[Ord. 381, 11/14/2005, § 200]
1. 
For the purpose of this chapter certain terms and words used herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
A. 
Words used in the present tense shall include the future.
B. 
Words used in the singular number shall include the plural.
C. 
Words used in the plural number shall include the singular
D. 
The word "person" includes a corporation as well as an individual, or an association of individuals.
E. 
The words "shall" and "will" are always mandatory.
F. 
The word "may" is permissive or discretionary where compliance is indicated.
[Ord. 381, 11/14/2005, § 201; as amended by Ord. 392, 6/11/2012, § I]
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words or phrases shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning herein indicated and shall be literally applied in interpreting this chapter. Words or terms used but not defined in this chapter shall have the same meaning as stated in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., or the Thornburg Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
ALLEY
A public thoroughfare that affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property and is not intended for general traffic circulation.
AMUSEMENT PARK
A tract of land or an area used principally as the location for permanent amusement structure or rides.
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 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 of a subdivision plat or plan or for the approval of a development plan.
AS-BUILT PLANS
Plans, profiles, cross-sections and construction details showing the exact final location, elevation, grade, size and material used in the construction of all facilities installed, to the same scale as the approved construction drawings.
AVAILABLE SANITARY SEWER
A municipal sanitary sewer is considered available if an existing municipal sanitary sewer line, with sufficient capacity, is located within 1,000 feet of the nearest point of a subdivision.
BLOCK
An area bounded by streets.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Thornburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
BOROUGH COUNCIL
The governing body of the Borough of Thornburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
BOROUGH ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania, duly appointed as the Engineer by Borough Council.
BUILDING
A structure having a roof supported by columns or walls used for the housing or sheltering of persons, animals or tangible personal property.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE
The line within a property defining the minimum required distance between the front of any building and the adjacent street line.
CARTWAY
That portion of the street right-of-way surfaced for vehicular use. Width is determined from face of curb to face of curb or from one edge of driving surface to the other edge of driving surface.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
The triangular area formed by a diagonal line connecting two points located on intersecting right of way lines (or right of way line and the curb of a driveway), each point being that distance from the intersection, and the two intersecting right of way lines (or right of way line and a driveway) specified in this chapter.
COMMON OPEN SPACE
A parcel or parcels of land or an area of water, or a combination of land and water within the development site, designed and intended for the use and enjoyment of the residents of a development, not including streets, off-street parking areas and areas set aside for public facilities.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
Earth moving, tree removal, building construction or any other activity undertaken to prepare a site for development.
CONTOUR
A line which joins all points of equal elevation on the ground.
CORNER LOT
A lot situated at and abutting the intersection of two streets, having an interior angle of intersection not greater than 135°.
COUNCIL
See "Borough Council."
COVENANT
An obligation defined by law or agreement, the violation of which can be restrained by court action; usually stated in the deed.
CUL-DE-SAC STREET
A street or road with one end open to traffic and pedestrian access and permanently terminated at the other end by a vehicular turn-around. A cul-de-sac is the vehicular turn-around at the end of a cul-de-sac street.
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.
DRIVEWAY, COMMON
An improved vehicular access facility serving a maximum of two lots which may be under separate or common ownership which connects the lots and provides access to a public street. All subdivisions proposing to create a common driveway shall submit a common driveway maintenance agreement for approval prior to plan approval. Said maintenance agreement shall be recorded with the plat.
DRIVEWAY, PRIVATE
An improved vehicular access facility serving only one lot which connects and provides access to a public street but which does not provide access to any other lot under separate ownership.
EASEMENT
An area of land within which certain rights are granted by the owner for public or private purposes.
ELEVATION
A point or series of points (see contours) which are a known vertical distance above or below a predetermined elevation datum. All elevations used shall be based on United States Geological Survey (USGS) Datum.
ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth. The use of the word "engineer" shall not exclude the practice of topographic surveying as provided for in the laws of the Commonwealth. (See also "Borough Engineer")
FLOOD HAZARD AREA, FLOOD PRONE AREA
A land area adjoining a river, stream, water body, or water course which may periodically flood as established by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FORESTED AREA
Any area or stand of trees, the majority of which are greater than 12 inches caliper, covering an area greater than 1/4 acre; or groves of a substantial number of mature trees of the size specified totaling five or more trees, regardless of whether the area comprises 1/4 acre.
FORM 408
See "Publication 408."
FRONT YARD
See "yard, front."
IMPROVEMENTS
Those physical changes to the land necessary to produce usable and desirable lots from raw acreage including, but not limited to, grading, paving, curb, gutter, stormwater sewers, individual sanitary sewage system, improvements to existing water courses, sidewalks, crosswalks, street signs, monuments, water supply and water distribution systems and facilities, sanitary sewers, sanitary sewerage collection systems and sanitary sewage treatment plant facilities.
INSPECTOR
An authorized representative of Borough Council assigned to make any or all on site inspection of work performed and materials furnished by the developer or his agents.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
(1) 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots 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 tenants.
(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, leasehold, condominiums, building groups or other features.
(2) 
A subdivision of land.
(3) 
Development other than those activities specified as exclusions in § 22-105 of this chapter.
LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
A plan prepared in accordance with the requirements of this chapter for approval of a land development.
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land, including the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether or not such option or contract is subject to any condition), a lessee if he is authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the landowner, or other person having a proprietary interest in land.
LOT
A tract of land in a plan of subdivision or any other parcel of land described in a deed or legal instrument pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania intended to be used as a unit for development or transfer of ownership.
LOT AREA
That area measured on a horizontal plane bounded by the front, rear and side lot lines, exclusive of any area within a street right of way.
LOT DEPTH
The horizontal distance between midpoint of the front lot line and the midpoint of the rear lot line.
LOT LINE, FRONT
That line which bounds the lot contiguous with the street right of way line. (In the case of a corner lot or a through lot, there are two front lot lines.)
LOT LINE, REAR
That line which is generally opposite to the front lot line.
LOT LINE, SIDE
Any lot line which is not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
LOT LINES
The boundary line describing the limits of a property and separating it from adjacent properties or a public street or way.
LOT WIDTH
The straight line distance between the points of intersection of the building setback line with the side lot lines.
LOT, CORNER
See "corner lot."
LOT, FLAG
A lot abutting and located to the rear or behind another lot connected to a public or private street by a contiguous area of land that is a part of said lot.
LOT, INTERIOR
A lot other than a corner lot.
LOT, THROUGH
A lot, the front lot line and rear lot line of which abut streets.
MAJOR SUBDIVISION
See "subdivision, major."
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.
MINOR SUBDIVISION
See "subdivision, minor."
MODIFICATION
A departure from the specific regulations of this chapter which may be granted by Borough Council in accordance with Part 4 and upon recommendation by the Planning Commission and Borough Engineer in cases of physical hardship or equal or better specifications.
MONUMENT
A permanent marker constructed of concrete or metal and placed in the ground by survey, to establish the legal right-of-way line of streets, property corners and property boundaries. Each monument shall be constructed and placed as specified herein this chapter.
OFF-SITE SEWER SERVICE
A sanitary sewage collection system approved by the Borough in which sewage is carried from individual lots or dwelling units by a system of pipes to a central treatment and disposal plant which may be publicly or privately owned and operated.
OFF-SITE WATER SERVICE
A potable water distribution system approved by the Borough in which water is carried to individual lots or dwelling units by a system of pipes from a central water source, located beyond the limits of the lot being serviced, which may be publicly or privately owned and operated. Applicants for subdivision and land development approval shall be required to connect to a public water distribution system unless lots are to be served by private wells.
OFFICIAL DATE OF FILING
The date of the regular Planning Commission meeting at which the application is accepted by the Planning Commission as complete in content and properly filed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
ON-SITE SEWER SERVICE
A single system of piping, tanks or other facilities approved by the Borough serving only a single lot and disposing of sewage in whole or in part into the soil.
ON-SITE WATER SERVICE
A single system of piping, tanks or other facilities serving only a single lot and obtaining the water either in whole or in part from a primary source located within the limits of the lot being served.
ORDINANCE
The terms "ordinance" and "this chapter" refer to the Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [this chapter].
OWNER
See "landowner."
PARKING SPACE
A portion of a garage or parking area designated for the parking of one motor vehicle designed in accordance with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
PLANNING COMMISSION
The planning agency appointed by Borough Council in accordance with Article II of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10201 et seq.
PLAT, FINAL SUBDIVISION
The map or plan of a proposed subdivision containing all the information required by this chapter and the Allegheny County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance for final subdivision plat approval and in a form acceptable for recording in the Office of the Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds.
PLAT, PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION
The map or plan of a proposed subdivision which contains all the information required by this chapter for approval of a preliminary subdivision plat.
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
Persons who provide expert and professional advice, including, but not limited to, architects, attorneys, certified public accountants, engineers, geologists, land surveyors, landscape architects and planners.
PUBLIC HEARING
A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice, as defined herein, by Borough Council or the Planning Commission, intended to inform and obtain public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with this chapter.
PUBLIC MEETING
A forum held pursuant to notice under the Act of October 15, 1998, P.L. 729, No. 93, 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq., known as the "Sunshine Act."
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice published once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication shall be not more than 30 days or less than seven days from the date of the hearing.
PUBLICATION 408
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Form 408, latest publications and bulletins, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Specification Publication No. 408.
REAR YARD
See "yard, rear."
RESERVE STRIP
A strip of land adjacent to a street intended to control access to the street from an adjacent property.
REVERSE FRONTAGE LOT
A lot extending between and having frontage on a major traffic street and a local street, and with vehicular access solely from the latter.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
An area of land reserved or dedicated for public or private purposes to provide access across property of another.
SIDE YARD
See "yard, side."
SIGHT DISTANCE
The maximum extent of unobstructed vision (in a horizontal or vertical plane) along a street from a vehicle located at any given point on the street. The safe stopping sight distance for the vertical curves on roadway pavement shall be calculated with an eye height of 3.5 feet above the pavement and a height of an object of 0.5 feet.
SITE
The entire property included in a proposed subdivision or land development.
STREET CLASSIFICATIONS
The following street classifications shall apply to streets in the Borough of Thornburg and shall be applied as defined in the most recently adopted Comprehensive Plan and/or the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
(1) 
ARTERIALA public street that serves large volumes of high speed and/or long distance traffic. Average daily traffic (ADT) volumes carried by an arterial street exceed 3,500 trips per day.
(2) 
COLLECTORA public street that, in addition to giving access to abutting lots, intercepts local streets and provides a route for carrying considerable volumes of local traffic to community facilities and arterial streets. Average daily traffic (ADT) volumes carried by a collector street exceed 800 trips per day, but do not exceed 3,500 trips per day.
(3) 
LOCALA public street that primarily serves abutting properties and carries traffic from the abutting properties to collector streets. Average daily traffic (ADT) carried by a local street does not exceed 800 trips per day.
STREET, PRIVATE
A street, including the entire private right-of-way, which is privately owned and maintained through private agreement and which is intended for private use. A "private street" which provides access to three or more lots which do not have access to a public street shall be considered as access to a public street. (See also "driveway, private" and "driveway, common.") Design standards for private streets shall comply with the requirements of Part 5 herein and improvements shall comply with the standards of Part 6 herein.
STREET, PUBLIC
A street, including the entire public right-of-way, which has been dedicated to and accepted by the Borough or which has been devoted to public use by legal mapping, use or other means.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
SUBDIVIDER
See "developer."
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means including partition by a court among heirs into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose whether immediate or future, of lease, transfer of ownership or building or lot development, provided that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling shall be exempted.
SUBDIVISION, MAJOR
A subdivision containing four or more lots or any subdivision, regardless of the number of lots, which involves the creation, extension or improvement of a public street.
SUBDIVISION, MINOR
A subdivision containing no more than three lots, all of which have frontage on an improved public street and which subdivision does not involve the creation, extension or improvement of any public street, but which may involve the extension or creation of any other public improvements and which does not adversely affect the future development of any remaining parcel or any adjoining property.
SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED
When, in the judgment of the Borough Engineer, at least 90% (based on the cost of the required improvements for which financial security was posted pursuant to § 22-702 of this chapter) of those improvements required as a condition for final approval have been completed in accordance with the approved plan, so that the project will be able to be used, occupied or operated for its intended use.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
A map showing ground elevations by contour lines and the location of important, natural and man-made features.
WATERCOURSE
Includes all existing channels, creeks, ditches, drains, dry runs, springs and streams, also all proposed channels, ditches, drains and drainage facilities.
WETLANDS
Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions as defined and regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
YARD
A required open space on a lot which is unobstructed by any portion of a principal structure other than certain projections expressly permitted by the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
YARD, FRONT
A yard extending across the full lot width and parallel to or concentric with the front lot line, the minimum depth measurement required by the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
YARD, REAR
A yard extending across the width of the lot between the side yards and parallel to the rear lot line, the minimum depth measurement required by the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
YARD, SIDE
A yard extending between the building setback line and the rear yard line, parallel to the side lot line, the minimum depth measurement required by the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
ZONING OFFICER
The individual appointed by Borough Council to administer and enforce the provisions contained in Borough Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27].
ZONING ORDINANCE
Ord. 378 adopted by Borough Council of the Borough of Thornburg on February 14, 2005, in accordance with the authority of Article VI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10601 et seq., including all amendments to said ordinance, as now or hereafter enacted.