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:
A landowner or developer who has filed an application for a subdivision or land development, including his heirs, successors and assignees.
A tract of land or a lot or group of lots, bounded by streets, public parks, railroad rights-of-way, watercourses or bodies of water, boundary lines of the Township or by any combination of the above.
That distance of a block that abuts a single street.
See "lot line adjustment."
A strip of land at least 20 feet in width which may be a part of the minimum setback distance and which is free of any principal or accessory building, parking, outdoor storage or any other use than open space.
A line, established by Chapter 450, Zoning, within a property, defining the minimum distance between any building or structure or portion thereof to be erected or altered, and an adjacent right-of-way or street line. Such line shall be measured at right angles from the street right-of-line and shall be parallel to said right-of-way line.
The paved portion of a street or highway designed for vehicular traffic and paved areas intended for on-street parking.
The Planning Commission of the Township of Spring.
Calendar days.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Any landowner, agent of such landowner or tenant with permission from a landowner, who makes or causes to be made a subdivision of land or land development.
A grant by the property owner to the public, a corporation, a person, or group of persons, or another tract of land of a use of land for specified purposes.
A person licensed to practice as a professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The registered professional engineer designated by the Board of Supervisors to perform all duties required of the Engineer by the provisions of this chapter.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Spring.
The elevation of ground or paving.
An agreement (in a form and manner acceptable to Township) requiring a developer to install the improvements required by this chapter and any improvements or amenities which appear on the plan in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
As defined by the State Municipalities Planning Code, as amended. (As of 1994, this definition included the following: The improvement of one or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving either or both of the following:
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential [principal] buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively; or,
A single nonresidential [principal] building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or,
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.)
In addition, "land development" shall specifically exclude the following:
The construction of only one accessory agricultural building that is not intended for the storage of animal wastes or the storage or feeding of animals.
The conversion of an existing single family detached dwelling or an existing single family semidetached dwelling (twin) into only three total dwelling units.
The owner of a legal or equitable interest in land, including the holder of a formal option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition), a leasee (if he is authorized under the lease to exercise the right of the landowner) or other person having a proprietary interest in land.
A tract or parcel of land, regardless of size, held in single or joint ownership, not necessarily a lot or lots shown on a duly recorded map, which is occupied or capable of being occupied by buildings, structures and accessory buildings, including such open spaces as are arranged, designed or required. The term "lot" shall also mean parcel, plot, site or any similar term.
The space contained within the lot lines, excluding space within all existing and future or ultimate street rights-of-way.
The revision of a lotline in such a way that: a) no additional numbers of lots will be created other than lots previously approved, b) no additional segments or significantly changed alignments of streets are proposed from what was previously approved and c) no additional nonconformities will be created under Chapter 450, Zoning.
A lot that abuts a public street on one side of the lot, but has vehicular access only from a public street on the opposite side of the lot.
An agreement in a form and manner acceptable to the Board of Supervisors requiring the developer of required improvements to make any repairs or reconstructions and to maintain such improvements for a certain period.
Financial security which is acceptable to the Township to secure the promise made by a developer in the maintenance agreement that required improvements shall be maintained by the developer. (Note: These guarantees typically include acceptable letters of credit, performance bonds, escrow agreements, and other similar collateral or surety agreements).
A regular meeting of the Township of Spring Planning Commission.
An area of land in a mobile home park, improved with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for the placement thereon of a single mobile home, with the land leased or rented by the park owner to the occupants of the mobile home placed on the lot.
A reinforced concrete monument complying with the specifications of the United States Geological Survey.
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended by Act 170 of 1988, and as may be further amended, or its successor legislation.
The area of a lot unoccupied by principal or accessory structures, streets, driveways, parking areas; but may include areas occupied by walkways, patios, porches without roofs, gardens, picnic pavilions, play equipment and other areas occupied by noncommercial outdoor recreation facilities.
A parcel or parcels of land, or an area of water, or a combination of land and water within a development site which is open space designed and intended for the use or enjoyment of residents of a development or the Township.
Common open space owned by a government agency or the Township for public recreation.
Chapter 400, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of Spring, and any provisions or amendments thereof, enacted by the Board of Supervisors.
The owner of a legal or equitable interest in land, including the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition) or a leasee (if he is authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner), or other person having a proprietary interest in land.
A tract, lot or area of land.
Outdoor areas or specially designed buildings or garages used for the storage of vehicles. Unless otherwise stated, "parking" shall mean off-street parking.
A pedestrian accessway which is not adjacent to a street or access drive and conforms with this chapter.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Financial security which is acceptable to the Board of Supervisors to secure the promise made by a developer in the improvements agreement that certain improvements shall be made by the developer. (Note: This typically includes acceptable letters of credit, performance bonds, escrow agreements, and other similar collateral or surety agreements.)
A map of a land development or subdivision of land. A "layout plan" is a portion of the one of the following plans that includes the proposed lot and street layout:
Sketch plan. An informal plan, identified as such with the title "Sketch Plan" on the map, indicating the general layout of the proposed subdivision.
Preliminary plan. A complete plan, identified as such with the title "Preliminary Plan," accurately showing proposed streets and lot layout and such other information as required by this chapter.
Final plan. A complete and exact plan, identified as such with the title "Final Plan," including the plan prepared for official recording as required by this chapter to define property rights and proposed streets and other improvements.
See "Commission."
The Public Utility Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A system designed to collect, treat and dispose of sewage from users in compliance with regulations of DEP and the Township.
Centralized sewage disposal system. A sewage disposal system which collects, treats and disposes sewage from more than one dwelling, principal use or lot. Public sewage service shall mean service by a municipally-owned sewage system.
On-lot sewage disposal system. A sewage disposal system which collects, treats and disposes of sewage or holds sewage from only one dwelling unit, principal use or lot.
A pedestrian accessway which is adjacent to a street or access drive and conforms to the regulations of this chapter.
The Berks County Conservation District, or its successor agency.
The latest version of the official Soil Survey of Berks County, published by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, or its successor reference.
The government of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its relevant subparts.
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended by Act 170 of 1988, and as may be further amended.
A public or private thoroughfare which affords the principal means of access to abutting property, or that is an expressway, but not including an alley or a driveway.
See the Official Street Classification Map, which was adopted as part of Chapter 450, Zoning. This map classifies streets as expressway, arterial, minor arterial, urban collector, rural collector or local streets.
A type of street which is terminated at one end by a turn-around and which intersects another street at the other end.
A type of local street which is parallel and adjacent to collector or arterial streets and provides access to abutting properties.
See "developer."
As defined by the State Municipalities Planning Code, as amended. As of 1994, this definition was as follows:
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development.
The division by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or residential dwelling is not a subdivision.
Chapter 400, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of Spring, as amended.
Any subdivision of land which does not qualify as a minor subdivision.
Either of the following, other than a land development:
The Township of Spring, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Unless otherwise stated, this shall mean the Board of Supervisors and their authorized agents.
One or more abutting or adjacent lots proposed to be subdivided or developed following an overall coordinated plan.
United States Geological Survey, or its successor agency.
A strip of land including a right-of-way dedicated to public use in order to facilitate pedestrian access through or into a block.
Service by a water system which transmits water from a common source to more than one dwelling, principal use or lot.
Service by a water system which transmits water from a source on the lot to only one dwelling, principal use or lot.
Central water service that is owned and/or operated by a municipal authority or a Pennsylvania PUC regulated water company and that serves more than 50 dwelling units or principal uses.
Any natural or artificial waterway, stream, river, creek, ditch, channel, millrace, canal, conduit, gully, ravine or wash in which water flows in a definite direction or course, either continuously or intermittently, and which has a definite channel and bed and shall include any area adjacent thereto subject to inundation by reason of overflow of floodwaters.
Chapter 450, Zoning, of the Code of the Township of Spring, as amended.