In this chapter, words, terms and phrases shall have the following
meanings:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A structure detached from a principal building on the same
lot and incidental and subordinate to the principal building or use.
ACCESSORY USE
A use of land or of a building or portion thereof customarily
incidental and subordinate to the principal use of the land or building
and located on the same lot with such principal use.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
Live or non-live entertainment containing specified sexual activities or displaying or presenting specified anatomical areas. This definition is a broad overall definition which includes the activities and uses of an adult cabaret, adult dance hall, adult club, adult bar, adult tavern, adult materials sales, adult mini-motion-picture theater, adult motion picture theater, peep shows and sexual encounter center, all as part of its definition for adult entertainment. See also Article
XIXA for additional related definitions.
AIR FREIGHT
A commercial or governmental establishment dealing with the
handling, packing, re-packing, transfer, or conveyance of packages
or materials transported by aircraft.
AIRCRAFT
Any machine supported for flight in the air by dynamic action
of air on its surfaces including airplanes, helicopters and similar
craft.
AIRPORT
Philadelphia International Airport or any area of land or
water which is used, or intended to be used, for the landing and takeoff
of aircraft and any appurtenant areas which are used, or intended
to be used, for airport buildings or air navigation facilities or
rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and facilities
thereon. As used herein, the term "Airport" includes public airports
but excludes private airports and heliports.
AIRPORT ELEVATION
Current elevation at Philadelphia International Airport is
36 feet as measured by the North American Vertical Datum of 1988,
as amended, the highest point of an airport's usable landing
area measured in feet above sea level.
AIRPORT HAZARD
Any structure or object, natural or manmade, or use of land
which obstructs the airspace required for flight or aircraft in landing
or taking off at an airport or is otherwise hazardous as defined by
"Airport Hazard" in 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5102.
AIRPORT HAZARD AREA
Any area of land or water upon which an airport hazard might
be established if not prevented as provided for in this chapter and
the Act 164 of 1984 (Pennsylvania Laws Relating to Aviation).
AIRPORT HAZARD SURFACE ZONES
All these zones as applied to the Philadelphia International Airport are defined in Article
XIXA, AP Airport Hazard Overlay District.
AIRPORT PARKING LOT OR GARAGE
A parking facility that provides parking of motor vehicles
predominantly for customers using the passenger transport service
of the airport.
AIRPORT-DEPENDENT USE
A use that requires the presence of an airport in the vicinity
of the use and/or performs operations that maintain, repair and support
aircraft or airport operations. Examples of these uses are aircraft
maintenance and repair, aircraft de-icing facilities, cargo transfer
facilities and similar uses directly dependent on or closely connected
to aircraft or airport operations.
AIRPORT-RELATED USE
A use that has some connection or relationship to the uses
and activities normally carried on at airports. These uses, although
related to airport activities, do not need to be located in the immediate
vicinity of the airport.
ALTERATION
A change or rearrangement of the supporting members of an
existing building or an enlargement of a building or structure.
APARTMENT UNIT
One or more rooms with private bath and kitchen facilities
comprising an independent, self-contained dwelling unit in a building.
BASEMENT
An enclosed area partly or completely below grade. A basement
shall be considered a story for the purpose of height measurement
if the basement ceiling is five feet or more above the average grade
level around the building.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST INN
Overnight accommodation and a morning meal in a dwelling
unit provided to transients for compensation. The facility shall not
operate more than 12 lodging rooms.
BILLBOARD
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location
other than the premises on which the sign is located.
BOARDING HOUSE
A building arranged for use for lodging, with or without
meals, not occupied as a single-family unit.
BUFFER
A strip of land adjacent to the boundary line intended to
separate one use or district from another by providing an open, unobstructed
space intended to absorb, shield or block noise, light, view or other
impacts of the use having the greater impact. Buffers shall be planted
with grass or other ground cover and may be part of the required yards.
Buffers are usually employed between a residential district and abutting
nonresidential districts having greater impacts. There shall be no
structures, equipment, storage, parking or trash disposal in buffer
areas. Dimensions of buffers shall be as required by the zoning district.
BUILDING
Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering
any use or occupancy.
BUILDING COVERAGE
The ratio obtained by dividing the ground floor of all principal
and accessory buildings on a lot by the total area of the lot upon
which buildings are located.
BUILDING HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from the average level of
the ground surrounding the structure to the top of the highest point
of the roof for flat roofs and to the ridge of sloped roofs. Chimneys,
spires, towers, mechanical equipment, penthouses, tanks, antennas
and similar projections of the buildings not intended for human occupancy
shall not be included in calculating the height.
BUILDING LINE
A line parallel to the street right-of-way line which establishes
the actual location of the front wall of the principal building on
the lot.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE
A line parallel to the street right-of-way line at a distance
that is equal to the depth of the front yard required for the district
in which the lot is located.
BUSINESS OR INDUSTRIAL PARK
A large tract of land that has been planned, developed and
operated as an integrated facility for a number of businesses or industrial
establishments, with special attention to circulation, parking, aesthetics
and compatibility.
CAFETERIA
A restaurant designed so that customers carry their meals
from a counter to their tables.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
A statement signed by the Code Enforcement Officer setting
forth that the use of a building or structure legally complies with
the applicable codes and regulations and that the same may be used
for the purposes stated therein.
CHILD DAY-CARE CENTER
A child day-care facility in which seven or more children
who are not related to the operator receive childcare. A child day-care
center must have a certificate of compliance ("license") from the
state Department of Public Welfare in order to legally operate.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Any person specifically designated as such by the Tinicum
Township Board of Commissioners to enforce this chapter and other
codes, ordinances and regulations of the Township.
COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA
Any device used for the transmission or reception of radio,
television, wireless telephone, pager, commercial mobile radio service
or any other wireless communications signals, including without limitation
omnidirectional or whip antennas and directional or panel antennas,
owned or operated by any person or entity licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to operate such device. This definition
shall not include private residence mounted satellite dishes or television
antennas or amateur radio equipment including without limitation ham
or citizen band radio antennas.
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT BUILDING
An unmanned building or cabinet containing communications
equipment required for the operation of communications antennas and
covering an area on the ground not greater than 250 square feet.
COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
A structure other than a building, such as a monopole, self-supporting
or guyed tower, designed and used to support communications antennas.
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE FACILITY, FAMILY-BASED
A dwelling, licensed by the Department of Public Welfare,
shared by persons requiring special care and their supervisors who
live together as a single housekeeping unit in a family-like environment.
This facility is designed to create a residential environment for
the developmentally disabled, handicapped or similar groups unable
to live without supervision. The maximum number of residents in a
facility shall not exceed three which is the maximum number of unrelated
persons permitted in a "family." These facilities shall not be used
to accommodate persons recovering from the effects of drugs or alcohol
or inmates of penal institutions.
CONDITIONAL USE
A use specifically listed within this chapter pursuant to Article
VI of the Municipalities Planning Code and the applicable provisions of Article
XXI of this chapter.
CONFERENCE CENTER
A facility used for conferences, seminars, and similar events,
with accommodations for sleeping, food preparation/service and eating.
The center may include a banquet facility, recreation, entertainment,
meeting rooms, fitness and health facilities, retail stores, personal
service such as beauty and barbershops, and similar uses customarily
included in conference centers.
CONVERSION
A change in the use of a building: for example, the change
of a single-family dwelling into a two-family dwelling or the change
of a retail use to office uses. Such change may be accomplished without
subdivision or the introduction of a new owner. Where the use and
dimensional regulations of this chapter permit, such conversion may
be accomplished by appropriate alteration upon the issuance of the
necessary permits.
DENSITY
Unless otherwise stipulated in this chapter, the term "density"
shall mean the maximum number of dwelling units per gross acre.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent of such landowner, or tenant with the
permission of such landowner, who makes or causes to be made subdivision,
land development or any other development.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, streets
and other paving, utilities, dredging, filling, grading, excavation
or drilling operations and the subdivision of land.
DWELLING
Any building or structure, except temporary housing, which
is wholly or partly used or intended to be used or available for use
or available to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
DWELLING UNIT
A single unit providing complete independent living facilities
for one or more persons functioning as a family, including permanent
provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED (TOWN/ROW HOUSE)
A single-family dwelling unit within a building which unit
has at least one party wall in common with other dwelling units in
the same row; a townhouse or row house. After the effective date of
this chapter, no such building shall have more than six attached units.
EAST COAST GREENWAY
A proposed bicycle and pedestrian trail which when completed
is expected to connect the major cities on the eastern seaboard and
extend from Maine to Florida.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance, by
public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies, of underground
or overhead gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distribution
systems, collection, communication, supply or disposal systems and
their essential buildings, excluding communications towers and communications
antennas, as defined herein.
FAA
Federal Aviation Administration of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
FAMILY
Any number of individuals living together as a single housekeeping
unit when said individuals are related by blood, marriage, or adoption,
including foster children: or no more than three unrelated individuals
living together as a single housekeeping unit with single kitchen
facilities.
FAMILY-BASED CHILD DAY-CARE HOME
A home other than the child's own home, operated for
profit or not for profit, in which childcare is provided at any one
time to four, five or six children unrelated to the operator.
FERRY
A boat or other craft intended and designed for the transport
or conveyance of not more than 30 passengers. Such vessel shall not
exceed a length of 80 feet.
FLOOR AREA, GROSS
The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors
of a building measured from the exterior face of exterior walls or
from the center line of a wall separating two buildings, but not including
interior parking spaces, loading space for motor vehicles or any space
the floor-to-ceiling height is less than six feet. "Gross floor area"
also includes but is not limited to the following:
A.
Elevator shaft, stairwell, and attic space providing headroom
of six or more feet.
B.
The floor areas of roofed terraces, exterior balconies, breezeways
porches where over 50% of the perimeter is enclosed.
C.
Any floor space used for dwelling purposes no matter where located
within a building.
FOOD PREPARATION/CATERING
The preparation, packaging, separation, shrink-wrapping and
vacuum sealing of food items for the purpose of later consumption;
or the preparation, cooking, and baking of raw food items, generally
in large quantities, for transport to off-site locations for consumption.
FREESTANDING BUILDING
Any building located within a development site which is separate
from any group or cluster development on such site and which shall
comply with the regulations of the district in which it is located.
GASOLINE SERVICE STATION
Any area of land, including structures thereon, or any building
or part of thereof that is used for the sale of gasoline or other
motor vehicle fuel or accessories and which may or may not include
facilities for lubricating, washing or otherwise servicing motor vehicles,
but which shall not include painting or body and fender repairs.
GASOLINE STATION, SELF-SERVICE
A property and/or place of business where flammable or combustible
liquids used as motor fuels are stored and dispensed from fixed equipment
into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles by a person other than the service
station attendant.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Those chemicals or substances, which are defined as "physical
hazards" or "health hazards" in the most recently adopted Uniform
Construction Code.
HEIGHT OF A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
The vertical distance measured from the ground level to the
highest point on a communications tower, including antennas mounted
on the tower.
HOTEL
Any building, other than a spa/retreat, in which there are
five or more guest rooms used, designed or intended to be used, let,
or hired out for the purpose of offering to the general public lodging
on a day-to-day basis not to exceed 30 consecutive calendar days,
where the primary entrance is through a lobby or foyer, and also,
in which there are no provisions for cooking in any individual room
or suite unless specifically permitted by the Zoning Hearing Board.
A hotel may include additional facilities and services, such as restaurants,
meeting rooms, entertainment, personal services, and recreational
facilities.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
The coverage of the lot area or tract area by materials that
prevent the percolation of water into the soil and generate stormwater
runoff, such as buildings, streets, parking areas, driveways, and
any other similar surfaces including stone and/or gravel.
INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR
A strip of land located generally within Eddystone Borough,
Ridley Township and Tinicum Township between I-95 and the Delaware
River within which the Industrial Corridor Design, Phase 1 component
of the Delaware County Renaissance Program permits lower-impact, technology-based
and water-related used in specified zoning districts.
LABORATORY
A scientific, industrial, research, testing, experimental
or product development facility, provided that any laboratory animals
shall, at all times, be kept within completely enclosed buildings.
Also, all chemical, biological, or other substances, emissions, or
by-products of the procedures or operations conducted within the laboratory
shall be confined to the facility and not be permitted to escape or
be emitted outside the facility.
LANDSCAPED PLANTING AREA
An area landscaped with grass, ground cover, shrubs, or similar plantings placed where required by this chapter and permanently maintained. See §
395-142.
LARGER THAN UTILITY RUNWAY
A runway that is intended to be used by propeller driven
aircraft of greater than 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight as well
as jet powered aircraft.
LIGHT INDUSTRIAL PARK/FLEX FACILITY
A tract of land that has been planned, developed, and operated
as an integrated facility for a number of individual industrial establishments,
with special attention to circulation, parking, utility needs, aesthetics
and compatibility. The park may contain mixed uses, or flex space
in the form of manufacturing support facilities, showroom and display
areas, offices and office support functions, and research and product
development related uses.
LIGHT INDUSTRY/LIGHT MANUFACTURING
Industrial processes where the finished item, material or product does not exceed 30 cubic feet, which is conducted in an enclosed building and which complies with all performance standards listed in Article
XXIV. There shall be no deliveries by vehicles having a gross vehicle weight in excess of 23,000 pounds.
LOADING SPACE
An accommodation off the street for loading and unloading of trucks in the form of one or more truck berths located either within or outside a building on the same lot. Such spaces shall comply with §
395-159.
LOT
A parcel of land that is or may be occupied by a building
and/or accessory structure or use, including yards and setbacks as
are required within the district in which the parcel is located.
LOT AREA
The total horizontal area within the lot lines of a lot,
excluding street right of way.
LOT DEPTH
The distance along a straight line measured from the midpoint
of the front lot line to the midpoint of the rear lot line.
LOT LINE
A line of public record bounding a lot that divides one lot
from another lot or from a public or private street or any other public
space.
LOT LINE, REAR
Any lot line, except the front lot line, which is parallel
to, or within 45° of being parallel to, and does not intersect
any street line, except in the case of corner lots.
LOT WIDTH
The horizontal distance between the side lot lines measured
at right angles to the lot depth at the building setback line.
LOT, CORNER
A lot bounded by intersecting streets on at least two sides.
Both yards adjacent to streets shall be considered front yards.
LOT, MINIMUM AREA OF
The lot area established by this chapter on which a use or
structure may be located in a particular district.
MARINE WHOLSALE
Establishments primarily engaged in selling marine-related
products to other businesses, including retailers, industrial and
commercial, or acting as agents or brokers and buying merchandise
for, or selling merchandise to, such individuals or companies.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY
A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership,
association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which
is registered by the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
under the Medical Marijuana Act to dispense medical marijuana. The
term does not include a health care medical marijuana organization
under Chapter 19 of the Medical Marijuana Act.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWER/PROCESSOR
A person, including a natural person, corporation, partnership,
association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof, which
is registered by the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
under the Medical Marijuana Act to grow and process medical marijuana.
The term does not include a health care medical marijuana organization
under Chapter 19 of the Medical Marijuana Act.
MOTEL
A building containing rental units with entrances provided
directly or closely in connection with automobile parking serving
such rooms, which is designed, intended or used principally for the
provision of sleeping accommodations for automobile travelers and
is suitable for occupancy at all seasons of the year, including meeting,
dining and similar accessory facilities.
MULTITENANT BUILDING
A building designed or converted to accommodate three or
more commercial tenants. Each tenant shall operate a use that is permitted
in the district where the building is located.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
A structure for which construction was started after the
effective date of this chapter.
NO-IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESS
A business or commercial activity which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use, and complies with §
395-144.
NONCONFORMING BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
A building or structure that does not comply with the provisions
of this chapter, as amended, where such building or structure lawfully
existed prior to the effective date of this chapter or of amendments
thereafter.
NONCONFORMING LOT
Any lawful lot that does not conform to one or more of the
applicable provisions of the district in which it is located either
on the effective date of this chapter or of amendments thereafter.
NONCONFORMING USE
A use, whether of land or a structure, which does not comply
with the applicable provisions of this chapter, where such use was
lawfully in existence prior to the effective date of this chapter
or amendments thereafter.
OBSTRUCTION
Any structure, growth or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height set forth in Article
XIXA of this chapter.
OFFICE
Buildings, structures or parts thereof used to conduct the
business of administrative, professional, or clerical operations,
but not including an office for an escort bureau or outcall entertainment
referral service. Incidental uses, such as medical or dental testing
or diagnostic services, are permitted in conjunction with medical
and dental offices.
OFFICE PARK
A tract of land that has been planned, developed, and operated
as an integrated facility for the office uses of a number of individual
business establishments, with special attention to circulation, parking,
utility needs, aesthetics and compatibility.
PARKING GARAGE, MULTI-LEVEL
A multilevel structure used for the parking of automobiles
owned by the general public or operated principally for users of the
Philadelphia International Airport.
PARKING SPACE
A reasonably level space, having a surface slope not exceeding 6%. Such space shall have an area as listed in Article
XXII, which shall be exclusive of passageways, driveways, or other means of circulation or access.
PEDESTRIAN-ORIENTED USE
A use that promotes walking, window-shopping, and general
pedestrian activity. Examples of these uses are restaurants, retail
stores, food stores and service establishments. These establishments
that are generally located in centralized parts of a community, and
rely mainly on customers from nearby neighborhoods who could walk
to these establishments. Attractive paving, period lighting, plazas,
benches and shade trees are important components of pedestrian-oriented
uses.
PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE (MPC)
Pennsylvania Act 247 of 1968 (P.L. 805) as amended, also
cited as 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., or any subsequent act
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which replaces, supplements, or
repeals any or all of the provisions of Act 247.
PERMIT
Written municipal permission issued by the appropriate local
official empowering the holder thereof to do some act not forbidden
by law but not permitted without such authorization.
PERSONAL SERVICE SHOP
A business engaged in providing services involving the care
or appearance of a person, his or her clothing or similar personal
needs. Included in this definition are barber, beautician, shoe repair,
fitness club, laundry or cleaner, or similar establishment, but not
including a tattoo parlor.
PERVIOUS SURFACE
A land surface that consists of material that permits full
absorption of stormwater.
PLANTED VISUAL SCREEN
A strip of trees, bushes, or hedges adjacent to the boundary of a property which, at time of planting, shall be not less than six feet high and of sufficient density to constitute an effective visual screen and thereby give visual protection to abutting properties. Such screen shall consist primarily of dense evergreens that shall be planted not farther than seven feet from one another and shall be permanently maintained. Deciduous trees may be added to create interest and variety. Also see §
395-141.
PRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure
utilizing an instrument landing system (ILS) or a precision approach
radar (PAR). It also means a runway for which a precision approach
system is planned and is so indicated on an approved airport layout
plan or any other planning document.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING OR USE
A building or use which is the primary building or use on
a lot as distinguished from a building or buildings relating to an
accessory, incidental or subordinate use. The primary purpose for
which land, a building or a subordinate structure or the use thereof
is designed, arranged or intended.
PUBLIC ACCESS
As used in the waterfront districts of this chapter, a way
or path used to provide access to the water's edge generally
for pedestrians and bicyclists.
PUBLIC UTILITY TRANSMISSION TOWER
A structure, owned and operated by a public utility electric
company regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, designed
and used to support overhead electricity transmission lines.
RECREATIONAL AREA
A place designed and equipped for the conduct of sports,
leisure time activities and other customary and usual recreational
activities.
RESTAURANT, DRIVE-THROUGH
Any premises used for the sale of food, refreshments, and
nonalcoholic beverages the design or method operation of which includes
the serving of food and beverages in disposable containers where food
or beverages are not normally delivered to the customer's table
by an employee of the restaurant. Such restaurant may also include
the delivery of food and beverages directly from the restaurant to
the customer in his or her motor vehicle.
RESTAURANT, STANDARD OR SIT-DOWN
Any premises used for the sale, dispensing and/or serving
of food, refreshments, or beverages where the customer is normally
involved with an individual menu and is served by a restaurant employee
at the table, booth, or counter at which said items are consumed.
RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW)
Land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription, condemnation
or other legal manner and occupied or intended to be occupied by a
public or private street, crosswalk, electric transmission line, oil
or gas pipeline, water line, watercourse, or similar uses.
ROOMING HOUSE
Any dwelling or part thereof containing one or more rooming
units, in which space is let by the owner, operator or manager to
three or more persons who are not related to each another by blood,
adoption, marriage or formal foster relationship.
SATELLITE ANTENNA
An antenna together with all attachments and parts, the purpose of which is to receive communication from orbiting satellites. Such antennas shall comply with §
395-139.
SCREEN
Any barrier intended and designed to shield properties and
uses from other uses or activities having greater visual, sound, and
other impacts (e.g., screening of residential uses from impacts of
industrial uses or activities).
SETBACK
The distance between the street right-of-way line or a lot
line and any building on a lot.
SETBACK, REQUIRED
The minimum distance from the street right-of-way line and
any other lot line that establishes the area, commonly known as the
"building envelope," within which the principal structure must be
erected or placed.
SHOPPING CENTER
A group of commercial establishments planned, constructed
and managed as a total entity, including both attached buildings and
freestanding buildings, with customer and employee parking provided
on site.
SIGN
Any object, device, display, or illustration which is used
to advertise, identify, display, direct, or attract attention to an
object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service,
event, or location by any means, including words, letters, numbers
or symbols.
SIGN AREA
The entire face of a sign including the advertising surface
and framing, trim or molding, but not including the supporting structure.
SIGN FACE
The area or display surface used for the message.
SIGN STRUCTURE
The supports, uprights, braces, and framework of the sign.
SIGN, ADVERTISING CLOTH
A sign which has its letters or design applied to cloth,
canvas or other flexible material which is durable and weather resistant.
SIGN, AWNING OR CANOPY
A sign that is mounted or painted on or attached to an awning,
canopy or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over
a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area.
SIGN, CHANGEABLE COPY
A sign or portion thereof with characters' letters or
illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the
face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the message changes
more than eight times per day shall be considered an animated sign
and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this chapter. A sign
on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical
indication of time or temperature shall be considered a "time and
temperature sign" and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this
chapter.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL
A sign limited to directional messages principally for pedestrians
or vehicular traffic, such as "entry," "exit," "one way," "loading,"
"service area," "fire lanes," "parking" or a similar sign incidental
to the primary use and not itself advertising or naming that use except
as required by law.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
A detached sign which shall include any sign placed upon
or in the ground, supported by a post, stake, etc. and not attached
to any building.
SIGN, GROUND
A sign, supported by the ground independent of any other
structure, generally supported by timbers and not exceeding five feet
in height.
SIGN, IDENTIFICATION
A sign depicting the nature, logo, trademark, or other identifying
symbol, address, or any combination of the name, symbol, and address
of a building, business, development, or establishment on the premises
where it is located.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either
by lights on or in the sign or directed towards the sign.
SIGN, INCIDENTAL
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary
to the use of the property on which it is located, such as "no parking,"
"entrance," "loading only," "telephone," and other similar directives.
No sign with a commercial message legible from a position off the
lot on which a sign is located shall be considered incidental.
SIGN, MENU
A sign which depicts the menu of food and/or drink for sale
at an eating or drinking establishment.
SIGN, MOVABLE DIGITAL
A sign that contains moving text or graphics programmed by
the on/off action of multiple LED bulbs.
SIGN, NAMEPLATE
A sign indicating only the name and/or profession and address
of the person(s) residing or legally occupying the premises.
SIGN, PROJECTING
A sign that is attached to a building and which projects
more than 12 inches from such building.
SIGN, SALES OR PRICE CHANGE
A type of temporary sign that has a high turnover, such as
those advertising sales and frequent price changes. These signs are
most commonly found on windows/doors of supermarkets, grocery stores
and beverage distributors. In most cases, these signs are constructed
of paper, cardboard, or other lightweight materials.
SIGN, SWINGING
A projecting sign capable of swinging freely by the wind
but is not automated or activated to swing in any manner. Sign shall
be tethered so that the arc of its swing does not exceed 45°.
Sign bottom must be at least eight feet from the ground surface.
SIGN, TEMPORARY
A sign that is used in connection with an event, situation,
or circumstance that is designed or intended to take place or be completed
within 30 days after the permit for the sign was issued or is intended
to remain on the location where it is placed or erected for not more
than 30 days.
SIGN, WALL
A sign posted on, painted on, suspended from or otherwise
affixed to a wall or vertical surface of a building that does not
project more than 12 inches from the wall or vertical surface to which
it is attached.
SIGN, WINDOW
A sign attached or affixed to a window or door.
SMALL COLLECTION FACILITY FOR RECYCLING
A facility for the collection of paper, glass, aluminum or
other officially designated recyclable materials. Such facility shall
have an area of not more than 500 feet, located permanently on the
same lot with a principal or host use. No power-driven processing
equipment is to be used on the site. A permit from the Township shall
be required to establish operation of such facility.
SOUND BARRIER
A barrier or screen designed to shield a use from the sound
impacts of another use or activity that emits substantial noise or
sound. An example is a sound barrier between airport-dependent uses
and residential or commercial uses.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION
A use permitted in a particular district(s) pursuant to review by the Zoning Hearing Board, in accordance with Articles
VI and
IX of the Planning Code and Articles
XXI and
XXVI of this chapter.
STREET
A public or private way used or intended to be used as a
means of vehicular and pedestrian travel and access to abutting properties
and space for public utilities, which is improved to the satisfaction
of the Township.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected with a fixed location on
the ground or attached to something having a fixed location on the
ground.
SWIMMING POOL (PRIVATE)
Any body of water, tank, or receptacle of water having a
depth at any point of greater than two feet used or intended to be
used for swimming or bathing solely by the owner, his family and guests
of the household and constructed, installed, established or maintained
outside any building in or above the ground upon any premises as an
accessory use to the residence.
TOWNHOUSE BUILDING
A building containing single-family attached dwelling units
(townhouse units) in which each townhouse unit is attached only by
a party wall or walls to one or two other townhouse units. Townhouse
buildings erected after the effective date of this chapter shall contain
not less than three or more than six attached units.
TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT
A contiguous area of land developed as a single entity for a number of townhouse buildings, the development plan for which corresponds with the specific regulations of §
395-152J.
TRACT
An area, lot, parcel, site or property that is the subject
of a subdivision and/or land development.
TRACT AREA
The total acreage of a subdivision or land development. Tract
area shall be measured to the ultimate right-of-way line of public
streets.
VARIANCE
Relief granted by the Zoning Hearing Board pursuant to Articles
VI and
IX of the MPC and Article
XXVI of this chapter.
VIEW CORRIDOR
An open-air space that provides a clear view across one or
more lots to the Delaware River or Darby Creek from an abutting street,
sidewalk, park, plaza or other public space.
VISUAL RUNWAY
A runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using
visual approach procedures.
WATER-DEPENDENT USE
A use that requires direct access to, or location adjacent
to or in marine or tidal waters, and which therefore is not customarily
located in inland areas. Water-dependent uses include but are not
limited to marinas, recreational and commercial fishing and boating
facilities, waterfront dock and port facilities and light industrial
uses dependent on waterborne transportation.
WATER-RELATED USE
A use where a substantial portion of the goods or services
provided are derived from water or waterfront-dependent activities
or in connection with such activities. Also, a use that relies on
or is associated with the recreational, environmental, historical,
cultural, tourist-related or activity generating aspects, activities
or potential of the waterfront.
WATERFRONT RESTAURANT/BAR
An eating and/or drinking place located in the W-1 or W-1A Waterfront District that complies with the district purposes relating to size and scope of development as stated in §
395-91. No such restaurant/bar shall have a floor area devoted to patron use in excess of 3,000 square feet. The term "bar" shall include lounge, tavern, or any other establishment serving alcoholic beverages.
WATERFRONT RETAIL STORE
A retail store or shop located in the W-1 or W-1A Waterfront District, which complies with the statements relating to size and scope of development in the district, as noted in §
395-91. No such store shall be established or enlarged to have a floor area devoted to customer use in excess of 3,000 square feet.
YARD
An unobstructed open space on the same lot with a principal
building which lot extends from a street line or lot line inward to
the principal building and is not less than the required yard.
YARD, FRONT
A yard extending the full width of the lot, the depth of
which extends from the front lot line to the nearest point of the
principal building and not less than the required front yard.
YARD, REAR
A yard extending the full width of the lot, the depth of
which extends from the rear lot line to the nearest point of the principal
building and not less than the required rear yard.
YARD, REQUIRED
The open space between a lot line and the buildable area
or "building envelope" within which the principal building must be
placed or erected.
YARD, SIDE
A yard extending between the inside lines of the front and
rear yards and extending in width from the side lot line to the nearest
point of the principal building and not less than the required side
yard.
YARDS, CORNER LOTS
In the case of a lot bounded by streets on at least two sides,
both yards abutting streets shall be considered front yards. The rear
yard shall be that opposite the shorter street frontage while the
side yard shall be that opposite the longer frontage. In case this
definition does not provide sufficient information for a clear determination
of side and rear yard on a corner lot, the Township Engineer or Code
Enforcement Officer shall make that determination.