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Borough of Sewickley, PA
Allegheny County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of these regulations, have the meanings indicated:
A. 
Words used in the present tense include the future, words in the singular number include the plural, and words in the plural number include the singular number.
B. 
The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
C. 
The word "may" is permissive.
D. 
The word "used" shall include arranged, designed, constructed, altered, converted, rented, leased or intended to be used.
E. 
The word "occupied" includes arranged, designed, built, altered, converted, rented or leased, or intended to be occupied.
F. 
The word "land" shall include water surface.
G. 
The word "Council member" shall mean the elected members of the Borough Council of the Borough of Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
H. 
The phrase "Board member" shall mean the members of the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
I. 
The word "Manager" shall mean the Borough Manager/Secretary of the Borough of Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
J. 
Any reference to the Borough Manager/Secretary, Borough Solicitor, Planning Commission, Borough Engineer or other administrative official of the Borough of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, shall include their designees.
The following abbreviations shall have the meanings designated.
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHA
Federal Housing Administration
HOP
highway occupancy permit
HVAC
heating, ventilating and air conditioning
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
PADEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
PennDOT
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
PUC
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
SALDO
Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance
Other terms or words used herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer, as herein defined, who has filed an application for development, including his heirs, 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 and an application for the approval of a development plan.
BLOCK
An area bounded by streets, rights-of-way, streams or other similar natural features.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Sewickley, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
BOROUGH COUNCIL
The governing body of the Borough of Sewickley, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
BOROUGH STREET
A street adopted as a public street by the Borough or having become a Borough street as legally determined.
BUILDING
Any fully enclosed structure having a roof intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals, equipment or belongings and not including heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), mechanical equipment, electrical equipment or trash.
CARTWAY (ROADWAY)
The improved or paved portion or portions of a street available for vehicular or other traffic; the portion or portions between curbs where curbs are used.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area of unobstructed vision at the intersection of two streets or the intersection of a driveway with a street, intended to allow the operators of vehicles approaching simultaneously to see each other in time to prevent a collision.
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, designed as and intended for the use or enjoyment by the public or residents of a development, not including streets, off-street parking areas and areas set aside for public facilities. Stormwater management facilities such as drainageways, swales and stormwater basins shall not be considered eligible to meet common open space requirements.
COMPLETION BOND/FINANCIAL SECURITY
A bond in cash or with an approved surety company or other type of financial security, guaranteeing the satisfactory completion of the improvements to and in accordance with this chapter.
CONDOMINIUM
A lot or a portion of a lot where portion(s) are designated for separate ownership and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely controlled by the owners of the said portions.
COUNTY
The County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
CROSSWALK
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.
CUT
An excavation. The difference in vertical elevation between a point on the surface of original ground and a point on the final grade. The material removed in excavation.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (PA 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 or departments as may in the future succeed it.
DETENTION POND
An area in which surface water runoff is temporarily stored pending its release at a controlled rate.
DEVELOPER
Any landowner, agent of such landowner, or tenant with the permission of such landowner, who proposes, makes or causes to be made a subdivision of land or land development.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The provisions for development of land, including a planned residential development, a plat of subdivision, all covenants relating to use, location and bulk of buildings and other structures, intensity of use or density of development, streets, driveways, sidewalks and parking facilities, common open space, and public facilities. The phrase "provisions of development plan," when used in this chapter, shall mean the written and graphic materials referred to in this definition.
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 land 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 vehicular connection from a lot to the right-of-way. A driveway terminates at the right-of-way line and/or the access drive.
DWELLING UNIT
More than one habitable room containing permanent heating, sanitary, sleeping, cooking and eating facilities, used or intended to be used as living quarters for a single household or family.
EASEMENT
A grant of one or more property rights for a portion of land by the landowner to and/or for the use by the public, a corporation or another person or entity.
ENGINEER
An individual licensed and registered to engage in the practice of engineering in Pennsylvania. A professional engineer may not practice land surveying unless licensed as set forth in P.L. 534, No. 230; however, a professional engineer may perform engineering land surveys.[1]
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, and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
FILL
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material is placed, pushed, dumped, 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. Fill also can refer to the difference in elevation between a point on the original ground and a designated point of higher elevation on the final grade.
FLOODPLAIN/FLOODWAY
See Chapter 178, Floodplain Management, of the Code of the Borough of Sewickley.
IMPROVEMENTS TO LAND
A construction or installation, including, but not limited to, of any of the following: streets, gutters, culverts, sidewalks, storm sewers, fiber-optic cable, water drainage facilities, utilities (gas, electric, telephone services), water system, fire hydrants, sanitary sewers, septic tanks, street signs, streetlights and including cuts and/or fills.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any one of the following activities:
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 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
(2) 
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.
B. 
Subdivision of land.
C. 
"Land development" does not include development which involves:
(1) 
The conversion of an existing single-family detached dwelling or single-family semidetached dwelling into not more than three dwelling units, unless such units are intended to be a condominium;
(2) 
The addition of an accessory building, including farm building, on a lot or lots, subordinate to an existing principal building; or
(3) 
The addition or conversion of buildings or rides within the confines of a business establishment which would be considered an amusement park. For the purposes of this subsection, an "amusement park" is defined as a tract or area used principally as a location for permanent amusement structures or rides. This exclusion shall not apply to newly acquired acreage by an amusement park until initial plans for the expanded area have been approved by the proper authorities.
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 the land.
LOT
A designated parcel, tract 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.
LOT AREA
The area contained within the lot lines of a lot excluding space within any rights-of-way(s) of public streets and ways.
LOT, CORNER
A lot at the junction of and adjoining two or more intersecting streets or at the point of abrupt change of a single street, where the interior angle is less than 135° or the radius of the street line is less than 10 feet.
LOT, INTERIOR
A lot other than a corner lot with only one frontage on a street.
LOT OF RECORD
A lot which has been properly recorded in the office of the Department of Real Estate of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
LOT, THROUGH
A lot other than a corner lot with frontage on more than one street.
LOT, WIDTH
The horizontal distance between both side lot lines measured at the required minimum front setback.
MARKER
A metal pipe or pin of at least one-half-inch diameter (preferred three-fourths-inch or seven-eighths-inch) and at least 24 inches in length (preferred 30 inches to 36 inches) which shall be used for survey purposes.
MEDIATION
A voluntary negotiating process in which parties in a dispute mutually select a neutral mediator to assist them in jointly exploring and settling their differences, culminating in a written agreement which the parties themselves create and consider acceptable.
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 24 inches in length (preferred 30 inches to 36 inches), which shall be used for survey purposes. The bottom, sides or radius shall be at least two inches greater than the top, to minimize movements caused by frost.
NONCONFORMING LOT
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 reasons of such adoption or amendment.
PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE
Any security which may be in lieu of a requirement that certain improvements be made before the Borough Council approves a final subdivision or land development plan, including performance bonds, escrow agreements, and other similar collateral or surety agreements.
PERSON
An individual(s), partnership(s), copartnership(s), association(s), corporation(s), limited liability company(ies), limited liability partnership(s), and any and all other entities.
PLANNING COMMISSION or BOROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION
The Sewickley Borough Planning Commission, appointed by the Borough Council in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended.
PLAT, FINAL
A complete and exact map or plan of a subdivision or land development (and including all required supplementary data), prepared for official recording as required by statute, defining property rights as well as proposed streets and other improvements.
PLAT OF RECORD
The copy of the final plat which contains the required original endorsements and which is recorded with the County Department of Real Estate.
PLAT, PRELIMINARY
A tentative map or plan of a subdivision of land development (and including all required supplementary data), in lesser detail than a final plat, showing approximate proposed street and lot layout as a basis for consideration prior to preparation of a final plat.
PRIVATE STREET
A right-of-way not adopted or otherwise determined to be a public street by Borough of Sewickley or not having otherwise been adopted as a county, state or Borough street. (See "street.")
PUBLIC GROUNDS
The term includes:
A. 
Parks, playgrounds, trails, paths and other recreational areas and other public areas.
B. 
Sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse disposal and other publicly owned or operated facilities.
C. 
Publicly owned or operated scenic and historic sites.
PUBLIC HEARING
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the Borough Council or Planning Commission, intended to inform and obtain public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended.
PUBLIC MEETING
A forum held pursuant to notice under the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L. 388, No. 84), known as the "Sunshine Act."[2]
PUBLIC NOTICE
A notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough. 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.
RESERVE STRIP
A parcel of ground in separate (sometimes public) ownership, separating a street from the adjacent properties or from another street.
RESUBDIVISION
Any subdivision or transfer of land laid out on a plan which has been approved by the Borough Council, which changes or proposes to change property lines and/or public rights-of-way not in strict accordance with approved plan.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
An area of land that is legally described for the public or private provision of access.
RUNOFF
The surface water discharge or rate of discharge of a given area or watershed after a fall of rain or snow, that does not enter the soil but runs off the surface of the land.
SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL, ON-SITE
Any structure designed to biochemically treat sanitary sewage within the boundaries of an individual lot, or tract of lots.
SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL (PRIVATE)
A sanitary sewage collection system managed and operated under private auspices, in which sewage is carried from individual lots by a system of pipes to a central treatment and disposal plant, generally serving a neighborhood area.
SANITARY SEWAGE DISPOSAL, PUBLIC
A sanitary sewage collection system, managed and operated by the Borough, in which sewage is carried from individual lots by a system of pipes to a central treatment and disposal plant.
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 considered sediment.
SEPTIC TANK
A covered watertight settling tank in which raw sewage is biochemically changed into solid, liquid and gaseous states to facilitate further treatment and final disposal.
SHOULDER
The portion of a roadway (cartway) between the curb or gutter and the travelway intended for emergency and parking use.
SLOPE
The face of an embankment or cut section; any ground whose surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. Slope is 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.
SOIL STABILIZATION
The chemical or structural treatment of a mass of soil to increase or maintain its stability or otherwise to improve its engineering properties.
STREET
Includes 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. Streets are further classified according to the functions they perform.
A. 
ARTERIALSignalized streets that serve primarily through traffic and provide access to abutting properties as a secondary function, having signal spacings of two miles or less and turn movements at intersections that usually do not exceed 20% of total traffic.
B. 
COLLECTORA roadway which typically connect local streets to arterial streets whereas the street may provide land access and traffic circulation within residential, commercial and industrial areas.
C. 
LOCAL ROADSA public street designed to provide access to abutting lots and to discourage through traffic.
D. 
ALLEYA public thoroughfare which may afford a secondary means for lot access but not intended for general traffic circulation.
E. 
LANEA public thoroughfare, located internal to a lot, which serves as a means of circulation between structures, parking areas and/or access to garages/service aisles.
F. 
CUL-DE-SACA dead-end street with a vehicular turnaround at the dead end.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object have an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVIDER
Shall be synonymous in meaning with "developer," as defined herein, and shall be used interchangeably with same.
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 division of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, petition 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.
SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED
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 pursuant to Section 509 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code) 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.
SURFACE DRAINAGE PLAN
A plan showing all present and proposed grades and facilities for stormwater drainage.
SURVEYOR
A surveyor registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SWALE
A low lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface water runoff.
TOPSOIL
Surface soils and subsurface soils which presumably are fertile soils and soil material, ordinarily rich in organic matter or humus debris. Topsoil is usually found in the uppermost soil layer, called the A horizon.
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.
WATERCOURSE
A permanent stream, intermittent stream, river, brook, creek, or a channel or ditch for water, whether natural or man-made.
WETLAND
Any area defined as a wetland by the Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands.
[1]
Editor's Note: See the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law, 63 P.S. § 148 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.