FLASHING
A sign, the illumination of which is not kept constant in intensity at all times when in use, and which exhibits sudden or marked changed in lighting effects. Illuminated signs which indicate the time, temperature or date information shall not be considered a flashing sign.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
A sign supported by, or suspended from, a freestanding column or other support(s) located in or upon the ground surface.
SIGN, GROUND
Any sign, other than a pole sign, placed upon or supported by the ground independent of any structure.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
A sign designed to give forth artificial light directly (or through transparent or translucent material) from a source of light within such sign or a sign with illumination derived from an external artificial source so arranged that no direct rays of light are projected from such artificial source to areas other than the sign being illuminated.
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the lot on which the sign is located.
SIGN, ON-PREMISES
A sign relating in its subject matter to the lot on which it is located, or to products, accommodations, services or activities on the lot. On-premises signs do not include signs erected by the outdoor advertising industry in the conduct of the outdoor advertising business.
SIGN, PARALLEL
A sign which is mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface not extending beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which it is mounted and not projecting more than 15 inches from the wall surface.
SIGN, POLE
A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or other single support.
SIGN, PROJECTING
A sign which is attached directly to the structure wall and which extends more than 15 inches from the face of such wall.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE
A sign pertaining to the sale or lease of the premises on which the sign is located.
SIGN, WINDOW
A temporary or permanent sign which is oriented to the public right-of-way, is legible to persons in vehicles and is located on the outside or inside of a window to direct attention to an activity conducted on the same lot.
SINGLE AND SEPARATE OWNERSHIP
The ownership of property by any person, which ownership is separate and distinct from that of any adjoining property.
SOLAR COLLECTOR
A device intended to capture the radiant heat from the sun. For purposes of this chapter, solar collectors shall be limited to solar panels and solar water heaters.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A small scale energy system that consists of one or more solar panels and/or collectors, "balance of system" equipment, and other associated infrastructure with the primary intention of generating electricity, storing electricity, or otherwise converting solar energy to a different form of energy.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
SOLAR PANEL
A structure containing one or more receptive cells, the purpose of which is to convert solar energy into usable electrical energy by way of a solar energy system.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
SOUND
An oscillation in, pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that causes compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description of sound may include any characteristics of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.
SOUND LEVEL
The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C, as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters (ANSI S1.4-1974, or the latest revision thereof). If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.
SOUND LEVEL METER
An instrument which includes a microphone, amplifier, RMS detector, integrator or time averager, output meter and any applicable weighting network used to measure sound pressure levels which meets or exceeds the requirement for a Type I or Type II sound level meter as specified in ANSI Specification S1.4-1974. The manufacturer's published indication of compliance with such specifications shall be prima facie evidence of such compliance.
STEALTH TECHNOLOGY
Camouflaging methods that are used in the installation of wireless communications towers, antennas and other facilities which render them more visually appealing or blend the proposed facility into the existing structure or visual backdrop in such a manner as to render it minimally visible to the casual observer. Such methods include, but are not limited to, architecturally screened, roof-mounted antennas, building-mounted antennas painted to match the existing structure and facilities constructed to resemble trees, shrubs, flagpoles and light poles.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
STEEP SLOPES
Those areas of land which are characterized by a change in elevation of 15% or more but not exceeding 25% over a distance or contour specified in § 27-1202, Subsection 3E, of this chapter.
STORY
That portion of a structure included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a structure included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level directly above a basement or cellar is more than six feet above grade, such basement or cellar shall be considered a story.
STREET
A public or private street or shared driveway, 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 EDGE STRIP
A grass area, or unit paver area, located between the sidewalk and the curb of a street in the TND Districts.
STREET LINE
The dividing line between a lot and the right-of-way line of a street abutting a lot line.
STREET, PUBLIC
An existing state or Township road.
STREET WALL
The wall of a building adjoining a sidewalk at the edge of the street right-of-way; or architectural elements such as walls, pillars, and colonnades, in lieu of a building wall when an existing building is already set back from the street wall line.
STREETSCAPE
The space formed by buildings located close to the street, which is embellished with sidewalks, street trees, street lights, curbs, on-street parking, and cartways. The streetscape is framed by buildings that create the "outdoor room" character of a traditional neighborhood.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION
Any 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.
STRUCTURAL USE
One or more buildings enclosed by continuous exterior walls and a continuous roof.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationery location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land. Buildings, streets, and any other improvement shall be considered a structure, however that portion of a street which lies within any yard and is necessary and suitable for ingress, egress and access to and from the interior of any lot shall not be considered a structure for purposes of this definition and the existence of such a street within any yard shall not be deemed to violate any prohibition against structures in a yard set forth in any zoning district in this chapter.
STRUCTURE HEIGHT
See "height; height of any other structure."
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of the 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 residential dwelling, shall be exempted.
SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
(1) 
Any increase in the height of a wireless support structure by more than 10%, or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater, except that the mounting of the proposed wireless communications facility may exceed the size limits set forth herein if necessary to avoid interference with existing antennas; or
(2) 
Any further increase in the height of a wireless support structure which has already been extended by more than 10% of its originally approved height or by the height of one additional antenna array.
SUITE STYLE HOTEL
A facility in a campus-type setting offering short-term and longer-term overnight lodging accommodations, particularly to business travelers, including kitchen and dining facilities in each unit, as well as sitting areas for small meetings with clients in each unit, and which may include conference rooms and other common area facilities for recreation, fitness, and personal services.
SWIMMING POOL
Any reasonably permanent pool or open tank, not located within a completely enclosed building, and containing, or normally capable of containing water to a depth at any point greater than 1 1/2 feet. Farm ponds and/or lakes are not included, provided that swimming is not the primary purpose for their construction.
TERRACE
An uncovered flat platform of earth with a surface material. A terrace which has a roof and which is attached to a building shall be considered a porch.
TOWER
A guyed or freestanding structure, including anchor and foundation, that is specifically engineered to support a wind turbine.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
TOWER-BASED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (TOWER-BASED WCF)
Any structure that is used for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas, including, but not limited to, self-supporting lattice towers, guy towers and monopoles, utility poles and light poles. DAS hub facilities are considered to be tower-based WCFs.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
TOWNHOUSE
See definition for "dwelling, townhouse or attached."
TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT (TND)
A form of land development in accordance with Part 22 and consistent with TND as per Article VII-A of the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), 53 P.S. § 10701-A et seq.
TRANSIENT VISITOR
An occupant of a dwelling unit who rents for not more than 30 consecutive days, unless the occupant is a relative of the owner.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
TRAVEL TRAILER
A vehicular portable device built on a chassis, designed to be used primarily as a temporary abode for travel, recreation and vacation use, having a body width not exceeding eight feet and a body length not exceeding 32 feet. See also "camper trailer," "mobile home," "motor home," "pickup coach" and Illustration VIII.
TRUCKING ESTABLISHMENT
A facility where trucks and tractor trailers are dispatched off site to pick up and deliver goods, supplies, equipment, and materials.
[Amended by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE
An institution of higher education operated in accordance with a charter issued under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
USABLE OPEN SPACE
An outdoor area or areas with a minimum width of 150 feet, designed, constructed and maintained for active and passive equestrian or pedestrian use. It may include plazas, courts, lawns, gardens, sitting areas and similar types of areas, and shall be provided with such paving, planting beds, fountains, sculptures and works of art, seating and comparable facilities as may be appropriate to the location. The design shall complement the architecture of the building or buildings on the same lot. All usable open space shall be designed, constructed and maintained so as to be readily accessible to persons entitled to use it.
USE
The specific purpose for which land or a structure is proposed to be subdivided and/or developed or is otherwise designed, arranged, intended or for which it is proposed or may be used, occupied or maintained.
VARIANCE
Permission, approval or authorization granted by the Zoning Hearing Board, constituting a modification or deviation from the exact provisions of this chapter, as applied to a specific property, in accordance with the provisions of Part 19.
VERY STEEP SLOPES
Those areas of land which are characterized by a change in elevation of 25% or more over a distance or contour specified in § 27-1202, Subsection 3E, of this chapter.
WAREHOUSE
A building used primarily for the storage of goods and materials.
WATERCOURSE
A stream with year-round or substantially year-round flow such as a stream, creek or run.
WIND ENERGY SYSTEM
A system that converts wind energy into usable forms of energy. Associated equipment includes any base, blade, foundation, nacelle, rotor, tower, transformer, vane, wire, inverter, batteries or other component necessary to fully utilize the wind energy. For purposes of this chapter, a wind energy system is an accessory use with a maximum rated output, as designated by the manufacturer, of 20 kilowatts (kW) or less.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
WIND TURBINE HEIGHT
The distance measured from the surface of the tower foundation to the highest point of a wind generator blade when the tip is at its highest point.
[Added by Ord. 2017-202, 6/5/2017]
WIRELESS
Transmissions through the airwaves, including, but not limited to, infrared line-of-sight, cellular, PCS, microwave, satellite, or radio signals.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (WCF)
The set of equipment and network components, including antennas, transmitters, receivers, base stations, cabling and accessory equipment, used to provide wireless data and telecommunications services. The term shall not include the wireless support structure.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
WIRELESS SUPPORT STRUCTURE
A freestanding structure, such as a tower-based wireless communications facility, electrical transmission tower, water tower or any other support structure that could support the placement or installation of a wireless communications facility if approved by the Township.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-206, 11/6/2017]
YARD
An open space on the same lot with a building or group of buildings, which open space lies between the building or group of buildings and the nearest lot line. In measuring a yard, the line of a building shall be deemed to mean a line parallel to the nearest lot line, drawn through the point of the building or group of buildings which is nearest to such lot line, and the measurement shall be taken at right angles from the lot line to the nearest line of the building. A required yard is that portion of a yard meeting the minimum yard requirements therefor of this chapter, measured from the lot line. See Illustration IX.
YARD, FRONT
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 building or buildings on the lot.
YARD, REAR
A 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 building or buildings on the lot.
YARD, SIDE
A 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 building or buildings on the lot.