Township of Williams, PA Part 2 DEFINITIONS

§ 27-201 Definitions.

[Ord. No. 2020-01, 1/6/2020]

A. General Interpretation. For the purposes of this chapter, words and terms used herein shall be applied, construed and interpreted as follows:

(1) Words in the present tense shall include the future tense.

(2) The word "person" or "applicant" includes a profit or nonprofit corporation, company, unincorporated association, partnership, limited partnership, LLC, trust, or other legal entity, as well as individual.

(3) The word "used" or "occupied" as applied to any land or building includes the words "intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied."

(4) The word "lot" includes plot or parcel.

(5) The words "must" and "shall" are always mandatory.

(6) The words "street," "highway," and "road" have the same meaning and are used interchangeably.

(7) The word "sale" shall also include rental and lease.

(8) The singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.

(9) The masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice-versa.

(10) If a word is not defined in this chapter, but is defined in the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,[1] as amended, then the definition in that ordinance shall apply.

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Subdivision and Land Development.

(11) Any word or term not defined in this chapter or the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, as amended, shall be used with the meaning of standard usage within the context of the section.

(12) The words "such as," "includes," "including" and "specifically" shall provide examples, but shall not by themselves limit the provision in which they appear only to those items that are specifically mentioned.

(13) If a word is defined in both this chapter and another Township ordinance, each definition shall apply to the provisions of each ordinance, respectively.

B. Terms Defined. When used in this chapter, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless expressly stated otherwise, or unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

ABUT

Areas of contiguous lots that share a common lot line, but not including lots entirely separated by a street or a nonintermittent waterway. See "adjacent."

ACADEMIC CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER

An accredited medical school within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that operates or partners with an acute care hospital licensed within the commonwealth.

ACCESS DRIVE or ACCESSWAY

A means of ingress and/or egress accessing not more than three dwelling units or a commercial, institutional, or industrial use(s).

ACCESS POINT

One combined entrance/exit point or one clearly defined entrance point separated from another clearly defined exit point. This term shall not include accessways, access drives, and/or driveways that are strictly limited to use by emergency vehicles only.

ACCESSIBLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION

An electric vehicle charging station where the battery charging station is located within accessible reach of a barrier-free access aisle and the electric vehicle.

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-03, 8/10/2022]

ACCESSORY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE

A separate or detached building or structure which is subordinate and accessory to a principal building, structure and/or other use on the same lot and which is used for purposes that are customarily incidental to the principal use. Any portion of a principal building or structure that is used for an accessory use shall not be considered to be an accessory building or structure.

ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT

Any equipment serving or being used in conjunction with a wireless communications facility or wireless support structure. The term "accessory equipment" includes but is not limited to utility or transmission equipment, power supplies, generators, batteries, cables, equipment buildings, cabinets and storage sheds, shelters or similar structures.

ACCESSORY USE

A use customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use or building, and located on the same lot with such principal use or building.

ACRE

43,560 square feet.

ADJACENT

Includes contiguous lots that share a common lot line or that are separated only by a street or nonintermittent waterway. See "abut."

ADJUSTED TRACT AREA

See "tract area, adjusted."

ADULT BOOKSTORE

A commercial establishment which has a portion of its floor space dedicated to the sale or rental of books, films, magazines, video tapes, disks, novelties, or other periodicals, which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on contact depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas. This shall include, but not be limited to, materials that would be illegal to sell to minors under Pennsylvania state law.

ADULT MOVIE THEATER

A commercial establishment where a portion or all of which is used for presenting motion pictures, slides or video tapes or similarly reproduced images distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas for observation by patrons therein. This shall include, but not be limited to, any theater that shows any one or multiple motion pictures that have received a rating by the Motion Picture Association of America of "X" over a total of more than 14 days in any calendar year.

ADULT PERSONAL CARE FACILITY

A premises in which food, shelter and personal assistance or supervision are provided during the day for four or more adults who are not relatives of the owner or operator, who do not require the services in or of a long-term care facility, but do require assistance or supervision in activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living.

ADULT USE

Shall include only the following: adult bookstore, adult movie theater, massage parlor, or cabaret.

AGRICULTURAL TOURISM

Tourist-related uses such as pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, etc., that promote products and processes normal to farm operations or life.

AGRICULTURAL WASTE

Waste that is defined as "agricultural waste" by the Solid Waste Management Act.[2]

AGRICULTURE

The cultivation of the soil and the raising and harvesting of the products of the soil, including but not limited to nursery cultivation, horticulture, crop production, and the breeding or raising of livestock or poultry, or the active commercial production and preparation for market of crops, livestock and livestock products, and the production, harvesting and preparation for market or use of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural, and aquacultural crops and commodities.

AGRICULTURE (RESIDENTIAL)

Farm livestock kept as pets for domestic purposes, provided that the lot size is at least two acres.

AIRPORT

An area of land or water or a surface of a building that is designated, used, or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of motorized aircraft, hot air balloons, dirigibles, or blimps, and any related aircraft support facilities such as for maintenance, refueling and parking.

AIRPORT, PRIVATE

An airport limited to a maximum total of 15 flights or takeoff in any seven-day period and that is not available for use by the general public.

AIRPORT, PUBLIC

An airport that does not meet the definition of a "private airport."

ALLEY

A public thoroughfare, which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property and is not intended for general traffic circulation.

AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA

A device, partially or wholly exterior to a building that is used for receiving and/or transmitting electronic signals on short wave or citizens band radio frequencies. This includes any accessory supporting structures.

ANIMAL CEMETERY

Land or buildings used for the internment or burial of the remains of three or more animals. Burial of one or two animals on a lot shall be a permitted by right accessory use in all zoning districts.

ANIMAL HOSPITAL

A building routinely used for the treatment, housing, or boarding of animals. The housing or boarding use shall be related to and accessory to the treatment use. A "small animal hospital" involves treatment of only small domestic animals, including but not limited to dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, or fowl. A "large animal hospital" includes treatment of all types of animals including horses, cows, and pigs.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

The raising and keeping of livestock, poultry or insects for any commercial purposes, or the keeping of any animals for any reason in excess of those allowed under the "keeping of animals" section of Part 14 and beyond what is allowed pursuant to any other provision of this chapter. Animal husbandry shall not include either a slaughterhouse or a stockyard used for the housing of animals awaiting slaughter.

ANTENNA

An apparatus designed for the purpose of emitting radiofrequency (RF) radiation, to be operated or operating from a fixed location pursuant to Federal Communications Commission authorization, for the provision of wireless service and any commingled information services.

APARTMENT

See "dwelling types."

APPLICANT

A landowner or developer (including heirs, successors, and assigns), as herein defined, who has filed an application for a permit, development, variance, special exception, conditional use, interpretation, or other land use relief pursuant to this chapter.

AUDITORIUM, COMMERCIAL

A commercial area or structure not owned by the Township or other public entity involving indoor or outdoor space for exhibits, meetings, live performances or sports events, but not a use that meets the definition of a movie theater, adult cabaret, or standard or fast-food restaurant.

AUTO REPAIR GARAGE

A building and/or land where repairs and installation of parts and accessories for motor vehicles and/or boats are conducted that involve work that is more intense in character than work permitted under the definition of "auto service station." An auto repair garage shall include, but not be limited to, any use that involves any of the following work: major mechanical or body work, straightening of body parts, painting, welding or rebuilding of transmissions. This use shall also include any use described in the definition of "auto service station."

AUTO SERVICE STATION

A building and/or land where liquid fuels are sold, and where no repairs are conducted, except service may be conducted that is closely similar in character to the following: sale and installation of oil, lubricants, tires, batteries, belts and similar accessories and safety and emission inspections. This use may include as an accessory use the sale of ready-to-eat food for consumption off of the premises and common household goods.

AUTO, BOAT, AND/OR MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOME SALES

A building and/or area, other than a street, used for the outdoor or indoor display, sale or rental of one or more of the following: motor vehicles, recreation vehicles, boat trailers, farm equipment, motorcycles, trucks, utility trailers, construction vehicles, or boats in an operable condition, or transportable mobile/manufactured homes in a livable condition. This use may include an auto repair garage as an accessory use provided that it complies with all requirements of an auto repair garage. This use shall not include a mobile/manufactured home park or a junkyard.

BASEMENT

An enclosed floor area partly or wholly underground. A basement shall be considered a "story" if more than 50% of the perimeter walls at the basement ceiling height are five feet or higher above the external finished grade.

BATTERY CHARGING STATION

An electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles.

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-03, 8/10/2022]

BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Any vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that's stored in the vehicle's batteries and produces zero tailpipe emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-03, 8/10/2022]

BED-AND-BREAKFAST

The use and occupancy of a single-family detached dwelling for overnight sleeping accommodations and providing breakfast for monetary compensation for up to 10 transient guests at any one time.

BILLBOARD

See "sign, off-premises." A billboard shall be any off-premises sign with any total sign area greater than 50 square feet.

BLACK POWDER

An explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal used especially in fireworks and as a propellant in antique firearms. Black powder is inherently dangerous if mishandled and great care must be taken to store and handle it in such a way as to avoid static electricity of all kinds, as well as all other sources of sparks or flame. When it burns, black powder produces a sulfurous odor, leaves corrosive residue, and produces a thick, white smoke.

BLAST or BLASTING

The detonation or explosion of dynamite, black powder, fuse, blasting cap, detonators, electric squibs, or other explosives.

BOARD

The Zoning Hearing Board of Williams Township.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

The Board of Supervisors of Williams Township.

BOARDING HOUSE

A residential use in which individual room(s) that do not meet the definition of a dwelling unit are rented for habitation, primarily and customarily for periods of time longer than 30 days, and which does not meet the definition of a hotel, dormitory, motel, life care center, personal care center, bed-and-breakfast use, group home, or nursing home.

BUFFER YARD

A strip of land separating a land use from another land use, feature, and/or other zoning district, which is not occupied by any principal or accessory building, parking, outdoor storage, or any use other than open space or sidewalks. A buffer yard may include the minimum setback distance, but land within an existing or future street right-of-way shall not be used to meet a buffer yard requirement.

BUILDING

Any structure constructed or erected on the ground, with a roof supported by columns or walls and having a total area under the roof of greater than 16 square feet. Any structure involving a permanent roof (such as a covered porch or a carport) that is attached to a principal building shall be considered to be part of that principal building.

BUILDING CODE OFFICIAL

The individual appointed by the Board of Supervisors as a municipal code official to administer the construction code pursuant to the Construction Code Act, 34 P.S. § 7210.101, as amended.

BUILDING COVERAGE

The percentage obtained by dividing the maximum area of building in square feet of all principal and accessory buildings on a lot by the lot area of the lot upon which the buildings are located.

BUILDING SETBACK LINE

See "setback line."

BUILDING, AREA

The horizontal area measured in the plane of the ground surface around the outside of the foundation walls and the floors, roofed porches and roofed terraces, including the area of accessory buildings, if any.

BUILDING, PRINCIPAL

A building used for the conduct of the principal use of a lot, and which is not an accessory building.

CABARET

A club, tavern, theater, auditorium or similar place that includes live entertainment involving dancers, entertainers, or employees that display "specified anatomical areas."

CAMPGROUND

A use that is primarily recreational in nature that involves the use of tents or sites leased for recreational vehicles for transient and seasonal occupancy by persons vacationing or travelers, or the use of tents or cabins for seasonal occupancy by organized groups of persons under age 18 and their counselors. No tent, site, or cabin, shall be occupied or used by the same person for more than four months.

CANOPY

A drapery, awning, or other roof-like covering providing shade or shelter of an area.

CARPORT

A building intended for the storage of one or more motor vehicles, but which is not enclosed on all sides. If any portion of a carport is attached to a principal building, it shall be considered to be part of that building.

CARTWAY

The paved or improved portion of a street designed for vehicular traffic and on-street parking, but not including the shoulder of the street.

CARWASH and/or AUTO DETAILING

An area, building, or structure equipped with facilities for washing of automobiles and performing minor cosmetic repairs.

CEMETERY

Land, buildings, or structures used for the burial or interment only of deceased humans and/or the cremated remains of humans.

CHAIRPERSON

Includes chairman, chairwoman, chair, and acting chairperson (when applicable) of the Board.

CHARGING LEVELS

Standardized indicators of electrical force, or voltage, at which an electric vehicle's battery is recharged. The terms 1, 2 and 3 are the most common charging levels, and include the following specifications:

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-03, 8/10/2022]

(1) Level 1 is considered slow charging. Voltage includes the range from 0 through 120.

(2) Level 2 is considered medium charging. Voltage is greater than 120 and includes 240.

(3) Level 3 is considered fast or rapid charging. Voltage is greater than 240.

CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC WASTE

Waste defined as chemotherapeutic waste by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act[3] and the regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection implementing that Act.

CHILD DAY-CARE CENTER

A use in which care is provided at any one time for seven or more children unrelated to the owner or operator of the facility.

CHIMNEY

Any vertical structure enclosing a flue or flues that carry off smoke or exhaust from a heating appliance.

CO-LOCATION

The mounting of one or more WCFs, including antennas, on a preexisting structure, or modifying a structure for the purpose of mounting or installing a WCF on that structure.

COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

The LC, HC and PUCD Zoning Districts.

COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR RECREATION

An area which has a total building coverage of less than 15%, is used principally for active or passive recreation, and is used for a profit-making purpose.

COMMERCIAL USE

Includes retail sales, offices, personal services, auto sales, auto repair garages and other uses of a similar nature. The sale of goods or services from a vehicle on a lot shall also be considered to be a commercial use.

COMMISSION

The Planning Commission of the Williams Township.

COMMON OPEN SPACE

See "open space, common."

COMMUNITY CENTER

A noncommercial use that exists solely to provide leisure and educational activities and programs to the general public or certain age groups. The use also may include the noncommercial preparation and/or provision of meals to low-income elderly persons. This shall not include residential uses.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The document entitled the Williams Township Comprehensive Plan of 1989 and 2000 Supplement, Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, or any part thereof, adopted by the Board of Supervisors, as amended.

CONCENTRATED ANIMAL FEED OPERATION

Agricultural operations where animals are kept and raised in locations that are confined by fences and/or walls. Feed is brought to the animals rather than the animal grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures, fields, or on rangeland. Animals are confined for at least 45 days in any twelve-month period, and no substantial amount of grass or other vegetation is growing in the confinement area during the normal growing season.

CONDITIONAL USE

A specified use which requires approval by the Board of Supervisors at a hearing after recommendation by the Planning Commission pursuant to express standards and criteria set forth in this chapter.

CONDOMINIUM

Real estate, portions of which are designated for separate ownership, and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely by the owners of those portions, created under either the Pennsylvania Unit Property Act of 1963 or the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act,[4] each as amended.

CONSERVANCY LOT

A large, privately owned and maintained lot, containing an existing dwelling or farm complex, comprising part of the required open space in a conservation subdivision. An area of at least one acre upon which the dwelling or farm complex is located is set aside and is not counted toward the required minimum open space. The remainder of the conservancy lot is permanently protected open space. Public access to conservancy lots is not required.

CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT

A development program that emphasizes the preservation and protection of natural, cultural and historic features and limits development of constrained lands.

CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT SUBDIVISION

The subdivision of a property pursuant to Part 19 of this chapter.

CONSTRAINED LAND

Wetlands, floodway, flood fringe, rock outcrops, and steep slopes.

CONSTRUCTION

Includes the placing of materials in permanent position and fastening in a temporary or permanent position to create a structure or building; and/or the demolition of a preexisting building and/or structure.

CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION WASTE

Waste defined as construction/demolition waste by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act[5] and the regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection implementing that Act.

CONVENIENCE STORE

A use that primarily sells routine household goods, groceries, and prepared ready-to-eat foods to the general public, but that is not primarily a restaurant, and that includes a building with a floor area of less than 5,000 square feet. This use may also include as an accessory use sale of liquid fuels, provided the requirements for an "auto service station" are also met.

CONVERSION

To change or adapt land, buildings, or structures to a different use.

COUNTY

The County of Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, or LVPC.

CREMATORIUM

A building containing a furnace for cremating dead bodies.

CRIMINAL TREATMENT CENTER

A use, other than a prison, providing living accommodations and treatment facilities for persons committed to such treatment because of offenses that are criminal in nature. This shall include, but not be limited to, drug rehabilitation centers, halfway houses for persons recently released from prison, and treatment centers for drunk drivers.

CROP FARMING

The cultivating, raising and harvesting of products of the soil and the storage of these products produced on the premises. Crop farming shall also include orchards and tree farms, but shall not include animal husbandry, commercial forestry, riding academies, or kennels. If a crop farming lot is larger than 15 acres, the crop farming use may also include the keeping of up to 10 additional animals as a permitted accessory use, in addition to what is permitted under the "Keeping of Animals" requirements in § 27-1403.

CULTURAL CENTER

A building and/or land open to the public that contains exhibits of clearly artistic or cultural interest, such as a museum, art gallery, or indoor nature study area. This shall not include uses that are primarily commercial.

D.E.P.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

DAY-CARE CENTER or NURSERY SCHOOL

A use involving the supervised care or baby-sitting of children under age 16 outside of their home for periods of 18 hours or less. This use may also include educational programs that are supplementary to state-required education.

DAYS

Calendar days.

DENSITY

The number of dwelling units divided by the lot area, unless otherwise stated.

DENSITY FACTOR

Minimum lot size of the zoning district expressed as dwelling units per acre.

DETACHED BUILDING

A building that is surrounded on all sides by open yards and that is not attached to any other building.

DEVELOPER

Any landowner, or agent of such landowner, tenant, or other person, each having written authorization or permission from a landowner, who makes or causes to be made an application for approval of a subdivision and/or land development.

DEVELOPMENT

Any man-made change or construction to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the placement of mobile homes, streets and other paving, parking lots, utilities, mining, filling, grading, excavation or drilling operations, and the subdivision of land, as well as sewage disposal systems and water supply systems either as a principal or accessory use.

DISPOSAL

Acts that are defined as disposal in the Solid Waste Management Act.[6]

DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS (DAS)

Network of spatially separated antenna sites connected to a common source that provides wireless service within a geographic area or structure. DAS shall be considered a wireless communications facility.

DISTRIBUTION

The processing and sorting of materials so as to determine which materials are to be transported to different locations, and the loading and unloading of such materials. This term shall not include a "truck terminal."

DISTRICT (or ZONING DISTRICT)

A land area within the Township as depicted on the Official Zoning Map within which certain uniform regulations and requirements or various combinations thereof apply under the provisions of this chapter.

DORMITORY

A principal or accessory building that includes residential areas occupied exclusively by faculty or students of an accredited college or university, state-licensed hospital, or accredited public or private primary or secondary school.

DRIVEWAY

A privately constructed, owned, and maintained vehicular access from a street or access drive to only one dwelling unit.

DUMP

Any area used for solid waste disposal that does not operate under a valid solid waste permit issued by PADEP and that is not a permitted junkyard under this chapter.

DWELLING

A building used as nontransient living quarters. The term "dwelling" shall not include boarding houses, hotels, motels, dormitories, hospitals, or nursing homes. This chapter categorizes dwellings into the following types:

(1) GARDEN APARTMENTS Three or more dwelling units within a building that are separated by only horizontal floors or by a combination of horizontal floors and vertical walls (see definition of "townhouse"). This shall include buildings with a maximum height of 3 1/2 stories or 35 feet, whichever is less. The individual dwelling units may be leased or sold for condominium ownership.

(2) MANUFACTURED MOBILE HOME A transportable, single-family dwelling designed for permanent occupancy, contained in one unit or in two units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for repeated towing, which arrives at a site complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations and constructed so that it may be used with or without a permanent foundation. The term "manufactured home" shall not include a "recreation vehicle" or a "modular home" or any building of less than 300 square feet of interior floor space.

(3) MODULAR HOME A type of dwelling that meets a definition of single-family detached dwelling, single-family semidetached dwelling, townhouse or garden apartment that is substantially but not wholly produced in three or more major sections off the site and then is assembled and completed on the site. This shall not include any of the following:

(a) A dwelling that meets the definition of manufactured/mobile home;

(b) A dwelling that does not rest on a permanent foundation;

(c) A dwelling intended to be able to be moved to a different site once assembled;

(d) A dwelling that would not fully comply with any and all applicable building codes; nor

(e) A building that includes only one or two substantial pieces prior to delivery on the site.

(4) SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLING A dwelling unit accommodating a single family and having open area on all sides. This may include such a dwelling that is either built on the site or is a modular home.

(5) SINGLE-FAMILY SEMIDETACHED DWELLING One dwelling unit accommodating one family that is attached and completely separated by a vertical, unpierced firewall to only one additional dwelling unit. One side yard shall be adjacent to each dwelling unit. This use is commonly known as 1/2 of a duplex or 1/2 of a twin home. Each unit may or may not be on a separate lot.

(6) TOWNHOUSE One dwelling unit that is attached to two or more dwelling units, and with each dwelling unit being completely separated from each other by vertical fire-resistant walls. Each dwelling unit shall have its own outside access. Side yards shall be adjacent to each end unit. Townhouses are also commonly referred to as "row houses."

(7) TWO-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLING Two dwelling units accommodating one family each in one building, with both dwelling units within one lot and without the dwelling units being completely separated by a vertical firewall. The building shall have two side yards.

DWELLING UNIT

One dwelling occupied by only one family and a maximum of two persons who function and are employed as domestic employees. See definition of "family." Each dwelling unit shall have its own sanitary, sleeping and cooking facilities and separate access either to the outside, or to a common hallway or balcony that connects to outside access at ground level.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Any vehicle that is licensed and registered for operation on public and private highways, roads, and streets, either partially or exclusively, on electrical energy from the grid, or an off-board source that is stored on-board via a battery for motive purpose. "Electric vehicle" includes a battery electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-03, 8/10/2022]

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION (EVCS)

A public or private parking space that is served by battery charging station equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy (by conductive or inductive means) to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle.

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-03, 8/10/2022]

ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE

Conduit/wiring, structures, machinery, and equipment necessary and integral to support an electric vehicle, including battery charging stations and rapid charging stations.

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-03, 8/10/2022]

EMERGENCY

A condition that constitutes a clear and immediate danger to the health, welfare, or safety of the public, or has caused or is likely to cause facilities in the rights-of-way to be unusable and result in loss of the services provided.

EMERGENCY SERVICES STATION

A building for the housing of fire, emergency medical, or police equipment, and for related activities. A membership club may be included if it is a permitted use in that district. This may include housing for emergency personnel while on-call.

EMPLOYEES

The highest number of workers (including both part-time and full-time, both compensated and volunteer, and permanent, temporary and contractors) present on a lot at any one time and engaged in any aspect of the principal or any accessory or temporary uses on the lot, other than clearly temporary and occasional persons working on physical improvements to the site.

EQUIPMENT COMPOUND

An area surrounding or adjacent to a wireless support structure within which base stations, power supplies, or accessory equipment are located.

EQUITABLE OWNER

One recognized as the beneficial or future owner of land because use and some rights belong to that person, even though legal title may be held by or in the name of to someone else; and/or a party under valid written agreement to purchase the property.

EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNIT (E.D.U.)

For the purposes of determining a capacity or demand in terms or units of the number of lots in a residential subdivision, that part of multiple-family dwelling or commercial or industrial sewage flows equal to 400 gallons per day (GPD).

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

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. See standards in § 27-1403. 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.

EXERCISE CLUB

A facility that offers indoor or outdoor recreational facilities, such as the following: weight rooms, personal exercise and gymnastics equipment, aerobic, dance, or yoga rooms, non-household swimming pool, racquetball, squash, basketball and tennis courts and training for these activities.

EXPLOSIVE

A solid or liquid substance (or a mixture of substances) which is in itself capable by chemical reaction of producing gas at such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to cause damage to the surroundings.

FAMILY

One or more individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption (including persons receiving formal foster care), or up to five unrelated individuals who maintain a common household and live within one dwelling unit. For purposes of a group home, a family may include a number of residents equal to the number of bedrooms approved in connection with the sewage permit for any particular property provided that those individuals function as a common household.

FAMILY CHILD DAY-CARE HOME

A use in a home other than the child's own home, operated for profit or not for profit, in which child day-care is provided at any one time to four, five or six children unrelated to the owner or operator of the facility.

FCC

Federal Communications Commission.

FENCE

A man-made barrier placed or arranged as either a line of demarcation, an enclosure, or a visual barrier, and that is constructed of wood, PVC or composite resin, chain-link metal or aluminum, and/or plastic inserts. Man-made barriers constructed principally of brick, concrete, earthen materials, cinderblock, stone or rock, or similar materials shall be considered a "wall." The term "wall" does not include engineering retaining walls, which are permitted uses as needed that separate land at different elevations and provide support for the higher land, in all districts. The terms "fence" and "wall" do not include barriers of trees or shrubs.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

A business establishment primarily involved with loans and monetary transactions but not the sale or exchange of goods, and that has routine interactions with the public.

FIREWORKS

Any combustible or explosive composition intended to produce visible lighting effects and/or audible effects. This term includes, but is not limited to, consumer fireworks, display fireworks, ground and hand-held sparkling devices, "novelties" and "toy caps," as defined in the Fireworks Law of 1951, as amended, 35 P.S. § 1271.

FITNESS CENTER

See "exercise club."

FLOODPLAIN (100-YEAR)

An area of relatively flat or lowlands delineated in the currently effective Flood Insurance Study and/or flood insurance maps for the Township prepared by the Federal Insurance Administration dated April 16, 2014, as may be amended. The 100-year flood boundary and the designated Flood Plain Districts delineated in this study are considered part of the Official Zoning Map.

FORESTRY ACTIVITIES

The management of forests and timberlands when practiced in accordance with accepted silvicultural principles, through developing, cultivating, harvesting, transporting, and selling trees for commercial or noncommercial purposes, which does not involve any land development, buildings, or structures. Landscaping activities or removal of trees, connected with or preparatory to the development of residential, business, industrial, and commercial structures, shall not be considered forestry activities.

FRATERNITY

A type of boarding house.

FUEL

Any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance or material or any combination of substances or materials such as coal, wood, oil, natural or refined gas, etc., burned to supply heat or power.

FUNERAL HOME/MORTUARY

A business establishment where the bodies of dead persons are prepared for burial or cremation and where funeral services can be held. A funeral home does not include a crematorium.

GARAGE SALE or YARD SALE

The accessory use of any lot for the occasional sale or auction of only common household goods and furniture and items of a closely similar character. See § 27-1403.

GARAGE, COMMERCIAL

An enclosed building where storage of automobiles occurs. Does not include warehouse or mini-warehouse uses.

GARAGE, PRIVATE OR HOUSEHOLD

An enclosed building for the storage of one to four motor vehicles. No business, occupation or service shall be conducted in a private garage that is accessory to a dwelling, except as may be allowed as a home occupation.

GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM (CLOSED LOOP)

Any heating and/or cooling system that utilizes the earth's thermal energy to heat and/or cool a building through the use of a series of underground pipes in which the same liquid is circulated through piping in a continuous configuration such that no new liquid is introduced to the system or used liquid discharged from the system.

GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS (OPEN LOOP)

Any heating and/or cooling system that utilizes the earth's thermal energy to heat and/or cool a building through the use of a series of underground pipes in which the same liquid is circulated through piping in a continuous configuration after being drawn from a source and is then discharged to that source or an alternate location.

GLARE

A temporary or steady sensation of brightness within the visual field, which causes annoyance, discomfort, dazzling, or loss in visual performance, visibility, and/or ability to focus.

GROUP HOME

A dwelling unit operated by a responsible individual, family, or organization with a program to provide supportive living arrangements for individuals where special care is required by the individual served due to age, emotional, mental, or physical handicap. This definition shall expressly include supervised care of developmentally disabled persons and all persons subject to protection under the Federal Fair Housing Act, as amended. Group homes shall be licensed, where required, by the appropriate government agency and a copy of such license must be delivered to the Zoning Officer prior to the initiation of the use.

(1) Group homes shall be subject to the same limitations and regulations of the Township as the type of dwelling unit they occupy.

(2) A group home shall not include a criminal treatment center.

(3) See "Additional Requirements for Specific Uses" in § 27-1402.

GUNPOWDER

Both smokeless powder and black powder.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

Waste defined as "hazardous waste" by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act[7] and the regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection implementing that Act, or by the regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

HEALTH CARE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORGANIZATION

A vertically integrated health system [a health delivery system licensed under the Act of July 19, 1979 (P.L. 130, No. 48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in which the complete spectrum of care, including primary and specialty care, hospitalization and pharmaceutical care, is provided within a single organization] approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health to dispense medical marijuana or grow and process medical marijuana, or both, in accordance with research under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act of 2016, P.L. 84.

HEIGHT

The vertical distance measured from the average ground level elevation on the front side of an existing or proposed structure to the highest point of an existing or proposed structure. See exemptions for certain types of structures in § 27-1303.

HEIGHT OF A TOWER-BASED WCF

The vertical distance measured from the ground level, including any base pad, to the highest point on a tower-based WCF, including antennas mounted on the tower and any other appurtenances.

HELIPORT

An airport that is limited to use by helicopters. This chapter is not intended to regulate the non-routine emergency landing and takeoff of aircraft to pick-up injured or ill persons, but is intended to regulate the permanent landing site of such aircraft.

(1) PUBLIC HELIPORT A heliport that does not meet the definition of a private heliport.

(2) PRIVATE HELIPORT A heliport limited to a maximum total of 15 originating flights or takeoffs in any seven-day period and that is not available for use by the general public. This is also known as a "helistop."

HOME GARDENING

The cultivation of herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables on the same lot as a dwelling, but excluding the keeping of livestock.

HOME OCCUPATION

A use conducted entirely within or administered from a dwelling or its accessory building, and that is clearly incidental and secondary to the principal residential use. See § 27-1403.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS, NO-IMPACT

A business or commercial activity administered or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the principal use as a residential dwelling, and which involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pick up, delivery, or removal functions to or from the premises in excess of those normally associated with residential use.

HOSPITAL

A use that involves the diagnosis, treatment, or other medical care of persons that includes care requiring stays overnight and that may also include out-patient care. A hospital may involve care and rehabilitation for medical, dental, or mental health, but shall not include housing of the criminally insane nor primarily involve housing or treatment of persons actively serving an criminal sentence after being convicted of a felony. A hospital may also involve medical research and training for health care professions.

HOTEL or MOTEL

A building or buildings including rooms rented out to persons as transient and temporary living quarters. Any such use that customarily and primarily involves the housing of persons for periods of time longer than 30 days shall be considered a boarding house and shall meet the requirements of that use. See also "bed-and-breakfast" use.

HYDROGEOLOGICAL STUDY

A review and analysis of geologic features related to surface and subsurface water characteristics, including but not limited to yield, quality, recharge and draw down rates, susceptibility to pollution, direction of flow, etc.

IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE RATIO OR PERCENTAGE

The total area of all "impervious surfaces" on a lot (including building coverage) divided by the total lot area. Areas being dedicated as common open space may be included in the total lot area for determining impervious coverage.

IMPERVIOUS SURFACE

Area covered by roofs, concrete, paved areas, asphalt or other materials that has a coefficient of runoff of 0.8 or greater. Any dispute or question over whether an area is impervious shall be decided by the Township Engineer.

IN-LAW SUITE

A temporary use obtained by special exception to facilitate the care of family members.

INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS

Includes the LI/B and GI Districts.

INDUSTRIAL USE

Includes manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and other operations of an industrial nature and not primarily of a commercial, institutional or residential nature.

INFECTIOUS WASTE

Municipal and residual waste that is defined as infectious waste by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act.

JUNK

Any discarded, scrap, or abandoned man-made or man-processed material or articles, including but not limited to the following: metal, wood, furniture, appliances, motor vehicles, aircraft, glass, industrial waste, machinery, equipment, containers, structures, and other used building materials. Junk shall not include organic solid waste, grass clippings, leaves, or tree limbs. Outdoor storage and outdoor processing of junk shall only be permitted within an approved junkyard or solid waste disposal area. Junk shall not include solid waste customarily stored in a completely enclosed and sanitary container that is routinely awaiting collection.

JUNK VEHICLE

A motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, trailer, or truck, or the chassis or body of such vehicle that meets a minimum of two of the three following conditions: 1) does not display a license plate with a current state registration sticker, 2) does not have a valid state safety inspection sticker, and 3) cannot be immediately moves under its own power. Also, any motor vehicle that has been demolished beyond reasonable repair (such that its retail costs exceed its present market value) shall be considered a junk vehicle.

JUNKYARD

The collection, storage, dismantling, processing, and/or sale of junk, but specifically excluding the use of shredders used for processing metal into scrap, other than within a completely enclosed building, meeting any of the following conditions:

(1) Storage of junk that is not required by the state to be disposed of in a state-approved solid waste disposal facility.

(2) Storage of two or more junk vehicles. This shall not apply to such vehicles allowed to be stored within the specific requirements of an auto repair garage or auto service station.

(3) Storage of one or more boats that do not have current registration and are not presently in a seaworthy condition.

(4) Storage of one or more mobile/manufactured homes that are not in a habitable condition.

KENNEL

An establishment, including animal day care or a nonprofit animal shelter, for the breeding and/or boarding of six or more dogs and/or six or more cats that are more than six months old.

LAND DEVELOPMENT

As defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

LANDOWNER

The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land including the holder of a valid option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee or if tenant if he is authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of landowner, or other person having a proprietary interest in land.

LEAF COMPOSTING

The collection and processing of vegetative material to allow and facilitate it to biologically decompose under controlled anaerobic or aerobic conditions.

LIGHTING, DIFFUSED

Illumination that passes from the source through a translucent cover or shade.

LINE, STREET

The street right-of-way line. This shall be the future street right-of-way line, if one is required to be established.

LOT

A designated parcel or area of land established by plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed, or built upon as a separate and standalone unit with a distinct Northampton County Uniform Tax Parcel Identification Number.

LOT AREA

The horizontal land area contained within the lot lines of a lot (measured in acres or square feet). Lot area shall not include the following:

(1) Areas within future or existing street rights-of-way.

(2) Areas that are currently or will be dedicated as common open space, or areas with future or existing private roads.

(3) Areas within any easement.

LOT DEPTH

The average horizontal distance between the front and the rear lot lines, measured through the approximate center of the lot, between the centers of these lot lines.

LOT LINES

The property lines bounding the lot. Wherever a property line borders a public street, the lot line shall be considered to be the future street right-of-way.

(1) FRONT LOT LINE (STREET LINE) A lot line separating the lot from or approximately parallel to the future street right-of-way (see 1 on drawing below).

(2) REAR LOT LINE A lot line opposite and most distant from the front lot line. A three-sided lot has no rear lot line (see 2 on drawing below).

(3) SIDE LOT LINE Any lot lines other than a front or rear lot line. A "side street lot line" is a side lot line separating a lot from a street (see 3 on drawing below).

SAMPLE LOT CONFIGURATIONS; NUMBERS CORRESPOND TO THE ABOVE DEFINITIONS

LOT WIDTH

The horizontal distance between the side lot lines measured at the minimum front yard building setback line.

LOT, CORNER

A lot that has an interior angle of less than 135° at the intersection of two street lines. A lot abutting upon a curved street or streets shall be considered a "corner lot" if the tangent to the curve either at the points beginning the curve within the lot, or at the points of intersection of the side lot lines with the street lines, intersect at an angle of less than 135°.

LOT, FLAG

An irregularly shaped lot characterized by an elongated extension from a street to the principal part or major area of the lot ("the flag"). The "pole" portion of the lot is intended and used to provide for access to an otherwise landlocked interior parcel.

LOT, INTERIOR

A lot other than a corner lot.

LOT, REVERSE FRONTAGE

A lot that abuts two approximately parallel streets, but only has access onto one street.

LOT, THROUGH

A lot that abuts two approximately parallel streets and has access to both streets.

MAJOR SUBDIVISION

Any subdivision of land that does not qualify as a minor subdivision.

MANUFACTURE

The creation or making of good or product, and/or associated assembly, fabrication, cleaning, testing, processing, recycling, packaging, conversion, production, recycling, distribution and repair, with substantial use of machinery, of products for sale. This term shall not include the following: retail sales, personal services, solid waste disposal facility, or truck terminal.

MASSAGE

The rubbing or kneading of parts of the body to aid circulation or to relax muscles, as a business service for financial compensation.

MASSAGE PARLOR

An establishment where:

(1) Massages are conducted; and

(2) The person conducting the massage is not licensed as a health care professional or licensed massage therapist by the state; and

(3) The massages are conducted within private or semiprivate rooms; and

(4) The massage is not clearly a customary and incidental accessory use to a permitted exercise club or a high school or college athletic program.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY

A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which holds a permit issued by the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to dispense medical marijuana. The term does not include a health care medical marijuana organization.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWER/PROCESSOR

A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which holds a permit issued by the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to grow and process medical marijuana. The term does not include a health care medical marijuana organization.

MEDICAL OFFICE OR CLINIC

A facility not located upon the premises of a hospital which provides specialty or multispecialty outpatient surgical treatment or emergency care which does not require hospitalization, but does require constant medical supervision following the surgical procedure performed or the emergency care. The surgical treatment and supervision or the emergency care shall require less than twenty-four-hour stay at the facility. A facility shall be considered a medical clinic if it has all of the following:

(1) A transfer agreement with a hospital to provide prompt, routine emergency services, as well as hospitalization;

(2) Specialized equipment for surgical treatment or equipment to provide emergency care; and

(3) A recovery room related to surgical treatment or suite of rooms to provide emergency care and treatment.

MEMBERSHIP CLUB

An area of land or building used by a recreational, civic, social, fraternal, religious, political or labor union association of persons for meetings and routine socializing and recreation which is limited to members, their occasional guests, and persons specifically invited to special celebrations, but which is not routinely open to members of the general public. This use shall not include a target range for outdoor shooting, boarding house, or other form of overnight accommodation, a tavern, a restaurant, an auditorium, or specified sexual activities as defined by this Part, unless that particular use is permitted in that district and the applicable requirements of that use are met.

MINERAL EXTRACTION

The permanent removal from the surface or beneath the surface of the land of bulk mineral resources using machinery. "Mineral extraction" includes but is not limited to the extraction of sand, gravel, topsoil, rock, limestone, sandstone, coal, clay, shale, and iron ore. The routine movement of and replacement of topsoil, subsoil, stone, or rock during construction shall not by itself be considered to be mineral.

MINOR SUBDIVISION

A subdivision involving land which is either:

(1) A lot line adjustment; or

(2) A subdivision:

(a) That results in up to five new residential lots or EDUs; and

(b) Which does not involve an extension or new segment of a street (other than what was previously approved); and

(c) Which has not involved the subdivision approval of at least three lots on the tract within the five previous years.

MIXED-USE BUILDING

A building which has both residential and commercial uses in the same building; i.e., a retail or office on the first floor and one or more apartments on the other floors.

MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOME

See under "dwelling types."

MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOME PARK

A parcel or contiguous parcels of land under single ownership which has been planned and improved for the placement of two or more mobile/manufactured homes for nontransient residential use. The individual mobile/manufactured homes may be singly and separately owned. A development of mobile/manufactured homes that is subdivided into individual lots for single and separate ownership shall be regulated in the same manner as a subdivision of site-built homes, and shall not be considered to be a "mobile home park."

MODIFICATION or MODIFY

The improvement, upgrade or expansion of existing wireless communications facilities or base stations on an existing wireless support structure or the improvement, upgrade, or expansion of the wireless communications facilities located within an existing equipment compound, if the improvement, upgrade, expansion or replacement does not substantially change the physical dimensions of the wireless support structure.

MONOPOLE

A WCF or site which consists of a single epole structure, designed and erected on the ground or on top of a structure, to support communications antennas and connecting appurtenances.

MOTEL

See "hotel."

MUNICIPAL WASTE

Solid waste defined as municipal waste by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act and the regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection implementing that Act, or by the regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

MUNICIPAL WASTE TREATMENT PLANT (WWTP)

A facility designed to treat municipal wastewater though the use of primary, secondary, and advanced treatment facilities for the removal of suspended, colloidal, or dissolved matter from wastewater; the use of disinfection to inactivate or destroy pathogens; and the stabilization of solids removed from wastewater.

MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as amended.

NFPA 1124

The National Fire Protection Association Standard 1124, Code for the Manufacture, Transportation, Storage and Retail Sales of Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles, 2006 edition.

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-9, 12/14/2022]

NITS

A nit is an International System of Units (SI) measurement of the brightness of light. One nit equals one candela per square meter.

NON-TOWER WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (NON-TOWER WCF)

Wireless communications facilities located on existing structures, such as, but not limited to, buildings, water towers, electrical transmission towers, utility poles, light poles, traffic signal poles, flagpoles and other similar structures that do not require the installation of a new tower. This term includes the replacement of an existing structure with a similar structure that is required to support the weight of the proposed WCF.

NONCONFORMING LOT

A lot which does not conform with the present minimum area or dimensions, ratios, percentages, or other physical attributes or characteristics which are presently specified for the district where such lot is situated, but was lawfully in existence or conforming prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment which is made it unlawful.

NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE

A structure or part of a structure manifestly not presently in compliance with the applicable lot area, dimensional, setback, and/or other provisions of this chapter, as amended, where such structure was lawful or conforming prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment which made it unlawful.

NONCONFORMING USE

A use, whether of land, building, or of a structure, which does not presently comply with the applicable use provisions in this chapter, as where such use was lawfully in existence prior to or conforming prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment which is made it unlawful.

NUISANCE

The unreasonable, unwarrantable, or unlawful use of public or private property which causes injury, damage, hurt, inconvenience, interference, disruption, annoyance, or discomfort to any person or resident in the legitimate enjoyment of their reasonable rights as a person of property, or that is set up, maintained, or continued so as to be injurious to the health of a person or an obstruction to property by interfering with repose, health, comfort, safety, or life of any person or a considerable number of persons; whatever is dangerous to human life or health; whatever renders the air, or food or water or other drink unwholesome; and whatever cellar, erection, building, or part thereof is unsafe, unsanitary, or not sufficiently ventilated, sewered, drained, cleaned, lighted, or supported, either by its own construction or connection.

NURSING HOME

A facility licensed by the state for the housing and intermediate or fully skilled nursing care of four or more persons.

OFFICE

A use that involves administrative, clerical, financial, governmental, or professional operations, and operations of a similar character. This use shall not include retail or industrial uses, but may include business offices, medical or dental offices, clinics or laboratories, photographic studios, and/or television or radio broadcasting studios.

OFFICIAL STREET CLASSIFICATION MAP

The map as adopted by the Board of Supervisors classifying the streets of the Township. See definition of "street classification."

OFFICIAL ZONING MAP

The map as adopted by the Board of Supervisors that designates the location and boundaries of zoning districts.

OPEN SPACE, COMMON

A parcel or parcels of land, or an area of water, or a combination of land and water within a tract:

(1) Which is designed, intended, and suitable for active or passive recreation by residents of a development or the general public, such as (but not limited to) in a planned residential development (PRD) and/or the common elements of a condominium;

(2) Which does not include in its dimension or computation (though the following may cross or separate open space areas) any of the following: existing or future street rights-of-way, accessways, buildings (other than accessory buildings and pools intended for noncommercial recreation), off-street parking (other than that clearly intended for noncommercial recreation), any area needed to meet a requirement for an individual lot, any area deeded over to an individual property owner for their own use, and land with rights-of-way and easements;

(3) Which is covered by an arrangement for perpetual maintenance and is deed restricted to permanently prevent the use of land for uses other than "common open space."

ORDINANCE

The Williams Township Zoning Ordinance, including the Official Zoning Map, as each may be amended.

OUTDOOR SOLID-FUEL-BURNING APPLIANCE

Any equipment, apparatus, or device that is designed, installed, or operated outside of a residential structure and which is used to burn solid fuel to produce heat for either domestic hot water, space heating of houses, and/or accessory structures, such as, but not limited to, greenhouses, conservatories and swimming pools.

OWNER

A person owning, holding the legal title, leasing, renting, occupying, or having charge of any site or lot within the Township.

PARCEL

An area of land with a distinct Northampton County Uniform Tax Parcel Identification Number.

PARKING

A lot or portion thereof used for the storage or parking of motor vehicles for a period of time ranging from several minutes to several months. Parking shall mean off-street parking unless otherwise stated.

PARKING LOT

A parking lot is a lot on which the principal use is to collect a fee for the temporary parking of motor vehicles. A parking lot shall meet the requirements of Part 14, § 27-1402.

[Added by Ord. No. 2022-01A, 5/11/2022]

PAVED AREA

All areas covered by gravel and/or impervious surfaces, other than buildings and concrete public sidewalks.

PAVILION

A light roofed structure, open on the sides, used as a shelter in a public place.

PENNDOT

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

PERMIT

A document issued by the proper Township authority authorizing the applicant to undertake certain activities.

(1) ZONING PERMIT A permit issued indicating that a proposed use, building, or structure is, to the best knowledge of the Township staff, in compliance with the Williams Township Zoning Ordinance, and which authorizes an applicant to proceed with said use, building, or structure, within all other applicable laws and regulations. For the purposes of this chapter, a zoning permit or "a permit under this chapter" shall mean and include the applicable portions of a building permit, unless a specific system of separate zoning permits has been established.

(2) BUILDING PERMIT A permit indicating that a proposed construction, alteration, or reconstruction of a building or structure is, to the best knowledge of the Township staff, in compliance with the provisions of any building ordinance or code that has been adopted by or is in effect within the Township.

(3) OCCUPANCY PERMIT A permit required by the Township that is issued upon completion of the construction of a structure, building or change in use of a structure, or parcel of land, or reoccupancy of a structure, building, or land indicating that the structure, building, or land, to the best knowledge of the Township staff, complies with the provisions of Township ordinances. This shall have the same meaning as a "certificate of use and occupancy" and "certificate of occupancy."

PERMITTED-BY-RIGHT USE

Uses that do not require prior approval by the Zoning Hearing Board or the Board of Supervisors. A nonconforming use shall not be considered to be a permitted use.

PERSON

Individuals, corporations, companies, associations, joint stock companies, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations and other entities establishes pursuant to statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, provided that "person" does not include or apply to the Township, or to any department or agency of the Township.

PERSONAL CARE CENTER

A residential use providing residential and support services primarily to persons over age 55 and/or the disabled which includes a nursing home and certain limited support facilities, and that is licensed as a personal care center by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

PERSONAL SERVICE

An establishment that provides a service to meet or fulfill personal needs of the general public and which does not involve primarily retail or wholesale sales, or services to businesses. Personal services include barber and beauty shops, shoe repair shops, household appliance repair shops, and other similar establishments, but shall not include a massage parlor.

PICNIC GROVE

An area of open space and pavilions that is not publicly owned and which is rented for picnics and outdoor recreation.

PLACE OF WORSHIP

Buildings, synagogues, churches, religious retreats, monasteries, seminaries, and shrines used primarily for religious and/or spiritual worship, and which are operated for nonprofit and noncommercial purposes. If such use is primarily residential in nature, it shall be regulated under the appropriate dwelling type.

PLANNED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

See § 27-1003.

PLANNED UNIT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

See § 27-903.

PLANNING COMMISSION

The Planning Commission for Williams Township.

PLANT NURSERY

The raising of trees, plants, shrubs, or flowers for sale, but not including the cutting down of trees for lumber. A plant nursery may include the growth of trees for sale for internal decoration of homes, such as a Christmas tree farm.

PLOT PLAN

A scaled and accurate depiction of a lot or portion thereof to show the location, size, and extent of a proposed use, building, structure, development or subdivision including all significant existing and proposed structures, features, and utilities, and such other details as may be required by the Zoning Officer, prepared by an engineer, surveyor, architect, or landscape architect, and signed and sealed by same.

PRINCIPAL BUILDING

The building in which the principal use of a lot is conducted. Any building that is physically attached to a principal building shall be considered part of that principal building.

PRINCIPAL USE

The dominant use(s) or single main use on a lot, as distinguished from an accessory use.

PRIVATE STREET

A privately owned, constructed, and maintained vehicular access from a public or other private street serving four or more residences.

PROCESSING OF WASTES

Any technology applied for the purpose of reducing the bulk, weight, or volume of solid waste materials or any technology designed to convert part or all of the waste materials for reuse.

PROPERTY LINE

Has the same meaning as "lot line."

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice required by the Municipalities Planning Code.

PUBLICLY OWNED RECREATION

Land and/or facilities that are owned by a government agency or the Township and are available for use by the general public for leisure and recreation.

RECREATION, OUTDOOR

Activities that are typically associated with outdoor, natural, or seminatural settings or that depend specifically on outdoor, natural, or seminatural settings. Examples include canoeing, kayaking, hunting, fishing, hiking, bicycling, golfing, backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Outdoor recreation may also refer to a team sport game, or practice held in an outdoor setting, whether or not the game depends on such a context.

RECREATION, PRIVATE OR COMMERCIAL

Land and/or facilities and activities that are only open to members, guests, or specific groups, and/or that are principally operated for commercial purposes.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE

A vehicle which is designed primarily to transport a person for primarily recreational instead of transportation purposes, or a vehicle that serves as a mobile, temporary dwelling. This may include a vehicle that is self-propelled, towed, or carried by another vehicle, but shall not include camper cabs that fit over pickup trucks occupied and when not mounted in or on a pickup truck. This term shall also include the following: watercraft with a hull longer than 12 feet, motor homes, travel trailers, all terrain vehicles, and snowmobile.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE STORAGE AREA

An outdoor area used for the storage of two or more recreational vehicles, typically for periods longer than one month. Retail sales or major repair work shall only be allowed if those uses are permitted in that district.

RECYCLING COLLECTION CENTER

A use that involves the collection of common household materials for recycling or reuse, but that does not involve processing or manufacturing other than routine sorting, baling and weighing of materials to facilitate transportation.

REPLACEMENT

The replacement of existing wireless communications facilities on an existing wireless support structure or within an existing equipment compound due to maintenance, repair or technological advancement with equipment composed of the same wind loading and structural loading that is substantially similar in size, weight and height as the wireless communications facilities initially installed and that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of the existing wireless support structure.

RESIDENTIAL AGRICULTURE

Farm animals may be kept as pets for domestic purposes, provided that the lot size is at least two acres.

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

This includes the LDR and MDR Zoning Districts.

RESIDENTIAL LOT LINES

The lot line of a lot containing an existing dwelling, or the lot line of undeveloped land zoned as a residential district.

RESIDUAL WASTE

Solid waste defined as residual waste by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act and the regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection implementing that Act.

RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY

A processing facility that provides for the extraction and utilization of materials or energy from municipal waste as defined by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act. This definition shall not include the burning or combustion of solid waste in any manner or with any technology.

RESTAURANT, FAST FOOD

An establishment that sells prepared, ready-to-consume food or drink, which routinely involves the consumption of at least a portion of such food or drink on the premises and that does not meet the definition of a "standard restaurant." Fast-foot restaurants may, but need not, have drive-in service bay or windows.

RESTAURANT, STANDARD

An establishment that serves made-to-order ready-to-consume food or drink for financial compensation, in which the majority of the customers order their food while seated inside a building from a waiter or waitress and then the food is delivered to their table and consumed at the table.

RETAIL SALES

Sales and deliveries of goods or merchandise directly to the buyer or consumer at the time of purchase from a fixed location.

RETAIL STORE

A use in which merchandise is sold or rented to the general public, but not including the following: sales of motor vehicles or boats, adult movie theater, adult bookstore, manufacturing, tavern, car wash, auto service station, auto repair garage, convenience store, or restaurant.

RETIREMENT VILLAGE

A residential development limited to persons aged 55 years and older and their spouses.

RIGHT-OF-WAY

Land reserved for the public or others (such as utilities) for use as a street or other purpose. Unless otherwise stated, "right-of-way" shall mean the future street right-of-way line.

RIGHT-OF-WAY, EXISTING OR LEGAL

The line separating a lot from the established official street right-of-way that is or will be owned by the Township or the commonwealth after the completion of any proposed subdivision, land development, or development of a use under this chapter.

RIGHT-OF-WAY, FUTURE

Land that is required to be dedicated, or reserved for future dedication, for use as a street and for related public improvements. The terms "ultimate right-of-way," "right-of-way reserved for future dedication," and "future right-of-way" shall have the same meaning. See § 27-1306. If a future right-of-way is not required to be dedicated, then "future right-of-way" shall have the same meaning as "existing right-of-way."

ROADSIDE PRODUCE STAND

A temporary or seasonal booth, stall, or structure from which produce and farm products that are raised predominately on site are sold to the general public.

SANITARY LANDFILL

An area of land including any structures and improvements to the land, where solid waste is disposed on or in the land. "Sanitary landfill" shall have the same meaning as "municipal waste landfill" defined by the regulations of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

SATELLITE ANTENNA

A circular or parabolic ground-based receiver of electronic signals from a satellite. This shall also include any pedestal or structure to which the antenna is mounted.

SCHOOL, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL

An educational institution primarily for persons between the ages of five and 18 that primarily provides state-required or state-funded educational programs.

SCREENING

A year-round vegetative material of substantial height and density designed to buffer two uses from each other. See requirements in § 27-1304C.

SELF-STORAGE DEVELOPMENT

A building or group of buildings divided into individual separately accessed units that are rented or leased for the storage of personal and small business property.

SELF-STORAGE DEVELOPMENT, HIGHWAY ADJACENT

A self-storage development on a property that abuts the right-of-way of an interstate highway and takes access from another road which is constructed as a fully enclosed or drive-up self-storage facility with no outdoor storage or vehicle storage permitted.

[Added by Ord. No. 2023-1, 6/14/2023]

SEPTAGE

Materials pumped from a residential on-lot sewage disposal system.

SETBACK LINE

The line within a lot defining the required minimum distance between any building or structure to be erected or use to be established and the adjacent street right-of-way and/or exterior lot line. The location and distance for such line shall be measured at right angles from and parallel to the front lot line.

(1) Any building setbacks shall be measured from the foundation, exterior wall, or other component of a structure that is closest to the right-of-way line or lot line from which the setback is being measured. See exceptions for eaves and cornices in § 27-1304B.

(2) Unless otherwise stated, setback distances are for both accessory and principal structures.

(3) Private Streets. For a building setback measured from a private street, the setback shall be measured from the right-of-way line of such a street, if a right-of-way exists. If a private street does not have a right-of-way, the setback shall be measured from the edge of the cartway.

SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

A system to collect, treat and dispose of sewage. No such new system shall be permitted that does not comply with local, state and federal requirements.

SEWAGE SLUDGE or SLUDGE

Liquid or solid sludge defined as sewage sludge by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act and the regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection implementing that Act.

SHORT-TERM TRANSIENT RENTALS

The renting out of some part of the entirety of a single-family detached dwelling for a period of less than 30 days. Such rentals are popularly conducted through websites such as AirBnB or VRBO.

SIGHT DISTANCE

An area required to be kept free of visual obstruction for the purpose of allowing vehicles and pedestrians to have adequate visibility and stopping distance.

SIGN

Any device for visual communication that is used for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the public and that is visible from beyond an exterior lot line, including all symbols, words, models, displays, banners, flags, devices, or representations. See definitions of types of signs in § 27-1703. This shall not include displays that only involve symbols that are clearly and entirely religious in nature, and which do not include advertising.

SIGN AREA

See § 27-1713.

SIGN, OFF-PREMISES

A sign which directs attention to an object, product, service, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business that is primarily offered or located at a location other than the lot upon which the sign is located. See also "billboard."

SITE

A lot, tract, or parcel of land on which grading, construction, subdivision, or land development is taking place; the location of improvements.

SITE PLAN

A plot plan meeting the content requirements of § 27-1311F.

SITE PLAN REVIEW

Review of a site plan by the Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, and/or the Board of Supervisors. See § 27-1311.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE

A use involving the killing of animals for the production of food and/or other commercial product. A commercial stockyard or similar facility that primarily involves the bulk storage, keeping, confinement, and transferring of animals on the way to slaughter shall also be considered a slaughterhouse. This shall not include a custom "butcher shop" that does not involve killing of animals (which is a retail sales use).

SLOPE

The rate of vertical change of an area of land, calculated by the vertical rise or fall in a certain horizontal distance, divided by that horizontal distance, expressed in percent.

SMALL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY

A wireless communications facility that meets the following criteria:

(1) The structure on which antenna facilities are mounted:

(a) Is 50 feet or less in height; or

(b) Is no more than 10% taller than other adjacent structures; or

(c) Is not extended to a height of more than 50 feet or by more than 10% above its preexisting height as a result of the co-location of new antenna facilities; and

(d) Each antenna associated with the deployment (excluding the associated equipment) is no more than three cubic feet in volume; and

(e) All antenna equipment associated with the facility (excluding antennas) are cumulatively no more than 28 cubic feet in volume;

(f) The facilities do not require antenna structure registration under 47 CFR Part 17;

(g) The facilities are not located on tribal lands, as defined under 36 CFR 800.16(x); and

(h) The facilities do not result in human exposure to radiofrequency radiation in excess of the applicable safety standards specified in 47 CFR 1.1307(b).

SMOKELESS POWDER

An explosive propellant that produces comparatively little smoke on explosion and consists primarily of nitrocellulose.

SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, OFF-SITE USAGE

A solar energy system on the property the primary purpose of which is to produce electrical energy for use at locations other than the site it is produced, subject to conditions as defined in § 27-1402.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-02, 5/11/2022]

SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, ON-SITE USAGE

A solar energy system that provides energy for the principal use and/or accessory uses of the property on which the solar energy system is located, and shall not be primarily used for the generation of energy for the sale to other users except as defined in § 27-1402.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-02, 5/11/2022]

SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

Solar energy systems include any solar collector or other solar energy device, or any structural design feature whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for space heating or cooling, for water heating, or for electricity generation, which may be mounted on a building, or on the ground, or on other structures. Solar energy systems may include solar panels which for the purpose of this chapter are structures containing one or more photovoltaic cells, the purpose of which is to convert solar energy into useable electrical energy.

SOLID WASTE

Solid waste as defined by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act and the regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection implementing that Act.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT

35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq., as amended from time to time.

SPECIAL EXCEPTION

A use for which the Zoning Hearing Board approves or grants permission following a public hearing and a determination that the proposed use is consistent with the standards and conditions of this chapter.

SPECIFIED ANATOMICAL AREAS

One or more of the following:

(1) Any of the following that are less than completely and opaquely covered; male or female genitals, male or female buttock, and/or female breast below a point immediately above the top of areola; and/or

(2) Male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.

SPECIFIED SEXUAL ACTIVITIES

One or more of the following:

(1) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal;

(2) Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse or sodomy;

(3) Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, buttock, or female breast.

STABLE, NONHOUSEHOLD

Any housing of more than two horses. This may include a commercial or private riding club. The housing of one or two horses shall be considered an accessory use under "Keeping of Animals" (see § 27-1403).

STATE

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its agencies.

STEALTH TECHNOLOGY

Camouflaging methods applied to wireless communications facilities and accessory equipment which render them more visually appealing or blend the proposed facility into the existing structure or visual backdrop in such a manner as to render it minimally visible to the casual observer. Such methods include, but are not limited to, architecturally screened roof-mounted antennas, building-mounted antennas painted to match the existing structure and facilities constructed to resemble trees, shrubs, and light poles.

STEEP SLOPE AREA

Those areas having slopes of 12% or more. See § 27-1503.

STORY (and HALF-STORY)

A floor level of a building having an average vertical distance of not less than six feet between the surface of any floor and the ceiling next above it shall be considered a full story. Any such portion of a building having a maximum vertical distance of less than six feet shall be considered a half-story, except as provided in the definition of "basement."

STREET

A public or private thoroughfare that affords the principal means of access to abutting properties or that is an expressway, but not including an alley or a driveway.

STREET CENTER LINE

The center of the existing street right-of-way or, where such cannot be determined, then the center of the traveled cartway.

STREET CLASSIFICATION

The functional classification of streets into the following types, as shown on the Official Street Classification Map:

(1) EXPRESSWAY A limited access street on which access is provided only at interchanges.

(2) ARTERIAL A street whose function is to provide for the movement of high volumes of through-traffic and direct access to abutting properties, subject to necessary control of entrances, exits, and curb use.

(3) COLLECTOR A street that provides for the movement of moderate volumes of traffic between arterials and local roads, and direct access to abutting property.

(4) LOCAL A street whose function is to provide for local traffic movement with relatively low volumes and direct access to abutting properties.

STRUCTURE

Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on, below, or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land, subject to the following specific standards:

(1) Structures include but are not limited to the following: buildings; signs; stadiums; platforms; communications towers; walkways, docks, porches or decks that are structurally raised above the underlying ground level, or that have covering by a permanent structure; swimming pools (whether above or below ground); storage sheds; carports; and garages.

(2) Any structure shall be subject to the principal or accessory setbacks of this chapter, as applicable, unless specifically exempted or unless a specific setback is established for that particular type of structure by this chapter.

SUBDIVISION

As defined by the State Municipalities Planning Code, as amended. 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 of future, of lease, partition the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development. However, 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 a residential dwelling, shall be exempted.

SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE

The Williams Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO), as amended.[8]

SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE or SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE

(1) Any increase in the height of a wireless support structure by more than 10%, or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater, except that the mounting of the proposed wireless communications facility may exceed the size limits set forth herein if necessary to avoid interference with existing antennas; or

(2) Any further increase in the height of a wireless support structure which has already been extended by more than 10% of its originally approved height or by the height of one additional antenna array.

SWIMMING POOL, PRIVATE

A man-made area intended to enclose water at least 18 inches deep for bathing or swimming, and that is intended to serve the residents of only one dwelling unit and their occasional guests.

SWIMMING POOL, PUBLIC

A man-made area intended to enclose water at least 18 inches deep for bathing or swimming and that is intended to be open to and serve the general public.

SWIMMING POOL, SEMIPUBLIC

A man-made area intended to enclose water at least 18 inches deep for bathing or swimming, and that does not meet the definition of a "private" or a "public" swimming pool. This includes a pool that serves only residents of a development or members of a club, and their occasional guests.

TAVERN

A place where alcoholic beverages are served as a primary or substantial portion of the total trade. The sale of food may also occur. See also the definitions of "restaurants."

TEMPORARY OCCUPANCY (SEASONAL OCCUPANCY)

The use of any building, dwelling, or structure for living and/or sleeping purposes by any persons or series of persons for less than 100 consecutive days in any calendar year.

TEMPORARY USE, BUILDING OR STRUCTURE

A use, building, or structure that is not to be used for more than 12 months.

TENT

A portable shelter consisting of a flexible fabric or membrane cover stretched over poles and attached to stakes or any similar structure, and having side panels that may be rolled up or down.

THEATER

A building or part of a building devoted to the showing of motion pictures or theatrical or performing arts productions as a principal use, but not including an outdoor drive-in theater or adult movie theater.

THEATER, OUTDOOR DRIVE-IN

An outdoor area devoted primarily to the showing of motion pictures or theatrical productions to patrons seated in motor vehicles or outdoors.

TIRE STORAGE, BULK

The indoor or outdoor storage of more than 300 tire on a lot, except for manufacture or wholesale or retail sales of new tires.

TOWER-BASED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (TOWER-BASED WCF)

Any structure that is used for the primary purpose of supporting one or more antennas, including, but not limited to, self-supporting lattice towers, guy towers and monopoles.

TOWNHOUSE

See "dwelling types."

TOWNSHIP

Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

TRACT

Any area of land which is of sufficient size to be subdivided into two or more lots that conform to this chapter, or any area of land which has been validly subdivided but at least two of the lots created by the subdivision have yet to be conveyed into a single and separate ownership.

(1) CONTIGUOUS All land area within a tract shall be contiguous, although the land may be separated by alleys, streets, or waterways.

(2) MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES Only areas within the Township shall be considered to be within a tract for purpose of meeting the minimum tract area.

(3) MEASUREMENT The land area with a tract shall be calculated by totaling the "lot area" (as defined in this Part) of each lot within the tract and also any land proposed to be dedicated as common open space.

TRACT AREA, ADJUSTED

See definition in Part 15 of this chapter.

TRADE SCHOOL

A facility that is primarily intended for education of a work-related skill, craft, or hobby, and that does not primarily provide state-required education to persons of ages four to 19. This shall include a dancing school, martial arts school, and/or ceramics school.

TRANSFER STATION

A supplemental transportation facility used as an adjunct to solid waste route collection vehicles, whether fixed or mobile, for the primary purpose of moving the solid waste from the collection vehicles to other vehicles for further transfer.

TREATMENT

Processes that is defined as treatment in the Solid Waste Management Act.

TREE FARM

A type of crop farming involving the raising and harvesting of trees or shrubs for commercial purposes. This may include the seasonal sale of trees produced on the site.

TRUCK TERMINAL

Any building or structure whose exterior elevation view, as viewed from any side, contains more than 30% of the perimeter linear feet of wall on any one side as doors, at or near ground level and whose primary purpose is short- or long-term storing or warehousing or transferring of products or goods, primarily delivered by trucks.

(1) A use that primarily involves loading materials from tractor-trailers onto smaller trucks or smaller trucks onto tractor-trailers shall be considered a "distribution" use.

(2) A truck terminal may include the following as accessory uses if they are closely related to the principal use: repair, washing, refueling, and maintenance facilities for trucks using the terminal, administrative uses for the terminal and rest facilities for drivers of trucks using the terminal.

USE

The purpose, activity, occupation, business or operation for which land or a building or structure, is designed, arranged, intended, occupied, or maintained. As used in this chapter, "use" includes but is not limited to a building or structure.

VARIANCE

The granting of specific permission by the Zoning Hearing Board pursuant to the MPC to use, construct, expand, or alter land, buildings, or structures in such a way that is not in strict compliance with a specific requirement of this chapter.

VETERINARY OFFICE

See "animal hospital."

WALL

See "fence."

WAREHOUSE

A building or group of buildings primarily used for the indoor storage, transfer and distribution of products and materials, but not including retail uses or a truck terminal, unless such uses are specifically permitted in that zoning district.

WATER SYSTEM

A system designed to transmit water from a source to users, in compliance with the requirements of the appropriate state agencies and the Township.

(1) PUBLIC WATER SERVICE Service by a central water system that is owned and operated by a municipality or a municipal authority or a water company with a service area defined by the State Public Utility Commission and which transmits water from a common source to more than 20 dwellings or principal uses.

(2) ON-LOT OR NON-PUBLIC WATER SERVICE Service by a water system that does not meet the definition of a "public water service." In most cases, this would involve an individual well serving an individual lot, but may also include a common well, community water supply, or another duly approved system.

WBCA

Pennsylvania Wireless Broadband Collocation Act (53 P.S. § 11702.1 et seq.).

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. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands are defined on the basis of types of vegetation and soils and the level of the water table below the surface. The regulations are enforced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.

WHOLESALE SALES

Sales of goods, materials, and products that primarily involve transactions with other businesses and their agents and not to the general public.

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

A noncommercial preservation of land for providing wildlife habitats, forests or scenic natural features that involves no buildings other than a nature education and/or study center, caretaker residence, and customary maintenance buildings.

WIND ENERGY FACILITY

A generation facility, whose main purpose is to supply electricity for use or sale off-site, consisting of one or more wind turbines and other accessory structures and buildings, including substations, meteorological towers, electrical infrastructure, transmission lines and other appurtenant structures and facilities. This term does not include stand-alone wind turbines constructed primarily for on-site residential or farm use.

WIND TURBINE/WINDMILL

A system that converts wind energy into electrical or mechanical energy through the use of a generator and includes the nacelle, rotor, tower, and pad turbine, if any. This definition also includes windmill used for all other purposes.

WIRELESS

Transmissions through the airwaves including, but not limited to, infrared line of sight, cellular, PCS, microwave, satellite, or radio signals.

WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (WCF)

The antennas, nodes, control boxes, towers, poles, conduits, ducts, pedestals, electronics and other equipment used for the purpose of transmitting, receiving, distributing, providing, or accommodating wireless communications services.

YARD

An area not covered by buildings and that is on the same lot as the subject structure, building, or use. Regulations of specific districts generally prohibit principal and accessory structures within specified required minimum yards.

YARD, FRONT

A yard between the front lot line (which usually is the future street right-of-way line) and the closest portion of the subject building or use, and that extends the full width of the lot and from side lot line to side lot line.

(1) The front yard shall be on the side of the lot that faces towards a public street, whenever one public street abuts the lot.

(2) When a lot abuts onto two or more public streets, the applicant may choose which yard shall be the front yard, unless the Zoning Officer determines that the front yard should follow the clearly predominant front yard orientation of the development of abutting lots.

(3) No accessory or principal building shall extend into the required front yard.

YARD, REAR

A yard extending the full width of the lot and situated between the rear line and the closest portion of the subject building, and stretching between the side lot lines parallel to the rear lot line. A principal building shall not extend into the required rear yard for a principal building, and an accessory structure shall not extend into the required rear yard for an accessory structure.

YARD, SIDE

A yard situated between the closest portion of the subject building and the entire length of the side lot line, and extending from the front lot line to the rear lot line. Any lot line that is not determined by the Zoning Officer to be a rear line or a front line shall be deemed a sideline. A building shall not extend into the specified required side lot yard.

YIELD PLAN

A determination of the number of residential units or developable area remaining within a tract or parcel of land after local zoning and land development criteria and state and federal regulations are applied.

ZONING HEARING BOARD

See "Board."

ZONING MAP

The Official Zoning Map of Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

ZONING OFFICER

The administrative officer charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, or his or her officially designated assistant(s).

ZONING ORDINANCE

This chapter, i.e., The Williams Township Zoning Ordinance, as amended.

[2] Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.

[3] Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.

[4] Editor's Note: The Unit Property Act was repealed 7-2-1980 (P.L. 286, No. 82). See now the Uniform Condominium Act, 68 Pa.C.S.A. § 3101 et seq.

[5] Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.

[6] Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.

[7] Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.

[8] Editor's Note: See Ch. 22, Subdivision and Land Development.