Township of Daugherty, PA Article VII Definitions

§ 81-25 Interpretation.

Unless specifically defined below, words and phrases used in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give this chapter its most reasonable application.

§ 81-26 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE

A use or structure on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.

BUILDING

A combination of materials to form a permanent structure having walls and a roof. Included shall be all mobile homes and trailers to be used for human habitation.

COMPLETELY DRY SPACE

A space which will remain totally dry during flooding; the structure is designed and constructed to prevent the passage of water and water vapor.

CONSTRUCTION

The construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, extension, expansion, alteration or relocation of a building or structure, including the placement of mobile homes.

DEVELOPMENT

Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the placement of mobile homes, streets and other paving, utilities, filling, grading, excavation, mining, drilling operations and the subdivision of land.

ESSENTIALLY DRY SPACE

A space which will remain dry during flooding, except for the passage of some water vapor or minor seepage; the structure is substantially impermeable to the passage of water.

FLOOD

A temporary inundation of normally dry land areas.

FLOODPLAIN

A relatively flat or low land area which is subject to partial or complete inundation from an adjoining or nearby stream, river or watercourse; and/or any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation of surface waters from any source.

FLOODPROOFING

Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.

IDENTIFIED FLOODPLAIN AREA

The floodplain area specifically identified in this chapter as being inundated by the one-hundred-year flood. Included would be areas identified as Floodway (FW), Flood-Fringe (FF) and General Floodplain (FA).

LAND DEVELOPMENT

A. The improvement of one lot, or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving: (1) a group of two or more buildings; or (2) the division or allocation of land or space 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.

B. A subdivision of land.

MINOR REPAIR

The replacement of existing work with equivalent materials for the purpose of its routine maintenance and upkeep, but not including the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or bearing support, or the removal or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the exitway requirements, nor shall minor repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety.

MOBILE HOME

A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy, office or place of assembly, contained in one or more sections, built on a permanent chassis, 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 with or without a permanent foundation. The term does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers.

MOBILE HOME PARK

A parcel of land under single ownership which has been planned and improved for the placement of two or more mobile homes for nontransient use.

OBSTRUCTION

Any wall, dam, wharf, embankment, levee, dike, pile abutment, projection, excavation, channel, rectification, culvert, building, fence, stockpile, refuse, fill, structure or matter in, along, across or projecting into any channel, watercourse or floodplain area, which may impede, retard or change the direction of the flow or water either in itself or by catching or collecting debris carried by such water or is placed where the flow of the water might carry the same downstream to the damage of life and property.

ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD

A flood that, on the average, is likely to occur once every 100 years (i.e., that has a one-percent chance of occurring each year).

REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION

The one-hundred-year-flood elevation plus a freeboard safety factor of 1 1/2 feet.

STRUCTURE

Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground, including but not limited to buildings, sheds, mobile homes and other similar items.

SUBDIVISION

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, 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 street or easement of access, shall be exempted.