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Township of Easttown, PA
Chester County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
Zoning Map New Laws (2) Index Notes (4)
Public Documents
Misc. Documents (12)
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and phrases shall be construed throughout this chapter to have the meanings herein indicated. The singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular. Words used in the present or past tenses shall include the future tense. The words "person," "applicant," "subdivider," and "owner" shall include a corporation, unincorporated association, trust, partnership, or other legal entity, as well as an individual. The words "shall" and "will" are always mandatory.
A. 
Undefined words shall have the meanings ascribed to them by definition in Chapter 455, Zoning, of the Code of the Township of Easttown, as amended. Otherwise, undefined words shall have ascribed to them their commonly accepted meanings as verified by dictionary definition.
[Added 8-17-1998 by Ord. No. 317-98]
B. 
As used in this chapter, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and/or phrases have the meanings indicated below:
ALLEY
A right-of-way providing secondary vehicular access to the side or rear of lots.
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has filed an application for development, including his or its heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns.
APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Every application, whether preliminary or final, required to be filed and approved prior to the start of construction or development, including but not limited to an application for a building permit or for the approval of a subdivision plan or plot.
BLOCK
An area bounded by streets.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE
The line within a property defining the minimum required distance between any building to be erected and an adjacent right-of-way.
CARTWAY (ROADWAY)
The portion of a street right-of-way, paved or unpaved, customarily used by vehicles in the regular course of travel over the street.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections defined by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of the street center lines.
COMMON OPEN SPACE
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 the development, but not including streets, off-street parking areas, and areas set aside for public facilities. Common open space shall be substantially free of structures but may contain such improvements as are in the subdivision or development plan as finally approved and as are appropriate for the recreation of residents.
CRITICAL AREAS
Areas of a subdivision or land development particularly subject to erosion and sedimentation, such as areas not covered with vegetation due to grading, cutting or filling, which contain exposed subsoils or mixtures of soil horizons, or excessively long slopes or steep grades.
CROSSWALK (INTERIOR WALK)
A publicly or privately owned right-of-way for pedestrian use extending from a street into a block or across a block to another street.
CUL-DE-SAC
A single-access minor street intersecting another street at one end and terminating in a vehicular turnaround at the other end.
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90[1]]
DESIGN STANDARDS
Minimum standards for the layout by which a subdivision or land development is developed.
DEVELOPER
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.
DRAINAGE
The flow of water or liquid waste and the method of directing such flow, whether natural or artificial.
DWELLING UNIT
Any structure, or part thereof, designed to be occupied as a single housekeeping unit.
EASEMENT
A right-of-way granted, but not dedicated, for limited use of private land for a public or quasi-public purpose, and within which the owner of the property shall not erect any permanent structures, but shall have the right to make any other use of the land which is not inconsistent with the rights of the grantee.
ENGINEER
A licensed professional engineer registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
EROSION
The movement of soil by the action of wind and/or water.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE(S)
Areas or materials which are substantially impenetrable by liquids, such as buildings, structures, paved areas, brick, flagstone, concrete pavers, concrete walkways and patios.
[Added 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
IMPROVEMENTS
Grading, paving, curbing, streetlights, fire hydrants, water mains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, detention basins, retention basins, culverts, streets, sidewalks, monuments, open space improvements, recreation facilities, buffer and screen plantings, street and replacement trees, and similar improvements.
[Added 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
IMPROVEMENT SPECIFICATIONS
Minimum standards for the construction of the required improvements, such as streets, curbs, sidewalks, water mains, sewers, drainage, public utilities and other items required to render the land suitable for the use proposed.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
[Amended 9-6-1989 by Ord. No. 224-89]
(1) 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(a) 
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
(b) 
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.
(2) 
A subdivision of land.
LANDOWNER
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 a proprietary interest in land.
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
LOT
A designated parcel, or area of land established by a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed or built upon as a unit.
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]
LOT AREA
See "lot area, net" definition under Ch. 455, Zoning.
[Amended 4-6-1987 by Ord. No. 203-87; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]
MARKER
An iron pipe or steel bar 3/4 inch in diameter and 30 inches in length.
[Added 5-3-1993 by Ord. No. 263-93]
MONUMENT
A stone or concrete monument with a flat top at least four inches in diameter or square, containing a copper or brass dowel (plug), and at least 30 inches in length (preferred 30 inches to 36 inches). The monument shall be tapered so that the dimensions at the bottom be at least two inches greater than the top, to minimize movement caused by frost.
[Amended 5-3-1993 by Ord. No. 263-93]
MPC
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended by Act 170 of 1988, as amended from time to time.[2]
[Added 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
MULTIPLE-DWELLING BUILDING
A building containing more than one dwelling unit.[3]
PLAN, AS-BUILT
A plan prepared by a surveyor or engineer showing dimensions and locations of all improvements as actually constructed. As-built plans shall be submitted to the Township Engineer within 90 days from substantial completion of the work.
[Added 5-3-1993 by Ord. No. 263-93; amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]
PLAN, CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENT
A plan prepared by a registered engineer or surveyor showing the construction details of streets, drains, sewers, bridges, culverts and other improvements as required by this chapter.
PLAN, FINAL
A complete and exact subdivision or land development plat, prepared for official recording as required by this chapter, and which includes all information required by the applicable provisions of Article V of this chapter.
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
PLAN, LAND DEVELOPMENT
A sketch, preliminary or final plan, including written and graphic documentation showing the provision for development of a lot when a plan of subdivision would not be applicable.
[Added 5-3-1993 by Ord. No. 263-93; amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]
PLAN, MAJOR STREET
The element of the County or Township Comprehensive Plan which shall show the general location, alignment, and dimensions and the identification and classification of existing and proposed streets, highways, and other thoroughfares.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Easttown Township Planning Commission.
PLAN, OFFICIAL
The Comprehensive Plan (Master Plan) and/or future land use plan and/or ultimate right-of-way plan and/or Official Map and/or other such plans, or portions thereof, as may be adopted, pursuant to ordinance or statute, for the area of the Township in which the land development or subdivision is located.
[Amended 6-2-2014 by Ord. No. 422-14]
PLAN, OFFICIAL SEWAGE FACILITIES
The plan adopted by the Township and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection which sets forth recommendations for the provision of adequate sewage systems in the Township in accordance with the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, Act 537, as amended (35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.).
[Added 5-3-1993 by Ord. No. 263-93; amended 6-2-2014 by Ord. No. 422-14]
PLAN, PRELIMINARY
A tentative subdivision or land development plat, prepared in accordance with and containing all of the information required by the applicable provisions of Article V of this chapter.
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
PLAN, PROFILE
A plan prepared by an engineer, architect or landscape architect, showing the vertical section of the existing grade and proposed grade along the center line of any proposed street and any street appurtenances to be constructed or installed, which must include cross sections of the street and other construction improvements.
[Added 5-3-1993 by Ord. No. 263-93]
PLAN, RECORD
The copy of the final plan which contains the original endorsements of the County Planning Commission and the Township and which is intended to be recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds.
PLAN, SKETCH
An informal drawing of a proposed subdivision or land development, not a formal plat or plan submission, submitted for informal discussion as permitted by the applicable sections of Article V of this chapter.
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
PLAT
The map or plan of a subdivision or land development, whether preliminary or final.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. 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 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
RESERVE STRIP
A parcel of ground in separate (sometimes public) ownership separating a street from other adjacent properties or from another street.
RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNER
Any individual maintaining a voting address in the Township, owning real estate in his own or joint names. A tenancy in common or any other means of joint ownership shall be considered as an individual; however, the signature of any single joint owner shall be considered as binding the others.[4]
REVERSE FRONTAGE LOT
A lot extending between and having frontage on two generally parallel streets (excluding service streets or alleys), with vehicular access solely from one street.
REVIEW
An examination of the sketch plan, preliminary plan, and/or final plan by the Planning Commission and/or the Easttown Township Board of Supervisors to determine compliance with this chapter and the administrative regulations, design standards and improvement specifications enacted pursuant thereto.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
The total width of any land reserved or dedicated as a street, alley, crosswalk or for other public purposes.
ROADWAY
See "cartway."
SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL, COMMUNITY
A sanitary sewage collection system in which sewage is carried from individual lots by a system of pipes to a treatment and disposal plant, generally serving a neighborhood area.
SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL, ON-SITE
Any structure designed to treat sanitary sewage within the boundaries of an individual lot.
SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL, PUBLIC
A sanitary sewage collection system in which sewage is carried from individual lots by a system of pipes to a publicly owned central treatment and disposal plant.
SEDIMENT
The resulting residue from erosion.
SEPTIC TANK
A covered watertight settling tank in which raw sewage is changed into solid, liquid, and gaseous states to facilitate further treatment and final disposal.
SIGHT DISTANCE
The required length of roadway visible to a driver of a passenger vehicle at any given point on the roadway when the view is unobstructed by traffic. Sight distance measurements shall be made from a point 3.5 feet above the center line of the road surface to a point 0.5 feet above the center line of the road surface.
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90]
SOIL PERCOLATION TEST
A field test conducted to determine the suitability of the soil for on-site sanitary sewage disposal facilities by measuring the absorptive capacity of the soil at a given location and depth.
STREET, PRIVATE
A strip of land or roadway intended for use as a means of vehicular and pedestrian circulation to provide access to more than one lot. A private street is intended for use of only the lots served rather than the general public.
STREET, PUBLIC
A strip of land, including the entire right-of-way (i.e., not limited to the cartway), intended for general public use as a means of vehicular and pedestrian circulation to provide access to more than one lot. The term "public street" includes any thoroughfare intended for public use. Public streets are further classified according to the functions they perform.
(1) 
MINOR LOCAL STREETA street used primarily to provide access to abutting properties.
(2) 
CUL-DE-SAC STREETA minor street intersecting another street and terminating in a vehicular turnaround at the other end.
(3) 
HALF (PARTIAL) STREETA street, generally parallel and adjacent to a property line, having a lesser right-of-way width than normally required for improvement and use of the street.
(4) 
MARGINAL ACCESS STREETA minor street, parallel and adjacent to a major street (but separated from it by a reserve strip), which provides access to abutting properties and control of intersections with the major street.
(5) 
COLLECTOR STREETA street which, in addition to providing access to abutting properties, intercepts minor streets to provide a route serving 50 or more dwelling units to give access to community facilities and/or other collector and major streets (streets in industrial commercial subdivisions shall generally be considered collector streets); sometimes called a "feeder street," which connects a local street system and a major street or highway system.
(6) 
MAJOR STREET or THROUGH HIGHWAY (ARTERIAL)A street serving a large volume of comparatively high-speed and long-distance traffic, including all facilities classified as main and secondary highways by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; a highway on which preference is given to the through movement of traffic at the expense of cross traffic.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVIDER
Any individual, copartnership or corporation (or agent authorized thereby) which undertakes the subdivision of land, as defined by this chapter, as the owner, lessee, equitable owner (or agent authorized thereby) of the land being subdivided.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot 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.
[Amended 9-6-1989 by Ord. No. 224-89; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]
SURVEYOR
A licensed surveyor registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
TILE DISPOSAL FIELD
A system of open-jointed or perforated pipes laid in the upper strata of the soil to distribute sewage effluent into the soil for absorption and evaporation.
WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, COMMUNITY
A system for supplying and distributing water from a common source to dwellings and other buildings, but generally not confined to one neighborhood.
WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, ON-SITE
A system for supplying and distributing water to a single dwelling or other building from a source located on the same lot.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also added the definition "cul-de-sac street," which was subsequently repealed 5-3-1993 by Ord. No. 263-93.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
[3]
Editor's Note: The original definition of "plan, conservation," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90.
[4]
Editor's Note: The original definition of "resubdivision," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 235-90.