The following words and phrases shall have the meaning given
in this chapter as follows:
ACCESS LANE
The drive within a parking lot directly abutting parking
spaces and designed to provide a connection between the spaces and
the public street.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A subordinate building, the use of which is customarily incidental
to that of the principal building, located on the same lot as the
principal building, including, but not limited to, garages.
ACCESSORY USE
A use conducted on the same lot as a principal use to which
it is related; a use which is clearly incidental to and customarily
found to be subordinate to a particular principal use.
ADULT DAY-CARE CENTER
A premises operated for profit or not-for-profit in which
older adult (must be 18 years of age or older) daily living services
are simultaneously provided for part of a twenty-four-hour day for
four or more clients who are not relatives of the operator. Such a
facility must be licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ADULT-ORIENTED ESTABLISHMENT (OR ADULT USE)
The definition for this term and for all uses included under
this term shall apply as are provided in Title 68, Part II, Subpart
E, Chapter 55, Section 5502 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, as amended. Such definitions in Pennsylvania Statues are
hereby included by reference, including, but not limited to, the definitions
for "adult bookstore," "adult entertainment," "adult mini motion-picture
theater," "adult motion-picture theater," "sexual activities," "specified
anatomical areas," and "specified sexual activities."
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.
§ 5101.
AIRPORT (REFERS TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY 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 or 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, 1,185 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 these regulations and the Airport Zoning Act, 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5911
et seq.)
ALTERATION
As applied to a building or structure, a change or rearrangement
in the structural parts, or an enlargement, whether by extending on
a side or by increasing in height, or the moving from one location
or position to another, or conversion of one use to another by virtue
of interior change.
AMENDMENT
A change in this chapter, including addition of new requirements,
revision of existing requirements or deletion of obsolete requirements,
necessitating public hearings and other official approvals before
becoming effective.
ANIMAL SHELTER
A facility used to house or contain stray, homeless, abandoned,
abused or unwanted animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters) that is
owned, operated, or maintained by a public body, an established humane
society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty
to animals, or other nonprofit organization devoted to the welfare,
protection and humane treatment of animals.
APARTMENT
A room or suite of rooms, intended, designed or used as a
residence by a single family in a building with its own cooking, food
storage, bathing and toilet facilities and with access directly or
via a common hall to the outside.
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has
filed an application for development, including his heirs, successors
and assigns.
APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Every application, whether preliminary, tentative or final,
required to be filed and approved prior to the start of construction
or development, including, but not limited to, application for a building
permit, approval of a subdivision plat or plan or approval of a development
plan.
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
The Mayor and Council of the City of Washington; the Council
of the Borough of East Washington.
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 set forth in §
350-74D(1) of this chapter. In plan, the perimeter of the approach surface coincides with the perimeter of the approach zone.
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
Any premises in which food, shelter, assisted living services,
assistance or supervision and supplemental health care services are
provided for a period exceeding 24 hours for four or more adults who
are not relatives of the operator, who require assistance or supervision
in matters such as dressing, bathing, diet, financial management,
evacuation from the residence in the event of an emergency or medication
prescribed for self-administration.
AUTHORITY
A body politic and corporate created pursuant to the Act
of May 2, 1945 (P.L. 382, No. 164), known as the "Municipality Authorities
Act of 1945."
AUTO BODY/AUTO REPAIR SHOP
A facility where repairs to the frame or other structural
parts of motor vehicles, spray painting, and repair or replacement
of fenders and similar external portions of motor vehicles are conducted.
Auto repairs to the mechanized parts of a vehicle, including engine,
motor, transmission, etc., shall also be included in this definition.
AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATION
Any building, land or structure used for dispensing, sale
or offering for sale at retail of any automobile fuels, oils or accessories,
including lubrication of automobiles and replacement or installation
of minor parts and accessories but not including major repair work,
such as motor replacement, body and fender repair or spray painting,
commonly known as a "gasoline station."
BASEMENT
The space enclosed by the foundation or ground floor walls
of a building with a minimum depth of six feet. A basement shall not
be counted as a story for purposes of height measurement unless 1/2
or more of its height is above average grade.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST
An owner-occupied detached single-family dwelling which provides
overnight lodging to temporary visitors of the area, provides meals
for overnight guests only, and which does not routinely involve rental
of accommodations for periods of more than 14 consecutive days.
BILLBOARDS
See "sign (billboard)." A type of "sign, off-premises."
BOARD
The Zoning Hearing Board for the City of Washington or Borough
of East Washington.
BOARDER
An individual or individuals, other than a family member
of the family occupying the dwelling unit, or part thereof, who, for
a consideration, is furnished sleeping accommodations and may be furnished
meals or other services as part of the consideration.
BOARDING OR ROOMING HOUSE
A dwelling in which at least two rooms are offered for rent,
whether or not meals are furnished to lodgers and in which no transients
are accommodated and no public restaurant is maintained. A school
or college dormitory, fraternity or sorority house, membership club
with residents, and other similar uses are not deemed a boarding or
rooming house.
BOUNDARY
A line, usually a property or street right-of-way line or
the center line of a recognizable physical feature such as a highway,
stream or railroad that demarcates the edge of a district or area.
BREW PUB
A restaurant-brewery that sells 25% of more of its beer on
site. The beer is brewed primarily for sale in the restaurant and
bar.
BUFFER
A buffer, buffer area, and buffer yard or buffer setback
is a strip of land planted with trees, shrubs and lawns and which
is kept free of outdoor storage, buildings and vehicles, and which
serves to separate certain uses or zoning districts. See also "screening"
in this section. A buffer cannot be used for any purpose other than
fencing and landscaping.
BUILDABLE ACREAGE
A gross acreage reduced by all or a portion of land with
sensitive environmental attributes.
BUILDING
Any structure in excess of 150 square feet having a roof
and enclosed sides and any unroofed platform, terrace or porch having
a vertical face higher than three feet above the level of the ground
from which the height of the building is measured. All buildings are
structures, but only those structures that meet this definition shall
be considered buildings.
BUILDING, ACCESSORY
A subordinate building located on the same lot as the main
building, the use of which is incidental to the use of the main building.
BUILDING, MAIN OR PRINCIPAL
A building in which the principal use of the lot on which
it is situated is conducted. In any residential zone, a dwelling shall
be deemed a main building on the lot on which the same is located,
unless otherwise provided for elsewhere in this chapter.
BUSINESS OFFICE
A business establishment which does not offer a product or
merchandise for sale to the public. Personal services such as barbershops
and beauty shops and repair services are not deemed a business office.
BYOB CLUB
Any business facility such as a dance hall, club or association
not licensed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, wherein patrons
21 years of age and older may, after payment of an entry fee, cover
charge or membership fee, consume alcoholic beverages which said patrons
have carried onto the premises; also commonly referred to as "bring
your own bottle clubs," provided that a facility which is rented for
a limited period of time not to exceed six hours, by individual(s)
or an organization for the purpose of a private party in which alcoholic
beverages are carried onto the premises shall not be considered a
BYOB club under the terms of this chapter. "BYOB club" shall not include
a restaurant as defined in this section.
CARETAKER HOME
An accessory structure used expressly for the provision of
living quarters and addressing all required yard and bulk requirements.
CARPORT
A partially enclosed accessory roofed structure used for
the purpose of parking an automobile.
CAR WASH
A structure used for the purposes of cleaning or reconditioning
the exterior and interior surfaces of automotive vehicles but not
including an incidental one-way washing facility in a gasoline service
station where washing facilities are purely incidental to the operation
of said service station. A self-operating vehicular laundering facility
not requiring attendants or employees, regardless of capacity, is
also considered to be an automobile laundry.
CELLAR
The space enclosed by the foundation or ground floor walls
of a building with a minimum depth of six feet in which more than
1/2 of its height is below grade. A cellar shall not be counted as
a story.
CENTER LINE
An imaginary line running parallel to street or easement
right-of-way lines and equidistant from the lines on each side of
the street or easement, or a line following the center of a physical
feature such as a stream or roadway.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
A certificate issued by code enforcement officials of the
City or Borough upon completion of construction or alteration of a
building or upon approval of a change in occupancy or use of a building.
CHECK CASHING BUSINESS
An establishment engaged in the cashing of checks by individuals
or the deferred deposit of personal checks whereby the check casher
refrains from depositing a personal check written by a customer until
a specific date, or the offering of a loan until a paycheck would
be received by the person receiving the loan. This term shall not
include any of the following: a state or federally chartered bank,
savings association, credit union, or industrial loan association;
a licensed gaming facility (or any hotel related thereto); or a retail
store engaged primarily in selling or leasing items to retail customers
and that cashes a check for a fee not routinely exceeding 1% of the
check amount as a service to its customers incidental to the retail
store principal use.
CHILD DAY CARE
A use involving the supervised care of children under age
16 outside of the children's own home(s) primarily for periods
of less than 18 hours per child during the average day. This use may
also include educational programs that are supplementary to state-required
education, including nursery school or Head Start programs. See also
definition of "adult day-care center." The following three types of
day care are permitted without regulation by this chapter: care of
children by their own relatives; care of children within a place of
worship during regularly scheduled religious services; and care of
one to three children within any dwelling unit, in addition to children
who are relatives of the caregiver.
A.
FAMILY DAY-CARE HOMEA type of day care use that is accessory to and occurs within the primary caregiver's dwelling unit, provides care for four to six children at one time who are not relatives of the primary caregiver, and is registered with the applicable state agency.*
B.
GROUP DAY-CARE HOMEA type of day care use that provides care for between seven and 12 children at one time who are not relatives of the primary caregiver, provides care within the primary caregiver's dwelling unit, and is licensed with the applicable state agency.*
C.
DAY-CARE CENTERA type of day care use that provides care for seven or more children at one time who are not relatives of the primary caregiver, does not occur within a dwelling unit, is licensed with the applicable state agency.*
*Note: As of the adoption date of this chapter, such agency
was the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
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CITY
The City of Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
A triangular area of unobstructed vision on comer lots formed
by a seventy-five-foot sight line along the center line of a local
street, and by a line joining these two sight lines at the greatest
distance from their intersections.
CLINIC
An establishment providing therapeutic, preventative, corrective,
healing and health-building treatment services on an outpatient basis
by physicians, dentists and other practitioners. Typical uses include
medical and dental offices and hospitals and outpatient medical laboratories.
CLUB, PRIVATE
A private club includes the following:
A.
An establishment operated by an organization for fraternal,
sororal, social, recreational or educational purposes, but open only
to members and not the general public.
B.
A nonprofit association of persons who are bona fide members
paying periodic dues, and which association owns, hires or leases
a building or lot or a portion of either or both, the use of which
is restricted to either or both, and use of which is restricted to
members and their guests.
C.
A group of people organized for a common purpose to pursue common
goals, interests or activities and usually characterized by certain
membership qualifications, payment of fees and dues, regular meetings
and a constitution and bylaws.
COFFEE SHOP (OR CAFE)
Establishments that primarily serve nonalcoholic beverages,
such as coffee, juices, or sodas for consumption on or near the premises,
or a specialty snack, such as ice cream, frozen yogurt, cookies or
popcorn.
COLLEGE
A postsecondary educational institution authorized by the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to award associate, baccalaureate or
higher degrees. For purposes of this chapter, this term includes universities.
COMMERCIAL ENTERTAINMENT
Provision of spectator entertainment to the general public
including live and motion-picture theaters and concert halls. This
category excludes cabarets, nightclubs, and similar establishments
providing entertainment incidental to food or beverage sales.
COMMERCIAL RECREATION
Provision of participant or spectator recreation to the general
public, excluding public park and recreation facilities.
A.
SMALL-SCALEThis classification includes small, generally indoor facilities that occupy less than 50,000 square feet of building area, such as billiard parlors, bowling centers, card rooms, dance studios, exercise studios, health clubs, yoga studios, dance halls, small tennis club facilities, poolrooms, and amusement arcades. This classification may include restaurants, snack bars, and other incidental food and beverage services to patrons.
B.
LARGE-SCALEThis classification includes large, generally outdoor facilities such as amusement and theme parks, sports stadiums and arenas, racetracks, amphitheaters, driving ranges, golf courses (daily fee), as well as indoor facilities with more than 50,000 square feet in building area, including fitness centers, gymnasiums, handball, racquetball, or large tennis club facilities, ice or roller skating rinks, swimming or wave pools, miniature golf courses, archery or indoor shooting ranges, riding stables, campgrounds, stables, etc. This classification may include restaurants, snack bars, and other incidental food and beverage services to patrons.
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 which is designed and
intended for the use or enjoyment of residents of a development, not
including streets, off-street parking areas and areas set aside for
public facilities.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The adopted City of Washington and Borough of East Washington
Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan, as amended.
CONDITIONAL USE
A use authorized by this chapter that may only be granted
by Council after receiving recommendations of the Planning Commission
based on the express standards and criteria set forth in this chapter.
CONDOMINIUM
A structure where each unit in the structure is individually
owned and the owner of each unit has a proportional interest in the
common areas and facilities of the structure and the parcel.
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.
COVERAGE
The maximum area or percentage of a lot which may be occupied
by structures.
CREMATORIUM
An establishment containing a furnace where a corpse can
be burned and reduced/cremated to ashes as permitted by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection.
DERELICT VEHICLE
Any vehicle lacking a current license and inspection sticker
that is stored out-of-doors.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent of such landowner or tenant with written,
notarized permission of such landowner, who makes or causes to be
made a subdivision of land or a land development.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The provisions for development, including a planned residential
development, a plat of subdivision, all covenants relating to use,
location and bulk of buildings and other structures, intensity of
use or density of development, streets, ways and parking facilities,
common open space and public facilities. The phrase "provisions of
the development plan" when used in this chapter shall mean the written
and graphic materials referred to in this definition.
DOG DAY CARE
A facility providing such services as canine care for all
or part of a day, obedience classes, training, grooming or behavioral
counseling, provided overnight boarding is not permitted.
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
Animals that are customarily kept for personal use or enjoyment
within the home. Household pets shall include, but not be limited
to, domestic dogs, domestic cats, domestic tropical birds and rodents.
DOMICILIARY CARE HOME
A premises certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Aging for the purpose of providing a supervised living
arrangement in a home-like setting for a period exceeding 24 consecutive
hours to clients placed there by Area Agency on Aging (AAA). This
facility shall house up to three individuals. However, any additional
number of residents must meet Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department
of Aging requirements.
DORMITORY
A building that is owned and/or operated by an educational
institution/facility whose primary purpose is to provide living accommodations
for individuals associated with the institution/facility.
DRIVE-IN (OR DRIVE-THROUGH) USE
An establishment which provides for some or all customers
to receive services, obtain food or other goods, or be entertained
while remaining in their motor vehicles.
DRIVEWAY
A passage for vehicle egress and ingress to a garage, carport
or other permissible parking area away from the front area of a lot
or parcel. Driveway shall not be less than eight feet in width and
shall be constructed with a concrete or asphalt surface. The area
of the driveway between the curb and the setback line shall not be
counted as parking area for purposes of parking requirements.
DWELLING
A building used as a residence.
C.
DUPLEX (OR TWIN DWELLING)A detached building occupied by two dwelling units, whether side-by-side or one above the other, with each unit having means of egress directly to the outside, at grade, or via an exterior stair to grade.
D.
DWELLING, MULTIFAMILYThree or more dwelling units within a building that do not meet the definition of single-family attached.
E.
MULTIFAMILY, CONVERSION APARTMENTA dwelling or other building existing at the effective date of this chapter which is converted for residential occupancy by more than one family, provided that the exterior design of structure is not changed from the character of a single-family unit and further provided that each dwelling unit resulting from such conversion shall comply with supplemental regulations provided for in Article
VIII of this chapter.
F.
MULTIFAMILY, GARDEN APARTMENTA multifamily residential building not exceeding three stories in height in which units are arranged side-to-side, back-to-back or one above another, which may have either private external entrances or common hall access and which may have a private exterior yard area for each unit.
G.
MULTIFAMILY, HIGH-RISE APARTMENTAn apartment building which is four or more stories in height but not exceeding the height limitations (in feet) of this chapter that has multiple dwelling units that share a common entrance and/or common interior corridor.
H.
MULTIFAMILY, RESIDENCE OVER BUSINESSA building where the bottom floors are used for commercial use while the upper floors are used for residential dwellings, including those dwellings used for some combination of residential and commercial purposes.
DWELLING DENSITY
The maximum number of dwelling units permitted per acre per
lot.
DWELLING UNIT
A single habitable living unit occupied by only one family
(see definition). To be considered a dwelling unit, each dwelling
unit shall have its own toilet, bath or shower, sink, sleeping or
cooking facilities and separate access to the outside or to a common
hallway or balcony that connects to outside access at ground level.
A dwelling unit shall not include two or more separate living areas
that are completely separated by interior walls so as to prevent interior
access from one living area to another. A second kitchen shall not
be newly installed in a dwelling unit unless it is for the purpose
of accommodating a relative who needs special care and supervision
because of age or disability.
ELECTRONIC NOTICE
A notice given by a municipality through the internet of
the time and place of a public hearing and the particular nature of
the matter to be considered at the hearing.
EMERGENCY SERVICES STATION OR TRAINING FACILITY
A facility that is principally devoted to emergency response,
training or emergency management services, including structures and
facilities for fire departments, police stations, ambulance stations,
emergency management operations and community response networks.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES (OR ESSENTIAL PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES)
Utility or municipal uses that are necessary for the preservation
of the public health and safety and that are routine, customary and
appropriate to the character of the area in which they are to be located.
Essential services shall include the following and closely similar
facilities: sanitary sewage lines; water lines; electric distribution
lines; stormwater management facilities; cable television lines; natural
gas distribution lines; fire hydrants; streetlights; and traffic signals.
Essential services shall not include a central sewage treatment plant,
a solid waste disposal area or facility, commercial communications
towers, a power generating station, septic or sludge disposal, offices,
storage of trucks or equipment or bulk storage of materials.
EXTERNAL FUEL BURNING DEVICE
A device constructed or manufactured to burn oil, wood, coal
or other fuels for placement outdoors for the heating of a building.
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration of the United States Department
of Transportation.
FAMILY
One or more individuals who are related to each other by
blood, marriage or adoption (including persons receiving formal foster
care) or up to four unrelated individuals who maintain a common household
with common cooking facilities and certain rooms in common, and who
live within one dwelling unit. A family shall also expressly include
unrelated persons residing within an approved group care facility.
FARMERS MARKET
Periodic outdoor sales activities involving the display and
sale of fresh produce and locally produced food and beverage items,
including baked goods, jams, jellies, and similar food products. The
display and sale of handcrafted artisan items may be considered as
an accessory activity, provided the principal activity remains the
sale of the food- or produce-related items.
FENCE
A barrier constructed of materials other than shrubbery and
erected for the purpose of protection, confinement, enclosure or privacy.
FLOOR AREA
The sum of the gross area of all floors of a building measured
from the face of interior walls.
FLOOR AREA, GROSS (GFA)
The sum of the horizontal area of all floors of a structure
and its accessory buildings as measured between the exterior faces
of walls.
FLOOR AREA, HABITABLE
The enclosed indoor floor area that is designed and suitable
for residency by persons and which is heated. This term shall not
include vehicle garages or areas with a headroom of less than seven
feet.
FLOOR AREA RATIO
Determined by dividing the gross floor area of all buildings
on a lot by the area of that lot.
FRONT YARD
The area of any property between the front lot line and front
setback line.
FRONT YARD LINE
A front yard line bounds the front yard and is parallel to
the front line.
FUNERAL HOME
A building or part thereof used for human funeral services.
Such building may contain space and facilities for embalming and the
performance of other services used in the preparation of the dead
for burial, the performance of autopsies and other surgical procedures,
the storage of caskets, funeral urns, and other related funeral supplies,
and the storage of funeral vehicles. For purposes of this chapter,
the term "funeral home" shall not include a crematorium.
GARAGE
A building or structure in which one or more motor vehicles
are stored, but not for the repairs or maintenance thereof. A garage
may take any one of the following forms and conform with all other
applicable City or Borough ordinances:
A.
COMMUNITYA single building or group of minor garages, arranged in a row or surrounding a common means of access, for the use of adjacent property owners or residents of multiple dwellings.
B.
PRIVATEAn accessory structure which is used for the storage of one or more motor vehicles owned and used by the owner or tenants of the lot on which it is erected.
C.
PUBLICA building or part thereof other than a community garage or private garage for the storage of motor vehicles.
D.
DOUBLEA private garage designed for the storage of two motor vehicles.
GAS STATION
An establishment servicing motor vehicles with fuel, supplies,
accessories and minor repairs, but not including the storage, sale
or major repair of motor vehicles such as, but not limited to, motor
replacement, body and fender repair or spray painting.
GRADE
The process of changing the natural surface of the land in
order to carry out a development plan.
GROSS ACREAGE
The total acreage of a tract for which an application is
filed or approved.
GROUP CARE FACILITY
A group living arrangement that provides room and board and
specialized services to permanent residents that exceed the number
authorized in the definition of "family" or that fail to meet the
criteria for the group living arrangement established in the definition
of family, but not including any short-term or transient residents
as regulated by the definition of "temporary shelter."
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. It is otherwise hazardous as defined
by "airport hazard" in 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5102.
HEIGHT
A.
The vertical distance along the wall of a building measured
between the average of the highest and lowest elevation at ground
level on the front or rear facade, whichever has the lower ground
elevation, and the top of the parapet on a flat roof building or halfway
between the eaves and highest ridge line on a sloped roof building
except that chimneys, stacks, steeples, roof-mounted air handling
equipment and similar projections of the building not intended for
human occupancy shall not be considered in measuring height.
B.
For the purpose of determining the height limits in all airport
approach zones set forth in this chapter and shown on the Zoning Map,
the datum shall be mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The vertical distance measured from ground level to the highest
point on the sign, or its supporting structure.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
A.
Listed individually in the National or Pennsylvania Register
of Historic Places or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of
the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on
the National Register;
B.
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the
Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered
historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary
to qualify as a registered historic district.
HOME OCCUPATION
An accessory business that is conducted entirely within a
dwelling or one accessory building, or administered from a dwelling,
and which is clearly incidental and accessory to the dwelling. No
display of products shall be visible from the exterior. On-site retail
sales shall not be allowed as part of a home occupation, except for
routine accessory sales to customers in a barbershop or beauty shop.
A.
MAJORA home occupation that is meets the additional standards for a major home occupation as provided in Article
III.
B.
MINORA home occupation that meets the additional standards for a minor home occupation as provided in Article
III.
C.
NO IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESSA type of minor home occupation that meets the following definition as provided in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as may be amended: A business or commercial activity administered
or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the
use as a residential dwelling and which involves no customer, client
or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery
or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally
associated with residential use.
HOOKAH PARLOR
Any facility or location whose business operation, whether
as its primary use or ancillary use, includes the smoking of tobacco
or other substances through one or more hookah pipes (also commonly
referred to as a "hookah," "water pipe," "shisha" or "narghile"),
including but not limited to establishments known variously as hookah
bars, hookah lounges or hookah cafes. A hookah parlor shall also include
any business establishment with fewer than five employees.
HORIZONTAL SURFACE
A horizontal plane 150 feet above the established airport
elevation, the perimeter of which in plan coincides with the perimeter
of the horizontal zone.
HOSPITAL
An institution specializing in giving clinical, temporary
and emergency services of a medical or surgical nature to human patients
and injured persons and licensed by state law to provide facilities
and services such as surgery, obstetrics and general medical practice.
HOTEL
Establishments offering lodging to transient patrons. These
establishments may provide additional accessory services, such as
conference and meeting rooms, restaurants, bars, or recreation facilities
available to guests and the general public. This classification includes
motor lodges, motels, hostels, extended-stay hotels, and tourist courts,
but does not include rooming houses, boarding houses, or private residential
clubs. The lengths of stays for the majority of guests at these facilities
are for 30 days or less.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that has been compacted or covered with a layer
of material so that it is highly resistant to infiltration by water.
It includes surfaces such as compacted sand, lime rock or clay, as
well as most conventionally surfaced streets, roofs, sidewalks, parking
lots and other similar structures.
JUNKYARD
Any portion of any lot whether inside or outside a building
for storage, keeping or abandonment of automobiles or other vehicles,
machinery or parts thereof and any worn, cast-off or discarded article
or material which is ready for destruction or which had been collected
or stored for sale, resale, salvage or conversion to some other use.
KENNEL
Any place, including a dwelling unit, in which six or more
dogs, cats, or other domesticated animals over six months are housed,
bred, boarded, or sold. This term shall not include the routine keeping
of animals within a veterinary office/clinic while undergoing recuperation
or a permitted retail pet store.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
A.
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts
or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(1)
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings,
whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential
building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or
tenure; or
(2)
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially
or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective
occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas,
leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
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.
LIVESTOCK
Generally accepted outdoor farm animals (i.e., cows, goats,
horses, pigs, barnyard fowl, etc.) not to include cats, dogs and other
house pets.
LIVE-WORK UNIT
A type of home occupation that involves a dwelling unit which
also includes working space for a resident of the dwelling to pursue
such occupations as: creating art involving paintings, drawings, sculptures,
ceramics, literature, music or custom crafts; dance instruction, musical
instruction or dramatic art; or having an office. However, such use
shall not involve more than six persons present at the same time for
instruction.
LOADING AREA
An area of property on which activities are of such a nature
as to require continuous receiving and/or shipping of goods, such
area to be used exclusively for loading and not to interfere with
other vehicular or pedestrian circulation on the property.
LOADING SPACE, OFF-STREET
A 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 or materials.
LOADING STALL, OFF-STREET
A portion of a loading space or building not less than 10
feet in width by 30 feet in length by 14 feet in height for the temporary
use of one vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials.
LOT
A designated lot of record, tract or area of land established
by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed
or built upon as a unit.
A.
LOT AREAThe total area within the boundary lines of a single lot. No part of a lot which is also a part of a public street, road or alley is included in determining the area of the lot.
B.
LOT, CORNERA lot abutting on and at the intersection of two or more streets.
C.
LOT COVERAGEThe building area divided by the lot area expressed as a percent.
D.
LOT, DEPTH OFThe distance along a straight line drawn from the midpoint of the front line to the midpoint of the rear lot line.
E.
LOT, FLAGA lot with access provided to the bulk of the lot by means of a narrow corridor.
H.
LOT LINE, FRONTThe street line at the front of a lot. In the case of a corner lot, the owner may designate either street line as the front lot line (or can require two front lot lines or can require Zoning Officer to determine front).
I.
LOT LINE, REARThe line generally parallel to the front lot line, which defines the rear of the lot. A lot bounded by only three lot lines will not have a rear lot line.
K.
LOT OF RECORDA lot which has been duly recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Washington County either individually or as part of a subdivision.
L.
LOT, THROUGHA lot having its front and rear yards each abutting on a street as herein defined.
M.
LOT WIDTHThe horizontal distance between side lot lines measured along the front lot line, unless otherwise specified, or in exceptional cases, the average lot width for the entire depth of the property.
MAILED NOTICE
A notice given by a municipality by first class mail of the
time and place of a public hearing and the particular nature of the
matter to be considered at the hearing.
MANUFACTURING
The treatment or processing of raw materials; the production
of products from raw or prepared materials by giving them new forms
of qualities.
MASSAGE PARLOR
An establishment that meets all of the following criteria:
A.
Massages are conducted involving one person using their hands
and/or a mechanical device on another person below the waist, in return
for monetary compensation, and which does not involve persons who
are related to each other.
B.
The use does not involve a person licensed or certified by the
state as a health care professional or a massage therapist certified
by a recognized professional organization that requires a minimum
of 80 hours of professional training. Massage therapy by a certified
professional shall be considered "personal service."
C.
The massages are not conducted within a licensed hospital or
nursing home or an office of a medical doctor or chiropractor or as
an incidental accessory use to a permitted exercise club or high school
or college athletic program.
D.
The massages are conducted within private or semiprivate rooms.
MEAL CENTER
A nonprofit establishment where food is offered to the hungry
for free or at a reasonably low price.
MEDICAL FACILITY/CENTER/CLINIC
A.
A facility, including medical and dental offices and clinics,
for the examination and treatment of ill and afflicted human outpatients,
provided that patients are not kept overnight except under emergency
conditions.
B.
A building used only for temporary hospital beds and facilities
for the examination, diagnosing and treatment of patients and/or the
maintenance of offices for members of the clinic staff and physicians,
or offices for those individuals who may be duly licensed by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania as surgeons, physicians, doctors or dentists or persons
in their employ and no others.
C.
A facility for the outpatient diagnosis and treatment of human
ailments not involving twenty-four-hour-per-day operation and not
involving sale of drugs or foodstuffs on the premises.
D.
A facility used for the dispatch, education and training of
personnel and/or the storage, use and maintenance of emergency medical
equipment, vehicles and supplies. Such facility must adhere to the
OSHA standards for health care providers. Such services provided from
the facility must be licensed by the Department of Health and may
include emergency or nonemergency on-site treatment, provided that
the patients are not kept overnight.
MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING
A building used exclusively by physicians and dentists for
treatment and examination of patients, provided that no overnight
patients shall be kept on the premises.
MINERAL EXTRACTION
The removal from the surface or beneath the surface of the
land of bulk mineral resources using significant machinery. This use
also includes accessory stockpiling and processing of mineral resources.
"Mineral extraction" includes but is not limited to the extraction
of sand, gravel, topsoil, limestone, sandstone, oil, coal, clay, shale,
and iron ore. The routine movement of and replacement of topsoil during
construction shall not by itself be considered to be mineral extraction.
MOBILE HOME
A transportable single-family dwelling intended for permanent
occupancy contained in one unit, or in two or more units designed
to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated
for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for
occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations,
and constructed so that it may be used without a permanent foundation.
MOBILE HOME LOT
A parcel of land in a mobile home park improved with the
necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for
the erections thereon of a single mobile home.
MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel or contiguous parcels of land which has been so
designated and improved that it contains two or more mobile home lots
for the placement thereon of mobile homes.
MOTEL
Shall have the same meaning as "hotel."
MUNICIPAL ENGINEER
A professional engineer, licensed as such in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, duly appointed as the engineer for a municipality,
planning agency or joint planning commission.
MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE
The state law, adopted July 31, 1968 as Act 247, and reenacted
by Act 170 of 1988 and further amended, regulating municipal land
use control in Pennsylvania.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES FACILITIES
Any activities of the City government, volunteer fire departments,
sewage disposal and water supply systems or local electric and telephone
lines.
MUNICIPALITY
The City of Washington or the Borough of East Washington.
NIGHTCLUB
An establishment that meets all of the following standards:
A.
Offers amplified music after 12:00 midnight;
B.
Sells alcoholic beverages primarily for on-site consumption;
C.
Includes hours open to patrons after 12:00 midnight;
D.
Has a building capacity of over 150 persons; and
E.
Has less than 20% of its total sales in food and nonalcoholic
beverages.
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot, the area or dimension of which was allowed prior to
the adoption or amendment of this chapter, which fails to conform
to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located
by reason of such adoption or amendment.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
A structure, or part of a structure, manifestly not designed
to comply with the applicable use or extent of use provisions in this
chapter or amendment, heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such
structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of such ordinance
or amendment, or prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment
to its location by reason of annexation. Such nonconforming structures
include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs.
NONCONFORMING USE
The use, whether of land or of structure, which does not
comply with the applicable use previsions in this chapter or amendment,
heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence
prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment, or its location
by reason of annexation.
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.
NURSING (OR CONVALESCENT) HOME
An institution licensed by the Commonwealth for the care
of human patients requiring skilled nursing or intermediate nursing
care, but not including facilities for major surgery or care and treatment
of drug or alcohol addiction.
OBSTRUCTION
Any structure, growth or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height set forth in Article
XI of this chapter governing airport regulations.
OFFICE
A.
Business and professional. Offices of firms or organizations
providing professional, executive, management, administrative or design
services, such as accounting, architectural, computer software design,
engineering, graphic design, interior design, investment, and legal
offices.
B.
Medical and dental. Offices where medical and dental services
are provided by physicians, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists,
and similar medical professionals. This classification also includes
physical therapy, massage therapy, and counseling services related
to medical conditions.
OFFICIAL ZONING MAP
The Zoning Map of the City of Washington containing the signatures
of the Mayor and Council.
OPEN SPACE
Common greens, parks, other recreation space or generally
open areas available to the public; or yards or other open areas provided
in connection with residential buildings occupied by more than two
families per lot which are intended for the sole use of the occupants
of such building and their guests. Land covered with impermeable surface,
except for recreation courts, such as basketball, is not open space.
Land devoted to such uses as agriculture, parks, playgrounds, playing
fields and other outdoor recreational uses, as well as all land covered
by woods, lakes, ponds, rivers or streams and open lands devoted to
public or community uses.
PARAPET
A low wall projecting above the roof of a flat-roofed building,
usually as an extension of the side walls.
PARKING LOT
A lot or part thereof used for the storage or parking of
motor vehicles with or without the payment of rent or charges in money
or other consideration.
PARKING SPACE
A stall or berth used for parking motor vehicles, which meets
the required length and width of this chapter, not including areas
of a street or alley.
PARKING STRUCTURE
A facility that has at least one level of vehicle parking
above another level of vehicle parking.
PAWN SHOP
An establishment engaged in retail sales of secondhand merchandise
and that offers personal loans secured by consumer goods, jewelry
and other personal property held by the pawn shop.
PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE
Any security which may be in lieu of a requirement that certain
improvements be made before Council approves a development, including
performance bonds, escrow agreements and other similar collateral
or surety agreements.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Minimum requirements designed to minimize the impact of potentially
blighting conditions (i.e., noise, odor, smoke, toxic or noxious matter,
vibration, fire and explosive hazards, glare, heat, etc.) upon adjacent
properties in particular, and the environment in general.
PERMITTED USE BY RIGHT
Any activity which is expressly allowed to occur on a property
because of the property's location in a particular zoning district.
PERSONAL CARE BOARDING HOME
A dwelling licensed by the commonwealth where room and board
is provided to more than three permanent residents who are not relatives
of the operator, and who are mobile or semimobile and require specialized
services for a period exceeding 24 consecutive hours in such matters
as bathing, dressing, diet and medication prescribed for self-administration,
but who are not in need of hospitalization or skilled nursing or intermediate
nursing care.
PERSONAL SERVICES
Provision of recurrently needed services of a personal nature,
including, but not limited to, barbershops and beauty shops, seamstresses,
tailors, dry-cleaning agents (excluding large-scale bulk cleaning
plants), shoe repair shops, self-service laundries, photocopying and
photo finishing services, and travel agencies.
PET STORE
A retail establishment which sells domesticated or tamed
animals, birds and fish as household pets, and related supplies. "Pet
shop" may also offer the grooming of pets but shall not include overnight
boarding.
PLACE OF WORSHIP
Synagogues, churches, mosques, temples and similar buildings
used primarily for religious worship for more than 10 persons at a
time on a regular basis and that are operated for nonprofit and noncommercial
purposes. A place of worship may include up to two dwelling units
for religious staffpersons and their families. If a religious use
includes other residential uses, they shall meet the requirements
of such uses.
PLAN, FINAL
A complete and exact rendition of land development, prepared
for official recording as required by statute to define property rights
or to set forth improvements and/or development.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
An area of land controlled by a single landowner (or group
of landowners acting jointly) and developed as a single entity for
a number of dwellings, the plan for which does not necessarily correspond
in lot size, bulk, type of dwelling unit, density, lot coverage or
required open space to any other residential district in the community.
PLANNING COMMISSION
Planning Commission of the City of Washington or Borough
of East Washington.
PLAN, PRELIMINARY
A land development plan in lesser detail than a final plan
showing approximate proposed development.
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 §
350-74D(6) of this chapter. The elevation of any point of the primary surface is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway center line.
PRINCIPAL USE
A single primary or predominant use to which property may
be devoted and to which all other uses on the property are accessory.
PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE
The structure containing the principal use or uses, whether
conforming to the requirements of this chapter or not and thus making
all other structures and uses on the property accessory.
PRISON OR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Publicly or privately operated facilities housing persons
awaiting trial or persons serving a sentence after being found guilty
of a criminal offense.
PRIVATE
Any facility or establishment limited to members of an organization
or other persona specifically invited or permitted where no advertisement
or inducement has been made to the general public.
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.
PRIVATE POWER GENERATION FACILITY
A facility owned and operated by an entity, other than a
governmental body or public utility, which generates, transmits and/or
distributes electrical energy for sale.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
The office of a recognized profession maintained for the
conduct of said profession. Such professions shall be limited to those
of medicine, law, architecture, engineering, art, religion, music,
insurance, real estate, psychology and accounting.
PROPERTY LINE
A line forming the front, rear or sides of lots or parcels
of property as described in the recorded title.
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.
PUBLIC GROUNDS
Includes:
A.
Parks, playgrounds, trails, paths, other recreational areas
and other public areas;
B.
Sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse disposal and other
publicly owned or operated facilities; and
C.
Publicly owned or operated scenic or historic sites.
PUBLIC HEARING
A formal meeting, held pursuant to public notice by the governing
body or planning agency, 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 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701
et seq., known as the "Sunshine Act."
PUBLIC NOTICE
A notice published once each week for two successive weeks
in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. Such notice
shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature
of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication
shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not
be less than seven days from the date of the hearing.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Any street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway,
lane, alley, viaduct and any other ways used or intended to be used
by vehicular traffic or pedestrians, whether public or private, as
designated on documents of the City of Washington or other records
of a public nature (i.e., recorded plans and deeds).
PUBLIC UTILITY FACILITY
A building or structure for a closely regulated enterprise
with a franchise for providing to the public a utility service deemed
necessary for the public health, safety, and welfare. Telephone, electric,
natural gas, water, and sewer companies are public utilities; however,
commercial wireless communications companies are not.
RECYCLING DROPOFF CENTER
A facility for the drop off and temporary holding of materials
such as paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, batteries, and motor
oil. Processing of materials is limited to glass breaking and separation.
Recycling materials are not sold to a recycling dropoff center. A
recycling dropoff center is intended for household or consumer use.
Use by commercial or industrial establishments is not included. Unattended
dropoff stations for single materials, such as newsprint, are also
not included.
RELATED or RELATIVE
Persons who are related by blood, marriage, adoption or formal
foster relationship to result in one of the following relationships:
spouse, brother, sister, parent, child, grandparent, great-grandparent,
grandchild, great-grandchild, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, cousin,
sister-in-law, brother-in-law, or parent-in-law. This term specifically
shall not include relationships such as second, third, or more distant
cousins. See definition of "dwelling unit."
RESTAURANT
Any establishment, however designated, at which food is prepared
and sold for consumption on or off the premises. However, a concession
stand at a public or a community playground, playfield, park or swimming
pool, operated by the same agency operating the recreational facilities,
and solely for the convenience of patrons of the facility, shall not
be deemed to be a restaurant.
RETAIL SALES
The retail sale or rental of merchandise not specifically
listed under another use classification. This classification includes
department stores, clothing stores, furniture stores, small hardware
stores, and businesses retailing the following goods: toys, hobby
materials, handcrafted items, jewelry, cameras, photographic supplies
and services (including portraiture and retail photo processing),
medical supplies and equipment, pharmacies, electronic equipment,
records, sporting goods, kitchen utensils; hardware, appliances, antiques,
art galleries, art supplies and services, paint and wallpaper, carpeting
and floor covering, office supplies, bicycles, video rental, and new
automotive parts and accessories (excluding vehicle service and installation).
Retail sales may be combined with other services such as office machine,
computer, electronics, and similar small item repairs. This classification
includes secondhand and wholesale stores.
RUNWAY
A defined area on an airport prepared for landing and takeoff
of aircraft along its length.
SCHOOL, VOCATIONAL OR TRADE
A secondary or higher education facility primarily teaching
usable skills that prepare students for jobs in a trade meeting the
state requirements as a vocational facility.
SETBACK
A distance prescribed for each zoning district established
by this chapter measured from any property line to a parallel line
within the property, describing the limit of construction on the property
and defining the required front, side and rear yards. The limit of
construction shall be defined as including any projections of the
structure, including sun parlors, foyers, bay windows, porches, decks,
projecting eaves, dormers, gutters, steps and any other solid projections
and solid entrances.
SHOPPING CENTER
Five or more retail stores that are separated primarily by
vertical walls and are in a complex designed as an integrated unit
served by common parking and service facilities, and which has architectural
and landscape unity. Such use may also include allowed offices, restaurants
and personal service uses.
SIGN
A structure that is arranged, intended, designed or used
as an advertisement, announcement or direction, or a sign posted,
painted or placed in some fashion on a building, structure or any
surface for such a purpose.
SITE PLAN
The site plan for the purposes of this chapter shall be defined
as an accurate drawing submitted by a registered engineer, architect,
landscape architect or surveyor showing: the proposed buildings and/or
structures to be constructed, altered or enlarged; the property upon
which the improvements will be made; the ownership of the property,
the abutting owners and property lines; the exact size, shape and
dimensions of the lot to be built upon; all adjacent streets or alleys,
proposed parking arrangements; proposed facilities for lighting, public
and private utilities; existing and proposed landscape elements; existing
and proposed access to the property; and all customary incidentals
such as North arrow, scale and any appropriate notations required
to fully explain the plan.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION
A use of a building or land that may be granted by the Zoning
Hearing Board based on the expressed standards and criteria set forth
in this chapter.
STATE
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its agencies.
STORY (OF A BUILDING)
That portion of a building, other than the basement (as defined),
included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor
next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between
the floor and the ceiling next above it.
STREET
Any road, highway, avenue, street, parkway, lane or other
way, public or private, set aside and commonly used to serve three
or more lots primarily for vehicular traffic purposes. An alley shall
not be deemed a street.
A.
STREET CURBLINEThe official line with grade of an existing or proposed curb on any street as approved by the Department of Public Works.
B.
STREET LINEThe dividing line between a lot and the outside boundary of a public street or street right-of-way, or between a lot and a private street which serves two or more separately owned homes or buildings.
STREET
Includes street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, and freeway,
parkway, lane, alley, viaduct and any other ways used or intended
to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians, whether public or
private.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location
on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land
by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions
of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose,
whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for
distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building
or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease
of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres,
not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential
dwelling, shall be exempted.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure,
the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the
structure either before the improvement or repair is started, or if
the structure has been damaged, and is being restored, before the
damage occurred. For the purposes of the definition, "substantial
improvement" is considered to occur when the first alteration of any
wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building commences,
whether or not that alteration affects the external dimension of the
structure. The term does not, however, include either any project
for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state or local
health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which are solely necessary
to assure safe living conditions, or any alteration of an historic
structure, provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's
designation as an historic structure.
SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE
When referring to subdivision and land development, in the
judgment of the City or Borough Engineer, at least 90%, (based on
the cost of the required improvements for which financial security
was posted pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code) of those improvements required as a condition for final
approval have been completed in accordance with the approved plan,
so that the project will be able to be used, occupied or operated
for its intended use.
SUBSTATION, GAS OR ELECTRIC
An assemblage of equipment for purposes other than generation
or utilization, through which electric or gas energy in bulk is passed
for the purposes of switching or modifying its characteristics to
meet the needs of the general public, provided that an electric or
gas substation permitted in a residential district shall not include
rotating equipment, storage of materials, trucks or repair facilities
or housing of repair crews.
SWIMMING POOL, PRIVATE
Any receptacle or artificially constructed container for
water, whether erected above or below ground level, having a wall
depth of two feet or more at any point within its perimeter, intended
or adapted for the purposes of immersion or partial immersion of humans
therein, used in connection with dwelling units, available only to
the family of the dwelling unit holder and his private guests, not
open to the public, and not otherwise regulated by any statutes or
by rules and regulations other than those of the City of Washington
or Borough of East Washington.
SWIMMING POOL, PUBLIC OR SEMIPUBLIC
Any swimming pool other than a private swimming pool, including
publicly and privately owned pools open to the general public and
pools owned and operated in conjunction with membership organizations,
motels, hotels, and other similar uses.
TAVERN
A commercial use that involves sale of food and beverages
to the public, and which involves alcoholic beverages making up more
than 50% of the total volume of sales, and which does not meet the
definition of a nightclub; a commercial use that involves a lower
percentage shall be considered a restaurant.
TEMPORARY COMMERCIAL USE
A retail sales use which primarily operates in the open air
or under a tent and which is open to the public for retail sales less
than 90 days per calendar year.
TEMPORARY SHELTER
A facility operated by a nonprofit agency providing temporary
lodging, with or without meals, for persons of limited income with
no ordinary or regular residence or to persons who need such shelter
to avoid an abusive situation or because of a sudden event, such as
fire, flood, domestic violence, condemnation, or court-ordered conviction.
THEME HOUSE
A university/college sanctioned structure of a residential
nature, housing students with a common academic or social interest.
TRAILER
A vehicle designed to be pulled by another vehicle for on-street
use, and that is part of a tractor-trailer combination or that is
used to transport excavating equipment, boats or similar items.
TRANSITIONAL SURFACES
These surfaces extend outward at 90° angles to the runway
center line and the runway center line extends 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 the 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.
TREATMENT CENTER
A use involving any one or a combination of the following:
A.
A use (other than a prison or a hospital) providing housing
for three or more unrelated persons who need specialized housing,
treatment and/or counseling because of:
(1)
Criminal rehabilitation, such as a criminal halfway house, or
a facility for the housing of persons judged to be juvenile delinquents,
or a criminal work release or prerelease facility;
(2)
Current addiction to a controlled substance that was used in
an illegal manner or alcohol; and/or
(3)
A type of mental illness or other behavior that causes a person
to be a threat to the physical safety of others.
B.
A residential or nonresidential methadone treatment facility,
which shall be defined as a facility licensed by the Pennsylvania
Department of Health, other than a hospital, to use the drug methadone
in the treatment, maintenance or detoxification of persons.
USE
Any purpose for which a building or other structure or a
tract of land may be designed, arranged, intended, maintained or occupied,
or any activity, occupation, business or operation carried on in a
building or other structure on a tract of land.
B.
ACCESSORY USEA subordinate use customarily incidental to and located upon the same lot occupied by the main use.
VARIANCE
A grant of permission by the Zoning Hearing Board which relaxes
applicable provisions of this chapter where literal enforcement would
create an unusual and unnecessary hardship, depriving the recipient
of reasonable use of the property, but specifying what modifications
to strict conformance are permitted.
VETERINARY CLINIC (OR HOSPITAL)
An establishment of a licensed practitioner primarily engaged
in the practice of veterinary medicine, dentistry or surgery for animals.
Accessory uses may include the confinement of animals for medical
reasons, grooming and destruction.
VISUAL RUNWAY
A runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using
visual approach procedures.
YARD
Any open space located on the same lot with a principal building
situated between the nearest roofed portion of the principal buildings
and a lot line.
A.
YARD, FRONTA yard extending across the full width of the lot abutting the front lot line.
B.
YARD, REARA yard extending across the full width of the lot, abutting the rear lot line.
C.
YARD, SIDEA yard extending from the front yard to the rear yard, abutting the side lot line.
D.
YARD, WIDTHThe minimum perpendicular distance between the lot line and the nearest roofed portion of the principal building.
ZONING HEARING BOARD
The Zoning Hearing Board of the City of Washington or the
Borough of East Washington.
ZONING OFFICER
The duly constituted municipal official designated to administer
and enforce the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Washington and Borough
of East Washington.
ZONING PERMIT
A permit stating that a structure and/or the proposed use
of a building and/or land is in conformity with all applicable City
zoning regulations, to the best knowledge of the City/Borough Staff.
The City/Borough may utilize a separate zoning permit or may have
the applicable portions of a permit serve the purposes of a zoning
permit.