The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise:
AIRCRAFT
Any contrivance, except an empowered hang-glider or parachute,
used for manned ascent into or flight through the air. See 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5102.
AIRPORT
Refers to the Finleyville Airport; any area of land or water
which is used, or intended to be used, for the landing and takeoff
of aircraft and any appurtenant areas which are used, or intended
to be used, for airport buildings on air navigation facilities or
rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and facilities
thereon. See 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5102. As used herein the term
"airport" shall not include heliports. Private and public airports
are defined separately in this section.
AIRPORT ELEVATION
The highest point of an airport's usable landing area measured
in feet from sea level. Here, 1,240 feet above mean sea level.
AIRPORT HAZARD AREA
Any area of land or water upon which a hazard to air navigation
(an airport hazard) might be established if not prevented as provided
by this chapter and the 1984 Pa. Laws 164.
APPROACH SURFACE
A surface longitudinally centered on the extended runway center line, extending outward and upward from the end of the primary surface and at the same slope as the approach zone height limitation slope set forth in §
97-5 of this chapter. In plan, the perimeter of the approach surface coincides with the perimeter of the approach zone.
BOARD OF APPEALS OR ADJUSTMENT
A Board appointed by the authority adopting this chapter. The number of members, powers, governing rules, etc., of the Board are set forth in §
97-9 of this chapter. Joint Airport Zoning Board is defined in §
97-10.
CONICAL SURFACE
A surface extending outward and upward from the periphery
of the horizontal surface at a slope of 20 to one for a horizontal
distance of 4,000 feet.
DEPARTMENT
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration of the United States Department
of Transportation.
HAZARD TO AIR NAVIGATION
Any structure or object, natural or man-made, or use of land
which obstructs the airspace required for flight or aircraft in landing
or taking off at an airport or is otherwise hazardous as defined by
"airport hazard" in 74 Pa.C.S.A.. § 5102.
HEIGHT
For the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones
set forth in this chapter and shown on the Zoning Map, the datum shall
be mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.
HORIZONTAL SURFACE
A horizontal plane 150 feet above the established airport
elevation, the perimeter of which plane coincides with the perimeter
of the horizontal zone.
LARGER THAN UTILITY RUNWAY
A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used
by propeller-driven aircraft of greater than 12,500 pounds maximum
gross weight and jet powered aircraft.
NONCONFORMING USE
Any preexisting structure, object of natural growth, or use
of land which is inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter
or an amendment thereto.
NONPRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure
utilizing air navigation facilities with only horizontal guidance,
or area-type navigation equipment, for which a straight-in nonprecision
instrument approach procedure has been approved or planned.
OBSTRUCTION
Any structure, growth, or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height set forth in §
97-5 of this chapter.
PERSON
An individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association,
joint stock association, or governmental entity; includes a trustee,
a receiver, an assignee, or a similar representative of any of the
above.
PRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure
utilizing an instrument landing system (ILS) or a precision approach
radar (PAR). It also means a runway for which a precision approach
system is planned and is so indicated on an approved airport layout
plan or any other planning document.
PRIMARY SURFACE
A surface longitudinally centered on a runway. When the runway has a specially prepared hard surface, the primary surface extends 200 feet beyond each end of that runway; for military runways or when the runway has no specially prepared hard surface, or planned hard surface, the primary surface ends at each end of that runway. The width of the primary surface is set forth in §
97-4 of this chapter. The elevation of any point on the primary surface is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway center line.
PRIVATE AIRPORT
An airport which is privately owned and which is not open
or intended to be open to the public as defined in 74 Pa.C.S.A.. § 5102.
PUBLIC AIRPORT
An airport which is either publicly or privately owned and
which is open to the public as defined in 74 Pa.C.S.A.. § 5102.
RUNWAY
A defined area on an airport prepared for landing and takeoff
of aircraft along its length.
STRUCTURE
An object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed
by man, including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, cranes,
smokestacks, earth formation, and overhead transmission lines.
TRANSITIONAL SURFACES
These surfaces extend outward at 90° angles to the runway
center line and the runway center line extended at a slope of seven
feet horizontally for each foot vertically from the sides of the primary
and approach surfaces to where they intersect the horizontal and conical
surfaces. Transitional surfaces for those portions of the precision
approach surfaces, which project through and beyond the limits of
the conical surface, extend a distance of 5,000 feet measured horizontally
from the edge of the approach surface and at 90° angles to the
extended runway center line.
TREE
Any object of natural growth.
UTILITY RUNWAY
A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used
by propeller-driven aircraft of 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight
and less.
VISUAL RUNWAY
A runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using
visual approach procedures.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no structure shall
be erected, altered, or maintained, and no tree shall be allowed to
grow in any zone created by this chapter to a height in excess of
the applicable height limit herein established for such zone. Such
applicable height limitations are hereby established for each of the
zones in question as follows:
A. Utility Runway Visual Approach Zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each
foot upward beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the
primary surface and extending to a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet
along the extended runway center line.
B. Transitional Zones. Slope seven feet outward for each foot upward
beginning at the sides of and at the same elevation as the primary
surface and the approach surface, and extending to a height of 150
feet above the airport elevation which is 1,240 feet above mean sea
level. In addition to the foregoing, there are established height
limits sloping seven feet outward for each foot upward beginning at
the sides of and at the same elevation as the approach surface, and
extending to where they intersect the conical surface.
C. Horizontal Zone. Established at 150 feet above the airport elevation
or at a height of 1,390 feet above mean sea level.
D. Conical zone. Slopes 20 feet outward for each foot upward beginning
at the periphery of the horizontal zone and at 150 feet above the
airport elevation and extending to a height of 350 feet above the
airport elevation; here, 1,590 feet.
Where any airport hazard area appertaining to an airport is
located outside the territorial limits of the municipality encompassing
the airport, all of the municipalities involved may, by ordinance
or resolution, create a joint airport zoning board which shall have
the same power to adopt, administer and enforce airport zoning regulations
applicable to the airport hazard area in question as that vested (by
the police power) in the municipality within which the area is located.
Each joint airport zoning board shall have as members two representatives
appointed by each municipality participating in its creation and,
in addition, a Chairman elected by a majority of the members so appointed.
In any case in which it is desired to remove, lower or otherwise
terminate a nonconforming structure or use, or the approach protection
necessary cannot, because of constitutional limitations, be provided
by airport zoning regulations, or it appears advisable that the necessary
approach protection be provided by acquisition of property rights,
rather than by airport zoning regulations, the municipality within
which the property or nonconforming use is located, or the municipality
or municipal authority owning the airport or served by it, may acquire
by purchase, grant or condemnation, in the manner provided by the
law under which municipalities are authorized to acquire real property
for public purposes, such air right, aviation easement or other estate
or interest in the property or nonconforming structure or use in question
as may be necessary to effectuate the purpose of this chapter. In
the case of the purchase of any property or any easement or estate,
or interest therein, or the acquisition thereof by the power of eminent
domain, the municipality making the purchase of exercising the power
shall, in addition to the damages for the taking, injury or destruction
of property, also pay the cost of the removal and relocation of any
structure or any public utility which is required to be moved to a
new location.
Any person aggrieved, or any taxpayer affected, by any decision
of the Board of Adjustment may appeal to the Court of Common Pleas
as provided by law. In cases where applicable law does not provide
an appeal from a municipality to a board, a person or tax payer may
appeal from a decision of a municipality or joint airport zoning board,
as provided by law for similar zoning proceedings.
If any of the provisions of this chapter or the application
thereof to any person or circumstances are held invalid, such invalidity
shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter
which can be given effect without the invalid provisions. The provisions
of this chapter are declared to be severable.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter
or any regulation, order, or ruling promulgated hereunder shall, upon
conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District
Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty
of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more
than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof,
the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues
or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and
each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute
a separate offense.