[Ord. 262, 10/14/1996, § 201]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words shall,
for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning herein indicated.
The present tense shall include the future, the singular number shall
include the plural of the singular, words used in the masculine gender
shall include the feminine and the neuter; the word "shall" is always
mandatory, and word "may" is always permissive.
[Ord. 262, 10/14/1996, § 202; as amended by Ord. 2016-01, 3/14/2016]
ALLEY
A minor way, whether or not legally dedicated, intended and
used primarily for vehicular service access to the rear of properties
which abut on a street and not intended for the purpose of through
vehicular traffic.
BLOCK
An area, divided into lots and usually bounded by streets.
BUILDING
A combination of materials to form a permanent structure
having walls and a roof including, but not limited to, all mobile
homes and trailers.
CARTWAY OR ROADWAY
The portion of a street or alley improved, designed or ordinarily
used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk, berm or shoulder.
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 street center lines.
CONDOMINIUM
Ownership is common with others of a parcel of land and certain
parts of a building thereon which would normally be used by all the
occupants, together with individual ownership in fee of a particular
unit or apartment in such building or on such parcel of land and may
include dwellings, offices and other types of space in commercial
and industrial buildings or on real property.
COUNTY
The County of Allegheny, Pennsylvania.
CUL-DE-SAC
Minor street intersecting another street at one end and terminated
at the other by a vehicular turnaround.
CUT
An excavation. The difference between a point on the original
ground and designated point of lower elevation on the final grade.
Also, the material removed in excavation.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING (DEP)
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
its bureaus, divisions, departments and/or agencies, as may from time
to time be established or such department(s) as may in the future
succeed it.
DESIGNATED FLOODPLAIN AREAS
The floodplain area specifically identified in this chapter
as being inundated by the one-hundred-year flood. Included would be
areas identified at Floodway (FW), Flood Fringe (FF) and General Floodplain
(FA).
DETENTION POND
An area in which surface water runoff is temporarily stored
pending its release at a controlled rate.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent or tenant with permission of such landowner
who makes or causes any development of tract or parcel of land or
a lot.
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, mining,
dredging, filling, grading, excavation or drilling operations and
the subdivision of land.
DRAINAGE
The removal of surface water or groundwater from land by
drains, grading or other means, and includes control of runoff to
minimize erosion and sedimentation during and after construction or
development.
DRAINAGE FACILITY
Any ditch, gutter, culvert, storm sewer or other structure
designed, intended or constructed for the purpose of carrying, diverting
or controlling surface water or groundwater.
DRAINAGE RIGHT-OF-WAY
The lands required for the installation of stormwater sewers
or drainage ditches or required along a natural stream or watercourse
for preserving the channel and providing for the flow of water therein
to safeguard the public against flood damage.
DRIVEWAY
A private vehicular passageway providing access between a
street and a private parking area or private garage.
DWELLING
Any building which is designed for human living quarters,
but not including hotels, boarding houses, tourist cabins, motels
and other accommodations used for transient occupancy.
EASEMENT
A grant of limited use of private land for a public or quasi-public
purpose.
ENGINEER
A registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania.
ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS
The engineering criteria of the Township regulating the installation
of any improvement or facility. In the absence of such Township engineering
criteria, the applicable standards of the Allegheny County Subdivision
and Land Development Ordinance shall apply.
EROSION
The removal of surface materials by the action of natural
elements.
EXCAVATION
Any act by which earth, sand gravel, rock or any other similar
material is dug into, cut, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced,
relocated or bulldozed. It shall include the conditions resulting
therefrom.
FILL
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other 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. It shall include the conditions resulting therefrom. The
difference in elevation between a point on the original ground and
a designated point of higher elevation of the final grade. The material
used to make fill.
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 usual and rapid accumulation
of surface waters from any source.
FLOODWAY
The designated area of a floodplain to carry and discharge
flood waters of a given magnitude. For the purpose of the chapter,
the floodway shall be capable of accommodating a flood of the one-hundred-year
magnitude.
GRADING AND DRAINAGE PLAN
A plan showing all existing ground features and proposed
grading, including existing and proposed surface and subsurface drainage
facilities, described by grades, contours and topography.
IMPROVEMENTS
Those physical additions, installations and changes required
to render land suitable for the use intended including, but not limited
to, grading, paving, curbing, street lights and signs, fire hydrants,
water mains, electric service, sanitary sewers, storm drains, sidewalks,
cross-walks, driveways, culverts and street shade trees.
INTERIOR WALK
A right-of-way or easement for pedestrian use, extending
from a street into a block or across a block to another street.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots,
tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
A.Â
A group of two or more buildings or the division or allocation
or space between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants
by means of, or for the purpose of, streets, common areas, leaseholds,
condominium, building groups or other features.
B.Â
The term "land development" shall also include the plot plan for a mobile home park as defined in the Township Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27], and the said plot plan shall be drawn in the same manner as herein provided for a final subdivision plan, and shall include spaces for approval by the Township Engineer and Township Commissioners, which approvals shall be given prior to the issuance of a permit or recording.
C.Â
The term "land development" shall also include the disturbance (grading), as defined in the Township's Grading and Excavation Ordinance (Chapter
9), of two or more acres of land in the same parcel of land. Any grading occurring on the same parcel of land over a ten-year period shall be counted cumulatively.
[Added by Ord. 2016-05, 9/12/2016]
LOT
A parcel of land having dimensions and area as required by
this chapter and having frontage upon a street as shown on a plat
of record or considered as a unit of property by metes and bounds.
LOT, CORNER
A lot abutting upon two or more streets at their intersection,
the front of which shall be considered to be the frontage of least
dimension on a street.
LOT, INTERIOR
A lot having side lot lines which do not abut on a street.
LOT, MINIMUM WIDTH
The distance between the side lot lines measured at the building
setback line.
LOT, NONCONFORMING
A lot of record at the time of the adoption of this chapter,
which by reason of area or dimension does not conform to the requirements
of this chapter.
LOT OF RECORD
A lot described in a deed or shown on a plan of lots which
has been recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Allegheny
County, Pennsylvania.
LOT, REVERSE FRONTAGE
A lot extending between and having frontage on an arterial
street and a local access street, and with vehicular access solely
from the latter.
MAINTENANCE GUARANTEE
Any security, other than cash, which may be accepted by the
Township for the maintenance of any improvements required by this
chapter.
MARKER
A wood or metal stake placed to designate the boundary and
corners of lots in the subdivision of land for the purpose of reference
in land and property survey and to facilitate the sale of lots.
MINOR SUBDIVISION
The subdivision of land into not more than five parcels located on an existing improved street that does not involve: installation of improvements as required by this chapter; extension of utilities; frontage on an arterial or collector street; adverse effect to the development of the remaining parcel; adverse effect to adjoining properties; and conflict with the Township's Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27], any portion of this chapter or other state, county or Township ordinances, laws or regulations.
MONUMENT
A concrete, stone or other permanent object placed to designate
boundary lines, owners of property and rights-of-way of streets and
utilities for the purpose of reference in land and property survey.
OWNER
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 owner, or
other persons having a proprietary interest in the land shall be deemed
to be an owner for the purpose of this chapter.
PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE
Any security which may be in lieu of a requirement that certain
improvements be made before the Township Commissioners approve a final
subdivision or land development plan, including performance bonds,
escrow agreements and other similar collateral or surety agreements.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, corporation or other legally
recognized entity.
PLAN, FINAL
A complete and exact subdivision plan or land development
plan, prepared for official recording as required by statute, to define
property rights and proposed streets and other improvements.
PLAN, PRELIMINARY
A tentative subdivision plan or land development plan, in
lesser detail than a final plan, showing approximate proposed street
and lot layout as a basis for consideration prior to preparation of
a final plan.
PLAN, SKETCH
An informal plan, subdivision or land development plan, not
necessarily to scale, indicating salient existing features of a tract
and its surroundings and the general layout of the proposed subdivision.
PLAN, SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL
A plan for controlling erosion and sediment during construction
which shall provide all steps, including scheduling, to assure erosion
and sediment control during all phases of construction, including
final stabilization.
PLAT
A map or plan of a subdivision or use indicating the location
and boundaries of individual properties.
PUBLIC GROUNDS
A.Â
Parks, playgrounds and other public areas.
B.Â
Sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse disposal and other
publicly owned or operated facilities.
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 be not more than 30 days or less than 14 days from the date
of the hearing.
RESERVE STRIP
A narrow parcel of ground having inadequate area for building
purposes separating a street or a proposed street from other adjacent
properties.
RESIDENT PROPERTY OWNER
Any individual maintaining a voting address in the Township,
within 1,000 feet of the proposed subdivision, owning real estate
in his own or joint names.
RESUBDIVISION
Any subdivision or transfer of land, laid out on a plan which
has been approved by the Township Commissioners which changes or proposes
to change property lines and/or public rights-of-way not in strict
accordance with approved plan.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
Land legally dedicated for public purposes including, but
not limited to, a street, alley or interior walk.
RUNOFF
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.
SEDIMENTATION
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."
SEPTIC TANK
A watertight tank in which raw sewage is broken down into
solid, liquid and gaseous phases to facilitate further treatment and
final disposal.
SETBACK (BUILDING SETBACK LINE)
The line within the property defining the required minimum
distance between any structure and the ultimate adjacent right-of-way
and the line defining side and rear yards where required.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, ON-SITE
System of piping tanks or other facilities serving a lot
and collecting and disposing of sewage in whole or in part into the
soil.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, PUBLIC
A sanitary sewage collection method in which sewage is carried
from the site by a system of pipes to a central treatment and disposal
plant.
SHOULDER
The portion of a roadway (cartway) between the curb or gutter
and the travelway intended for emergency and parking use.
SIGHT DISTANCE
The extent of unobstructed vision, in a horizontal or vertical plane, along a street, as defined in §Â
22-504 of this chapter.
SLOPE
The face of an embankment of cut section; any ground whose
surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. Slopes are usually
expressed in a percentage based upon vertical difference in feet per
100 feet of horizontal distance.
SOIL PERCOLATION TEST
A field test conducted to determine the absorption capacity
of soil to a specified depth in a given location for the purpose of
determining suitability of soil for on-site sewage disposal also to
include leased property.
STREET
An existing or platted way dedicated for the use of the general
public, graded and paved or to be graded and paved, in order that
the general public has the right to pass and to use it at all times
for all purposes of travel, transportation or parking to which it
is adapted, devoted and not otherwise restricted.
|
ARTERIAL STREETS — Those serving large volumes of comparatively
high-speed and long distance traffic, and includes facilities classified
as main and secondary highways by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
|
|
COLLECTOR STREETS — Those which, in addition to giving
access to abutting properties, intercept local access streets and
provide routes to community facilities and to arterial streets.
|
|
HALF OR PARTIAL STREET — A street generally parallel and
adjacent to a property line having a lesser right-of-way width than
normally required for satisfactory improvements and use of the street.
|
|
LOCAL ACCESS STREETS — Those used primarily to provide
access to abutting properties.
|
|
MARGINAL ACCESS STREETS — Minor streets, parallel and
adjacent to arterial streets, providing access to abutting properties
and control of intersections with the arterial street.
|
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location
on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
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 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 residential
dwellings, shall be exempted. The term "subdivision" includes land
development, resubdivision and, as appropriate in these regulations,
shall refer to the process of subdividing land or to the subdivided.
SURVEYOR
A licensed surveyor registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SWALE
A low-lying stretch of land characterized as a depression
used to carry surface water runoff.
TOPSOIL
Surface soils and subsurface soils which normally are fertile
soils and soil material, ordinarily rich in organic matter of humus
debris. Topsoil is usually found in the uppermost soil layer called
the A Horizon.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Leet, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
UNDEVELOPED LAND
Any lot, tract or parcel of land which has not been graded
or in any other manner prepared for the construction of a building
or other improvement.
UNIT
A part of the property, structure or building designed or
intended for any type of independent use, which has direct exit to
a public street or way, or to an easement or right-of-way leading
to a public street or way, and includes a proportionate undivided
interest in the common elements, which is assigned to the property,
structure or building.
WATERCOURSE
A stream of water, river, brook, creek or a channel or ditch
for water, whether natural or man-made.
WATER FACILITY
Any water works, water supply works, water distribution system
or part thereof, designed, intended or constructed to provide or distribute
potable water.