For the purpose of this chapter certain terms and words used
herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
A. Words used in the present tense shall include the future.
B. Words used in the singular number shall include the plural.
C. Words used in the plural number shall include the singular.
D. The word "person" includes a corporation as well as an individual,
or an association of individuals.
E. The words "shall" and "will" are always mandatory.
F. The word "may" is permissive when approved as a variance.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ALLEY
A minor right-of-way providing secondary vehicular access
to the side or rear of two or more properties.
AVAILABLE SEWER
A municipal sewer is considered available if:
A.
Connection is recommended and/or required by the regulations
of Charleston Township or any municipal authority incorporated in
the Township;
B.
Connection is recommended and/or required by the regulations
of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection pursuant
to the "Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act," Act 537; or
C.
An existing municipal sewer line, with sufficient capacity is
located within 1,500 feet of the nearest point of a subdivision.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The Board of Township Supervisors of Charleston Township,
Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
BUILDING LINE
The line within the property defining the required minimum
distance between any enclosed structure and the adjacent street right-of-way.
BUILDING or STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location
on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
BUILDING, FRONTLINE OF
The line of that face of the building nearest the frontline
of the lot. This face includes sun parlors and covered porches, whether
enclosed or unenclosed, but does not include steps or patios.
CARTWAY
That portion of the road right-of-way surfaced for vehicular
use. Width is determined from one edge of driving surface to the other
edge of driving surface.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
A triangular area of unobstructed vision on corner lots formed
by a 100-foot sight line along the center line of a secondary or primary
road, by a seventy-five-foot sight line along the center line of a
local road and by a line joining these two sight lines at the greatest
distance from their intersection. This entire area is to remain clear
of obstructions to sight above a plane established 3 1/2 feet
in elevation from grade level at the intersection of the road center
line.
COVENANT
An obligation defined by law or agreement, the violation
of which can be restrained by court action. These are usually stated
in the deed.
CUL-DE-SAC
A residential road with one end open to traffic and pedestrian
access and permanently terminated by a vehicular turnaround with a
minimum right-of-way diameter of 100 feet.
DEVELOPER
Any person, individual, firm partnership, association, corporation,
estate, trust or any other group or corporation acting as a unit dividing
or proposing to divide land, so as to constitute a subdivision as
defined by this chapter and including any agent of the developer.
EASEMENT
Grant by a property owner for the use, for a specific purpose
or purposes, of a strip of land by the general public, a corporation
or a certain person or persons.
ENGINEER
The Engineer of Charleston Township.
ESSENTIAL SERVICE
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance by
public utilities or municipal departments or commissions of underground
gas, electrical, telephone transmission or distribution systems; and
public water, public sanitary sewer and public storm sewer facilities
including wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, hydrants
and similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith; including
buildings necessary for the furnishing of adequate services for the
public health, safety and general welfare.
GROUP HOUSING PROJECT
Where two or more residential buildings are constructed on
a plot of ground not subdivided into customary lots and streets subject
to the approval of the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
IMPROVEMENTS
Those physical changes to the land necessary to produce usable
and desirable lots from raw acreage, including but not limited to
grading, paving, curbs, gutters, storm sewers and drains, improvements
to existing watercourses, sidewalks, crosswalks, road signs, monuments,
water supply facilities and sewerage disposal facilities.
LOT
A tract or parcel of land designated for conveyance, or transfer
of ownership, improvement or sale, whether immediate or future.
LOT DEPTH
The mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and
the rear lot line.
LOT WIDTH
The horizontal distance across the lot, between the side
lot lines, measured at the building line.
LOT, CORNER
A lot, abutting two or more roads at their intersection,
on which the building line for all roads must be observed.
MOBILE HOME
A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent
occupancy, office or place of assembly 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 without
a permanent foundation.
MOBILE HOME LOT
A parcel of land in a mobile home park, improved with the
necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for
the erections thereon of a single mobile home, which is leased by
the park owner to the occupants of the mobile home erected on the
lot.
MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel of land under single ownership which has been planned
and improved for the placement of mobile homes for nontransient use
in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
MUNICIPALITY
Township of Charleston, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
OFF-SITE SEWER SERVICE
A sanitary sewage collection system approved by the Township
and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in which sewage
is carried from individual lot or dwelling units by a system of pipes
to a central treatment and disposal plant which may be publicly or
privately owned and operated.
OFF-SITE WATER SERVICE
A potable water distribution system approved by the Township
and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in which water
is carried to individual lots or dwelling units by a system of pipes
from a central water source located beyond the limits of the lot being
served which may be publicly or privately owned and operated.
ON-SITE SEWER SERVICE
A single system of piping, tanks or other facilities approved
by the Township serving only a single lot and disposing of sewage
in whole or in part into the soil.
ON-SITE WATER SERVICE
A single system of piping, tanks or other facilities serving
only a single lot and obtaining the water either in whole or in part
from a primary source located within the limits of the lot being served.
OWNER
The duly authorized agent, attorney, purchaser, devisee,
fiduciary or any person having vested or equitable interest in the
lot in question.
PARKING SPACE
An off-road space having an area of not less than 200 square
feet, whether inside or outside of a structure, for the temporary
standing of automotive vehicles to be used exclusively as a parking
stall for one automotive vehicle plus 150 square feet used exclusively
for turning and access to the parking stall.
PLAN, COMPREHENSIVE
The Comprehensive Plan of Charleston Township known and cited
as the Charleston Township General Development Plan adopted April
17, 1975, as may be amended.
PLAN, FINAL
A complete and exact subdivision plan, prepared by a registered
professional engineer or registered surveyor for official recording
as required by statute, to define property rights, proposed roads
and all other improvements.
PLAN, PRELIMINARY
A tentative subdivision plan, in lesser detail than a final
plan, showing approximate road and lot layout on a topographic map
as a basis for consideration prior to preparation of a final plan.
PUBLIC UTILITY
Within the terms of this chapter, the public utility shall
be defined as gas, electric, and telephone service.
RESERVE STRIP
A strip of land adjacent to a road intended to control access
to the road from an adjacent property.
RESUBDIVISION or REPLATTING
The modification of a recorded subdivision in whole or in
part, by a redesign of lots, by change of size, area or by road layout.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
Land reserved for use as a road or other public purpose and
dedicated for public use; all must be recorded in the Recorder of
Deeds Office, Tioga County, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.
ROAD CLASSIFICATIONS
The following road classification shall apply to roads in
Charleston Township and shall be applied as defined in the "General
Development Plan for Charleston Township."
A.
ARTERIALArterials bring traffic to and from the expressway and serve major movements of traffic within or through the areas not served by expressways. They serve primarily to move traffic, but also perform a secondary function of land service.
B.
COLLECTORThis class of road serves the internal traffic movement within the Township and connects developed areas with the arterial system. They do not accommodate long, through trips and are not continuous for any appreciable length. The principal difference between collector and arterial roads is the length of trip accommodated. The collector system simultaneously supplies abutting property with land service and accommodates local internal traffic movements.
C.
LOCALThe local road's sole function is to provide access to immediately adjacent land. Such roads normally represent a fairly large percentage of the total road mileage, but carry a small portion of the vehicle miles traveled daily.
SUBDIVIDER
The owner, or authorized agent of the owner, of the subdivision.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract of parcel of land
by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions
of land including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether
immediate or future, of lease, transfer of ownership or building or
lot development; provided, however, that the division of land for
agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving
any new road or easement of access, shall be exempted.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
A map showing ground elevations by contour lines and the
location of important natural, man-made and other features.
UTILITY
Within the terms of this chapter, a utility shall be defined
as sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer facilities.
YARD, FRONT
The open space extending the entire width of the lot between
the front building line and the road right-of-way.
YARD, REAR
The required open space extending from the rear of the main
building along the rear lot line (not necessarily a road line) throughout
the entire width of the lot.
YARD, SIDE
The required open space extending from the side of any building
along the side lot line through the entire depth of the building.