The following words and phrases, as used in
this chapter, shall have the meanings hereby ascribed thereto unless
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
The removal of surface materials by the action of natural
elements caused by man's manipulation of the landscape.
A paved or unpaved surface, other than a street, which provides
vehicular access from a street or private road to any lot except a
single-family residence or duplex.
The regular and continuous use of the soil by cultivation
or sod culture for general farm crop purposes, commercial crop growing,
commercial orchards or commercial nurseries.
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has
filed an application for development, including his heirs, successors
and assigns.
Every application, whether preliminary, tentative, or final,
required to be filed and approved prior to start of construction or
development, including but not limited to an application for a building
permit, for the approval of a subdivision plat or plan, or for the
approval of a development plan.
A drawing which depicts the actual horizontal locations and
vertical elevations of all on-site facilities and utilities as constructed.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Washington, Franklin
County, Pennsylvania.
A line parallel to the front, side, or rear lot line set
so as to provide the required yard.
The area of a street or road used for vehicular traffic.
The area of unobstructed vision at street intersections,
defined by lines of sight between points at a given distance from
the intersection of street center lines.
A roadway classified in the Township Comprehensive Plan as
a collector street.
The Planning Committee of Washington Township, Franklin County,
Pennsylvania.
[Amended 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 271]
A parcel or parcels of land or an area of water, or a combination
of land and water within a development site and designed and intended
for the use or enjoyment of residents of a development, not including
streets, off-street parking areas, and areas set aside for public
facilities.[1]
The introduction of regulated substances, including chemicals,
toxic substances, wastes, wastewater or microorganisms, in a concentration
that makes the soil unfit for its next intended use and that exceeds
the safe contaminant levels established by the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection.
County of Franklin, Pennsylvania.
A street open at one end for vehicular or pedestrian access
with the opposite end terminating in a vehicular turnaround.
The officially established grade of the curb in front of
the midpoint of the lot.
Any landowner, agent of such landowner, or tenant with the
permission of such landowner, who makes or causes to be made a subdivision
of land or a land development.
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to building or other structures, the placement
of manufactured homes, streets and other paving, utilities, filling,
grading, excavation, mining, dredging, or drilling operations and
the subdivision or land development of land.
[Amended 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 280]
The provisions for development, including a planned residential
development, a plat of subdivision, all covenants relating to use,
location and bulk of buildings and streets, ways and parking facilities,
common open space and public facilities.
An area, past or present, subject to the deposition, injection,
dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of solid waste into or on the
land or water in a manner that the solid waste or a constituent thereof
is released to the environment, is emitted into the air or is discharged
to the water without the benefit of approved or permitted environmental
controls.
A vehicular access to a single-family dwelling, duplex or
townhouse used by the residents and/or guests of those units and not
for general vehicular use.
See "disposal site."
A building or structure designed for living quarters for
one or more families not including hotels, rooming houses or other
accommodations used for transient occupancy.
[Amended 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 280]
A group of two or more single-family, two-family, or multifamily
dwellings occupying a lot in one ownership.
A building used by three or more families living independently
of each other and doing their own cooking, including apartment house.
Single-family, attached dwelling units of one-, two-, or
three-story construction so situated that there are three or more
units contiguous to one another with some common walls, adjacent parking
facilities and common yards or open space provided for all occupants.
Any building used by one family, having only one dwelling
unit, and having two side yards.
A building used by one family, having one side yard, and
one party wall in common with another building.
A building used by two families, with one dwelling unit arranged
over the other, and having two side yards.
One or more rooms used for living and sleeping purposes and
having a kitchen with fixed cooking facilities arranged for occupancy
by one family.
A right-of-way granted for a limited use of land for public
or quasi-public purposes.
A person duly registered as a professional engineer of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A registered engineer permanently retained by the Township,
or any engineering consultant designated by the Board of Supervisors
to review a subdivision plan and perform the duties of engineer in
behalf of the Township.
The engineering specifications of the municipality regulating
the installation of the required improvements or any facility installed
by an owner, subject to public use.
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar
material is dug into, cut quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced,
relocated, or bulldozed and the conditions resulting therefrom.
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar
material is placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to
a new location above the natural surface of the ground or on top of
the stripped surface and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
The difference in elevation between a point on the original ground
and a designated point of higher elevation on the final grade. The
material used to make a fill.
A grouping of single-family dwelling units combined in one
or more structures and served by common entryways and stairs, not
to exceed three stories in height.
The completed surfaces of lawns, walks, and roads brought
to grades as shown on official plans or designs relating thereto.
A scenic trail or open area reserved for travel or recreational
activities.
[Added 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 235]
Sanitarian of the State Department of Environmental Protection,
Local Sewage Enforcement Officer, or other qualified personnel.
A tract of land laid out in accordance with an overall plan
for a group of industries with separate building sites designed and
arranged on streets containing some or all of the following: utility
services, setbacks, side yards, landscape yards, and covenants controlling
the architecture and uses.
Any of the following activities:
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts
or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings,
whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential
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.
A subdivision of land;
Development in accordance with this chapter.
[Amended 11-16-2009 by Ord. No. 224]
The addition of an accessory building, including farm buildings,
on a lot or lots subordinate to an existing noncommercial, nonindustrial
building, is not considered a land development under this chapter.
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land including
the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such
option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee if he is
authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner,
or other person having proprietary interest in land.
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be developed or built upon as a unit. The ratio of dwelling units per lot is one lot, one dwelling unit. In cases of multifamily developments, each dwelling unit must be shown on a lot that conforms to the size, setbacks, and space requirements of Chapter 360, Zoning.
The addition of area to a particular lot by the subtraction
of all or of the area from an adjacent, adjoining or contiguous lot.
In no case may the remaining area of said adjacent, adjoining or contiguous
lot be reduced below the minimum area and configuration requirements
set forth in this chapter; and in no case may the area sought to be
added be physically separated from the recipient lot by a lot or lots
held by others or by public or private roadway rights-of-way.
The area contained within the property lines of a lot as
shown on a subdivision or land development plan excluding space within
any public right-of-way but including any area of easement.
A lot at the junction of and abutting on two or more streets
or private roads or at the point of abrupt change of a single street
or private road, where the interior angle is less than 135° and
the radius of the street or private road line is less than 100 feet.
A lot, the opposite ends of which abut on streets.
A lot other than a corner lot.
The lines bounding a lot as defined herein. Lot lines shall
be approximately at right angles or radial to street lines so long
as reasonably shaped lots result.
A polygonal shaped lot with the appearance of a "frying pan"
or "flag and staff" in which the handle is most often used as the
point of access to a street or road. The "handle" shall be not less
than 20 feet in width.
A lot between a major thoroughfare and a street with vehicular
access only from the street.
Width of a lot measured at the building setback lines.
A major thoroughfare or part thereof, which when open to
public use, access is limited from abutting property and other streets
to locations and in the manner approved by the municipality or the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy or nontransient use as a dwelling, office, or place of assembly, contained in one unit (or in two or more units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for towing purposes), which arrives at a site essentially complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used with a permanent foundation. This does not include motor homes. Manufactured homes must be installed in compliance with § 360-33 and all other relevant requirements.
[Added 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 280]
A parcel of land in a manufactured home park, improved with
the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary
for the erection thereon of a single manufactured home.
[Added 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 280]
A parcel of land under single ownership which has been planned
and improved for the placement of manufactured homes for permanent
occupancy or nontransient use, consisting of two or more manufactured
home lots.
[Added 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 280]
The minimum width at the required building setback line.[2]
The Township of Washington, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
The Washington Township Municipal Authority (WTMA).
The Municipal Authority Engineer or any registered professional
engineer authorized to practice engineering as defined by the Engineer,
Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law (63 P.S. § 148
et seq.) designated by the Municipal Authority to perform the duties
of engineering on behalf of the Municipal Authority.
See "Engineer, Township."
The land area occupied by residential and accessory uses,
excluding land devoted to any dedicated streets and alleys, and all
other nonresidential uses such as schools, parks, shopping centers,
commercial, industrial, railroad and airport uses, cemeteries, golf
courses and vacant land.
A lot the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to
the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance, but which fails to
conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is
located by such adoption or amendment.
The space within a building, or on a lot or parking lot,
for the parking of one automobile.
Any individual or group of individuals, partnership, or corporation.
An area of land, controlled by landowner, to be developed
as a single entity for a number of dwelling units, or combination
of residential and nonresidential uses, the development plan for which
does not correspond in lot size, bulk, type of dwelling, or use, density,
or intensity, lot coverage and required, open space to the regulations
established in any one district created from time to time, under the
provisions of a municipal zoning ordinance.
The Washington Township Planning Committee.
[Amended 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 271]
The map or plan of a subdivision or land development, whether
preliminary or final.
Not publicly owned, operated or controlled.
A vehicular access to a single-family dwelling, duplex or
townhouse.
A private street or road which affords vehicular access to
abutting properties and which exists as a private street at the date
of the adoption of this chapter.
Subdivision, land development, or manufactured home park.
[Amended 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 280]
Owned, operated or controlled by a government agency (federal,
state, or local) including a corporation created by law for the performance
of certain specialized governmental functions and the Board of Public
Education.
Includes: parks, playgrounds, and other public areas; and
sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse disposal and other publicly
owned or operated facilities.
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the Board
of Supervisors or Planning Committee, intended to inform and obtain
public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with this chapter.
[Amended 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 271]
Notice published once each week for two successive weeks
in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. Such notice
shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature
of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication
shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not
be less than seven days from the date of the hearing.
[Amended 11-16-2009 by Ord. No. 224]
A park or area that accommodates outdoor activities including
large facilities for team and group activities, as well as solitary
pursuits such as hiking or bird-watching. Recreation areas are normally
large amounts of land that provide for both natural conservation of
resources as well as a variety of outdoor activities.
The line following the highest points on mountain or elevated
area.
[Added 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 235]
A strip of land between property lines for use as a road
or street.
The surface water discharge or rate of discharge of a given
watershed after a fall of rain or snow that does not enter the soil
but runs off the surface of the land.
A pipe for conveying sewage, excluding storm, surface and
groundwater.
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated
or deposited by moving wind, water, or gravity. Once this matter is
deposited (or remains suspended in water), it is usually referred
to as "sediment."
An individual or firm licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
to implement the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Sewage
Facilities Act[4] and duly appointed by the Washington Township Supervisors
as the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO).
A group of stores planned and designed to function as a unit
for the lot on which it is located with off-street parking provided
as an integral part of the unit.
The maximum extent of unobstructed vision (in a horizontal
or vertical plane) along a street from a vehicle located at any given
point on a street.
Waste, including but not limited to municipal, residual or
hazardous wastes including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained gaseous
materials.
Any naturally occurring slope in excess of thirty-percent
inclination or declination.
[Added 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 235]
A pipe, open ditch, or drainage channel for conveying rainwater,
surface water, condensate, cooling water, and similar liquid waste,
exclusive of sewage or industrial waste, to a natural watercourse,
or other outlet.
A public street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway,
or parkway which affords vehicular access to abutting properties.
The officially established grade of the street upon which
a lot fronts or in its absence the established grade of the streets
upon which the lot abuts, at the midway of the frontage of the lot
thereon. If there is no official established grade, the existing grade
of the street at such midpoint shall be taken as the street grade.
The dividing line between the street and lot, also known
as the right-of-way line.
The shortest distance between the lines delineating the right-of-way
of a street.
Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached
to the ground, including but not limited to buildings, sheds, manufactured
homes and other similar items.
[Amended 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 280]
A person, partnership, or corporation owning land in the
municipality and for which a land subdivision application is filed
and processed under the provisions of this chapter.
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;
provided, however, that 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 any residential dwelling, shall be
exempted. For the purpose of this chapter in deciding what is a subdivision,
multiple lots, tracts or parcels which have been conveyed on one deed
regardless of number of lots, tracts or parcels and regardless of
the method of taxation, shall be considered to be a single lot, tract
or parcel, and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter
if any division, redivision or resubdivision of such lots, tracts
or parcels is desired.
Any subdivision abutting an existing public street or road
involving four or less lots, parcels of land, or other division of
land which does not require a new street, the installation of sanitary
sewer mains, water mains, or other public improvements. Subdivisions
that involve only lot additions or parcels added to other parcels,
and create no new lots and involve no water, sewer, street or other
public improvements may be treated as a minor subdivision regardless
of number of parcels or lots.
Where, in the judgment of the Municipal Engineer, at least
90% (based on the cost of the required improvements for which financial
security was posted) of those improvements required as a condition
for final approval have been completed in accordance with the approved
plan, so that the project will be able to be used, occupied or operated
for its intended use.
A registered surveyor, as defined by the Engineer, Land Surveyor
and Geologist Registration Law (63 P.S. § 148 et seq.).
A map showing the elevations of the ground by contours.
Any park, tourist park, tourist court, camp, court, site,
lot, parcel or tract of land upon which one or more camp cottages,
cabins, recreational vehicles, or tent sites are located and maintained
for the accommodations of transients by the day, week, or month, whether
a charge is made or not.
A dwelling in which overnight accommodations are used by
transient guests for compensation.
Single-family attached dwelling units of one, two or three
story construction so situated that there are three or more units
contiguous to one another with some common walls, adjacent parking
facilities and common yards or open space for all occupants.
The Township Of Washington, Franklin County, Pennsylvania
and its Board of Supervisors.
The attaching of development rights to specified lands which
are desired by a municipality to be kept undeveloped, but permitting
those rights to be transferred from those lands so that the development
potential which they represent may occur on other lands within the
municipality where more intensive development is deemed by the municipality
to be appropriate.
An area of land, water, or other environmental element that
is visible to the human eye from a fixed vantage point.
[Added 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 235]
The site or location of a well, spring or water supply stream
intake which is used for human consumption.
An inventory of the source, quantity, yield and use of groundwater
and surface-water resources within a municipality.
Transitional lands between terrestrial and aquatic environments,
commonly known as swamps, marshes, fens or bogs. Wetlands may be identified
by the National Wetlands Inventory mapping (Dept. of Interior), or
by on-site identification by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency,
the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and any other government
agency which may be designated as a lead agency on wetlands identification.
