For the purpose of this chapter, those words not specifically defined
shall have a common meaning as expressed in the American Heritage Dictionary
of the English Language, Third Edition, on file in the township office. 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 include the plural.
C.
The word "person" includes an individual, partnership,
public or private association or corporation, firm, trust estate, municipality,
governmental unit, public utility or other legal entity which is recognized
by law as the subject of rights and duties.
D.
The word "lot" includes the words "plot" or "parcel."
E.
The term "shall" is always mandatory.
F.
The term "may" is always permissive.
G.
The words "used" or "occupied," as applied to any land
or building, shall be construed to include the words "intended, arranged or
designed to be used or occupied."
H.
The word "building" includes the word "structure."
I.
The words "he" or "his" include the words "she" or "her."
J.
Unless otherwise specified, all distances shall be measured
horizontally.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning herein indicated. See also definitions in Chapter 150, Zoning, and Chapter 119, Subdivision and Land Development.
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 § 503(1.1) of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code Act of 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as reenacted
and amended.[1]
Any city of the second class A or third class, borough, incorporated
town, township of the first or second class, county of the second class through
eighth class, home rule municipality or any similar general purpose unit of
government which shall hereafter be created by the General Assembly.
The map or plan of a subdivision or land development, whether preliminary
or final.
Includes parks, playgrounds, trails, paths and other recreational
areas and other public areas; sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse
disposal and other publicly owned or operated facilities; and publicly owned
or operated scenic and historic sites.
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the governing
body or planning agency, intended to inform and obtain public comment, prior
to taking action in accordance with this chapter.
Includes a street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway,
lane, alley, viaduct and any other ways used or intended to be used by vehicular
traffic or pedestrians, whether public or private.
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on
or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. 10503(1.1).
