Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY USE
Refer to the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Oakmont.
ACT 247
("The Act") Means the Municipalities Planning Code of 1968,
P.L. 805. No. 247, as re-enacted and amended.
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer who has filed an application for
a subdivision or development, including his or her heirs, successors
and assigns.
BLOCK
Refer to the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Oakmont.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Oakmont, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
BOROUGH ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, duly appointed by Borough Council to serve as the
engineer for the Borough.
BUILDING LINE
Refer to the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Oakmont.
CARTWAY
Refer to the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Oakmont.
COMMON AMENITIES
Those private improvements in a subdivision or land development
plan which are required by this chapter or are voluntarily proposed
by the developer and which are intended for the use and enjoyment
of the residents or tenants of the subdivision or land development
plan.
COMPLETION BOND
A surety, in a form acceptable to the Borough, which may
be a certified check, letter of credit, corporate performance bond
or a labor and material payment bond from an approved Pennsylvania
surety company, which guarantees the satisfactory completion of improvements
required by this chapter. Without limitation as to other types of
financial security which the Borough may approve, which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld, a federal or commonwealth chartered
lending institution irrevocable letters of credit and restrictive
or escrow accounts in such lending institutions shall be deemed acceptable
financial security.
CONDOMINIUM
Refer to the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Oakmont.
CONSOLIDATION
A combination of two or more lots, tracts or parcels of land
for the purpose of sale or lease of a building or lot.
COUNTY
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
CUL DE SAC
A dead-end street terminating in a vehicular turn-around.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent of such landowner, or tenant with the
permission of such landowner, who makes or causes to be made an application
for development.
DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOT
A lot having two or more of its nonadjoining property lines
abutting on a street or streets. Refer to "Lot, Through" in the Zoning
Ordinance of the Borough of Oakmont.
DRAINAGE EASEMENTS
The lands required for the installation of stormwater sewers
or drainage ditches, or required along a natural stream or watercourse
for preserving the channel and providing for the flow of water therein
to safeguard the public against flood damage. Refer to "easement."
DRIVEWAY, PRIVATE
A vehicular access route serving only one parcel or lot which
provides access to a public street, but which does not provide access
to any other lot or parcel under separate ownership.
DWELLING
Any building or portion thereof which is designated for or
used for residential purposes. The word "dwelling" shall not include
hotels, motels, or other structures used for transient residence.
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms designed to be used or occupied by one
family for living purposes and containing private cooking, living,
sanitary, and sleeping facilities for use solely by one family. All
rooms comprising a dwelling unit shall have access through an interior
door to other parts of the dwelling unit.
DWELLING, GARDEN APARTMENT
A multifamily structure containing a minimum of four dwelling
units and not exceeding three stories in height, sometimes designed
around a court or common open areas, frequently having private balconies
or patios.
DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY APARTMENT
A building not to exceed five stories designed for and used
exclusively for occupancy by three or more families, living independently
of each other and characterized by common entrances.
DWELLING, TOWNHOUSE OR ROW DWELLING
A multi-family dwelling on a zoning lot consisting of at
least three but not more than six one-family dwelling units attached
side by side sharing a common wall and not exceeding 150 feet in length.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY (DUPLEX)
A building designed or remodeled for and used exclusively
for occupancy by two families living independently of each other.
In any case where a building or structure contains solely two dwelling
units, it shall be deemed to be a two-family dwelling, and not a "dwelling,
multiple-family apartment," defined herein.
EASEMENT
A grant by the owner of land for the use by others.
ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. The use of the word "engineer" shall not exclude
the practice of topographic surveying as provided for in state law.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRITICAL AREAS
Lands that include streams, their floodplains, steep areas
and slopes in excess of 25%, that shall be restricted to their development
for their resource values or hazardous nature.
FAMILY
(1)
A single person occupying a dwelling unit and maintaining a
household.
(2)
Two or more persons related by blood, or legal adoption, or
marriage; occupying a dwelling unit, living together and maintaining
a common household.
(3)
Not more than two unrelated persons occupying a single-family
dwelling unit, living together and maintaining a common household.
This restriction does not apply to persons with disabilities, as defined
in the Fair Housing Act, 42 USC § 3601 et seq.
FEE
The required charge established by this chapter to defray
the cost of processing an application, reviewing an application, or
inspecting improvements during installation which shall be payable
to the Borough in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
FINAL APPLICATION
The written and graphic materials specified by this chapter
to be submitted to the Borough in order to obtain final approval of
a proposed subdivision or land development plan.
FINAL PLAT
The map or plan of a proposed subdivision or land development
containing all the information required by this chapter and the Allegheny
County Subdivision Regulations for final plat approval and in a form
acceptable for recording in the Office of the Allegheny County Recorder
of Deeds.
FRONT BUILDING LINE
A line parallel to the street right-of-way line at a distance
therefrom which is equal to the depth of the front yard required by
the Zoning Ordinance for the zoning district in which the lot is located.
FRONTAGE
The length of a property line bordering a public street right-of-way
that is open to vehicular traffic.
INSPECTOR
The Borough Engineer or his, or any other authorized, representative
assigned by Borough Council, including, but not limited to, the Borough
Building Inspector, to make necessary inspections of the work performed
and materials furnished by a developer, landowner, or their contractors,
installing improvements required by this chapter.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
(1)
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts
or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(a)
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
(b)
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.
(3)
Development in accordance with §
182-8.
LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
(1)
A plan which encompasses a proposed land development, which,
in addition to a plat of subdivision, if required, includes:
(a)
All covenants relating to the use of the structures;
(b)
The intensity of use or density of development;
(c)
Streets, ways and parking facilities;
(d)
Common open space and public facilities.
(2)
The land development plan shall include all of the written and
graphic information required by this chapter.
LAND DEVELOPMENT, SINGLE LOT
The land development, as defined herein, which involves a
single nonresidential building or structure on a lot or lots which
are part of a plan of subdivision which has been duly recorded in
the Office of the Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds.
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land, including
the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such
option or contract is subject to any condition); a lessee, if he or
she is authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner;
or other persons having a proprietary interest in the land.
LOT
Refer to the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Oakmont.
MAINTENANCE BOND
A surety, in a form acceptable to the Borough, which may
be a certified check, letter of credit, corporate bond from an approved
Pennsylvania surety company, which guarantees the repair or maintenance
of improvements required by this chapter, for a specified period after
their completion and acceptance by the Borough. Without limitation
as to other types of financial security which the Borough may approve,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, a federal or commonwealth
chartered lending institution irrevocable letters of credit and restrictive
or escrow accounts in such lending institutions shall be deemed acceptable
financial security.
MEDIATION
A voluntary negotiating process in which parties in a dispute
mutually select a neutral mediator to assist them in jointly exploring
and settling their differences, culminating in a written agreement
which the parties themselves create and consider acceptable.
OFFICIAL DATE OF FILING
(1)
The date of the regular Planning Commission meeting next following
the date the application was filed and at which an application for
approval under this chapter is accepted by the Planning Commission
as complete in its content and properly filed in accordance with the
requirements of this chapter or after a final order of the court remanding
an application; and
(2)
Should the said next regular meeting occur more than 30 days
following the filing of the application or the final order of the
court, the 30th day following the day the application was filed.
ORDINANCE
All references to "Ordinance" or "this chapter" refer to
the Borough of Oakmont Subdivision and Land Development regulations.
PARCEL
A tract of land separately owned and described in a deed
recorded in the Office of the Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds.
PLAN, COMPREHENSIVE
The Comprehensive Plan for the Borough of Oakmont, consisting
of maps, charts, textual matter and adopted by Borough Council in
accordance with law.
PLAT
A map or plan, either preliminary or final, indicating the
subdivision, consolidation or redivision of land or a land development.
PRELIMINARY APPLICATION
The written or graphic materials, including the application
form and preliminary plat, specified by this chapter to be submitted
to the Borough in order to obtain preliminary approval of a proposed
subdivision or land development.
PRELIMINARY PLAT
The preliminary map or plan of the proposed land development
or subdivision that is submitted for Borough consideration.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING
The building or buildings on a lot in which the principal
use or uses are conducted.
PRINCIPAL USE
The primary or predominant use of any lot or structure.
PRIVATE IMPROVEMENTS
All streets, walkways, gutters, stormwater management facilities,
curbs, sewers and other facilities to be owned, maintained or operated
by a private entity such as an individual, corporation or homeowners'
association.
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 IMPROVEMENT CODE
A document entitled Borough of Oakmont Public Improvements
Code prepared by the Borough Engineer, adopted by ordinance by Borough
Council upon recommendation of the Borough Engineer, and as amended;
copies of which are on file with the Borough Manager and Borough Zoning
Officer.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
All streets, walkways, gutters, stormwater management facilities,
curbs, sewers and other facilities to be dedicated to or maintained
by the Borough for which plans and specifications must comply with
the Public Improvements Code of the Borough.
PUBLIC MEETING
A forum held pursuant to notice under the act of July 3,
1986 (P.L. 388, No. 84), 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 Borough. Such notice
shall state the time and place of the public hearing and the particular
nature of the matter to be considered at the public hearing. The first
publication shall be not more than 30 days or less than seven days
from the date of the public hearing.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
That portion of land dedicated to public or private use for
street or utility purpose.
SIGHT DISTANCE
The maximum distance of unobstructed vision, in a horizontal
or vertical plane, along a street from a vehicle located at any given
point on the street which shall take into account visibility over
a crest, vertical curve and the extent of headlight illumination across
a sag vertical curve. Sight distance also means the distance an object
two feet above the pavement of a street is visible from an eye level
4 1/2 feet above the pavement (the average height of an automobile
operator's eye).
SIMPLE SUBDIVISION
A subdivision containing no more than three lots, each of
which are not of sufficient size to be further subdivided in accordance
with the requirements of the zoning district in which they are located
and which are proposed for single-family dwellings, all of which have
frontage on an improved public street, and not involving any new street
or the extension or creation of any municipal facilities or public
improvements and which does not adversely affect the future development
of the remainder of the parcel or any adjoining property.
STREET
A street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway,
lane, alley, viaduct and any other ways, whether public or private,
used or intended to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians, and
including the entire right-of-way and cartway.
STREET, LOCAL
A street that is primarily for access to the abutting properties
and to discourage through traffic. Certain minor streets may be culs-de-sac.
STREET, PRIVATE
(1)
A street, including the entire private right-of-way, which is
privately owned and maintained through private agreement and which
is intended for private use. A private street provides access to several
lots or parcels which do not have access to a public street and which
require access to a public street through the private street. (Refer
also to "driveway, private").
(2)
A private street is permitted only through modification of the
requirements of these provisions, approved by Borough Council.
STREET, PUBLIC
A street, including the entire public right-of-way, which
has been dedicated to and accepted by the Borough or which has been
devoted to public use by legal mapping, use or other means.
STREET, SERVICE
A short street or alley, whether public or private, designed
only to provide secondary access to a structure or group of structures
or to parking and loading facilities accessory to the structures and
which is not intended for general traffic circulation.
STRUCTURE
Refer to the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Oakmont.
STRUCTURE, ALTERATION OF
Any change, other than incidental repairs, which would prolong
the life of the supporting members of a building, such as bearing
walls, columns, beams or girders.
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.
SURVEYOR
A registered professional land surveyor licensed as such
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
WATERCOURSE
A channel, creek, ditch, drain, dry run, spring or stream.
ZONING OFFICER
The administrative officer appointed by Borough Council who
shall administer and enforce the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance
in accordance with its literal terms.
ZONING ORDINANCE
The Borough of Oakmont Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance O97-23,
as amended.