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;[1] 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.
COMMISSION, PLANNING
The Charleston Township Planning Commission.
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.
OPEN SPACE
An unoccupied space open to the sky.
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.