Words used in the present tense shall include the future. The singular number shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular. The word "shall" is mandatory and not permissive. The use of terms in the masculine gender shall also include the female gender and the female shall include the masculine; the words "used" or "occupied" include the words "intended, designed, or arranged to be used or occupied," and certain terms or words shall have the meanings set forth in § 118-10 below.
In the event a particular term or word defined in § 118-10 hereafter is also defined in a specific zoning district or overlay zone, the definition set forth for such word or term in the separate zoning district or overlay zone shall be controlling. In the event a term or word used in this chapter is not defined in § 118-10 herein or otherwise, then any definition for such term or word set forth in Chapter 104, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of Unity shall be applied and controlling. In the event a term or word used in this chapter is not defined in § 118-10 herein or otherwise, or in Chapter 104, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of Unity, then the common usage or meaning of such term or word shall be applied and controlling.
As used in this chapter the following words shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A subordinate structure, located on the same lot as the main structure or a portion of the main structure, the use of which is clearly incidental to and customarily found in connection with the main structure or principal use of the land.
ACCESSORY USE
A subordinate use, located on the same lot as the main structure or use, which is clearly incidental and related to that of a main structure or main use of land.
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. 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 also includes habitable space or spaces in which agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged, but shall not be construed to mean a place of occupancy by the general public.
[Added 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
AGRICULTURAL CONVERSIONS
The conversion and/or use of existing buildings or structures which are accessory to the agricultural use of property for the following events and/or commercial purposes only:
[Added 5-11-2017 by Ord. No. O-5-2017]
A. 
Weddings;
B. 
Wedding receptions;
C. 
Private reception events;
D. 
Retail sales of produce, meat, poultry, vegetables, flowers, jams, jellies or other products grown or otherwise produced on the property.
AGRICULTURE
Any use of land or structures for farming, dairying, pasturage, agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, arboriculture or animal or poultry husbandry; together with structures accessory to such agricultural use, including, but not limited to, barns, stables, corn cribs, silos and any other use or structure that is clearly incidental and related to an agricultural operation.
AIRCRAFT
Any contrivance, except an empowered hang-glider or parachute, used for manned ascent into or flight through the air.
AIRPORT
The Westmoreland County Airport; any area of land, either public or private, which is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft and any appurtenant areas which are used or intended to be used for airport buildings or air navigation facilities or rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and facilities thereon. "Airports" shall not include heliports.
AIRPORT ELEVATION
One thousand one hundred sixty-one feet above mean sea level.
AIRPORT HAZARD AREA
Any area of land or water upon which a hazard to air navigation might be established.
ANCILLARY DWELLING
A dwelling unit accessory and subordinate to a principal one-family house, installed and intended solely for the use of relatives or domestic or farm employees.
ANCILLARY FARMING BUSINESS
A commercial use, accessory, incidental and subordinate to an agricultural use, operated by and for the convenience of the family residing on the same premises, where the land upon which the business is located is not less than 40 acres and where such business utilizes only existing structures that are customary and generally accepted for agricultural operations.
ANCILLARY RESTAURANT
A restaurant which is located within a shopping center, industrial park, office center, apartment complex or planned group unit, having a floor area of not more than 3,000 square feet and intended primarily to serve the employees, patrons or residents of the complex within which it is located.
APARTMENT
A dwelling unit in a multiple-family residential structure containing two or more dwelling units for lease to or occupancy by tenants.
APPLICANT
A landowner, or holder of an agreement to purchase land, lessee or other person having a proprietary interest in land or the heir, successor or assign of such person, who has filed an application for the use, improvement or development of any parcel or structure or for subdivision of land or land development under the terms of this chapter.
APPLICATION
An application, either preliminary or final, required to be filed and approved prior to the use, improvement or development of any parcel or structure or the start of land development or subdivision and which is complete in all respects as required by this chapter.
APPROACH SURFACE
A surface longitudinally centered on the extended runway center line, extending outward and upward from the end of the primary surface and at the same slope as the approach zone height limitation slope set forth in this chapter or Chapter 104, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of Unity. In plan, the perimeter of the "approach surface" coincides with the perimeter of the approach zone.
APPROACH, TRANSITIONAL, HORIZONTAL AND CONICAL ZONES
Zones shown and described in this chapter and Chapter 104, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of Unity within the Airport Overlay Zone.
ASSISTED LIVING/PERSONAL CARE FACILITY
A home or residential facility for people needing assistance with activities of daily living, but wishing to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Assisted living facilities are characterized by the offering of help or assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, laundry, housekeeping, and assistance with medications.
AVIATION SALES
The wholesale or retail sale of any product related to use by the aviation industry.
AVIATION SERVICES
Any service provided by or for the aviation industry.
AVIATION STORAGE FACILITIES
Any structure related to storing products, equipment and other items related to the aviation industry or products, equipment and other items either shipped in or shipped out by means of aircraft.
BANK
A commercial bank, savings and loan company, credit union, or other closely related business.
BANQUET FACILITIES
A location serving food to persons attending private parties or events that is not be part of a restaurant.
BANQUET ROOM
A room for the purpose of hosting a party, banquet, reception, or other social event, operated within the buildings of clubs and fraternal organizations or within a restaurant.
BAR
See "tavern (bar)" hereafter.
BASEMENT
Any area of the building having its floor below ground level on all sides.
BASIC GRADE
A reference plane representing the average of the finished ground level adjoining a structure at all its exterior walls.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST
A single-family dwelling, occupied by the owner in which rooms and breakfast are provided as part of an agreed upon fee.
[Amended 5-14-2015 by Ord. No. O-2-2015]
BED-AND-BREAKFAST (WITH RECEPTION FACILITIES)
A "bed-and-breakfast" as herein defined which also accommodates wedding receptions, birthday parties, reunions or other special occasion events attended by third parties who are not registered guests at the bed-and-breakfast during the event.
[Added 5-14-2015 by Ord. No. O-2-2015]
BEDROCK
The natural rock layer, hard or soft, in place at ground surface or beneath unconsolidated surface deposits.
BILLBOARDS AND OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
See definition in § 118-27 hereafter.
BOARDINGHOUSE
An owner-occupied dwelling or other structure, designed principally for single-family occupancy, but whose rooms are used as temporary living quarters by transient individuals on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, with or without consideration.
BUILDABLE AREA
That portion of a zoning lot bounded by the required front, side and rear yards.
BUSINESS SERVICES
A business which provides services and/or sales of office supplies and equipment either on site or off site, where the repair and maintenance of equipment on site is limited and does not include manufacturing or industrial operations.
CEMETERY
Land used or intended to be used solely for the interment of human and/or animal remains and dedicated for cemetery purposes, including mausoleums when operated in conjunction with and within the boundary of such cemetery. A cemetery does not include an area of property dedicated to the burial of family members, where members of the deceased's immediate family (i.e., father, mother, sister, brother or spouse) continue to own and reside on the property.
CHARTER AIRCRAFT FACILITIES
Any building, structure or office used for the chartering of aircraft.
CHILD-CARE CENTER
Any place, home or institution which cares for children under the age of 16 years apart from their parents, guardians or custodians for regular periods of time for compensation; provided, however, that the term "child-care center" shall not include bona fide schools or churches and other religious or public institutions caring for children within an institutional building or apply to a custodial relationship fixed by a court.
CHURCH
A building whose principal use is for public worship by any denomination or faith.
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections, defined by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of street lines.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The person or persons appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Unity Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to enforce this chapter.
COLLEGE or UNIVERSITY
A school or other institution providing post-secondary undergraduate education or post-graduate education, offering associates, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees. Technical schools offering supplemental instruction to high school students, junior and community colleges, or any branch campus thereof, may also be considered a college for purposes of this chapter depending on their size and the intensity of their use.
COMMERCIAL STORAGE
Ancillary to a principal use, the storage of inventory, stock, supplies, materials or equipment used in, or as a part of, the operation of the principal use on the property or site.
COMMERCIAL STORAGE (WAREHOUSING)
A building or property used for the storage of materials, equipment or other products for sale or distribution off site.
COMMON OPEN SPACE
An unimproved parcel of land integral to a planned residential development and subject to provisions which assure the continued availability and maintenance of such open space for the use and benefit of the residents of the planned development.
COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA
Any device used for the transmission or reception of radio, television, wireless telephone, pager, commercial mobile radio service or any other wireless communications signals, including, without limitation, omnidirectional or whip antennas and directional or panel antennas, owned or operated by any person or entity licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate such device. This definition shall not include private-residence-mounted satellite dishes or television antennas or amateur radio equipment, including, without limitation, ham or citizen band radio antennas.
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT BUILDING
An unmanned building or cabinet containing communications equipment required for the operation of communications antennas and covering an area on the ground not greater than 250 square feet.
COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
A structure, other than a building, such as a monopole, self-supporting tower or guyed tower, designed and used to support communications antennas.
COMPLETELY DRY SPACE
A space or area within a structure designed and constructed to prevent the passage of water and water vapor which will remain totally dry during flooding.
CONDITIONAL USE
A use permitted in a certain district, subject to conditions, which requires approval by the Supervisors under terms and procedures prescribed herein.
CONICAL SURFACE
A surface extending outward and upward from the horizontal surface at a slope of 20:1 for a horizontal distance of 4,000 feet.
CONSTRUCTION
The construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, extension, expansion, alteration or relocation of a building or structure, including the placement of manufactured homes.
CONTRACTOR'S STORAGE YARD
An unenclosed portion of the lot or parcel upon which a construction contractor maintains its principal office or a permanent business office. Designation of the lot or parcel as a contractor's storage yard allows this area to be used to store and maintain construction equipment and other materials customarily used in the trade carried on by the construction contractor.
CONVENIENCE STORE
A small store or shop that sells items such as candy, ice cream, soft drinks, lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines, along with a selection of processed food and perhaps some groceries. Toiletries and other hygiene products may be stocked. Such store may also offer money orders, wire transfer services and serve hot food or sandwiches for consumption off the premises.
[Amended 5-14-2015 by Ord. No. O-2-2015]
CONVENIENCE STORE WITH GAS FUELING ISLANDS
A "convenience store" as defined herein with fueling islands or pumps for the sale and distribution of gasoline for automobiles, light trucks and other two-axel vehicles directly to the public. Convenience stores with gas fueling islands may also sell motor oil, windshield washer fluid, radiator fluid, other related automobile supplies or products and maps. Toiletries and other hygiene products may be stocked. Such store may also offer money orders, wire transfer services and serve hot food or sandwiches for consumption off the premises.
[Added 5-14-2015 by Ord. No. O-2-2015]
CORPORATE AIRCRAFT OFFICES
Any office related to the aviation industry.
COUNTY
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
CUL-DE-SAC
A street having one end open to traffic and permanently terminated at the other, constructed consistent with the terms of Chapter 100, Streets and Sidewalks, of the Code of Unity Township.
DAY-CARE CENTER
Any place, home or institution which cares for preschool children apart from their parents, guardians or custodians for regular periods of time for compensation; provided, however, that the term "day-care center" shall not include bona fide schools or churches and other religious or public institutions caring for children within an institutional building or apply to a custodial relationship fixed by a court.
DEVELOPER
Any present or prospective landowner or agent of such landowner who makes or causes to be made a development plan and an application for a site development plan, subdivision, land development or planned development.
DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT
A written agreement entered into between the Township and the developer detailing the manner in which a development is to be constructed, ensuring acceptance of conditions of approval, guaranteeing performance of all required improvements and amenities and which may be recorded to run with the deed to the subject property.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, the construction of buildings or other structures, streets and other paving, utilities, filling, grading, excavation, mining, dredging or drilling operations, the subdivision of land and the storage of materials and equipment.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
A graphic and written presentation of any land development proposal, including a site plan, a plat of subdivision, and all provisions relating to use, location and bulk of structures, density of development, streets, ways and parking facilities, common open space and public facilities.
DISTRICT
A zoning district in which the use and development of property is defined and/or regulated by this chapter.
DOMESTIC PETS
Animals or fowl customarily found in a residential dwelling and kept for company or pleasure, including without limitation dogs, cats, hamsters and similar rodents, parakeets or canaries and the like. No regular size or miniature horse, pony, cattle, goat, sheep or other grazing animal, pig, chicken or other farm animals, shall be considered a domestic pet.
DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITY
A structure or portion of a building provided by a business that allows customers to purchase products or obtain services associated with such business without leaving their cars.
DUPLEX
A building designed or arranged to be occupied by two separate families, containing two separate living units, each of which is designed to be occupied as a separate permanent residence.
DWELLING
A building or structure to be used as living quarters for one or more families, excluding a hotel, motel, rooming houses or other tourist home.
[Added 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
DWELLING UNIT
A structure or area within a structure containing one or more living or sleeping rooms with cooking and bathroom facilities for one person or one family.
[Amended 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL
A building or other facility providing educational services for students between the ages of five through 18.
ELEVATION
The vertical distance above mean sea level elevation.
ENGINEER
A professional engineer who is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ENTERTAINMENT FACILITY
A theater, stadium, arena, amphitheater or related facility for the presentation of musical, theatrical or sporting events, where the number of spectators normally is greater than the number of players and/or participants and where such use is not accessory to a school or church.
EQUIPMENT REPAIR FACILITY (MAJOR)
A place where heavy equipment and/or machinery is received for repair or service. Such facility may also be used for the storage of materials or parts used for the repair or service of such equipment.
EQUIPMENT REPAIR FACILITY (MINOR)
A business establishment that repairs consumer electronics, appliances and tools that can be carried into the establishment by the customer, where all repairs are conducted inside the establishment and remain indoors. Equipment repaired at this type of establishment includes personal computers, cameras, small appliances, televisions, power tools, lawn mowers and similar devices.
EROSION
The detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice or gravity, including such processes as gravitational creep.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance, by a public utility or municipal or other governmental agencies, of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam, water, or sewage transmission, distribution or collection systems, communication, supply or disposal systems and such essential buildings and facilities required for the same, excluding communication towers or antennas defined herein.
ESSENTIALLY DRY SPACE
A space which will remain dry during flooding, except for the passage of some water vapor or seepage; and which space is substantially impermeable to the passage of water.
EXCAVATION
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
FA (GENERAL FLOODPLAIN AREA)
The areas identified as Zone A in the Flood Insurance Study for which no one-hundred-year flood elevations have been provided. When available, information from other federal, state and other acceptable sources shall be used to determine the one-hundred-year elevation, as well as a floodway area, if possible. When no other information is available, the one-hundred-year elevation shall be determined by using a point on the boundary of the identified floodplain area which is nearest the construction site in question.
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States Department of Transportation.
FAMILY
One or more persons occupying a dwelling unit, related by blood, marriage, or adoption, living together as a single housekeeping unit and using cooking facilities and certain rooms in common, as distinguished from a group occupying a boardinghouse, lodging house, bed-and-breakfast, short-term rental, club, fraternity, motel or hotel.
[Amended 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
FAMILY DAY CARE
The accessory use of a single-family dwelling for the care of up to six children conducted as a home occupation pursuant to the terms of this chapter.
FARM
A business that engages in the production and preparation for market of crops, livestock or livestock products, or in the production and harvesting of agricultural, floricultural, arboricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural or aquacultural crops or commodities or animal or poultry husbandry.
FE (SPECIAL FLOODPLAIN AREA)
The areas identified as Zone AE in the Flood Insurance Study, where one-hundred-year flood elevations have been provided, but no floodway has been delineated.
FILL
An act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material is deposited, placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to a new location, including the material being deposited and the condition resulting from such act.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
A study prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the Federal Insurance Administration, which includes a Flood Insurance Rate Map.
FLOOD-FRINGE DISTRICT
That area of the one-hundred-year floodplain not included in the Floodway District. The basis for the outermost boundary of this district shall be the one-hundred-year-flood elevations contained in the flood profiles of the Flood Insurance Study.
FLOODPLAIN
A relatively flat or low land area which is subject to inundation from the rapid accumulation of surface waters, including Floodway Districts, Flood-Fringe Districts and General Floodplain Districts.
FLOODPLAIN 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 DISTRICT
A floodplain area for which no detailed flood profiles or elevations are provided, but where a one-hundred-year floodplain boundary has been approximated. Such areas are shown on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps of the Flood Insurance Study.
FLOODPROOFING
Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes or adjustments to structures which reduces or eliminates flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.
FLOODWAY DISTRICT
That portion of a floodplain delineated for regulation by this chapter which must be reserved to discharge the waters of the one-hundred-year flood without causing more than a one-foot rise in flood heights. The areas included in this district are specifically defined on Tables 1 through 6 of the Flood Insurance Study.
FLOOR AREA — FOR A COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT
The sum of the horizontal areas of all space to which the customers and employees have access, including storage, office or other preparation or administrative spaces. "Gross floor area" is the sum of the horizontal area (square footage) of all floors of a structure as measured between the exterior faces of walls, including any accessory buildings as measured between the exterior faces of walls.
FLOOR AREA — FOR A DWELLING
The sum of the horizontal areas of all rooms used for habitation, but not including cellars, attics, unheated rooms or rooms without the benefit of natural light supplied by either a skylight or window. "Gross floor area" is the sum of the horizontal area (square footage) of all floors of a structure as measured between the exterior faces of walls, including any accessory buildings as measured between the exterior faces of walls.
FLOOR AREA RATIO
The ratio obtained when the gross floor area, minus unoccupied basement area, is divided by the total lot area.
FORESTRY
The art and science of managing forests, tree plantations, and related natural resources. Silviculture, a related science, involving the growing and tending of trees and forests shall be considered "forestry" for purposes of this chapter. Any use which principally concerns itself with: assisting forests to provide timber as raw material for wood products; wildlife habitat; natural water quality management; recreation; landscape and community protection; employment; aesthetically appealing landscapes; biodiversity management; watershed management; erosion control; and a "sink" for atmospheric carbon dioxide shall also be considered "forestry" for purposes of this chapter.
FUNERAL HOME (MORTUARY)
A business that provides burial, viewing and funeral services for the deceased and their families. This use may include rooms for a prepared wake, a chapel for the funeral and an office or place for carrying on the profession of funeral directing, but not cremation.
FW (FLOODWAY AREA)
The areas identified as "floodway" in the AE Zone in the Flood Insurance Study prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The term shall also include floodway areas which have been identified in other available studies or sources of information for those floodplain areas where no floodway has been identified in the Flood Insurance Study.
GARAGE, PRIVATE
An accessory building designed or used for the storage of motor-driven vehicles owned and used by the occupants of the dwelling to which it is accessory.
GARAGE, PUBLIC PARKING
A building or structure, designed for and/or used by the public, for the parking of motor vehicles.
GARAGE, REPAIR
A building or portion thereof, other than a private or storage garage, designed or used for equipping, servicing, repairing, or storing motor-driven vehicles.
GARDEN APARTMENT
A multiple-family residential structure, containing three or more dwelling units, having a height no greater than three stories and accessed through a common entrance.
GARDEN CENTER
A retail operation that grows, cultivates and/or sells plants and products related to gardens as its primary business, with facilities to care for and display plants.
GAS STATION
A retail establishment supplying gasoline for automobiles and other vehicles directly to the public.
[Amended 5-14-2015 by Ord. No. O-2-2015]
GRADING
An excavation or fill or any combination thereof, including the conditions resulting from any excavation or fill.
GRADING PERMIT
A permit required by this chapter before any grading, except minor grading operations, may be initiated.
GREENHOUSE
A retail business whose principal activity is the selling of plants grown on the site, having outside storage, growing and display areas.
GROUP HOME
Any number of persons (1) unrelated by blood, marriage, or adoption, (2) occupying or acting as occupants of a dwelling unit and living together as a single housekeeping unit, (3) using cooking facilities and certain rooms in common, (4) being sufficiently stable and permanent so as not to be fairly characterized as purely transient, and (5) who suffer from a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person' s major life activities under the Fair Housing Act. [NOTE: See 42 U.S.C. § 3602(h)(1)]. This term excludes occupancies by persons actively addicted to drugs or alcohol, but includes who are not actively addicted to or using drugs or alcohol, but are in a state of recovery from same.) For purposes of this definition, an "occupant" shall also mean any person or persons, employed either by an occupant, owner or landlord, individually or through a service, corporation, firm or other third-party business entity, to provide services to another occupant on a 24 hour per day basis, either as a full-time occupant or through rotating shifts.
[Amended 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
HALF-WAY HOUSE
A dwelling facility providing temporary living accommodations for not more than six persons subject to and involved in a rehabilitation program conducted on site.
HAZARD
A danger or potential danger to life, limb or health or a condition having an adverse effect or potential adverse effect to the safety, use or stability of property, waterways, public ways, structures, utilities and storm sewers, including stream pollution, or other condition which poses a threat to the public health, safety or welfare.
HAZARD TO AIR NAVIGATION
Any structure or object, natural or man-made, or use of land which obstructs the airspace required for flight or aircraft in landing or taking off at an airport or is otherwise hazardous to air navigation.
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
Any material that, because of its quantity, concentration, physical or chemical characteristics, may pose a real hazard to human health and/or the environment. Hazardous materials include, but are not limited to, the following categories: explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers and organic peroxides, toxic materials, radioactive materials, corrosives and/or any material listed with the Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS).
HAZARDOUS WASTE
A. 
Any garbage, refuse, sludge from an industrial or other wastewater treatment plant, sludge from a water supply treatment plant or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained gaseous material resulting from municipal, commercial, industrial, institutional, mining or agriculture operations or from community activities or any combination of the above which, because of its quantity, concentration or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may:
(1) 
Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in morbidity in either an individual or the total population; or
(2) 
Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored or transported, disposed of or otherwise managed.
B. 
The term "hazardous waste" shall not include coal refuse as defined in the Act of September 24, 1968 (P. L. 1040, No. 318), 52 P.S. § 30.51 et seq., known as the "Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act," and shall not include treatment sludge from coal mine drainage treatment plants, disposal of which is being carried on pursuant to the Clean Streams Law (P.L. 1987, No. 394), 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq., and shall not include solid or dissolved material in domestic sewage or solid or dissolved material in irrigation return flows or industrial discharges which are point sources subject to permits under Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (86 Stat. 880), 33 U.S.C. § 1342; and shall not include source, special nuclear or by-product material as defined by the United States Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (68 Stat. 923).
HEARING BOARD
The Zoning Hearing Board of the Township of Unity, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
HEIGHT
The vertical distance from the basic grade at the front wall of a structure to the highest point of:
A. 
The coping or parapet of a flat roof; or
B. 
To the deck-line of a mansard roof; or
C. 
To the highest point of the ridge of a gable, hip, gambrel or other similar roof.
HEIGHT OF A COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
The vertical distance measured from the ground level to the highest point on a communications tower, including antennas mounted on the tower.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
A. 
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of the Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register;
B. 
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
C. 
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
D. 
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either:
(1) 
By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(2) 
Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE
A retail location which stocks, sells and supplies lumber, wood and other building products and/or materials used for construction and/or home improvement projects.
HOME OCCUPATION
As defined in § 118-23A(22) hereafter.
HORIZONTAL SURFACE
A horizontal plane 150 feet above the established airport elevation, the perimeter of which in plane coincides with the perimeter of the horizontal zone.
HOSPITAL
An institution for health care providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment, which often, but not always, provides for longer-term patient stays.
HOTEL
A multi-story structure or structures designed or utilized as temporary lodging for individuals where access to rooms is from a common hallway accessible from a main lobby area. A hotel may include meeting rooms, conference facilities, common dining facilities and other amenities designed for use by the guests of same.
[Added 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
JUNKYARD
A building, structure or property, or area within a building, structure or property, used for the dismantling, wrecking or storage of used motor vehicles, trucks, trailers, farm equipment, manufactured homes or other machinery or material or the salvaging, storage, sale or dumping of dismantled or partially dismantled, obsolete or wrecked machinery or their parts.
KENNEL
A building or structure, cage or pen used for the purpose of breeding, boarding or selling or raising animals as a hobby, or for private, commercial or professional business.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
A. 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving;
(1) 
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or
(2) 
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
B. 
A subdivision of land.
LANDSCAPING BUSINESS
A business engaged in an activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including, but not limited to: 1) living elements, such as flora or fauna; 2) natural elements, such as landforms, terrain shape and elevation, or bodies of water; 3) human elements such as structures, buildings, fences or other material objects created and/or installed by humans; and 4) abstract elements such as the weather and lighting conditions. A landscaping business may include an office, the storage of materials and equipment used in the operation of such business and the direct sale of landscaping materials such as mulch, stone, gravel or other similar products directly to the public.
[Amended 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
LARGER-THAN-UTILITY RUNWAY
A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used by propeller-driven aircraft of greater than 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight and jet-powered aircraft.
LEGALLY ENCROACHING STRUCTURE
A building or structure which was lawfully in existence prior to the adoption of the presently existing or any preceding Zoning Ordinance or amendments thereto, except for a nonconforming structure as defined herein, which does not comply with the regulations of this chapter with respect to required yards, height or building coverage requirements.
LIBRARY
A collection of books, sources, resources, and services, and the structure in which it is housed, organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private entity.
LIGHT MANUFACTURING
The processing, fabrication and assembly of certain materials and products where no process involved will 1) produce noise, vibration, air pollution, fire hazard or noxious emissions which can be detected or measured off-site; or 2) will disturb or endanger neighboring properties. "Light manufacturing" may include the production and/or assembly of the following goods: home appliances, electrical instruments, office machines, precision instruments, electronic devices, timepieces, jewelry, optical goods, musical instruments, novelties, wood products, printed material, lithographic plates, type composition, machine tools, dies and gauges, ceramics, apparel, lightweight nonferrous metal castings, film processing, light sheet metal products, plastic goods, food products and pharmaceutical goods.
[Amended 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
LOADING SPACE
An off-street space or berth on the same lot with a building or contiguous to a group of buildings, for the temporary parking of commercial vehicles while loading or unloading merchandise or materials.
LOT
A parcel of land.
LOT OF RECORD
Any lot which individually or as a part of a subdivision has been recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the county.
LOT, AREA OF
The total area within the boundary lines of a lot, not including any part of a public street or width of the easement or right-of-way for same.
LOT, BUILDING
A parcel of land occupied or capable of being occupied by one or more structures.
LOT, DEPTH OF
A mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines, measured midway between the side lot lines.
LOT, WIDTH OF
The distance between the side lot lines measured at the public right-of-way line or along the front building line of the lot on culs-de-sac, as determined by the prescribed front yard requirements.
LOWEST FLOOR
The lowest floor of the lowest fully enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished, flood-resistant, partially enclosed area, used solely for parking of vehicles, building access and incidental storage, in an area other than a basement area, is not considered the lowest floor of a building, provided that such space is not designed and built so that the structure is in violation of the applicable non-elevation design requirements of this chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, built on a permanent chassis and designed to be occupied as a dwelling when connected to the required utilities; such structure bearing a label as required by and referenced in the Manufactured Housing Act (35 P.S. § 1656.1 et seq.), certifying that it conforms to federal construction and safety standards adopted under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. § 5401 et seq.). The term does not include park trailers, travel trailers, recreational or other similar vehicles.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK
A parcel of ground under single ownership, which has been planned and approved for the placement of manufactured homes for nontransient use consistent with the regulations set forth by the Township for same.
MANUFACTURING
The processing and fabrication of any article, substance or commodity other than light manufacturing as hereinabove defined.
MEDICAL CLINIC
Any establishment where human patients are not hospitalized overnight but are examined and treated by doctors or others who are duly licensed within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to administer medical treatment.
MINI-STORAGE
A series of individual storage facilities, either in a permanent or transportable structures, or a building or group of buildings containing a series of indoor individual storage units, on a property in single ownership, where such facilities are leased or rented to more than one person, corporation or firm, designed and/or used for storage of equipment, materials, furniture or other personal belongings. A trailer, truck bed, motor home or other similar device or facility shall not be considered a "storage facility" under this definition.
MINOR GRADING OPERATION
Grading where neither the cut or fill exceeds a vertical change of five feet and the Township Engineer determines that there is little possibility of erosion and sedimentation; or grading involved in the reasonable, regular, normal maintenance and landscaping improvements by individual homeowners where the standards of this chapter are not violated; or the stockpiling of rock, sand and aggregate on an approved site or earthmoving for the construction of a one-family house in an approved plat where erosion and sedimentation control measures are being employed in accordance with the approved grading plans and specifications for the plat or temporary excavation below finished grade for basements, additions to existing one-family houses, accessory swimming pools or structures for which a building permit has been issued and where the Township Engineer determines that the possibility of erosion and sedimentation exists.
MINOR REPAIR
The replacement of existing work with equivalent materials for the purpose of its routine maintenance and upkeep, but not including the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or bearing support or the removal or change of any required means of egress or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the exit way requirements; nor shall "minor repairs" include any addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety.
MIXED OCCUPANCY BUILDING
A building which combines more than one "occupancy" as defined in the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
MIXED USE BUILDING
A building in which a variety of types of permitted business uses occur within a single building.
MOBILE HOME
See definition of "manufactured home."
MOBILE HOME PARK
See definition for "manufactured home park."
MODIFICATION
An authorization to modify the terms of a subdivision application or a land development plan when the literal terms of an ordinance provision would result in an undue hardship because of peculiar conditions pertaining to the land in question.
MODULAR HOME
A framed structure designed for occupancy as a single-family dwelling whose primary components (i.e., walls, floors, ceilings and/or roof) are manufactured separately off site and assembled on site.
MOTEL
A structure or structures designed or utilized as temporary lodging for individuals, including auto courts, motor hotels, motor lodges, tourist courts and the like, containing at least two sleeping room units, having not more than two stories, where room are accessible directly from the outside.
[Amended 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
MOTORIZED VEHICLE TRAILS OR TRAINING FACILITIES
A course, trail or any part thereof, constructed or used for the off-road operation of motorcycles, dirt bikes, quads, automobiles or other motorized vehicles either for commercial or private use or purposes.
[Amended 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
MULTIFAMILY DWELLING
Two or more dwelling units, including townhouses, duplexes, patio homes, triplexes, quadplexes and garden apartments, joined together by one or more common walls.
[Amended 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
MUNICIPAL, STATE OR FEDERAL BUILDING OR FACILITY
The administrative building of a federal, state or local government or agency thereof which houses its associated departments and their employees.
NATURAL RESOURCES RECOVERY
Any surface mining, subsurface mining, oil and/or gas well drilling, logging or other extraction of minerals or other natural resources, including but not limited to the removal of topsoil, shale or other similar materials for transportation off the premises, or other activity considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection or Municipalities Planning Code as natural resources recovery.
NO-IMPACT HOME-BASED BUSINESS
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. The business or commercial activity 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.
NON-PRECISION-INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure utilizing air navigation facilities with only horizontal guidance or area-type navigation equipment for which a straight-in non-precision-instrument-approach procedure has been approved or planned.
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot whose width, area or other dimension does not conform to the regulations of this chapter and which lawfully existed at the time the regulations with which it does not conform became effective.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
Any structure or part of a structure legally existing at the time of enactment of a preceding zoning ordinance or this chapter or any of its amendments, which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter.
NONCONFORMING USE
Any use of land, or use of a structure, or use of land or structures in combination, lawfully existing at the time the original zoning ordinance of Unity Township was adopted (September 25, 1991), which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter. Any use existing or permitted to be constructed as a result of the grant of a use variance, dimensional variance, conditional use, or special exception may continue to exist subject to the terms and conditions of its grant, if any, but shall not be considered as a nonconforming use for purposes of change, expansion or enlargement under this chapter.
NURSERY
The growing, storage and sale of garden plants, trees, shrubs and/or vines, conducted on a site of not less than 10 acres, for resale, including minor incidental retail sales, conducted on site.
NURSING HOME
A convalescent home, skilled nursing unit (SNU), or rest home, used as a place of residence for two or more people, unrelated by blood or marriage, who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. Residents may include the elderly, younger adults with physical or mental disabilities and/or other eligible adults 18 or older, who are required to stay in a skilled nursing facility to receive physical, occupational, and other rehabilitative therapies following an accident or illness.
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 which is placed where the flow of the water might carry the same downstream to the damage of life and property; also, any structure, growth or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height in the Airport Overlay District.
OCCUPANT
An individual who occupies a rental unit, whether or not he or she is the owner thereof, with whom a legal relationship with the owner/landlord or another occupant is established by an employment agreement, written lease, oral lease, installment land sale agreement, agreement of sale, short-term rental agreement, placement agreement, or any other form of written agreement or oral understanding of any kind permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For purposes of this chapter, an "occupant" shall also mean any person or persons, employed either by an occupant, owner or landlord, individually or through a service, corporation, firm or other third-party business entity, to provide services to another occupant on a 24 hour per day basis, either as a full-time occupant or through rotating shifts.
[Added 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
OFF SITE
The conduct of a business or use which is not on site.
OFFICE
A room or suite of rooms, or a portion of a building in which a person transacts the affairs of a business, profession, service, industry or government, which does not involve the accessory sale of goods from the premises.
ON SITE
The premises where a residential, business, industrial or other use is actually conducted.
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD
A flood of such magnitude that it has only a 1% chance of occurring each year, although such flood may occur in any year.
OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES
An outdoor stage, deck or other designated area designed and intended for seasonal use by bands, disc jockeys, singers or other forms of entertainment which is not used as a part of the operations of a restaurant, bar, nightclub or other similar commercial enterprise. An outdoor stage, deck or other designated area designed and intended for seasonal use by bands, disc jockeys, singers or other forms of entertainment used or constructed as a part of the operations of a restaurant, bar, nightclub or other commercial enterprise, shall be considered an extension of such operations and not as an accessory structure.
PENAL INSTITUTION
A prison, jail, penitentiary, or correctional facility in which people are physically confined or interned, and usually deprived of a range of personal freedoms as punishment for the commission of a crime.
PERMIT
A document issued by a designated official of the Township associated with the use or development of land, or a structure or change in use of a structure or parcel of land, or a change of occupancy of a structure, certifying that all conditions necessary for the issuance of the permit have been met, and that the structure and land may be used for the purposes set forth in this chapter.
PERSON
A person, partnership, corporation, trust, firm, organization or association.
PERSONAL SERVICES
A commercial establishment providing such personal services as hair dressing and cutting, manicures, pedicures, facials, clothes cleaning, laundering, shoe repair, tailoring and similar services.
PILOT INSTRUCTION FACILITIES
Any building, structure or office used for instructing individuals how to fly aircraft.
PLANNED GROUP UNIT
At least three acres of land, controlled by one landowner, to be developed as a single entity for more than one principal structure and built in accordance with a site development plan, which may provide for industrial and commercial uses, recreation and open space, subject to review and approval in accordance with provisions of this chapter and Chapter 104, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of Unity.
PLANNED INSTITUTIONAL GROUP (PIG)
A grouping of housing units, dormitories, educational, recreational and other related accessory facilities, laid out in a campus-like setting and used for the housing, education and betterment of its residents. No single-family residential dwelling, single building or structure shall be considered as a Planned Institutional Group regardless of whether it is used for the housing, education and betterment of its residents.
[Added 5-11-2017 by Ord. No. O-5-2017]
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
At least 50 acres of land controlled by a single landowner, to be developed as a single entity for a number of dwelling units, the development plan for which does not correspond in lot size, bulk or type of buildings, density, lot coverage and required open space to the regulations established for any one residential district by this chapter.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission of the Township of Unity, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
POWER GENERATION STATION
A site or structure housing equipment needed for the generation, processing or distribution of power by a public utility.
PRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure utilizing an instrument landing system (ILS) or a precision approaching radar (PAR). A Precision Instrument Runway also includes a runway for which a precision approach system is planned and is so indicated on an airport layout plan or any other planning document.
PRIMARY SURFACE
A surface longitudinally centered on a runway. When the runway has a specially prepared hard surface, the "primary surface" extends 200 feet beyond each end of that runway; for military runways or, when the runway has no specially prepared hard surface or planned hard surface, the "primary surface" ends at each end of the runway.
PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE
The structure on a property in which the primary use of the property is conducted.
PUBLIC UTILITY TRANSMISSION TOWER
A structure, owned and operated by a public utility electric company regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, designed and used to support overhead electricity transmission lines.
QUADPLEX
A multifamily dwelling containing four separate dwelling units, each for the exclusive use of one family, where each unit has a separate entrance and is attached to another along two common walls in a cross-like fashion.
RECREATION
The expenditure of time in an active manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's body or mind or as an activity designed as a diversion from sedentary activities.
RECREATION — INDOOR COMMERCIAL
A building or other enclosed structure, whose principal function is to provide active recreation to patrons for a fee. Indoor commercial recreation shall include, but not be limited to, uses such as bowling alleys, paint-ball courses, pool halls, arcades, batting cages, health and fitness clubs or other similar facilities.
RECREATION — INDOOR PUBLIC
A building or other enclosed structure, whose principal function is to provide active recreation to members of the general public on a larger scale. Indoor public recreation shall include, but not be limited to, uses such as hockey rinks, gymnasiums, public sports training buildings, swimming pools or other similar facilities.
RECREATION — OUTDOOR COMMERCIAL
A facility providing for the conduct of recreational activity, in the open air, for a fee, regardless of whether is paid in the form of a charge per use or as a membership. Outdoor commercial recreation shall include, but not be limited to, uses such as golf courses, mini-golf, driving ranges, racing tracks where patrons operate vehicles, outdoor paintball ranges, outdoor batting cages or other similar facilities.
RECREATION — OUTDOOR PUBLIC
An outdoor recreational facility used for the benefit of the public. Outdoor public recreation shall include, but not be limited to, uses such as parks, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, baseball, soccer or football fields, horse-back riding, hiking or non-motorized biking trails, outdoor swimming pools or other similar facilities.
RECREATIONAL FACILITY
A place designed and equipped for the conduct of sports and leisure activities.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is built on a single chassis designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; not designed for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary off-site living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.
REGULATED RENTAL UNIT
A dwelling unit occupied by four or more occupants, unrelated by blood, marriage or adoption, under a rental agreement or other agreement authorizing their occupancy. Regulated rental units shall include, but not be limited to, all student homes, short-term rentals, group homes, and all forms of bed-and-breakfasts.
[Added 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION
The one-hundred-year-flood elevation, plus a freeboard safety factor of 1 1/2 feet.
RENTAL AGREEMENT
A written or oral agreement, installment land sale contract, agreement of sale, or other written or oral understanding or agreement entered between an owner and an occupant/tenant, embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of all or portions of a property, together with and including any sublease or agreement to sublet thereunder.
[Added 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
RENTAL UNIT
All or portions of a single-family dwelling leased out, or capable of being leased out, to a third party under a rental agreement, regardless of the duration of the agreement.
[Added 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
RESEARCH LABORATORY
A facility for applied research conducted within an enclosed structure where no goods are produced in quantity.
RESIDENT
An occupant of a residential dwelling or a family member residing in the dwelling.
RESTAURANT
A public eating place offering with sit-down counter and/or table service and custom-prepared foods for on premises consumption where alcohol sales are, or may be, only incidental or accessory to the principal use of food preparation and consumption.
RESTAURANT, FAST-FOOD
A restaurant or eatery characterized by a limited menu of prepared or premeasured food items, where such food items are ordered by the customer at a counter or window or from a vehicle, rather than from a table, and designed to facilitate quick service and takeout orders.
RESTAURANT, TAKEOUT
A place in which food and drink is prepared solely for the purpose of pickup by or delivery to customers for consumption off the premises.
RETAIL BUSINESS STRUCTURE, LARGE
A structure having all the features and housing all of the uses of the "retail business structure, small," except that it may have more than 75,000 square feet of gross leasable floor area.
RETAIL BUSINESS STRUCTURE, MEDIUM
A structure having all the features and housing all of the uses of the "retail business structure, small," except that such structure may have more than 20,000 square feet of gross leasable floor area but not more than 75,000 square feet of gross leasable floor area.
RETAIL BUSINESS STRUCTURE, SMALL
A structure housing retail sales establishments, containing not more than 20,000 square feet of gross leasable floor area, which may include a single retail use, or a combination of retail uses, including, but not limited to, variety stores, apparel stores, florists, drugstores, grocery and convenience stores, restaurants, taverns, liquor stores, antique shops, music shops, sporting goods stores, book, stationary, magazines, candy and tobacco shops, and other outlets that sell merchandise on a retail basis, but not adult-oriented establishments or businesses.
RETAIL SALES ESTABLISHMENT
A commercial enterprise that provides goods and/or services directly to the consumer, where such goods are available for immediate purchase and removal from the premises by the purchaser.
RUNWAY
A defined area on an airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft along its length.
SCREENING
A fence, evergreen hedge or wall at least six feet high measured from ground level, and constructed or installed in such a way that it will block a line of sight. The screening may consist either of one or several rows of bushes or trees or of a constructed fence or wall.
SEAT
A fixed seat in a theater, auditorium or meeting room or 24 linear inches of an installed bench or pew or, in the absence of these, six square feet of floor space in the seating area.
SECURITY ILLUMINATION
A level of illumination in prescribed areas of 0.5 footcandle.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that:
A. 
Is in suspension; or
B. 
Is being transported; or
C. 
Has been moved from its site of origin by air, water, gravity or ice and has come to rest on the earth's surface either above or below water level.
SEDIMENTATION
The process by which sediment is deposited on stream bottoms.
SERVICE SHOPS
A shop providing business services and/or personal services as herein defined.
SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS (ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESS)
As defined in § 118-23A(1) of this chapter.
SHOPPING CENTER
A group of commercial structures planned, developed, owned and managed as a unit, related in its location, size and type of shops to the trade area that the unit serves.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
A dwelling unit, whether or not occupied by the owner, designed principally for single-family occupancy, where all or portions of same are leased out to and/or used as temporary living quarters by transient individuals on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, with or without consideration.
[Added 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
SIGN
Any surface or structure exposed to public view and intended, used or designed to identify, advertise or promote any product, person, business, institution, organization or place with written, graphic or sculptured matter as more specifically and particularly defined in § 118-26 et seq. hereof.
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING
A detached building having accommodations for, and occupied by, not more than one family.
SINGLE HOUSEKEEPING UNIT
A person or persons residing in the home in such a manner as to function as a family, being sufficiently stable and permanent and not purely transient.
[Added 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
SITE
The premises where a residential, business, industrial or other use is physically located.
SOCIAL CLUB
A chartered, nonprofit organization for the advancement of education, fraternal, cultural or civic pursuits and activities within the community. A social club as set forth herein does not include an adult- or sexually oriented business as defined hereafter.
SOCIAL CLUB WITH ALCOHOL SALES
A chartered, nonprofit organization for the advancement of education, fraternal, cultural or civic pursuits and activities within the community, where alcoholic beverages may be sold and/or consumed on the premises. A social club with alcohol sales as set forth herein does not include an adult- or sexually oriented business as defined hereafter.
SOIL ENGINEER
A person registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a professional engineer and who has training and experience in soils engineering.
SOIL SURVEY
The unpublished and operational soil survey for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and the accompanying text Soil Survey Maps and Interpretations for Developing Areas in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, as prepared by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services.
SOLAR FARM
An installation or area of land in which a large number of photovoltaic solar panels are set up in order to generate electricity for commercial utility-scale solar applications.
[Added 6-8-2023 by Ord. No. O-3-2023]
SOLID WASTE
All parts or combinations of ashes, garbage, refuse, radioactive material, combustible demolition materials and industrial wastes such as food-processing wastes, wood, plastic, metal scrap, etc.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION
A use permitted in a particular zoning district by approval of the Zoning Hearing Board, in compliance with all ordinance provisions and subject to other conditions imposed by the Board.
SPECIAL PERMIT
A special approval required for hospitals, nursing homes, jails and new manufactured home parks, and subdivisions and substantial improvements to such existing parks, when such developments are located, in whole or in part, within a designated portion of a floodplain.
STORY
That portion of a building between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above.
STREAM
Any river, run, creek or other drainage course draining surface water, in which standing or flowing water is clearly visible throughout most of the year.
STREET
A right-of-way intended primarily for vehicular traffic and usually providing for utilities and pedestrian travel. A "street" may be designated by other appropriate names such as "highway," "thoroughfare," "boulevard," "parkway," "road," "avenue," "drive," "lane" or "place." A "street" may also be identified according to type of use as follows:
A. 
ARTERIAL STREETSStreets providing traffic movements between traffic generation areas.
B. 
COLLECTOR STREETSStreets providing connection primarily between regional streets or regional and local streets.
C. 
LOCAL STREETSStreets serving primarily as access to abutting properties and not intended as major arteries carrying through traffic.
STRUCTURE
A. 
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land, including, but not limited to, an addition to buildings, billboards, carports, porches, children's play equipment, above or below ground swimming pools of any kind and other building features, but not including sidewalks, drives, fences and patios. In the Airport Overlay District, a "structure" also includes mobile objects constructed or installed by man, towers, cranes, smokestacks, earth formations and overhead transmission lines.
B. 
Anything built, constructed or erected which requires location on the ground or attachment to something located on the ground.
STUDENT
Any individual who is enrolled or has made application and been accepted at a university, college or trade school and is taking at least six credit hours, or whose primary occupation is as a student, or who is on a semester or summer break from studies at a college, university or trade school. The term "student" shall apply to both undergraduate and graduate students alike.
STUDENT HOME
A living arrangement for a maximum of four students, as herein defined. Student homes shall not include dormitories.
A. 
For purposes of this chapter, a room or portion of a single-family dwelling, occupied by the owner or owners thereof, and leased to one student shall not be deemed a "student home."
B. 
For purposes of this chapter a single-family dwelling occupied by the nonstudent owner or owners thereof whose child or children are or become "students" and continue to reside in the dwelling with the owner or owners, shall not be deemed a "student home."
C. 
For purposes of this chapter, a single-family dwelling whose owner or owners occupy the dwelling, return to school and become "students" more than one year from the date of their initial occupancy, and continue to occupy the dwelling thereafter, shall not be deemed a "student home."
SUBDIVISION
The division or re-division of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other division of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or land development; provided, however, that the division of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access, shall be exempted.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
Damage from any cause sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% or more of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement of the structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement. This term includes structures which have incurred substantial damage, regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however include either:
A. 
Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
B. 
Any alteration of a historic structure provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure.
SUPERVISORS
The Board of Supervisors, Township of Unity, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
SUPPLY YARD
A commercial establishment storing or offering for sale building supplies, steel supplies, coal, heavy equipment, feed and grain and similar goods, but not including the wrecking, salvaging, dismantling or storage of junked automobiles and similar vehicles.
SWIMMING POOL
A structure containing water of any depth or size, either above ground or wholly or partially sunk beneath adjacent ground level, installed or located on either a permanent or temporary basis, and used for swimming. See § 118-16D(8) for additional definition.
TAVERN (BAR)
An establishment used primarily for the serving of alcoholic beverages by the drink to the general public and where food or packaged alcoholic beverages are or may be served or sold incidental or accessory to the primary use for the service of alcoholic beverages.
TECHNOLOGICAL INDUSTRIES
Businesses that are predominantly associated with the branch of knowledge dealing with the creation and use of technical means and measures and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science.
TERMINAL
Any premises used for the transient housing, storing or parking of motor-driven busses, trucks, trailers and/or similar vehicles.
TERMINAL (FREIGHT)
Any premises used by a motor freight company or other carrier of goods, which is the origin or destination point of goods being transported for the purpose of storing, transferring, loading, and unloading goods.
THEATRE, DRIVE-IN
A form of cinema structure or property consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and/or a large parking area for automobiles where customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.
THEATRE, INDOOR
A movie theatre, picture theatre, or cinema used principally as a commercial venue for viewing motion pictures, movies or films by the general public through the purchase of a ticket.
TOWNHOUSE
A multifamily dwelling which contains at least three dwelling units, having not less than two nor more than three stories each, designed for the exclusive use by one family, where each unit has a separate entrance and is attached to another by continuous vertical walls, without opening, from basement to roof.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Unity, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
The person duly appointed as the Township Engineer by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Unity, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR
The person duly appointed as the Township Solicitor by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Unity, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
TRANSITIONAL SURFACES
Surfaces extending outward at 90° angles to the runway center line and the runway center line extended at a slope of seven feet horizontally for each foot vertically from the sides of the primary and approach surfaces to where they intersect the horizontal and conical surfaces. "Transitional surfaces" for these portions of the precision approach surfaces, which project through and beyond the limits of the conical surface, extend a distance of 5,000 feet, measured horizontally from the edge of the approach surface, and at 90° angles to the extended runway center line.
TRIPLEX
A multifamily dwelling having a single story and containing three separate dwelling units, each for the exclusive use by one family, where each unit has a separate entrance and is attached to another through a common floor or ceiling.
TWO-FAMILY DWELLING (DUPLEX)
A dwelling which contains two dwelling units, each for the exclusive use by one family, where each unit has a separate entrance and is attached to another by continuous vertical walls without opening from basement to roof.
USE
The purpose for which land or a building is arranged, designed or intended or for which land or a building is or may be occupied or maintained.
UTILITY RUNWAY
A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used by propeller-driven aircraft of 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight and less.
UTILITY SUBSTATION
A structure housing equipment needed for the processing or distribution of service by a public utility, but not including offices or the overnight storage of maintenance vehicles.
VARIANCE
An authorization to vary from the terms or requirements of this chapter which may be granted by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with law of Pennsylvania or by the Board of Supervisors of Unity Township subject to the provisions of this chapter.
VEHICLE SALES
The sale or leasing of automobiles, manufactured homes, trucks, recreational vehicles or farm equipment, which may also include the servicing and maintenance of such vehicles when conducted within a fully enclosed structure.
VEHICULAR WASH
A building or property used to wash cars, trucks, boats, travel trailers or other vehicles operated or transported on public highways.
VETERINARY CLINIC
A facility where animals are treated by a licensed veterinarian but are not boarded except for treatment purposes.
VISUAL RUNWAY
A runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
A commercial college, or related educational or training facility, providing courses in business or technical fields conducted entirely within an enclosed facility, and where no supplies, materials or other training aids are stored or located outside.
WATERCOURSE
A natural drainage route or channel for the flow of water.
WINDMILL (PRIVATE)
A facility and/or structure using wind for the generation of electricity or power for public or private use.
WINDMILL FARM
A site containing one windmill or a series of windmills in combination used principally for the generation of power or electricity for sale and/or consumption off site.
[Amended 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. O-5-2020]
YARD
An open space on a lot, other than a court, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground to the sky, not occupied by a structure or used for parking or storage, except as otherwise provided, and not including any portion of a public or private street, alley, road or the designated area of the right-of-way or easement for same.
YARD, FRONT
A yard established by the front setback line, extending along the full length of the front lot line between the side yards.
YARD, REAR
A yard established by the rear setback line extending along the full length of the rear lot line between the side lot lines.
YARD, SIDE
A yard established by the side setback lines extending along the side lot lines from the front yard to the rear yard.