[Ord. No. 74-1977, § 301, 7/12/1977; Ord. No. 82-1978, 4/18/1978; Ord. No. 112-1980, 12/23/1980; Ord. No. 117-1981, 8/11/1981; Ord. No. 118-1981, 9/22/1981; Ord. No. 3-1995, 9/12/1995; Ord. No. 1-1997, § 1, 1/28/1997; Ord. No. 8-1999, § 1, 7/27/1999]
1. 
The following words and phrases, as used in this chapter, shall have the meaning hereby ascribed thereto, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ACCELERATED EROSION
The removal of the surface of the land through the combined action of man's activities and the natural processes at a rate greater than would occur because of the natural process alone.
ALLEY (or SERVICE DRIVE)
A minor right-of-way, publicly or privately owned, primarily for service access to the back or side of properties and not intended for general traffic circulation.
APPLICANT (see DEVELOPER and SUBDIVIDER)
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has filed an application for the subdivision or development of a tract of land, including his heirs, successors and assigns.
APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Every application, whether preliminary, tentative or final required to be filed and approved prior to start of construction or development including but not limited to an application for a building permit, for the approval of a subdivision plat or plan or for the approval of a development plan.
BLOCK
An area bounded by streets.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS (SUPERVISORS)
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of South Hanover. See "governing body."
BUILDING LINE
A line parallel to the front, side, or rear lot line set so as to provide the required yard.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE (SETBACK)
The line within a property defining the required minimum distance between any enclosed structure and the ultimate adjacent right-of-way, and the line defining side and rear yards, where required.
CARTWAY or ROADWAY
That portion of a street or alley which is improved, designated or intended for vehicular use.
CHAIRMAN
The Chairman of the South Hanover Township Planning Commission.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections. It is defined by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of the street center lines.
COMMISSION
The South Hanover Township Planning Commission.
COMMISSION STAFF
The Township Engineer and/or other personnel retained by the Planning Commission.
COMMON ELEMENTS
A. 
The land on which the building is located and portions of the building which are not included in a unit.
B. 
The foundation, structural parts, supports, main walls, roofs, basements, halls, corridors, lobbies, stairways and entrances and exits of the building.
C. 
The yards, parking areas and driveways.
D. 
Portions of the land and building used exclusively for the management, operation or maintenance of the common elements.
E. 
Installations of all central services and utilities.
F. 
All other elements of the building necessary or convenient to its existence; management, operation, maintenance and safety or normally in common use.
G. 
Such other facilities as are designated as common elements.
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 and 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.
CONDOMINIUM
Ownership in common with others of a parcel of land and certain parts of a building thereon which would normally be used by all the occupants, together with individual ownership in fee of a particular unit or apartment in such building or on such parcel of land and may include dwellings, offices and other types of space in commercial buildings or on property.
COOPERATIVE
Ownership in common with others of a parcel of land and of a building or buildings thereon which would normally be used by all the occupants, together with individual rights of occupancy of a particular unit or apartment in such building or buildings or on such parcel of land and may include dwellings, offices and other types of space in commercial buildings or on property and where the lease, sale or exchange of a unit is subject to the agreement of the group of persons having common ownership.
CROSSWALK
A right-of-way, publicly or privately owned, intended to furnish access for pedestrians.
CUL-DE-SAC
A street intersecting another street at one end and terminating at the other in a vehicular turnaround.
CUT
An excavation; the difference between a point on the original ground and designated point of lower elevation on the final grade. Also, the material removed in excavation.
DETENTION POND
A vegetated pond designed to drain completely after storing stormwater runoff for a given storm event and then releasing it at a predetermined rate.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent of such landowner, or tenant with the 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 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 development plan" when used in this chapter shall mean the written and graphic materials referred to in this definition.
DRAINAGE
The flow of water or liquid waste and the method of directing such flow, whether natural or artificial.
DRAINAGE DISTRICT
A watershed where natural surface configurations, runoff characteristics and defined conveyances have attained the conditions of equilibrium, and which includes any channel or conveyance of surface water having a defined bed and banks, whether natural or artificial with perennial or intermittent flow.
DRAINAGE FACILITY
Any ditch, gutter, culvert, storm sewer or other structure designed, intended, or constructed for the purpose of diverting surface waters from or carrying surface waters off streets, public rights-of-way, parks, recreational areas or any part of any subdivision or contiguous land areas.
DRIVEWAY
A minor vehicular right-of-way providing access between a street and a parking area or garage within a lot or property.
DWELLING
A building designed for residential purposes and used as living quarters for one or more persons.
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms used for living and sleeping purposes and having a kitchen with fixed cooking facilities arranged for occupancy by one family or a single person.
DWELLING, GARDEN APARTMENT
A two-story multifamily dwelling containing one-story dwelling units, under one ownership.
DWELLING, MULTIFAMILY
A building used by three or more families living independently of each other and doing their own cooking, including apartment houses.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY, ATTACHED (ROW) (TOWNHOUSE)
A building used by one family, and having party wall(s) in common with other buildings.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY, DETACHED
A building used by one family, having one dwelling unit, and having two side yards.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY, SEMI-DETACHED
A building used by one family, having one side yard, and one party wall in common with another building.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY, DETACHED
A building used by two families, with one dwelling unit arranged over the other, having two side yards.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY, SEMI-DETACHED
A building used by two families, with one dwelling unit arranged over the other, having one side yard, and having one party wall in common with another building.
EASEMENT
A right-of-way granted for the limited use of land for public or quasi-public purposes.
ENERGY DISSIPATER
A device used to slow the velocity of stormwater, particularly of concentrated discharge such as pipe outlets.
ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed and registered under the laws of the commonwealth to engage in the practice of engineering. (This does not include the determination of property boundaries unless the engineer is also a licensed and registered surveyor as set forth in this article.)
ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS
The engineering specifications of the Township regulating the installation of any required improvement or for any facility installed by any owner, subject to public use.
EROSION
The removal of surface materials by the action of natural elements.
EXCAVATION
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is dug into, cut, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed. It shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
FILL
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material is placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to a new location above the natural surface of the ground or on top of the stripped surface. It shall include the conditions resulting therefrom. The difference in elevation between a point on the original ground and a designated point of higher elevation of the final grade. The material used to make the fill.
FLOODPLAIN
A relatively flat or low land area adjoining a river, stream or watercourse which is subject to partial or complete inundation; or, any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface water from any source.
FUTURE RIGHT-OF-WAY
A. 
Right-of-way required for the expansion of existing streets to accommodate anticipated future traffic loads.
B. 
A right-of-way established to provide future access to or through undeveloped land.
GOVERNING BODY
The Board of Supervisors of South Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. See "Board of Supervisors."
GRASSED WATERWAY
A natural or man-made drainageway or parabolic or trapezoidal cross-section shaped to required dimensions and vegetated for safe disposal of stormwater runoff.
HALF OR PARTIAL STREET
A street, generally parallel with and adjacent to a property line, having a lesser right-of-way width than required for improvement and used as a street in accordance with this chapter.
HOLDING POND
A retention or detention pond.
IMPERVIOUS COVER
Any type of man-made cover that restricts infiltration and increases the volume or rate of runoff from any rainfall event of the same magnitude, intensity and distribution.
IMPROVED PUBLIC STREET
Any street for which the Township, county or commonwealth has maintenance responsibility and which is paved with an approved hardtop surface.
IMPROVEMENTS
Those physical additions and changes to the land that may be necessary to produce usable and desirable lots.
INTERIOR WALK
A right-of-way for pedestrian use extending from a street into a block or across a block to another street.
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.
B. 
A subdivision of land.
C. 
"Land development" does not include development which involves:
(1) 
The conversion of an existing single family detached dwelling or single family semidetached dwelling into not more than three residential units, unless such units are intended to be a condominium.
(2) 
The addition of an accessory building, including farm building, on a lot or lots subordinate to an existing principal building.
(3) 
Where an addition of no more than 20% of the square footage is being added to an existing building, but in no case more than 2,000 square feet, a building permit and site plan approval is required to be obtained from the appropriate officer of the Township, but submission of a land development plan and review by the Planning Commission and approval by the Board of Supervisors may be waived, only when:
[Added by Ord. No. 2-2021, 4/13/2021]
(a) 
The building is added to the existing structure and is not separated; and
(b) 
There is no change to any street or public way; and
(c) 
There is no interference or substantial change to drainage or the flow of water; and
(d) 
The appropriate building official of the Township determines that the same is otherwise in compliance with all zoning and land development requirements.
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 conditions), a lessee having a remaining term of not less than 40 years, or other persons having a proprietary interest in the land, shall be deemed to be a landowner for the purpose of this chapter.
LOT
A designated parcel, 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.
LOT ADD-ON PLAN
A plan which proposes to alter the location of lot lines between existing lots of separate ownership for the sole purpose of changing the lot size or lot configuration of existing lots.
LOT AREA
The area contained within the property lines of a lot as shown on a subdivision plan excluding space within any street, but including the area of any easement.
LOT, REVERSE FRONTAGE
A lot extending between and having frontage on, an arterial street and minor street and with vehicular access solely from the latter.
LOT, THROUGH OR DOUBLE FRONTAGE
A lot which abuts a street on two or more nonadjacent sides.
MAJOR STREETS
A. 
ARTERIAL STREETA major street or highway with fast or heavy traffic volumes of considerable continuity and used primarily as a traffic artery for intercommunication among large areas.
B. 
COLLECTOR STREETA major street or highway which carries traffic from minor streets to arterial streets including the principal entrance of a residential development and streets for circulation within such a development.
C. 
LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAYA major street or highway which carries large volumes of traffic at comparatively high speed with access at designated points and not from abutting properties.
D. 
MARGINAL ACCESS STREETA minor street' which is parallel and adjacent to limited access highways or arterial streets and which provides access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.
E. 
MINOR STREETA street used primarily for access to abutting properties.
MINOR SUBDIVISION
The subdivision of a single lot, tract or parcel of land into two lots, tracts or parcels of land, for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or of building development, providing lots, tracts or parcels of land thereby created have frontage on an improved public street or streets and providing further that there is not created by the subdivision any new street, streets, easement, easements of access or need therefore.
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 erection 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.
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
A body politic and corporate created pursuant to the Act of May 2, 1945 (P.L. 382, No. 164), known as the "Municipalities Authority Act of 1945."
ON-SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The control of runoff to allow water falling on a given site to be absorbed or retained on site to the extent that after development the peak rate of discharge leaving the site is not different than if the site had remained undeveloped.
OWNER
Any person having any title or interest whatsoever in any land subdivision as the word "subdivision" is hereinafter defined in this chapter.
PADER
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.
PADOT
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPECIFICATIONS
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation specifications in force at the time that a preliminary plat is submitted to the Township as provided herein. Any requirement of this chapter that the design or construction of improvements be in accordance with such specifications shall be deemed to require design or construction in accordance with the specifications in force on the date of submission of the preliminary plat as aforesaid.
PERSON
Any individual or group of individuals, partnership or corporation.
PLAN, CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENT
A plan prepared by a registered engineer or surveyor showing the construction details of streets, drains, sewers, bridges, culverts and other improvements as required by this chapter.
PLAN, OFFICIAL
The Comprehensive Plan and/or development policy plan (master plan) and/or future land use plan and/or ultimate right-of-way plan and/or Official Map or other plans or portions thereof, as may be adopted, pursuant to statute, for the area of the Township in which the subdivision is located.
PLAN, SKETCH
An informal plan, indicating salient existing features of a tract and its surroundings and the general layout of a proposed subdivision.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The South Hanover Township Planning Commission. See "Commission."
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF
(See "Commission staff.")
PLAT, FINAL
A complete and exact subdivision plan prepared for official recording as required by statute.
PLAT, PRELIMINARY
A tentative subdivision plan, in lesser detail than the final plat, indicating the approximate proposed layouts of a subdivision as a basis for consideration prior to preparation of the final plat.
PRIVATE
Not publicly owned, operated or controlled.
PROFILE LINE
The profile of the center line of the finished surface of the street, which shall be midway between the sidelines of the street.
PUBLIC GROUNDS
Includes:
A. 
Parks, playgrounds, trails, paths and 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 and historic sites.
PUBLIC HEARING
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the Board of Supervisors or Planning Commission, intended to inform and obtain public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with this chapter.
PUBLIC MEETING
A forum held pursuant to notice under the Act of October 15, 1988 (P.L. 729, No. 93), known as the "Sunshine Act," 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq., as amended and supplemented.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. 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.
PUC
Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission.
RE-SUBDIVISION
Any subdivision or transfer of land, laid out on a plan which has been approved by the Board of Supervisors which changes or proposes to change property lines and/or public rights-of-way not in strict accordance with approved plans.
RECORDS DRAWINGS
Set of prints of the original facilities showing those changes made during the construction process.
RESERVE STRIP
A narrow parcel of ground separating a street from other adjacent properties.
RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNER
Any individual maintaining a voting address in the Township, and within 1,000 feet of the proposed subdivision (owning real estate in his own or joint names). A tenancy in common or any other means of joint ownership shall be considered as an individual; however, the signature of a single joint owner shall be considered as binding the others.
RIGHT-OF-WAY, STREET
A public thoroughfare for vehicular traffic and/or pedestrian traffic, whether designated as a street, highway, thoroughfare, parkway, road, avenue, boulevard, lane, alley or however designated.
RUNOFF
The surface water discharge or rate of discharge of a given watershed after a fall of rain or snow that does not enter the soil but runs off the surface of the land.
SEDIMENT BASIN
A temporary dam or barrier constructed across a suitable location to intercept the runoff and to trap and retain the sediment.
SEDIMENTATION
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated or deposited by moving wind, water or gravity. Once this matter is deposited (or remains suspended in water), it is usually referred to as "sediment."
SEEPAGE PIT
A covered pit with open-jointed lining through which the septic tank effluent may seep or leak into the surrounding soil.
SEPTIC TANK
A watertight tank in which raw sewage is broken down into solid, liquid and gaseous phases to facilitate further treatment and final disposal.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM (ON-SITE)
Any structure designed to process sanitary sewage within the boundaries of the lot on which the dwelling unit served by the system is located.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM (PUBLIC)
A sanitary sewage collection method in which sewage is carried from the site by a system of pipes to a central treatment and disposal plant.
SHOULDERS
The portion of the street, contiguous to the cartway, for the accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency use of parking, or for lateral support of base and surface courses in the pavement.
SIGHT DISTANCE
The length of roadway visible to the driver of a passenger vehicle at any given point on the roadway when the view is unobstructed by traffic.
SLOPE
The face of an embankment or cut section; any ground whose surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. Slopes are usually expressed in a percentage based upon vertical difference in feet per 100 feet of horizontal distance.
SOIL PERCOLATION TEST
A field test conducted to determine the absorption capacity of soil to a specified depth in a given location for the purpose of determining suitability of soil for on-site sewage disposal.
SOIL STABILIZATION
Chemical or structural treatment designed to increase or maintain the stability of a mass of soil or otherwise to improve its engineering properties.
STREET
A public or private right-of-way constructed to municipal standards which affords primary vehicular traffic or pedestrian access to abutting properties, and which includes avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway and viaduct, but shall not include an alley.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVIDER (SEE APPLICANT AND DEVELOPER)
The owner or authorized agent of the owner of a lot, tract or parcel of land to be subdivided for sale or development under the terms of this chapter.
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.
SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED
When in the judgment of the Township Engineer, at least 90% (based on the cost of the required improvements for which financial security was posted pursuant to the requirements of this chapter) 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.
SURFACE DRAINAGE PLAN
A plan showing all present and proposed grades and facilities for stormwater drainage.
SURVEYOR
A professional land surveyor licensed and registered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to engage in the practice of land surveying.
SWALE
A low-lying stretch of land characterized as a depression used to carry surface water runoff.
TILE DISPOSAL FIELD
A system of open jointed or perforated pipes laid in the upper strata of the soil for absorption.
TOP SOIL
Surface soils and subsurface soils which presumably are fertile soils and soil material, ordinarily rich in organic matter of humus debris. Topsoil is usually found in the uppermost soil layer called the A Horizon.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of South Hanover, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the Board of Supervisors, its agents or authorized representatives.
UNDEVELOPED LAND
Any lot, tract or parcel of land which has not been graded or in any other manner prepared for the construction of a building.
UNIT
A part of the property, structure or building designed or intended for any type of independent use, which has direct exit to a public street or way or to an easement or right-of-way leading to a public street or way, and includes a proportionate undivided interest in the common elements which is assigned to the property, structure or building.
WATER FACILITY
Any waterworks, water supply works, water distribution system, or part thereof designed, intended or constructed to provide or distribute potable water.
WATER SURVEY
An inventory of the source, quantity, yield and use of groundwater and surface water resources within the Township.
WATERSHED
The entire region or area drained by a river or other body of water whether natural or man-made.
WETLANDS
Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas.