All words used in this chapter shall carry their customary dictionary definitions as provided in the most recent edition of Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, except where specifically defined herein. Throughout the document, certain words shall have the meaning assigned to them as follows:
A. 
The definitions contained in this Part 3 shall be observed and applied in the interpretation of all words.
B. 
Words used in the present tense shall include the future.
C. 
Words used in the singular number shall include the plural and the plural the singular.
D. 
Words used in the masculine gender shall include the feminine.
E. 
The word "shall" is mandatory, not discretionary.
F. 
The word "may" is permissive.
G. 
The word "should" means strongly recommended or so far as possible.
H. 
The word "lot" shall include the words "tract" and "parcel."
I. 
The word "building" includes all other structures of every kind regardless of similarity to buildings.
J. 
The phrase "used for" shall include the phrase "arranged for," designed for," intended for," "maintained for," and "occupied for."
K. 
The word "person" includes a corporation, firm, partnership or similar, as well as an individual.
L. 
All measured distances shall be to the nearest integral foot.
M. 
Parenthetical words or statements are integral parts of the definitions in which they are located.
N. 
Any words not defined in § 440-301 shall be construed in their generally accepted meanings as defined by standard dictionaries.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED VEHICLES
Any vehicle that does not have both a current Pennsylvania license plate and a current safety inspection sticker. This term shall not apply to any vehicle or equipment used in the normal operation of a farm owned or leased by the person farming the land.
ABANDONMENT
To stop the use of property intentionally when the use of property has ceased and the property has been vacant for six months. Abandonment of use will be presumed unless the owner can show that a diligent effort has been made to sell, rent or use the property for a legally permissible use.
ABUTTING
Having a common border with or being separated from such a common border by a right-of-way or easement.
ACADEMY
An institution specializing in the educational advancement of the arts, science or literature.
ACCESS POINT
A publicly maintained and dedicated or a privately maintained and undedicated thoroughfare that provides direct vehicular passage from a property to a public street right-of-way.
ACCESSORY BUILDING/ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A subordinate structure existing on the same lot as the principal or main building devoted to a use incidental to the principal use. An accessory building may not be constructed on a lot without the existence of a principal building. Accessory buildings/accessory structures include play structures 120 square feet or larger or having a height of 10 feet or more. Accessory buildings/accessory structures shall also include, but not be limited to, retaining walls four feet or more in height, sheds, pools, gazebos, pool houses, detached garages, greenhouses, detached decks, sports courts, freestanding mechanical or electrical equipment and any similar building or structure.
[Amended 7-13-2020 by Ord. No. 852]
ACCESSORY USE
A use located on the same lot as the principal use, customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use (e.g., home occupation).
ACOUSTICAL BLANKET
A resin-coated fabric placed around a site or object designed for the abatement of noise.
ACTIVE OPEN SPACE
See "open space, active."
ACTIVE RECREATION
Activities, such as organized sports, playground activities or the use of motorized vehicles, that require extensive facilities or development or that have a considerable impact on the recreational site.
ACTIVITY NODE
Area of mixed or singular uses that serve as destinations for residents and/or visitors.
ADJACENT STRUCTURES
For small wireless communications facilities, any similarly situated infrastructure within a 250-foot radius that is of the same design, construction, or use as the proposed structure. Adjacent structures may include, but are not limited to, utility poles and streetlight poles. The height of a structure is the vertical distance measured from the ground level to the highest point on a structure, not including antennas mounted on the tower and any other appurtenances.
[Added 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
ADULT-ORIENTED USE
The definition for this term and for all uses included under this term shall apply as are provided in Title 68, Part II, Subpart E, Chapter 55, Section 5502, of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, as amended. Such definitions in Pennsylvania Statues are hereby included by reference, including but not limited to, the definitions for "adult bookstore," "adult entertainment," "adult mini motion-picture theater," "adult motion-picture theater," "sexual activities," "specified anatomical areas," and "specified sexual activities."
ADVERSE IMPACT
A negative consequence for the physical or economic environment resulting from an action or project.
AGRICULTURAL BUILDING
A structure utilized to store farm implements, hay, feed, grain or other agricultural or horticultural products or to house poultry, livestock or other farm animals, a milk house and a structure used to grow mushrooms, agricultural or horticultural products. The term includes a carriage house owned and used by members of a recognized religious sect for the purposes of housing horses and storing buggies. The term shall not include habitable space, or spaces in which agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged and shall not be construed to mean a place of occupancy by the general public.
AGRICULTURAL LAND
Land whose use is devoted to the production of livestock, dairy animals, dairy products, poultry, poultry products, nursery plants, Christmas trees, forages and sod crops, grains and feed crops and other similar uses and activities, including equestrian activities.
AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS
An enterprise that is actively engaged in the commercial production, harvesting and/or preparation for market of crops, livestock and livestock products or in the use of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural and aquacultural crops and commodities. The term includes an enterprise that implements changes in production practices and procedures or types of crops, livestock, livestock products in which farmers normally engage or are consistent with technological development within the agricultural industry.
ALLEY
A public or private right-of-way, other than a street, road, crosswalk or easement, that provides secondary access for the abutting property, or serves as access to a property.
ALTERATION, FACIAL
To replace or add exterior building materials, but not including painting, facade repair, or general maintenance.
ALTERATION, STRUCTURAL
Any change or rearrangement in the supporting members of an existing building, such as bearing walls, columns, beams, foundations, girders or interior partitions; any change in door or window openings; or any horizontal or vertical enlargement or diminution of a building or structure.
ANIMAL DAY CARE
Any premises where domestic animals are dropped off and picked up daily for temporary care on site and where they may be groomed, trained, exercised and socialized, but are not kept or boarded overnight, bred, sold or let for hire.
ANIMAL GROOMING AND RETAIL OPERATION
Any establishment, or mobile unit, public or private, where pet animals are bathed, clipped or combed for the purpose of enhancing their aesthetic value or health, or both, and for which a fee is charged. This use includes any self-service pet washing business and may be accessory to a retail use. It does not include incidental bathing or combing of pets as part of regular animal care performed at an animal kennel, animal day care or grooming performed on an infrequent nonprofit basis for hobby or recreational purposes. Animal grooming service does not include the overnight boarding of any animals.
ANIMAL KENNEL
Any premises where, except as accessory to an agricultural or veterinary use, dogs and/or cats over three months of age are temporarily boarded overnight.
ANTENNA
Any system of wires, rods, discs, panels, flat panels, dishes, whips, or other similar devices used for the transmission or reception of wireless signals. An antenna may include an omnidirectional antenna (rod), directional antenna (panel), parabolic antenna (disc) or any other wireless antenna. An antenna shall not include tower-based wireless communications facilities defined herein. An antenna shall not include private residence-mounted satellite dishes or television antennas or amateur radio equipment, including, without limitation, ham or citizen band radio antennas.
[Amended 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
APARTMENT
See "dwelling: multifamily."
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has filed an application for development including his heirs, successors and assigns.
APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Every application, whether preliminary, tentative or final, required to be filed and approved prior to start of construction or development, including but not limited to an application for a building permit, for the approval for a subdivision plat or plan or for the approval of a development plan.
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
The Peters Township Council.
ARCHITECT
A professional licensed as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
AREA OF BUILDING
See "lot coverage."
AREA OF HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE
An area that contains biological, ecological, social or cultural values that are considered outstandingly significant or critically important at the local, regional or national level.
ARTERIAL ROADWAY (See "road classification.")
A four-lane roadway which functions as an inter-community link.
ATTACHED DWELLING OR BUILDING
A dwelling or building that does not have a yard on all sides of the structure.
AUTHORITY
A body politic and corporate created pursuant to Act of May 2, 1945 (P.L. 382, No. 164), known as the "Municipality Authorities Act of 1945."
AUTOMOBILE GAS/SERVICE STATION
An establishment used for the sale of motor fuel and lubricants and other services, such as lubrication and hand washing or reconditioning of vehicles and/or the sale, installation or minor repairs of tires, batteries, mufflers or other automotive accessories; may or may not include a convenience store and/or a gasoline station as an accessory use.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR GARAGE
Any building in which a business or service involves the maintenance, servicing, auto body or painting of vehicles.
AUTOMOBILE SERVICES
A general category of activities including automobile repair garage; gas/automobile service stations; car wash; automobile parts and supplies; and automobile sales and rental.
AXONOMETRIC/AXONOMETRIC DRAWING
A method of projection (axonometric projection) in which a three-dimensional object is represented by a drawing (axonometric drawing) having all axes drawn to exact scale, resulting in the optical distortion of diagonals and curves.
BALCONY
An elevated platform that has means of access with a rail or balustrade that projects from a wall of a building and is supported by the building.
BANK
A business in which money is kept for saving or commercial purposes, is invested, is supplied for loans or is exchanged.
BAR/NIGHTCLUB
An establishment where the principal use is the serving of alcoholic beverages by the drink to the general public and where food or packaged beverages may be served or sold as an accessory use. The establishment may also include entertainment activities, either live or recorded.
BASE FLOOD (See "floodplain diagram.")
A flood which has a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (also called the "one-hundred-year flood").
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE)
The elevation shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Zones AE, AH, A1-30 that indicates the water surface elevation resulting from a flood that has a one-percent or greater chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT
An enclosed area of a structure partly or completely below grade.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST
A detached dwelling unit and operated by the dwelling's owner in which a maximum of five rooms provide overnight guests sleeping quarters for a period of not more than 14 consecutive nights in a thirty-day period, with or without breakfast meals for hire or for pay. A bed-and-breakfast shall not include a boarding house, group living facility or hotel.
BERM (LANDSCAPE)
An earthen mound designed to provide visual interest on a site, screen and reduce noise, or buffer abutting properties.
BILLBOARD
A structure for the permanent display of off-premises advertising. Off-premises advertising directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located (also referred to as "off-premises sign").
BIOSWALE
Landscape features designed to reduce silt and pollution from surface runoff water, consisting of a swaled drainagecourse with gently sloped sides (less than 6%) filled with vegetation, compost and/or rock fill.
BLOCK
Property abutting on one side of a street and lying between the two nearest intersecting or intercepting streets, intersecting railroad, intersecting waterway, or the end of a dead-end street.
BOLLARD/BOLLARD LIGHTING
A. 
Bollard lights are a type of architectural outdoor lighting fixture comprising short, upright ground-mounted units, typically giving off light from the top or the sides, and used to illuminate walkways, steps or pathways.
B. 
Solar bollards store energy during daylight hours to allow illumination during the night. They use either a photocell or algorithms that determine whether the solar cells are receiving light to determine when to illuminate.
BOULEVARD
A wide, typically divided street, typically lined with trees.
BREWPUB
Establishment engaged primarily in the retail sale of prepared food for consumption, which includes the brewing of beer as an accessory use. The brewing operation produces beer and ale by mashing, cooking and fermenting and does not include the production of any other alcoholic beverage.
BUFFER AREA
A maintained landscape area of a certain depth designed to set apart one use from the other that may include sidewalks, walking paths or other pedestrian features when located along a street or driveway and is planted with a mix of plant types and sizes, including trees, grass, shrubs or other natural landscaping material in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. Existing natural plants and vegetation may also be included within a required buffer area.
[Amended 5-13-2019 by Ord. No. 841]
BUILDABLE AREA/BUILDING ENVELOPE
The area of a lot remaining after the minimum setbacks and open space requirements of the Zoning Ordinance have been met.
BUILDING
A structure or appendage to a structure, permanently affixed to the land; has one or more floors or stories; and has a roof supported by walls and/or columns and intended for shelter, housing or enclosure for any individual, animal, process, equipment, goods or materials of any kind.
BUILDING FACADE
That portion of any exterior elevation on the building extending from finished grade to top of the parapet, wall, or eaves and the entire width of the building elevation.
BUILDING FACADE, FRONT
The facade that includes the primary entrance is the front facade.
BUILDING FOOTPRINT
The ground floor area of any building, excluding residential garages and accessory sheds, measured from the outside of the exterior walls.
BUILDING FOUNDATION LANDSCAPE AREA
The area at the base of each building side that contains plantings and/or surface for pedestrian movement.
BUILDING HEIGHT
See "height of building."
BUILDING LINE
The line of that face of the building nearest the front line of the lot. This face includes sun parlors and covered porches, whether enclosed or unenclosed, but does not include walks, steps or terraces.
BUILDING PERMIT
A permit for activities regulated under the requirements of the Peters Township Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) and Building Code, including the following activities:
A. 
Constructing or altering a structure;
B. 
Constructing an addition;
C. 
Demolishing or moving a structure;
D. 
Making a change of occupancy;
E. 
Installing or altering any equipment regulated by the Building Code; and/or
F. 
Installing a deck, storage shed or other accessory structure.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE
An established line within a lot defining the minimum required distance between the face of any building or structure to be erected and the adjacent right-of-way or lot line. Building setback shall be measured from the right-of-way line if present; if no right-of-way line exists on the lot, the building setback shall be measured from the lot line.
A. 
The "face of building" includes basements, decks, sunrooms, foyers, any solid projections exceeding two feet, and any covered entrances.
B. 
"Building setback line" shall also apply to accessory buildings and structures except for signs, fences and walls, and bus shelters.
C. 
Bay windows, roof overhangs, cornice including gutters, extending less than two feet from a structure, are exempt.
BUILDING TRANSPARENCY
A. 
The minimum percentage of windows and doors that must cover a ground story facade is measured between two and 12 feet above the abutting sidewalk.
B. 
The minimum percentage of windows and doors that must cover an upper story facade is measured from the top of the finished floor to the top of the finished floor above. When there is no floor above, upper story transparency is measured from the top of the finished floor to the top of the wall plate.
C. 
Transparency applies to primary and side street-facing facades only.
BUILDING, PRINCIPAL
A building in which the principal use of the lot is conducted.
BULK
The volume of a building or structure indicating the total space enclosed by the exterior walls and roof expressed by multiplying lot coverage and the height of building.
BUMP-OUTS
A traffic calming measure used primarily to extend the sidewalk, protecting vehicles parked on the street and enabling shorter, safer crossing for pedestrians at intersections.
BUSINESS SERVICES
Establishments engaged in rendering services to businesses and offices on a fee or contract basis, including, but not limited to, advertising; mailing; data processing; office supplies; building maintenance; equipment servicing, rental, leasing and sales; employment service; and other similar business services.
CALIPER
A standard tree trunk diameter measurement used in the grading of nursery stock. The caliper is taken six inches above the ground for trees up to and including four-inch caliper size and 12 inches above the ground for larger sizes.[1]
CANOPY/SHADE TREE
Large shade tree with deciduous foliage (leaves lasting only one growing season, bare in winter) and a canopy at least 25 feet in diameter at maturity.
CAR WASH
A structure or area used for the purpose of cleaning or reconditioning the exterior and interior surfaces of automotive vehicles but not including an incidental one-bay washing facility in a gasoline service station where washing facilities are accessory to the operation of said service station. A self-operated vehicular laundering facility not requiring attendants or employees, regardless of capacity, is also considered to be a car wash.
CARTWAY (ROADWAY)
The improved or paved portion(s) of a street, exclusive of berm or shoulder, available for vehicular traffic or the portion or portions between curbs, where curbs are used.[2]
CELLAR
See "basement."
CELLULAR/WIRELESS TOWER
See "commercial wireless telecom antenna."
CEMETERY
Land that is reserved for the burying of the dead and that could contain mausoleums and columbaria but not crematoriums.
CENTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
The Governor's Center for Local Government Services located within the Department of Community and Economic Development.
CENTRAL OPEN SPACE
An expanse of common open space that serves as a community or neighborhood gathering space/focus.
CHANNEL
A perceptible natural or artificial waterway which periodically or continuously contains moving water or which forms a connecting link between two bodies of water. It has a definite bed and banks which confine the water.
CHAPTER
Chapter 440, Zoning, of the Peters Township Code unless otherwise specified.
CHARACTER
Special physical features of a structure or area that sets it apart or blends in with the surroundings.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
A triangular area of unobstructed vision at the intersection of two streets or of a driveway and a street defined by line of sight a given distance from the intersection of the center lines of two streets or the center lines of the driveway and the street.
CLINIC
An establishment that administers or dispenses controlled substances, according to the direction of a physician in a rehabilitative context in order to alleviate, suppress or eliminate adverse psychological or physiological symptoms of medical conditions or the continuous or sustained use of a narcotic drug. Includes dispensaries that hold a permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to dispense medical marijuana as well as clinics, institutions and other entities designed and operated to manage opioid addiction, to administer opioid addiction treatment programs and to provide detox treatment to individuals attempting to overcome an addiction to or dependence on heroin or other opioids.
CLOSE
A thoroughfare with one-way, counter-clockwise access that surrounds a public green space on at least three sides, as described and illustrated in Part 4.
CLUSTER LOT SUBDIVISION
A form of development for single-family residential subdivisions that permit a reduction in lot area and yard requirements, provided that there is no increase in the number of lots under a conventional subdivision and the resultant land area is devoted to open space.
CLUSTER MAILBOX
A freestanding, pedestal-style outdoor mailbox, centrally located within a development that includes mail receptacles for numerous tenants or residents. Cluster mailboxes should be designed to accommodate most packages delivered by the postal service, as approved by the local post master.
[Added 5-13-2019 by Ord. No. 841]
CO-LOCATION
The mounting of one or more WCFs, including antennas, on a preexisting structure, or modifying a structure for the purpose of mounting or installing a WCF on that structure.
[Amended 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
COBRAHEAD (LIGHTING)
A ubiquitous style of streetlight fixture mounted on a curbside pole with a generally narrow arm extending out over the roadway and a generally rounded luminaire at its end. This is the standard lighting fixture used by PennDOT for most highway applications, available in a variety of lens configurations and lamp types.
CODES, BUILDING
Peters Township follows the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PUCC), based on the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC).[3]
COLLECTOR ROADWAY
A two- to four-lane roadway that functions as an intracommunity link and serves as a feeder to arterial streets.
COLLUVIAL SOIL
Soil material, rock fragments, or both, moved by creep, slide or local wash and deposited at the base of steep slopes and categorized as such by the Washington County Conservation District.
COMBINED PEAK TRAFFIC RATE
The sum of the a.m. peak hour traffic rate and the p.m. peak hour traffic rate for a specified use where the traffic rates for the use are those as defined by the most current edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
COMMERCIAL CONVENIENCE
Commercial areas providing limited retail and office goods and services for nearby residential areas.
COMMERCIAL LAND DEVELOPMENT
A tract of one or more contiguous lots held in single ownership for the purpose of leasehold or sale as prescribed in this chapter and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[4]
COMMERCIAL RECREATION FACILITY
See "recreation facility: commercial."
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
A motor vehicle licensed by the Department of Transportation, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, having a gross vehicle weight in excess of 17,500 pounds; or any other vehicle, either motorized, self-propelled or designed to be towed by another vehicle, for use in commercial or industrial enterprises, such as air compressors, welding units and the like; or any and all earthmoving equipment, such as bulldozers, hi-lifts, backhoes, ditching equipment and the like.[5]
COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE
Terms and pricing that are reasonably consistent with similar wireless facility leases and agreements within a fifty-mile radius of the Township.
[Added 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
COMMON AREA
Any portion of a development that is not part of a lot, or open space tract and is designed for the common usage of the development.
COMMON OPEN SPACE
See "open space, common."
COMMUNICATION TOWER
A guyed monopole or self-supporting tower taller than 10 feet constructed as a freestanding structure or in association with a building, other permanent structure or equipment, containing one or more antennas intended for transmitting and/or receiving television, radio, digital, microwave, cellular, telephone or similar forms of electronic communication.
COMMUNITY CENTER
A clubhouse or similar structure owned by a homeowners' association for use by residents of a PRD, or specific subdivision, including recreational facilities and social rooms.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
A use in which land managed by a public or nonprofit organization or a group of individuals is used to grow plants and harvest food or ornamental crops for donation or for use by those cultivating the land.
COMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS
Higher-density development in which a variety of land uses are located such that residents and workers are within walking distance of many destinations.
COMPATIBILITY
The characteristics of different land uses or activities that permit them to be located near each other in harmony and without conflict.
COMPLETE STREETS
Streets and roadways that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.
COMPOSTING
A controlled process of degrading organic matter by microorganisms, including but not limited to the following methods: 1) mechanical; 2) ventilated cell; and 3) windrow. The process may be anaerobic or aerobic.
COMPOSTING FACILITY
A facility in which composting takes place, but not including composting by a single-family lot owner for personal use.
COMPRESSOR STATION
See "natural gas compressor station."
CONCENTRATED FLOW
The collection of stormwater and discharge of same from any pipe, conduit, channel or swale to a defined location.
CONCEPTUAL PLAN
Written and graphic documents submitted for personal or conditional use that indicate subdivision layout or site design and their overall impact on the subject tract and surrounding neighborhoods.
CONDITIONAL USE
An authorized use that may be granted only by the Township Council pursuant to express standards and criteria prescribed in this chapter, after review and recommendations by the Township Planning Commission and a public hearing conducted by the Township Council pursuant to public notice.
CONDOMINIUM
A method of ownership applicable mainly to multifamily dwellings. Under this system, a person obtains title to his individual unit and in addition becomes a member of a nonprofit condominium association and, as such, part owner of all land, buildings and amenities within his condominium project.
CONFERENCE AND TRAINING CENTER
A facility used for corporate or professional meetings, seminars and/or employee training but which may include supporting dining and lodging facilities and related recreational facilities as accessory uses.
CONNECTIONS
Physical alternatives linking activities and uses, both within and outside the neighborhood and activity nodes.
CONNECTIVITY INDEX (STREET)
The number of street links (lengths of streets between intersections) divided by the number of nodes/intersections and link ends (including culs-de-sac and sharp curves with design speed of 15 miles per hour or lower). Street connectivity index: Links/nodes = street connectivity index (higher is more desirable).
CONNECTOR ROADWAY
A two-lane roadway which functions to facilitate the collection of traffic from local roads.
CONSERVATION
The management of natural resources to prevent waste, destruction, erosion and degradation of the natural environment.
CONSERVATION AREA
Lands identified in a conservation residential subdivision application as having important natural values that should be permanently protected, including:
A. 
Slopes of 25% or greater covering a contiguous area of at least 5,000 square feet;
B. 
The one-hundred-year floodplain;
C. 
Buffer zones of at least 75 feet along all perennial and intermittent streams;
D. 
Wetlands that meet the definition of the United States Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to the Clean Water Act;
E. 
Wildlife habitat areas of species listed as endangered or threatened by the Pennsylvania Game Commission;
F. 
Archaeological sites, cemeteries and burial grounds;
G. 
Existing healthy, native forests of at least one acre of contiguous area;
H. 
Individual existing healthy trees greater than eight inches in caliper, as measured from the outermost dripline;
I. 
Prime agricultural lands of at least five contiguous acres;
J. 
Existing trails that connect the subdivision to neighboring areas; and
K. 
Other significant natural features and scenic viewsheds, particularly those which can be seen from public roads.
CONSERVATION EASEMENT
A nonpossessory interest of a holder in real property, whether appurtenant or in gross, imposing limitations or affirmative obligations, the purposes of which include, but are not limited to, retaining or protecting for the public and economic benefit the natural, scenic or open-space values of real property; assuring its availability for agricultural, forest, recreational or open-space use; protecting, conserving or managing the use of natural resources; and protecting wildlife; maintaining or enhancing land, air or water quality or preserving the historical, architectural, archaeological or cultural aspects of real property.
CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION
Any development of land within the boundaries of the Conservation Residential District that incorporates the concepts of designated open space and grouping of dwelling units.
CONSISTENCY
An agreement or correspondence between matters being compared which denotes a reasonable rational, similar connection or relationship.
CONSTRAINED LAND
Those lands in a proposed subdivision that are restricted from development due to environmental conditions, such as steep slopes, the presence of wetlands or waterways, or are restricted from development under ordinances adopted by the Township.
CONSUMER SERVICES
Establishments engaged in rendering services oriented toward secretarial; financial; photocopying; quick printing and fax; management and consulting services to Township residents and its visitors.
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE
The extent to which the design of an element or feature complements and is integrated with the aesthetics of its environs, which may range in scope, at the discretion of the Township, from the immediate surrounding area to the Township as a whole. The concept is applicable to transportation networks, development patterns, streets, alleys, buildings, architecture, pedestrian amenities, open spaces, landscaping, streetscaping, accessory structures, utility poles, wireless communications facilities, and other components of the built environment.
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS
A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders in providing a transportation facility that fits its setting.
CONTIGUOUS PROPERTIES
Parcels, lots, tracts sharing a common property line.
CONTINUING-CARE FACILITY
A residential facility or planned residential development designed, operated and maintained for retired adults, which may include skilled nursing, intermediate care or personal care facilities as defined by state licensure requirements, as well as independent living units.
CONTINUUM-OF-CARE FACILITY
See "continuing-care facility."
CONVENIENCE STORE
A retail establishment offering for sale food products, household items and other goods commonly associated with the same and generally having a gross floor area of less than 10,000 square feet.
CONVENTIONAL GAS DRILLING
The drilling or redrilling of any conventional gas well or the deepening of any existing conventional gas well.
CONVENTIONAL GAS WELL
A vertical well bore that is drilled above the base of the Elk Sandstone shale formation or its equivalent stratigraphic interval.
CORNER LOT
A lot bounded on at least two adjacent sides by streets at their intersection, or upon two parts of the same street forming an interior angle of less than 135°.
CORRIDOR, MIXED USE
An area of land where a variety of land uses are permitted, including employment, shopping, and residential.
COUNTY
Any county of the second class through eighth class. Peters Township is a home rule community within Washington County, Pennsylvania.
COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
A land use and growth management plan prepared by the County Planning Commission and adopted by the County Commissioners which established broad goals and criteria for municipalities to use in preparation of their comprehensive plan and land use regulations.
COURT
An open, unoccupied space bounded on two or more sides by the exterior walls of a building or exterior walls and lot lines.
COVERAGE
See "lot coverage."
CREMATORY
An establishment containing a furnace where a corpse can be burned and reduced/cremated to ashes as permitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP).
CUL-DE-SAC
A street having one end open to traffic and being permanently terminated by a vehicular turnaround.
CURB CUT
A break in a curb allowing access from the roadway or sidewalk to a property; an integral part of an ADA system and can provide access for stormwater to a rain garden.
DARK SKY STANDARDS
Lighting standards that minimize light pollution and light trespass and follow the standards of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Dark Sky Association (IDA).
DAY-CARE FACILITY
An establishment that provides supervision and activities, including nutritional, developmental, rehabilitative, habilitative, recreational and educational needs, for a portion of a twenty-four-hour day to four or more persons who are not relatives of an operator if in a residence. The term does not include services provided for persons whose needs are such that they can only be met in a long-term care facility on an in-patient basis receiving professionally supervised nursing care and related medical and other health services. Establishments include those licensed, certified or defined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as one of the following:
A. 
Day-care center;
B. 
Daily living center;
C. 
Family child day-care home; or
D. 
Group child day-care home.
DECISION
Final adjudication of any board or other body granted jurisdiction under any land use ordinance or this act to do so, either by reason of the grant of exclusive jurisdiction or by reason of appeals from determinations. All decisions shall be appealable to the court of common pleas of the county and judicial district wherein the municipality lies. [See MPC § 107(a).[6]]
DECK
A floored structure that adjoins a building and is supported by the ground and serves as an area for outdoor living.
DENSITY
The number of residential dwelling units permitted per acre or the floor area of nonresidential development permitted per acre.
A. 
Gross: the density of development based upon the total acreage of a lot.
B. 
Net: the density of development based upon the difference between the total acreage of a lot minus land.
DESIGN STANDARDS
A set of guidelines regarding the architectural appearance of a building or zoning district; site and architectural requirements that establish a baseline to achieve the intended community character and form envisioned in Plan Peters 2022.
DETACHED DWELLING OR BUILDING
A dwelling or building that has yard areas on each and all sides.
DETERMINATION
A. 
The final action by an officer, body or agency charged with the administration of any land use ordinance or applications thereunder, except the following:
(1) 
The governing body.
(2) 
The Zoning Hearing Board.
(3) 
The planning agency, only if and to the extent the planning agency is charged with final decision on preliminary or final plans under the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance or planned residential development provisions.
B. 
Determinations shall be appealable only to the boards designated as having jurisdiction for such appeal. [See MPC § 107(a).[7]]
DEVELOPABLE AREA
All land in a proposed subdivision that is not defined as undevelopable due to environmental conditions or in ordinances adopted by the Township.
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.
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, dredging or drilling operations and the subdivision of land.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The provisions for development, 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, ways, and parking facilities, common open space and public facilities. The phrase "provisions of the development plan" when used in this chapter shall mean the written and graphic materials referred to in this definition.
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Standards and regulations that limit the size, bulk or siting conditions of particular types of buildings or uses located within any designated zoning district.
DIGITAL MAPPING/GIS
The process by which a collection of data is compiled and formatted (often as part of a geographic information system) into a virtual image. The primary function of this technology is to produce maps that give accurate representations of a particular area.
DILAPIDATED
A deterioration of structure(s) or building(s) to the point of being unsafe or unfit for human habitation or use.
DISTANCE BETWEEN BUILDINGS
When calculating the distance between buildings, the face of each building shall be calculated in accordance with the definition of building in "building setback line."
DISTRICT
A section or sections of the Township for which the regulations and provisions governing the use of buildings and lands are uniform.
DRAINAGE
In general, the removal of surface water from a given area, commonly applied to surface water and groundwater.
DRAINAGE AREA
The area of a drainage basin or watershed expressed in acres, square miles or other unit of area, also called "catchment area," "watershed," "river basin" or "tributary area."
DRAINAGE EASEMENT
A right granted by a landowner to a grantee allowing the use of private land for stormwater management purposes.
DRILLING
Any digging or boring of a new or existing well to explore, develop or produce oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, or to inject gas, water or any other fluid or substance into the earth.
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
The derrick, all parts and appurtenances to such structure, and every piece of apparatus, machinery, or equipment used, erected or maintained for use in connection with drilling.
DRIVE-THROUGH
A building opening, including windows, doors or mechanical devices, through which occupants of a motor vehicle receive or obtain a product or service.
DRIVEWAY
A cartway that provides access between a parking space, garage, building or dwelling and a public street right-of-way.
DRIVEWAY, COMMON
A shared access by adjacent property owners.
DRIVEWAY, CROSS ACCESS
A service drive providing vehicular access between two or more contiguous sites so the driver need not enter the public street network.
DRIVEWAY, FOR THROUGH TRAFFIC
A privately maintained and undedicated cartway that provides direct access between a building, structure or parking lot and a public street right-of-way but does not provide direct access to a parking space.
DUPLEX
See "dwelling: single-family attached." A single residential structure that is divided into two dwelling units each of which has a separate entrance.
DWELLING
A building designed or used exclusively as living quarters. The following dwelling types are included in this chapter:
A. 
SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHEDA detached residential building which is the only principal structure on the lot, designed exclusively for occupancy by one family, as defined herein, and containing one dwelling unit. This category includes patio homes, which are typically developed at a density greater than one unit per 5,000 square feet as part of a development or subdivision containing three or more dwelling units.
B. 
SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHEDA building containing more than one dwelling unit attached to two or more dwelling units by common vertical wall(s). Single-family attached dwellings each shall have separate access to the outdoors not shared with the access of other dwelling units. This category includes duplexes.
C. 
MULTIFAMILYA residential building designed exclusively for occupancy by three or more families living independently of each other and containing three or more dwelling units that may have common corridors and shared exit and entrance facilities. This definition includes condominiums and apartments.
DWELLING DENSITY
The maximum number of dwelling units permitted per acre or per lot.
DWELLING SITE
A site within a manufactured home park and/or mobile home park with required improvements and utilities that is leased for the long-term placement of manufactured homes and/or mobile homes.
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms for living purposes, together with individual cooking and sanitary facilities, which are accessible from the outdoors, either directly or through an entrance hall shared with other dwelling units.
EASEMENT
A right of limited use of private property granted but not necessarily dedicated for public or quasi-public purposes, and within which the landowner and/or developer of the lot shall not erect any permanent structure but shall have the right to make any other use of the land which is not inconsistent with the rights of the grantee.
EASEMENT, ACCESS
An easement created for the purpose of providing vehicular or pedestrian access to a property.
EASEMENT, CONSERVATION
See "conservation easement."
ELECTRONIC NOTICE
A notice given by a municipality through the Internet of the time and place of a public hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. [See MPC § 107(a).]
EMERGENCY
A condition that 1) constitutes a clear and immediate danger to the health, welfare, or safety of the public, or 2) has caused or is likely to cause facilities in the rights-of-way to be unusable and result in loss of the services provided.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
An area utilized for the maintenance, fueling, storage, dispatching or parking of vehicles and/or equipment providing rescue or ambulatory services, excepting rescue services offered from a fire station, and where the area may or may not include buildings utilized in connection therewith.
EMISSION STANDARD AVERAGING PERIOD
The averaging period will be as specified in Part 6 for crematories; the averaging period will be for actual time the cremation process is occurring, not including down time.
ENERGY SOURCE OPERATIONS
Operations that involve the transmittal of seismic waves to model the geophysical properties of the earth's crust.
ENGINEER
A licensed professional engineer registered as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ENLARGEMENT
An addition to the floor area of an existing building, an increase in size of another structure, or an increase in that portion of a lot of land occupied by an existing use.
EQUESTRIAN FACILITY
A commercial horse, donkey, and/or mule facility, which includes horse ranches, boarding stables, riding schools and academies, horse exhibition facilities (for shows or other competitive events), pack stations, and barns, stables, corrals and paddocks accessory and incidental to such uses.
EQUIPMENT STORAGE
A lot or portion of a lot where a business stores large equipment or heavy machinery that is necessary for outdoor business operations.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
The provision of distribution systems by municipal or other government agencies regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) or other governmental agencies of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam or water pipes, sewers, conduit, fire alarm boxes, traffic signals, fire hydrants and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith, reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate services by such public utilities or municipal or governmental agencies or for the public health and safety or general welfare. Essential services also include municipal and community sewage disposal systems.
ESTABLISHED FLOOD ELEVATION
The elevation at a point on the boundary of the identified floodplain area that is nearest to the construction site in question.
ESTATE LOT DESIGN OPTION
Large lot subdivision design. In the Woodland Protection Overlay Zone, two-acre minimum lot size and two-and-one-half-acre minimum lot size for corner lots. The intent is to maximize the amount of land that remains undisturbed during both home construction and installation of the public improvements.
EXCAVATING SERVICE
A business that uses or the act of using heavy machinery and equipment to cut, scoop, dig or otherwise alter the earth usually for construction purposes.
EXCLUDED LAND
Land designated for construction of internal roads and streets and associated rights-of-way and private lots.
EYEBROW/EYEBROW STREET
A green space created by the splitting of a street.
FACADE
The exterior wall of a building exposed to public view.
FACTORY AUTHORIZED AUTOMOBILE DEALER
An automotive retail business that is authorized by the parent corporation to sell new and previously owned vehicles. A repair shop, detailing service, parts department and showroom are usually also part of the business.
FAMILY
One of the following:
A. 
All persons living in the same household who are related by birth, marriage or adoption; or
B. 
Those defined as such by the United States Code or Federal Register; or
C. 
No more than four unrelated individuals occupying a premises and living as a single housekeeping unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a boardinghouse, group living facility, hotel or motel.
FAMILY DAY CARE
A residential accessory use providing supervision and activities, including nutritional, developmental, rehabilitative, habilitative, recreational and educational needs, for a portion of a twenty-four-hour day to up to six children unrelated to the operator.
FARM
A plot of land containing not fewer than 10 acres upon which are maintained, grown or produced for sale or use, domestic livestock, dairy products, poultry, eggs, fruit and vegetables or such other crops as are usually or customarily grown or produced in this locality, including indoor or outdoor grown nursery stock.
FARMERS' MARKET
An occasional or temporary market held in an open area or in a structure where fresh agricultural products are sold directly to the consumer generally by vendors who have raised the vegetables or produce or have taken the same on consignment for retail sale.
FCC
Federal Communications Commission.
FENCE
A barrier that encloses a field, yard, etc., usually made of posts and wood or wire, used to prevent entrance, to confine or to mark a boundary.
FITNESS CENTER
See "recreation facility, commercial."
FLAG LOT
A lot which is separated from all road rights-of-way by another lot or lots and which is connected to some right-of-way by a private access strip narrower than the minimum required lot width for the applicable zoning district. See § 440-1204, Appendix 02H, Yard Locations: Flag Lot in Part 12, Appendixes.
FLASHING
A pattern of changing light illumination where the sign illumination alternates suddenly between fully illuminated and fully nonilluminated in a time frame of less than four seconds.
FLAT
A dwelling unit located above a nonresidential use.
FLEX SPACE
A nonresidential use, primarily for office and industrial type uses, where building space can be easily or repeatedly arranged or transformed into multiple rooms for multiple tenants.
FLOOD-PRONE AREA
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.
FLOODPLAIN
The areas of Peters Township identified on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps within the one-hundred-year and five-hundred-year flood zones or further defined by hydraulic calculations prepared by a registered engineer.
FLOOR
A habitable area of uniform elevation that is contained within the face of the exterior walls.
FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR)
A ratio equal to the gross floor area of a building divided by a lot's gross buildable area.
FOCAL POINT
A center point of activity, usually an open space or common area used as a community gathering or activity center. A focal point often serves as a landmark and identity element for the community.
FOREST MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS
All activities connected with growing and harvesting of forest products, including the site preparation, cultivation and logging of trees, and the construction and maintenance of roads. See Chapter 402 of the Township Code.
FORESTRY
The management of forests and timberlands when practiced in accordance with accepted silvicultural principles, through developing, cultivating, harvesting, transporting and selling trees for commercial purposes, which does not involve any land development.
FRESH WATER
Water obtained from a potable water source of the commonwealth, such as a hydrant, stream, lake, water well, spring or other source that has not been treated or utilized in commercial or industrial operations.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE STAND
A temporary open-air stand or place for the seasonal selling of agricultural produce. A fruit/vegetable stand is portable and capable of being dismantled or removed from the sales site.
FUNERAL HOME
A building used for the embalming and/or cremation of the deceased prior to burial and for the viewing of the deceased and ceremonies connected therewith before burial or cremation.
GALLERY
A room or structure in which original works of art or limited editions of original art are bought, sold, loaned, appraised, or exhibited to the general public.
GARDEN
A portion of a residential yard or lawn that is used for the cultivation of flowers, vegetables, herbs, fruit, trees, shrubs or other plant materials typically for personal use.
GARDEN APARTMENT
See "dwelling: multifamily."
GAS STATION
A structure and surrounding land having pumps and storage tanks where fuel, gasoline, oil or other similar products are dispensed, sold or offered for sale at retail only; vehicle service is minor and incidental; and accessory uses may include a convenience store. Fuel pumps may exist as an accessory use to other primary uses as specified.
GENERAL CONSISTENCY; GENERALLY CONSISTENT
That which exhibits consistency.
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT
An electrical power generating plant with a nominal electric generating capacity of less than 25 megawatts; a pipeline that is less than 16 inches in diameter and less than five miles in length used to carry geothermal resources; and related or supporting equipment and facilities.
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE
Any groundwater, steam or other fluid 250° F. or greater that is used for its thermal characteristics.
GLARE
The effect produced by brightness sufficient to alter or impair visual performance and visibility.
GOVERNING BODY
The Peters Township Council.
GRADING
The act of changing the natural contour of the land in any way.
GREEN
Cost-effective, resilient design solutions that strategically leverage natural and seminatural areas, conditions and/or resources.
GREEN AREA
A percentage which, when multiplied by the lot area, will determine the minimum area which must be landscaped. The use of Grasscrete, Mono Slab or equal in place of paving shall not be counted as green area.
GREEN COURT/COURTYARD
An open space surrounded by walls or buildings adjoining, or with a building such as a large house or housing complex.
GREENHOUSE, MAJOR
A structure typically with glass or other transparent materials in which temperature and humidity can be controlled for the cultivation or protection of plants utilized for residential or commercial purposes and which exceeds 250 square feet in size.
GREENHOUSE, MINOR
A structure typically with glass or other transparent materials in which temperature and humidity can be controlled for the cultivation or protection of plants utilized for residential purposes and which does not exceed 250 square feet in size.
GREENWAY
A corridor of open space. Greenways vary greatly in scale, from narrow ribbons of green that run through urban, suburban and rural areas to wider corridors that incorporate diverse natural, cultural and scenic features. They can incorporate both public and private property, and can be land- or water-based. Greenways are often associated with trails.
GROSS ACRE
A density unit of measure for establishing or tabulating the number of dwelling units per gross acre.
GROSS DENSITY
A density standard establishing the number of dwelling units allowed to be built within a subdivision.
GROSS FLOOR AREA
The sum of the gross area of all floors of a building measured from the face of exterior walls. Gross floor area calculations shall not include parking structures. [See also "floor area ratio (FAR)."]
GROSS LOT AREA
The total area, measured in square feet, of a lot or parcel that is used for development.
GROUNDWATER
Water in that portion of the generally recognized hydrologic cycle which occupies the pore spaces and fractures of saturated subsurface materials. Groundwater often supplies wells and springs and is often withdrawn for domestic, agricultural, municipal, industrial and other beneficial uses.
GROUP LIVING FACILITY
A residential facility designed, operated and maintained for adults which may include skilled nursing, intermediate care, or personal care facilities, as well as independent living facilities. This use shall not include a home for persons who are currently addicted to alcohol or narcotic drugs or are criminal offenders serving on work release or probationary programs. (See "transitional facility.")
A. 
TYPE AA dwelling unit shared by five to 15 persons who require assistance and/or supervision and who reside together in a family-type environment. These facilities shall be maintained and operated by appropriately licensed and/or certified practitioners.
B. 
TYPE BA residence for between 16 and 130 units, plus attending staff, that functions as a housekeeping unit, with a maximum of 60 continuum-of-care living units. This use may include limited convenience services (shared dining, nursing, beauty/barber shops, pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, and similar facilities) for the use of the residents and guests co-located within the facility. These facilities shall be maintained and operated by appropriately licensed and/or certified practitioners.
HABITABLE STRUCTURE
A residence that is safe and fit for human habitation. A habitable structure shall provide basic amenities (adequate heat, hot water, and plumbing), and a sound structure that does not pose unreasonable safety risks is required. Tenants have various remedies when premises become substandard.
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
A substance (solid, liquid or gas) that when released is capable of creating harm to people and/or the environment.
HEIGHT OF A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
The vertical distance measured from the ground level, including any base pad, to the highest point on a communications tower, including antennas mounted on the tower and any other appurtenances.
HEIGHT OF BUILDING
A. 
The vertical distance measured from the average elevation of a proposed finished grade at the front of the building, and the opposite side of the same building. [the average of the highest and lowest elevation along natural or improved grade (whichever is more restrictive) along the front of the building parallel to the primary street setback line], to:
[Amended 10-11-2021 by Ord. No. 869]
(1) 
Flat roof: the highest point of the front facade or parapet wall; or
(2) 
Gable, hip, and gambrel roofs: the mean line between eaves and ridge for; and/or
(3) 
Other types of roof: the highest point.
B. 
Accessory elements (chimneys, mechanical equipment, other similar accessory elements):
(1) 
Are not considered in building height calculations.
(2) 
Shall not be visible from any part of the property.
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The vertical distance measured from the top of the sign structure to the mean finished grade at the base of the sign, provided that the ground level is not elevated to increase the height of the sign. See Part 7.
[Amended 5-13-2019 by Ord. No. 841]
HOME OCCUPATION
A use or a service conducted entirely within a dwelling by the residents thereof, which use is clearly secondary to the use of the dwelling for living purposes and which does not change the residential character thereof.
HOME-BASED BUSINESS (NO-IMPACT)
A business or commercial activity administered or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and which involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises in excess of those normally associated with residential use. It must satisfy the following requirements:
A. 
The business activity shall be compatible with the residential use of the property and surrounding residential uses.
B. 
The business shall employ no employees other than family members residing in the dwelling.
C. 
There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling or inventory of a substantial nature.
D. 
There shall be no outside appearance of a business use, including, but not limited to, parking, signs or lights.
E. 
The business activity may not use any equipment or process which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical or electronic interference, including interference with radio or television reception, which is detectable in the neighborhood.
F. 
The business activity may not generate any solid waste or sewage discharge, in volume or type, which is not normally associated with residential use in the neighborhood.
G. 
The business activity shall be conducted only within the dwelling and may not occupy more than 25% of the habitable floor area.
H. 
The business may not involve any illegal activity.
HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION
A community association, other than a condominium association, which is organized in a development in which individual owners share common interests in open space or facilities.
HOSPITAL
An institution providing primary health services and medical or surgical care to persons, primarily inpatients, suffering from illness, disease, injury, deformity and abnormal physical or mental conditions, and including, as an integral part of the institution, related facilities, such as laboratories, outpatient facilities or training facilities.
HOTEL
One or more buildings providing temporary lodging primarily to persons who have residences elsewhere. The structure(s) have an interior hall and lobby with access to each room from such.
HUMAN SCALE
A scale appropriate, specific, or comprehensible to people, especially with reference to architecture or design.
HYDRIC SOILS
Soils, classified by the Washington County Conservation District, whose major components are conducive to wetland conditions, are located in a high water table and are saturated with water close to the surface most of the year. Hydric soils in Peters Township include: Purdy.
IDENTIFIED FLOOD-PRONE 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).
IMPERVIOUS
Any material that resists the entrance or passing through of water or other liquids.
IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE
The percentage of land utilized by impervious surfaces: buildings, structures, paving, parking structures, swimming pools and recreational sport courts/surfaces.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
Impermeable; not allowing or allowing only with great difficulty the infiltration of water.
INCIDENTAL
Being likely to ensue as a chance or minor consequence.
INDUSTRIAL LAND DEVELOPMENT
A land development on a tract on one or more contiguous lots held in single ownership or control for the purpose of leaseholds or sale as prescribed in this chapter and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance or where any land, building or premises which involves a group of two or more buildings, or 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, building groups or other features is considered a land development and is regulated by the Peters Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,[8] in addition to this chapter. (See Part 4.)
INDUSTRY, LIGHT
See "light industry."
INTERCONNECTED (SYSTEM OF) OPEN SPACES
Open spaces shall be contiguous visually, environmentally and functionally. As stated by the American Planning Association, open space is:
A. 
An interconnected system of parks, and open space is manifestly more beneficial than creating parks in isolation.
B. 
Communities can use parks to help preserve essential ecological functions and to protect biodiversity.
C. 
When planned as part of a system of green infrastructure, parks can help shape urban form and buffer incompatible uses.
D. 
Cities can use parks to reduce public costs for stormwater management, flood control, transportation, and other forms of built infrastructure.
INTERMITTENT
A pattern of changing light intensity, other than that achieved with immediate, fade or dissolve transitions, where any message remains static at least four seconds.
JUNKYARD
An area of land, with or without buildings, used for the storage or abandonment, inside or outside a completely enclosed building, of used and discarded materials, including, but not limited to, wastepaper, rags, metal, building materials, house furnishings, machinery, vehicles, or parts thereof, with or without the dismantling, processing, salvage, sale or other use or disposition of the same.
JUNKED VEHICLE
Any self-propelled, fuel-powered vehicle that has any part of the body missing, broken windshield, wheels off, motor out, transmission out, or any part that prevents the vehicle from moving on its own power, and any other mobile equipment that has parts missing, that is pulled or towed by another fuel-powered vehicle. This shall not apply to any vehicle or equipment used in the normal operation of a farm owned or leased by the person farming the land.
KEEPING OF HORSES AND PONIES
The boarding and care of horses and/or ponies used for recreational purposes for one's family.
KENNEL
See "animal kennel."
LABORATORY
See "research and development."
LAND DEVELOPMENT
A. 
Either:
(1) 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots 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.
B. 
The Peters Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, in addition to this chapter, shall control all land developments.
LAND USE
A description of how land is occupied or utilized.
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 any other person having a proprietary interest in the land.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
A professional licensed as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
LANDSCAPE BUFFER
See "buffer area."
LED
Light emitting diode.
LIGHT ASSEMBLY
The process of assembling premanufactured materials or components with minimal use of chemical and/or mechanical processes.
LIGHT INDUSTRY
A facility for the processing and fabrication of certain materials and products where no process involved produces noise, vibration, air pollution, fire hazard or noxious emission which will disturb or endanger neighboring properties. "Light industry" includes, but is not limited to, the production of the following goods: home appliances; electronic devices; timepieces; jewelry; optical goods; musical instruments; novelties; wood products; printed material; ceramics; apparel; lightweight metal castings; film processing; pharmaceutical goods and food products, but not animal slaughtering or curing or rendering of fats.
LIGHT SHIELD
Controlling light output by adding shielding fixtures that direct light where it is needed enhancing performance through strategic light guidance.
LIGHTING, PEDESTRIAN-SCALE
Light standards or placements no greater than 14 feet in height placed among sidewalks or walkways.
LIMITED LODGING
The accessory use of a dwelling unit for temporary rental for occupancy for dwelling, sleeping or lodging. There are two categories:
A. 
LIMITED LODGING, SHORT-TERMThe accommodation of visitors conducted in a dwelling unit, the primary use of which is for household living, and where the total accommodations of visitors provided is for fewer than 91 days per year but where the provision of lodging to any particular visitor is for no more than 30 consecutive days. This limited use does not require a use permit.
B. 
LIMITED LODGING HOMEThe accommodation of visitors conducted by the primary resident of the dwelling unit, the main use of which is for household living, and where the total accommodations of visitors provided is for greater than 90 days per year but where the provision of lodging to any particular visitor is for no more than 30 consecutive days. In no instance may limited lodging be provided for more than 180 days per year. For purposes of this definition, the "primary resident" shall mean either: 1) the owner of the dwelling unit; or 2) a renter a) who lives in the dwelling unit more than half of the year and b) who is authorized by the owner to provide limited lodging. A limited lodging home is required to obtain a use permit. See Part 6, Supplemental Regulations.
LINE COMPRESSOR
A device that raises the pressure of a compressible fluid (gas) in order for the gas to be transported through a pipeline.
LOADING AREA
That area of a lot utilized for loading and unloading of goods, deliveries and/or servicing of rubbish, fuel or other similar functions.
LOCAL ROADS
A two-lane roadway which functions to give access to individual land parcels.
LODGES, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
See "private club."
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 subject to the requirements of this chapter.
LOT COVERAGE
A percentage which, when multiplied by the lot area, will determine the maximum permitted area for building footprints.
[Amended 5-13-2019 by Ord. No. 841]
LOT DEPTH
The average horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines.
LOT LINE
A line of record bounding a lot which divides one lot from another lot or from a public or private street or other public space.
LOT OF RECORD
A lot established by a recorded plat or deed prior to July 18, 1959; or a lot that was approved by the governing body of Peters Township.
LOT WIDTH
The horizontal distance between side lot lines measured along the minimum building setback line.
MAILED NOTICE
A notice given by a municipality by first class mail of the time and place of a public hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing [MPC § 107(b)[9]].
MANUFACTURING
Businesses engaged in the mechanical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products, including the assembling of component parts, the manufacturing of products and the blending of materials.
MARQUEE or CANOPY
A roof-like structure of a permanent nature which projects from the wall of a building and may overhang into a required yard.
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.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROCESSING FACILITY
A facility used to convert marijuana to usable marijuana and marijuana-infused products, owned by a person (including a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity or combination thereof) that holds a permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to grow and process marijuana.
MICRO-ALCOHOL PRODUCTION
Low-volume craft brewing, distilling or wine production facility. Shall not apply to any facility annually producing more than 15,000 barrels of beer or 20,000 gallons of wine, spirits or cider.
MID-BLOCK CROSSING
A pedestrian street crossing in between two intersections.
MINERAL EXTRACTION
The removal of any aggregate or mass of mineral matter, whether or not coherent. The term includes, but is not limited to, limestone and dolomite, sand and gravel, rock and stone, earth, fill, slag, iron ore, zinc ore, vermiculite and clay, anthracitic and bituminous coal, coal refuse, peat and crude oil and natural gas.
MINI CASINO
A building or facility where gambling games are played, as recognized by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a Category 4 casino. These facilities may operate between 300 and 750 slot machines and 30 table games; with the ability to petition the Gaming Control Board to add an additional 10 gaming tables after holding their license for one year, or as amended by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
[Added 5-13-2019 by Ord. No. 841]
MINOR ROADS
A two-lane roadway which functions to give access to individual land parcels.
MIXED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Any development of land within the boundaries of the Mixed Residential District that incorporates a variety of housing types and densities organized in a cohesive, well-connected neighborhood.
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
A land development that integrates a combination of nonresidential and/or residential land uses on one lot or a series of contiguous lots.
MOBILE HOME
A transportable single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy, contained in one unit or in two units designed to be joined into one integral unit capable of again being separated for repeated towing, 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 without a permanent foundation. The term does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers.
MOBILE HOME LOT
A lot of land in a mobile home park, improved with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances prescribed in this chapter for the erection thereon of a single mobile home, which is leased by the park owner to the occupants of the mobile home erected on the lot. "Mobile home lot" is synonymous with "mobile home berth."
MOBILE HOME PARK
A lot of land of 10 acres or more under single ownership that has been planned and improved for the placement of mobile homes for nontransient use in accordance with this chapter and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[10]
MOBILE, INDEPENDENTLY
The act of an individual who is physically and mentally capable of vacating the home on his/her own power in the case of an emergency, including the capability to ascend or descend stairs if present on the exit path.[11]
MOTEL
One or more buildings providing temporary lodging primarily to persons who have residences elsewhere, in guest rooms, each of which has a separate outside entrance leading directly to rooms from outside the building.
MOVING LIGHT
The physical change in position of any visible illumination source while lighted or the simulation of movement achieved with a pattern of sequentially illuminating visible illumination sources within close proximity to each other.
MULTICHANNEL MULTIPOINT DISTRIBUTION SERVICE ANTENNAS (MMDS)
An antenna that is designed to receive video programming services via multipoint distribution services, including instructional fixed services, and local multipoint distribution services.
MULTIFAMILY DWELLING
See "dwelling, multifamily."
MULTIFAMILY LAND DEVELOPMENT
A land development on one or more contiguous lots of five to 50 acres, held in single ownership at time of recording for the purpose of residential multifamily leaseholds or condominiums as prescribed in this chapter and the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations.
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
See "authority."
MUNICIPAL ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, duly appointed as the engineer for a municipality, planning agency or joint planning commission.
MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE (MPC)
The Municipalities Planning Code of Pennsylvania as adopted by Act 247 of 1968 as reenacted and amended.[12]
NATURAL DRAINAGEWAY/NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM
A channel or surface where a recurring flow of water is dictated by existing geography.
NATURAL GAS COMPRESSOR STATION
A facility designed and constructed to compress natural gas that originates from an oil and gas well or collection for such wells operating as a midstream facility for delivery of oil and gas to a transmission pipeline, distribution pipeline, natural gas processing plant or underground storage field, including one or more natural gas compressors, associated buildings, pipes, valves, tanks, and other equipment.
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS (NGL)
Components of natural gas that are liquid at the surface of in-field facilities or in gas-processing plants. Natural gas liquids can be classified according to their vapor pressures as low (condensate), intermediate (natural gasoline) and high (liquefied petroleum gas) vapor pressure. Natural gas liquids include propane, butane, pentane, hexane and heptanes, but not methane and ethane, since these hydrocarbons need refrigeration to be liquefied. The term is commonly abbreviated as "NGL."
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANT
See "processing plant."
NEIGHBORHOOD
A subarea of the Township in which the residents share a common identity focused around a school, park, commercial district, or natural features.
NET BUILDABLE AREA
The gross area of a lot reduced by all constrained land.
NET FLOOR AREA (See "floor area ratio.")
The usable floor area of a building.
NET LOT AREA
See "net buildable area."
NET LOT COVERAGE
A percentage that, when multiplied by the net lot area, determines the maximum permitted area for buildings, structures and paving, including swimming pools and recreational courts/surfaces.
NONCONFORMING BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
Any structure or building or part of a structure or building manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable area and bulk regulations in this chapter or amended heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such building or structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of this chapter or amendment, or prior to the application of this chapter or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such structures include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs.
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot which does not meet the current requirements of this chapter as to area or dimension in the zoning district in which it is located. Some nonconforming lots may be a lot of record. This is a lot, the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any lawful sign that does not conform to the applicable sign regulations of the district in which it is located, either on the effective date of this chapter or as a result of subsequent amendments thereto.
NONCONFORMING USE
Any use, whether of land or of structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions in this chapter or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of this chapter or any amendment, or prior to the application of this chapter or amendment to its location by reason of annexation.
NONTOWER WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (NONTOWER WCF)
All nontower wireless communications facilities, including, but not limited to, antennas and accessory equipment. Nontower WCFs shall not include support structures for antennas or any accessory equipment that is mounted to the ground or at ground level.
[Amended 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
NURSERY
A lot of land that qualifies as a farm on which trees and/or plants are raised or stored for transplanting and sale.
NURSING CARE FACILITY/INPATIENT REHABILITATION
Any institutional building licensed by the commonwealth for the in-patient care of persons requiring full-time, intermediate or skilled nursing care within the context of a planned program of care and administrative management and/or nursing care and related medical or other health services, but not requiring hospitalization.
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 flood-prone area, which may impede, retard or change the direction of the flow of 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 lot.
OCCUPANCY PERMIT
A required permit allowing occupancy of a building, structure, or space within a building after it has been determined that the building, structure or space meets all the requirements of applicable ordinances.
OFFICE
A building or portion of a building wherein services are performed involving predominantly administrative, professional or clerical operations of a business, profession, service, industry or government. Office includes any type of office that may not be defined as administrative, professional, clerical, business, corporate, government, medical, or warehouse.
OFFICE BUILDING
A building designed or primarily used for office purposes, no part of which is used for manufacturing or retail sales.
OFFICE, MEDICAL
A building or a series of buildings or rooms where one or more licensed medical professionals provide diagnosis and treatment to the general public without surgical procedures that require overnight observation. A medical office shall include such uses as reception areas, offices, consultation rooms, examination rooms and x-ray rooms, provided that all such uses have access only from the interior of the building. A medical office shall include urgent care facilities, but shall not include a pharmacy.
OFFICE, WAREHOUSE
A building or structure that can be subdivided by multiple tenants primarily for business or administrative office uses associated with warehousing, and where warehousing is an accessory use to the office use.
OFFICIAL MAP
A map adopted by ordinance pursuant to Article IV, Section 402, Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[13]
OIL AND GAS DRILL SITE
Shall consist of the area occupied by the facilities, structures, and equipment necessary for or incidental to the drilling or operation of an oil or gas well, excluding natural gas processing plants and compressor stations.
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, although the flood may occur in any year). It is defined by 4.99 or more inches of rain in a twenty-four-hour period.
OPEN SPACE
An intentionally undeveloped lot of land used for agriculture, forestry, natural habitat, pedestrian corridors and/or recreational purposes that is undivided and permanently protected from future development.
OPEN SPACE, ACTIVE
Used to describe land formalized for organized activities such as:
A. 
Sporting competitions;
B. 
Recreation centers;
C. 
Exercise grounds; and
D. 
Those facilities that are typically hired for use, such as tennis courts or swimming pools.
OPEN SPACE, COMMON
All open space, focal points, paved and/or vegetated, enclosed or open, that allows for community gathering or activity.
OPEN SPACE, DEDICATED
Land preserved in perpetuity as open space.
OPEN SPACE, PASSIVE
Outdoor areas that are principally designed for use in an unstructured or informal way, and may consist of land protected and managed as a natural environment with passive recreation value and minimal development. Passive open space may include activities such as:
A. 
Nature study;
B. 
Conservation;
C. 
Ecological preservation;
D. 
Bird watching;
E. 
Walking;
F. 
Hiking;
G. 
Dog walking; and/or
H. 
Picnicking.
OPEN SPACE, PRIMARY
Land set aside for protection of natural resources. Primary open space shall include:
A. 
Slopes of 25% or greater covering a contiguous area of at least 5,000 square feet.
B. 
The one-hundred-year floodplain.
C. 
Buffer zones of at least 25 feet (measured from the average edge of stream) in width along all perennial and intermittent streams.
D. 
Wetlands that meet the definition used by the United States Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual [Technical Report Y-87-1 (January, 1987)].
E. 
Wildlife habitat areas of species listed as endangered or threatened by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
F. 
Archaeological sites, cemeteries and burial grounds.
OPEN SPACE, PUBLIC
Undeveloped land owned by a local government body, or owned by public body (e.g., a not-for-profit organization) and held in trust for the public good. It may further be defined as:
A. 
Open for public access.
B. 
Open for public recreation (active or passive).
C. 
A public park.
D. 
A town square.
E. 
A public gathering space.
F. 
A greenway which is open to the public but runs through farmland or a forest.
OPEN SPACE, SECONDARY
Land set aside for the protection/conservation of natural and/or cultural significance. Secondary open space shall include:
A. 
Historic sites and structures;
B. 
Meadows;
C. 
Unique wildlife habitat;
D. 
Unique geological features; and
E. 
Similar uses.
OPERATOR
Any person, partnership, company, corporation, including its subcontractors and agents, who are actively engaged in the exploration or drilling for producing or transporting oil or gas.
OUTDOOR STORAGE
The keeping of any discarded goods, junk, material, merchandise, or junked or abandoned vehicles outside of a structure in the same place for more than one week; or the stockpiling of materials, merchandise, supplies on an on-going basis except during construction. The storage of any material, merchandise, supplies, equipment, etc., not in an enclosed building.
OUTFALL
Points or areas at which stormwater runoff leaves a site, which may include streams, storm sewers, swales, or other well-defined natural or artificial drainage features, as well as areas of dispersed overland flows.
OVERHANG
Any projection exceeding the vertical plane of the foundation. Examples: bay window, roof cornice, gutters, and direct vent fireplaces.
OVERLAY DISTRICT
A zoning district that encompasses one or more underlying zoning districts and that imposes additional requirements or provisions above that required by the underlying zoning district.
PARK
Land designated for the purpose(s) of recreation and leisure and maintained by a private or public entity as such.
PARKING AISLE
A cartway that provides internal circulation within a parking lot and direct access to a parking space.
PARKING BAY/SPACE
An off-street space available for the parking of one motor vehicle, exclusive of passageways and driveways appurtenant thereto and giving access thereto, and having direct access to a street, alley, or aisle.
PARKING COURT
A surface parking lot, or a deck parking lot surrounded on all four sides with buildings and accessed through a portal typically located in a mid-block location.
PARKING FACILITY
A land surface or structure providing vehicular parking spaces off of a street together with drives and maneuvering lanes to provide access for entrance and exit for the parking of motor vehicles.
PARKING LOT
An area utilized to meet the parking requirements of this chapter, including the parking aisles that provide access to the parking spaces, but not including any streets or driveways that provide access to the parking lot.
PARKING LOT CONCEALMENT
The act of hiding parking lots by placing buildings or plantings to block views of off-street parking.
PARKING STRUCTURE
A building with multiple stories of off-street parking spaces where vehicles are temporarily stored with or without a nominal fee, in association with occupational, retail, entertainment, recreational, municipal, educational or residential use(s).
PARKING, SHARED
A public or private parking area used jointly by two or more uses.
PATIO
An on-grade surface area, usually paved, adjoining a house or freestanding and serving as an area for outdoor living.
PATIO HOME
See "dwelling: single-family detached."
PAVED
Any surface that is nonporous and that does not allow earth and grass to be visible.
PAVED AREA
A percentage which, when multiplied by the lot area, will determine the permitted ground area which may be covered with an impervious material: Such area shall not include the area occupied by the building or covered by the roof of the building.
PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC RATE
A weighted average vehicle trip generation rate, as defined by the Institute of Transportation Engineers, occurring during the hour of highest volume of traffic entering and exiting a site in the morning (a.m.) or afternoon/evening (p.m.).
PEDESTRIAN GATHERING AREA
A public space for pedestrians, not to be used for overnight activities, that includes a variety of opportunities for sitting, relaxation, reading, and informal picnicking.
PEDESTRIAN POCKET
A public gathering place that is designed and maintained with features such as benches, sitting walls, plantings, and other landscape features.
PEDESTRIAN SCALE
See "human scale."
PENNSYLVANIA UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE (PUCC)
The standard building code system that is in use in Peters Township. It is based on the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC) and all other applicable codes.
PERMIT
The final authorization of a permit application by the Township Zoning Officer or Building Official.
PERMIT APPLICATION
The application form provided by the Township for the type of construction or use being applied for.
PERMITTED USE
An authorized use allowed by right that may be granted by the Zoning Officer upon compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
PERSONAL SERVICES
Commercial enterprises that provide consumer services to individuals and shall include enterprises such as: barber and beauty shops; dry cleaning; shoe repair; tailors; self-service laundry or dry cleaning; optometrists; catering; rental supplies; travel agencies. This use does not include services related to pets.
PERSONS
Individuals, corporations, companies, associations, joint-stock companies, firms, partnerships, limited-liability companies, corporations and other entities established pursuant to statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; provided that person does not include or apply to the Township or to any department or agency of the Township.
[Added 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
PHARMACY
A retail store which primarily sells prescription drugs, patent medicines and surgical and sick room supplies.
PLACE OF WORSHIP/ASSEMBLY
A public or private lot of land, building or structure that is designed for the assembly or collection of persons, for civic, political, religious, educational, social purposes and where recreation, amusement or dining occur as accessory activities.
PLANNING AGENCY
A planning commission, planning department, or a planning committee of the governing body.
PLANNING COMMISSION
A group of five citizens of Peters Township appointed by Council to administer planning and land use regulations and provide recommendations on a wide array of land use policy issues.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Whenever the words "Planning Department" or "Department" are used, they shall mean the Peters Township Planning Department.
PLANTING STRIP
Area between the curb (or, in the case where there is no curb, the edge of the roadway) and the abutting property line that is left unsurfaced for the purpose of planting trees or other vegetation.
PLAT
A map or plan, either preliminary or final, presented to the Township for approval, indicating the subdivision, consolidation or redivision of land or a land development.
PLAY STRUCTURE
An accessory apparatus, equipment, building or structure typically used for play, leisure or recreational purposes.
PLOT PLAN
A map or plan (less detailed than a site plan) of a lot being used or built upon, prepared by a surveyor registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as prescribed in Part 10.
PORCH
A roofed-over structure projecting out from the wall or walls of a main structure and commonly open to the weather in part.
POST OFFICE
A structure owned or leased and maintained by the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the purposes of distributing mail to the public.
PRESERVATION or PROTECTION
When used in connection with natural and historic resources, shall include means to conserve and safeguard these resources from wasteful or destructive use, but shall not be interpreted to authorize the unreasonable restriction of forestry, mining or other lawful uses of natural resources.
PRIMARY BUILDING/STRUCTURE
The building or structure in which the primary use of the lot or premises is located or conducted. With respect to residential uses, the primary building or structure shall be the main dwelling.
PRIMARY CONSERVATION AREA
Lands identified in the resource inventory and subdivision application as having important natural values that should be permanently protected, such as wetlands, floodplains, steep slopes, unique habitat, productive agricultural soils and forested land.
PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND
Land used for agricultural purposes that contains soils of the first, second or third class as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource and Conservation Services' Washington County Soil Survey.
PRINCIPAL USE
The primary use to which the property is devoted and to which all other uses on the premises are accessory.
PRIVATE
Any establishment limited to members of an organization or to other persons specifically invited or permitted where no advertisement or inducement has been made to the general public.
PRIVATE CLUB
Any establishment, other than an outdoor recreation facility operated by a private organization for recreational, educational, fraternal, or social purposes, but only open to members and their guests and not to the general public.
PRIVATE RESIDENCE GARAGE
An accessory structure attached or adjacent to the lot's principal use structure that is no larger than the principal structure and is intended to be utilized as a storage facility for privately owned vehicles or equipment on residential lot.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT
In property law, land-related covenants are called "real covenants" and are a major form of covenant, typically imposing restrictions on how the land may be used (negative covenants) or requiring a certain continuing action (affirmative covenant). These may also run with the land (called a "covenant appurtenant"), meaning that any future owners of the land must abide by the terms, or may apply to a particular person (called a "covenant in gross").
PROCESSING PLANT
A facility designed and constructed to remove materials such as ethane, propane, butane, and other constituents or similar substances from natural gas to allow such natural gas to be of such quality as is required or appropriate for transmission or distribution to commercial markets but not including facilities or equipment that are/is designed and constructed primarily to remove water, water vapor, oil or naturally occurring liquids from natural gas.
PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION (POA)
A corporation formed by a real estate developer for the purpose of marketing, managing, and selling of homes and lots in a residential subdivision.
PROTECTED STRUCTURE
Any full-time occupied residence, school, religious institution or other public building that may be impacted by activity associated with oil and gas well development and/or natural gas compressor stations or processing plants. This term shall not include any structure owned by a grantor or lessor who has signed, or is legally subject to, an agreement granting surface rights to drill a well and/or erect and maintain a natural gas compressor station or processing plant.
PUBLIC
Of or pertaining to buildings, structures, uses or activities belonging to or affecting any duly authorized governmental body, which is available for common or general use by all.
PUBLIC GROUNDS
Parks, playgrounds, trails, paths and other recreational areas, sites for schools, sewage treatment, refuse disposal, publicly owned and operated scenic and historic sites or other such publicly owned or operated facilities.
PUBLIC HEARING
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice under the Act of July 1986 (P.L. 388, No. 84), known as the "Sunshine Act,"[14] by the governing body or planning agency, intended to inform and obtain public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT
All roads, streets, walkways, gutters, stormwater management facilities, curbs, sewers and other facilities to be dedicated to or maintained by the Township and comply with the Township's construction standards and specifications or other public entities' construction standards and specifications.
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AREA
A designated growth area and all or any portion of a future growth area described in a county or multi-municipal comprehensive plan where public infrastructure services will not be required to be publicly financed.
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES
Services that are provided to areas with densities of one or more units to the acre, which may include sanitary sewers and facilities for the collection and treatment of sewage, water lines and facilities for the pumping and treating of water, parks and open space, streets and sidewalks, public transportation and other services that may be appropriated within a growth area, but shall exclude fire protection and emergency medical services and any other service required to protect the health and safety of residents.
PUBLIC MEETING
A forum held pursuant to notice under 65 Pa. C.S.A. Chapter 7 (relating to open meetings).
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 a public hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at a public hearing. The first publication shall be not more than 30 days and the second publication shall be not less than seven days from the date of the hearing.
PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY or ROW
The surface of and space above and below any real property in the Township in which the Township has a regulatory interest, or interest as a trustee for the public, as such interests now or hereafter exist, including, but not limited to, the total extent of land reserved or dedicated as a street/way/alley/lane for public or private purpose; all streets, highways, avenues, roads, alleys, sidewalks, tunnels, viaducts, bridges, skyways, or any other public place, area or property under the control of the Township; any unrestricted public or utility easements established, dedicated, platted, improved or devoted for utility purposes, but excluding lands other than streets that are owned by the Township. The phrase "in the right(s)-of-way" means in, on, over, along, above and/or under the right(s)-of-way.
[Added 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
PUBLIC UTILITY
Persons, corporations or governments supplying gas, electric transportation, water, sewer, or land line telephone service to the general public. For the purpose of this definition, commercial wireless telecommunication service facilities shall not be considered public utility uses, and are defined separately.
PUBLIC UTILITY FACILITY
All of the buildings, wells, dams, reservoirs, plant and equipment of a public utility, including all tangible and intangible real and personal property without limitation, and any and all means and instrumentalities in any manner owned, operated, leased, licensed, used, controlled, furnished, or supplied for, by or in connection with the business of any public utility.
PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY
A Township-owned and operated facility used to conduct business and store machines, vehicles, tools and materials as related to the construction, maintenance and repair of Township structures, utilities and roads.
QUAD-PLEX
See "dwelling: multifamily."
RAIN GARDEN
A planted depression that is designed to absorb as much as possible of the excess rainwater runoff from a building and its associated landscape. The plants, a selection of wetland edge vegetation, such as sedges, rushes, ferns, shrubs and trees, absorb the excess water and through the process of transpiration return water vapor into the atmosphere. Unlike a bioswale, a rain garden does not slope.
READILY VISIBLE
Visually conspicuous from public view. A commercial wireless telecommunication facility which is camouflaged, screened or obstructed from view from a public street, public place (where the general public has a right to be and to go), or a residential use on a protected residential lot such that its presence is not conspicuous, as determined by the approving authority, shall not be deemed readily visible.
RECREATION FACILITY
A. 
PRIVATEAn enterprise operated by an individual or nonprofit association or corporation, other than a public entity, for the pursuit of sports and recreational activities, which may be advertised to the general public, but the use of which is limited to members and their guests, including, but not limited to, such establishments as country clubs, golf courses, sportsman's club, golf practice facilities, playing fields, tennis or racquet clubs, swimming pools and similar facilities.
B. 
PUBLICAn enterprise owned and operated by a public entity, available to the general public, whether or not an admission fee is charged, including either indoor or outdoor facilities for the pursuit of sports, recreation or leisure activities, including, but not limited to, parks, playgrounds, playing fields, golf courses, golf or batting practice facilities, ice rinks, tennis courts, swimming pools and similar facilities.
C. 
COMMERCIALAn indoor or outdoor establishment operated by a for-profit entity for the pursuit of sports and recreational activities available to the general public for a fee, including, but not limited to, miniature golf, golf or batting practice facilities, ice or roller rinks, playing fields, racquet clubs, fitness centers, swimming pools, amusement parks, amphitheaters and similar facilities.
D. 
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIALThe installation of recreational facilities, such as a swimming pool, sport court, tennis court or other comparable facility, for family use accessory to a single-family dwelling.
RECREATION OPEN SPACE
That area of land suitable for the development of specific active recreation facilities for leisure time activities, usually of a formal nature and often performed with others, requiring equipment and taking place at prescribed places, sites or fields, including, but not limited to, baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields, tennis, basketball and other court games, hockey facilities, multipurpose fields and community swimming pools and attendant facilities.
REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY
A planning agency that is comprised of representatives of more than one county. Regional planning responsibilities shall include providing technical assistance to counties and municipalities, mediating conflicts across county lines and reviewing county comprehensive plans for consistency with one another.
REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION
The one-hundred-year flood elevation plus a freeboard safety factor of 1 1/2 feet.
RELATED EQUIPMENT
Any piece of equipment related to, incidental to, or necessary for the operation of a wireless communications facility. By way of illustration, not limitation, related equipment includes generators and base stations.
[Amended 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE
Any method, process, or substance whose supply is rejuvenated through natural processes and, subject to those natural processes, remains relatively constant, including, but not limited to, biomass conversion, geothermal energy, solar and wind energy and hydroelectric energy, and excluding those sources of energy used in the fission and fusion processes.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Any establishment which carries on investigation in the natural, physical or social sciences or engineering and development as an extension of such investigation with the objective of creating end products.
RESTAURANT, CONVENIENCE/FAST-FOOD
Any restaurant whose design or principal method of operation includes the ordering of food from a menu board and service through a building opening, including windows, doors or mechanical devices.
RESTAURANT, FULL/TABLE SERVICE
A structure in which the principal use is the preparation and sale of food and beverages, where food sales constitute more than 80% of the gross sales receipts for food and beverages. Primary food service is via tableside ordering and/or consumption. Take-out service is permitted, but drive-through service is not permitted.
RESTAURANT, LIMITED/COUNTER SERVICE
A retail use which serves foods and/or drinks to customers for consumption on or off the premises that may or may not have seating. It may include accessory wholesaling, manufacturing, or processing of foods, goods, or commodities on the premises. Aside from traditional food service, the definition of "limited restaurant" also includes coffee stores, juice bars, bakeries, delicatessens, and confectioneries and made-to-order facilities, such as those associated with gas stations (i.e., Sheetz), or grocery stores (i.e., Giant Eagle/Market District, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's).
RETAIL STORE
Any establishment not otherwise specifically defined in this Part 3 that sells on the premises commodities and/or services directly to consumers, but not including the manufacturing or processing of any products.
REZONING
An amendment to the map or text of the Zoning Ordinance to effect a change in the nature, density, or intensity of uses allowed in a zoning district or designated parcel, lot, or tract.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, forced dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied or occupied by a road, crosswalk, railroad, electric transmission lines, oil or gas pipeline, water line, sanitary or storm sewer and other similar uses. A right-of-way grants a property interest to the grantee and no permanent structure may be erected herein.
ROAD CLASSIFICATION/ROAD HIERARCHY
Road/street type/designation as determined by access typology.
SANITARIAN
An inspector certified by the certification board created by the Sewage Facilities Act[15] to inspect and approve percolation tests and related installations for individual on-site disposal systems.
SATELLITE DISH/ANTENNA
A device incorporating a reflective surface that is solid, open mesh, or bar configured and is in the shape of a shallow dish, cone, horn, or cornucopia. Such a device shall be used to transmit and/or receive radio or electromagnetic waves between terrestrially and/or orbitally based uses. This definition is meant to include but not be limited to what are commonly referred to as satellite earth stations, TVROs (television reception only satellite dish antennas), and satellite microwave antennas.
SCHOOL
A publicly or privately funded facility that provides a curriculum of elementary and secondary academic instruction, including kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school and high school.[16]
SECONDARY CONSERVATION AREA
Lands identified in the resource inventory and subdivision application as lands that complement or provide a buffer to the primary conservation areas, or provide additional open space or recreational lands.
SELF-SERVICE STORAGE FACILITY
A structure containing separate storage spaces of varying sizes leased or rented on an individual basis for the purpose of dead storage (i.e., goods not in use and not associated with office, retail, or other business use on the premises).
SEMIPRIVATE
Nonprofit organizations requiring registration and/or membership, including fraternal organizations, lodges, swimming clubs, tennis clubs or other athletic clubs.
SEMIPUBLIC
Churches, Sunday schools, parsonages and other related functions; colleges and other institutions of an educational, religious, charitable or philanthropic nature.
SENSITIVE NATURAL RESOURCES
Unique and environmentally fragile lands that are susceptible to negative ecological impacts created by land development.
SERVICE COURT
A right-of-way in residential areas that provides vehicle access to a lot or common parking area. Generally, service courts provide secondary vehicle access; however, where vehicle access from the street is not allowed or possible, the service court may provide primary access.
SERVICE DRIVEWAYS OR STREETS
Any privately maintained driveway or street intended exclusively for the use of service and delivery vehicles in a mixed-use or commercial area.
SERVICE STRUCTURE
A container used for the purpose of temporary storage of waste and refuse for waste collection.
SETBACK
See "building setback line."
SHARED PARKING
The joint use of a parking space by two or more nonresidential and/or residential land uses within a twenty-four-hour period.
SHED
An accessory building to a residential structure that is used to store equipment, furniture or other materials.
SIDE YARD
The horizontal space between the nearest foundation of a building to the side lot line and that side lot line, unoccupied other than by architectural appurtenances projecting not more than 24 inches into that space; steps or terraces not higher than the level of the first floor of the building; and open lattice-enclosed fire escapes, fireproof outside stairways and balconies projecting not over 24 inches into that space.
SIGN
Any material substance or medium that contains graphic content, whether symbolic or alphabetic, that is intended for the purpose of conveying information, product advertising, services, goods, activities or directions. This does not pertain to traffic control or directional signs located within a road right-of-way as placed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Washington County or Peters Township. The term "placed" shall include erecting, constructing, posting, painting, printing, tacking, nailing, gluing, sticking, carving, or otherwise fastening, affixing or making visible in any manner whatsoever. Refer to Part 7 for additional definitions related to signs.
SIGN AREA
The entire face of a sign, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim, or molding, but not including the supporting structure for all other signs. If no framing is provided, the sign area is the smallest rectangle that encloses all lettering and other graphics. The maximum sign area is the maximum allowable gross surface area in square feet of a sign or signs.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE
Structural alterations that a) involve the replacement of two or more major building components (roof structures, wall or floor structures, foundations, plumbing, central heating and air conditioning or electrical systems) or b) have a cost exceeding 15% of the property's fair market value replacement costs after completion.
SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED RESIDENCE
See "dwelling: single-family attached."
SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED RESIDENCE
See "dwelling: single-family detached."
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL RECREATION FACILITY
See "recreation facility: single-family residential."
SITE PLAN
A map or plan of the lot, prepared by an engineer, surveyor or architect registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which describes the proposed subdivision and land improvement(s) of a lot.
SLOPE
The inclination calculated by the vertical distance (rise) divided by the horizontal distance (run). The degree of deviation of a surface from the horizontal, usually expressed in percentage or degrees.
SLOPE MAP
A plan identifying the location and extent of topographic gradient changes based upon contour intervals of not more than five feet where the slope is greater than 10% and at intervals of not more than two feet where the slope is 10% or less. Slopes shall be identified by color or symbol for each of the following categories.
A. 
Slopes of 0% to 8%;
B. 
Slopes of 8% to 15%;
C. 
Slopes of 15% to 25%;
D. 
Slopes of 25% to 40%; and
E. 
Slopes greater than 40%.
SMALL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (SMALL WCF)
A wireless communications facility that meets the following criteria:
[Added 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
A. 
The structure on which antenna facilities are mounted:
(1) 
Is 50 feet or less in height; or
(2) 
Is no more than 10% taller than other adjacent structures; or
(3) 
Is not extended to a height of more than 50 feet or by more than 10% above its preexisting height as a result of the co-location of new antenna facilities; and
B. 
Each antenna associated with the deployment (excluding the associated equipment) is no more than three cubic feet in volume; and
C. 
All antenna equipment associated with the facility (excluding antennas) are cumulatively no more than 28 cubic feet in volume;
D. 
The facilities do not require antenna structure registration under 47 CFR Part 17;
E. 
The facilities are not located on tribal lands, as defined under 36 CFR 800.16(x); nd
F. 
The facilities do not result in human exposure to radiofrequency radiation in excess of the applicable safety standards specified in 47 CFR 1.1307(b).
SOCIAL SERVICES
Establishments providing assistance to those persons requiring help with legal, counseling, employment, learning or physical disabilities needs.
SOLAR ACCESS
The access of a solar energy system to direct sunlight.
SOLAR EASEMENT
A legal agreement that protects access to sunlight on a property.
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
An energy conversion system, including appurtenances, which converts solar energy to a usable form of energy to meet all or part of the energy or heating requirements of the on-site user, or which is to be sold to a utility company to be used by others, or sold directly to other users. A solar energy system may be ground-mounted (i.e., placed on top of the ground surface) or roof-mounted (i.e., placed on or as an integral part of a building).
A. 
SMALLSolar energy systems installed for personal use in residences, commercial properties and institutions.
B. 
LARGESolar energy systems installed on large parcels of land for the purpose of generating revenue or utility-scale systems installed to benefit the community or an entire institution.
SOUND LEVEL
The intensity of sound, measured in decibels, produced by the operation of a permitted use.
SOUND WALL
A wall constructed around a site or object that assists in the abatement of noise.
SOUND-LEVEL METER
An instrument standardized by the American Standards Association for measurement of intensity of sound.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION
An authorized use of a structure or land which may be granted only by the Township Zoning Hearing Board after a public hearing and in accordance with express standards and criteria specified in this chapter.
SPECIFIC PLAN
A detailed plan for nonresidential development of an area covered by a municipal or multi-municipal comprehensive plan, which when approved and adopted by the participating municipalities through ordinances and agreements supersedes all other applications.
SPORT COURTS
An area, with or without fencing, netting or similar enclosure material, marked with appropriate lines, upon which a game, such as tennis, handball, or basketball, is played.
STACKING LANE
An area for temporary queuing of motor vehicles for drive-through facilities.
STATE LAND USE AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT REPORT
A comprehensive land use and growth management report to be prepared by the Center for Local Government Services and which shall contain information, data and conclusions regarding growth and development patterns in this commonwealth and which will offer recommendations to commonwealth agencies for coordination of executive action, regulation, and programs.
STEALTH FACILITY
Any communications facility that is designed to blend into the surrounding environment. Examples of stealth facilities may include architecturally screened roof-mounted antennas, building-mounted antennas painted to match the existing structure, antennas integrated into architectural elements, and antenna structures designed to look like light poles.
STEALTH TECHNOLOGY
Camouflaging methods applied to wireless communications towers, antennas and other facilities which render them more visually appealing or blend the proposed facility into the existing structure or visual backdrop in such a manner as to render it minimally visible to the casual observer. Such methods include, but are not limited to, architecturally screened roof-mounted antennas, building-mounted antennas painted to match the existing structure and facilities constructed to resemble trees, shrubs, and light poles.
STEEP SLOPE
Those slopes identified on a topographic survey prepared by a land surveyor registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as any area over a one-hundred-foot horizontal distance, the slope exceeds 25% from the top to bottom of a break in grade. Said break in grade must be at least a change in grade of 5% before consideration. All areas over 25% shall be outlined on the topographic plan.
STOOP
A landing outside of a doorway, generally at or nearly at grade level.
STORM DRAINS
The means designed (per Township specifications) to carry stormwater.
STORM SEWER
A pipe or conduit that conveys intercepted surface runoff, street water and other drainage but excludes domestic sewage and industrial waste.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
See Chapter 371 for definitions.
STORMWATER RUNOFF
A portion of precipitation which runs over the land.
STORY
That part of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above the space, between the floor and the ceiling next above it. A basement shall be counted as a story when more than 1/2 of such basement height is above the average finished grade level measured at the front of the building.
STORY, HALF
A partial story, the habitable area of which does not exceed 1/2 of the habitable area of the first floor.
STREET LINE
The boundary of a right-of-way.
STREET, CENTER LINE OF
A line that is usually at an equal distance from both street lines or right-of-way lines.
STREET, CLASSIFIED
Streets and roads are classified as "arterial," "collector," "connector" or "local" in the Road Classification Plan adopted in December 1991, as may be amended. (See "road classification.")
STREET, PRIVATE
A right-of-way reserved for the use of more than one lot or structure which fronts on the street.
STREET, PUBLIC
A dedicated right-of-way maintained by the state, county or Township intended for general public use to provide means of access for vehicles. The word "street" includes the words "road," "highway," "thoroughfare," "way," "avenue," "lane," "court," etc.
STREETSCAPE
The visual image of a street including the combination of buildings, parking, signs, sidewalks, landscaping, and similar features.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected with a fixed location on the ground, or attached to something having a fixed location on the ground, including, but not necessarily limited to, buildings, accessory buildings, decks, spas, television dish antennas, pools, utility sheds, tennis courts, air conditioners. For the purposes of this chapter, signs, fences and walls shall not be considered structures. Covered patios or porches are considered structures.
STRUCTURE OR SUPPORT STRUCTURE OR WIRELESS SUPPORT STRUCTURE
For the purposes of wireless communications, any man- made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land, upon or to which wireless communications facilities may be attached.
[Added 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
STUDIO
A building or portion of a building used as a place of work by an artist, photographer or artisan of similar profession.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot of land by any means into two or more lots or other division 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 lots of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or residential dwellings, shall be exempted.
SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED or SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE
A modification to an existing wireless communications facility substantially changes the physical dimensions of a tower or base station if it meets any of the following criteria:
A. 
For communication towers outside the public rights-of-way, it increases the height of the facility by more than 10%, or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna, not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater; for communications towers in the rights-of-way, it increases the height of the facility by more than 10% or 10 feet, whichever is greater;
B. 
For communications towers outside the public rights-of-way, it protrudes from the edge of the tower by more than 20 feet, or more than the width of the tower structures at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater; for those communications towers in the public rights-of-way, it protrudes from the edge of the structure by more than six feet;
C. 
It involves installation of more than the standard number of new equipment cabinets for the technology involved, but not to exceed four cabinets;
D. 
It entails any excavation of deployment outside the current site of the communications tower; or
E. 
It does not comply with conditions associated with prior approval of construction or modification of the communications tower unless the noncompliance is due to an increase in height, increase in width, or addition of cabinets.
SUBSTANTIALLY COMMENCED
For the purpose of building permits, shall mean footers and foundation completed as per approved plans.
SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED
For the purpose of building permits, shall mean roof on, fully enclosed walls, exterior wall materials in place, and utilities installed, as per approved plans. For subdivision and site plan purposes, "substantially completed" shall mean, all infrastructure installed and 50% of the building constructed and occupied for site plans.
SURFACE WATER
Water collecting on the ground or in a creek, stream, river, pond, lake, wetland, or ocean; it is related to water collecting as groundwater or atmospheric water.
SURVEY
The process of precisely ascertaining the area, dimensions and location of a piece of land as well as the structures and physical features where required and placing this information on a drawing prepared and sealed by a surveyor registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SURVEYOR
A professional licensed as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SWALE
See "bioswale."
SWIMMING POOL
Any structure which is constructed above or below ground, used or maintained to provide recreational facilities for swimming, bathing or wading, and which is capable of containing water to a depth of greater than 24 inches and all buildings, equipment and appurtenances thereto.
TENANT
An occupant of land or premises who occupies, uses, and enjoys real property for a fixed time, usually through a lease arrangement with the property owners.
THEATER/AUDITORIUM
An establishment, other than an adult movie theater or movie house, inside a completely enclosed building devoted to showing motion pictures and/or live dramatic or musical performances.
THROUGH LOT
A lot which fronts on two parallel streets or which fronts upon two streets that do not intersect at the boundaries of the lot.
TOWER
A self-supporting lattice tower, guy tower, monopole, or any other pole, that is constructed primarily to support an antenna for receiving and/or transmitting a wireless signal.
[Amended 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
TOWER, GUYED
A communication tower that is supported, in whole or in part, by guy wires and ground anchors.
TOWER, LATTICE
A guyed or self-supporting, three- or four-sided, open steel frame structure used to support telecommunications equipment.
TOWER, MONOPOLE
A communication tower consisting of a single pole, constructed without guy wires and ground anchors.
TOWER, MULTI-USER
A tower to which are attached the antennas of more than one commercial wireless telecommunication service provider or governmental entity.
TOWER, SELF-SUPPORTING
A communication tower that is constructed without guy wires and ground anchors.
TOWER, SINGLE-USER
A tower to which are attached only the antennas of a single user, although the tower may be designed to accommodate the antennas of multiple users as required by this code.
TOWER-BASED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (TOWER-BASED WCF)
A tower and its supporting antennas, including, but not limited to, self-supporting lattice towers, guy towers and monopoles. Distributed antenna system hub facilities are considered to be tower-based WCFs.
[Added 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857]
TOWNHOUSE
See "dwelling: single-family attached."
TOWNSHIP
Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION
The Township Planning Commission of Peters Township.
TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT
An area of land developed for a compatible mixture of residential units for various income levels and nonresidential commercial and workplace uses, including some structures that provide for a mix of uses within the same building. Residences, shops, offices, workplaces, public buildings, and parks are interwoven within the neighborhood so that all are within relatively close proximity to each other. Traditional neighborhood development is relatively compact, limited in size, and oriented toward pedestrian activity. It has an identifiable center and a discernable edge. The center of the neighborhood is in the form of a public park, commons, plaza, square, or prominent intersection of two or more major streets. Generally, there is a hierarchy of streets laid out in a rectilinear or grid pattern of interconnecting streets and blocks that provides multiple routes from origins to destinations and are appropriately designed to serve the needs of pedestrians and vehicles equally.
TRAFFIC CALMING
Physical design and other measures, including narrowed roads and speed humps, put in place on roads for the intention of slowing down or reducing motor vehicle traffic as well as to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
TRAIL, RECREATION
A path designed for the conduct of sports and/or leisure activities.
TRANSFERABLE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
The attaching of development rights to specified lands which are desired by a municipality to be kept undeveloped, but permitting those rights to be transferred from those lands so that the development potential which they represent may occur on other lands where more intensive development is deemed appropriate.
TRANSITIONAL FACILITY
A temporary residential living arrangement for persons leaving an institutional setting and in need of a supportive living arrangement in order to readjust to living outside the institution. Transitional living facilities help residents re-enter society while housed under supervision while under the constraints of alternatives to imprisonment including, but not limited to, rerelease, work release or probationary programs. Such facilities typically place a limit, measured in months, on how long a person may stay.
TREE, STREET
A deciduous tree that is planted along a street. Street trees are planted in a linear fashion to enhance the visual streetscape.
TRIP
The movement completed by an individual vehicle in a one-way direction.
UNCONVENTIONAL FORMATION
A geological shale formation existing below the base of the Elk Sandstone or its geologic equivalent stratigraphic interval where natural gas generally cannot be produced at economic flow rates or in economic volumes except by vertical or horizontal well bore stimulated by hydraulic fracture treatments or by using multilateral well bores or other techniques to expose more of the formation to the well bore.
UNCONVENTIONAL GAS DRILLING
The drilling or redrilling of any unconventional gas well or the deepening of any existing unconventional gas well.
UNCONVENTIONAL GAS WELL
A bore hole drilled or being drilled for the purpose of or to be used to produce natural gas from an unconventional formation or that is deviated from the vertical.
UNDEVELOPABLE AREA
Those lands in a proposed subdivision that are restricted from development due to environmental conditions, such as steep slopes, the presence of wetlands or waterways, or are restricted from development under ordinances adopted by the Township.
UPLIGHTING
A lamp or wall light designed or positioned to cast its light upwards.
USE
Any purpose for which a building or other structure or a lot of land may be designed, arranged, intended, maintained or occupied, or any activity, occupation, business, or operation carried on in a building or other structure on a lot of land.
UTILITY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Any building, structure, or device which transfers directly to the public the service or supply provided by a public utility, including telephone, electric, gas, cable television, water and sewer, and all other facilities, equipment and structures necessary for conducting a local distribution service.
UTILITY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
Any building, structure, or device which does not directly transfer to the public the service or supply provided by a public utility, including telephone, electric (greater than 55,000 volts or 55 KV), gas, cable television, water and sewer, and all other facilities, equipment, and structures, including substations, switching stations, and reservoirs.
VACANT
Lands or buildings that are not actively used for any purpose.
VARIANCE
Permissive waivers from the terms of the Zoning Ordinance as will not be contrary to the public interest, where owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of the chapter will result in unnecessary hardship, so that the spirit of this chapter shall be observed and substantial justice done and granted or denied only by the Township Zoning Hearing Board. Permission by the Zoning Hearing Board to depart from the Zoning Ordinance may occur when special circumstances applicable to the property, and strict application of the provisions deprive such property of privileges enjoyed by other properties under identical zoning.
VETERINARY SERVICES
An establishment owned and operated by a veterinary medical doctor(s), certified in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the medical or surgical treatment of domestic, agricultural or zoological animals, but excluding the boarding and grooming of animals not subjected to medical or surgical treatment.
VILLAGE
An unincorporated settlement within the Township characterized by higher density, mixed uses and a distinct and established sense of place.
WALKABILITY
The quality of a place relating to its appeal, safety and practicality for pedestrian circulation.
WAREHOUSE
A building used primarily for the storage of goods and materials, excluding truck terminals and truck maintenance facilities. (Also see "self-service storage facility.")
WATER IMPOUNDMENT WASTE
A lined depression, excavation pit or facility situated in or upon the ground, whether natural or artificial, used to store wastewater fluid, including but not limited to brine, fracturing fluid, produced water, recycled water, impaired water, flowback water, or any other fluid that does not satisfy the definition of "fresh water."
WATER IMPOUNDMENT, FRESH
A lined depression, excavation pit or facility situated in or upon the ground, whether natural or artificial, used to store fresh water.
WATER SUPPLY
A supply of water for human consumption or use, or for agricultural, commercial, industrial, recreational, or other legitimate beneficial uses.
WATER SURVEY
An inventory of the source, quantity, yield and use of groundwater and surface-water resources within a municipality.
WATERCOURSE (WATERWAY)
Any channel or conveyance of surface water having a defined bed and banks, whether natural or artificial, with perennial or intermittent flow.
WBCA
Pennsylvania Wireless Broadband Collocation Act (53 P.S. § 11702.1 et seq.).
WETLANDS
Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency or duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas.
WHOLESALE
Businesses primarily engaged in selling merchandise to retailers; to industrial, commercial, institutional, or professional users; or to other wholesalers.
WHOLESALE LANDSCAPING
A business primarily engaged in processing, selling and distributing indoor or outdoor grown plants and landscaping materials to industrial, commercial, institutional or professional users or to other wholesalers.
WIND FACILITY (LARGE)
Equipment, machinery and structures utilized in connection with the conversion of kinetic energy of wind into electrical power with a rated output of electrical power production equipment of greater than 100 kW/0.1 MW.
WIND FACILITY (SMALL)
All equipment, machinery and structures utilized in connection with the conversion of kinetic energy of wind into electrical power. This includes, but is not limited to, storage, electrical collection and supply equipment, transformers, service and access roads, and one or more wind turbines, which have a total rated nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kW/0.1 MW.
WINDBREAK
A feature that provides shelter or protection from wind, such as a row of trees, fence, wall or screen.
WIRELESS
Transmissions through the airwaves, including, but not limited to, infrared line of sight, cellular, PCS, microwave, satellite, or radio signals.
WIRELESS APPLICANT (APPLICANT)
Any person that applies for a wireless communication facility building permit, zoning approval and/or permission to use the public right-of-way (ROW) or other Township-owned land or property.
WIRELESS SUPPORT STRUCTURE
A freestanding structure, such as a communication tower or any other support structure, that is constructed for the primary purpose of supporting the placement or installation of a wireless communications facility if approved by the Township.
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA
See "commercial wireless telecom antenna."
WOODLAND
A plant community composed predominantly of healthy trees and other woody vegetation, well stocked and growing more or less closely together.
YARD
An open space at grade between the building setback line and the adjoining lot line(s), unoccupied and unobstructed by any portion of a structure from the ground upward.
YARD, FRONT
The yard extending along the full width of the front lot line and being the minimum horizontal distance between the front lot line (or right-of-way line, if present) and the front building setback line.
YARD, REAR
A yard extending the full length of the rear lot line and being the minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and rear yard line.
YARD, SIDE
A yard extending along the side lot line from the required front yard to the required rear yard and being the minimum horizontal distance between the side lot line and the side yard line.
ZONING AMENDMENT
A change to the text of this chapter or to the Zoning District Map proposed for adoption by the Township pursuant to the procedures specified in this chapter.
ZONING DISTRICT
A finite area of land, as designated by its boundaries on the Official Zoning Map, throughout which specific and uniform regulations govern the use of land and/or the location, size and use of buildings. The term "zoning district" shall include overlay districts.
ZONING MAP
The official plan delineating the official zoning districts of Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, together with all amendments subsequently adopted.
ZONING ORDINANCE
A. 
Currently Chapter 440 of the Charter and Code of Peters Township, Pennsylvania.
B. 
Previously:
(1) 
The Peters Township Zoning Ordinance No. 626, enacted February 10, 2003, revised by Ordinance No. 641, adopted May 10, 2004, as amended and replaced by Ordinance No. 657, adopted November 29, 2005.
(2) 
Ordinance No. 657, November 29, 2005 as amended by Ordinance No. 683, May 14, 2007, Ordinance No. 684, June 11, 2007, and Ordinance No. 736, July 25, 2011, Ordinance No. 737, August 8, 2011, Ordinance No. 762, January 21, 2013, and Ordinance No. 764, June 10, 2013.
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "camouflaging architectural treatment," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857.
[2]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "cell site," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857.
[3]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "collapse zone," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857.
[4]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 385, Subdivision and Land Development.
[5]
Editor's Note: The former definitions of "commercial wireless telecom antenna," and "commercial wireless telecommunication services," which immediately followed this definition, were repealed 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857.
[6]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10107(a).
[7]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10107(a).
[8]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 385, Subdivision and Land Development.
[9]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10107(b).
[10]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 385, Subdivision and Land Development.
[11]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "monopole," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857.
[12]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
[13]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10402.
[14]
Editor's Note: See 65 Pa. C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
[15]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.
[16]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "search radius," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 857.