This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Caln Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of
1978."
The purpose of this chapter is:
A.
To assist in the orderly, efficient and integrated
development of land in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan.
B.
To facilitate the movement of traffic.
C.
To ensure coordination and conformance of subdivision
and land development plans with the public improvement plans of the
Township.
D.
To provide for the proper extension of community services
and facilities at minimum cost and maximum convenience.
E.
To ensure equitable handling of all subdivision and
land development plans by providing uniform standards and procedures.
F.
To promote the general health, safety and welfare
of the residents of the Township.
B.
No subdivision of any lot, tract or parcel of land,
or land development, shall be effected, and no street, alley, sanitary
sewer, stormwater sewer, water main or other facilities in connection
therewith shall be laid out, constructed, opened or dedicated for
public or private use, except in strict accordance with these regulations.
C.
No lot in a subdivision or land development may be
sold, no permit to erect, alter or repair any building upon land in
a subdivision or land development may be issued, and no building may
be erected in a subdivision or land development unless and until a
subdivision or land development plan has been approved and, where
required, recorded, and until the required improvements in connection
therewith have either been constructed or the completion thereof has
proof of a bond or the deposit of funds or securities, in escrow,
sufficient to cover the cost of the required improvements, as estimated
by the Township Engineer.
The Board of Commissioners shall have jurisdiction
and control of subdivision and land development within the Township
limits. In order that the actions of the Board of Commissioners under
this chapter may be correlated with all relevant data and procedures,
the Board of Commissioners hereby designates the Township Planning
Commission as the agency of the Board of Commissioners:
A.
To which all applications relating to either preliminary
or final approval of subdivision and land development plans shall
be referred upon submission to the Board of Commissioners.
B.
With which applicants shall hold all preliminary consultations
relating to the plans.
C.
Which shall make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners
concerning approval, disapproval, modification and conditions of approval
of such plans.
D.
Which shall make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners
concerning the interpretation of and the granting of modifications
to provisions and standards of this chapter.
A.
AGENT
ALLEY
APPLICANT
APPLICATION
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
BLOCK
BOARD
BOULEVARD
CALIPER
CARTWAY
CLEAR SIGHT DISTANCE
CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE
COMMON OPEN SPACE
CROSSWALK
CUL-DE-SAC
CULVERT
DETENTION BASIN
DEVELOPER
DEVELOPMENT
DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOT
DRAINAGE EASEMENT
DRAINAGE FACILITY
EASEMENT
ELEVATION
(1)
(2)
EROSION
FILL
FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD
FLAG LOT
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
HALF OR PARTIAL STREET
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
IMPROVEMENTS
IMPROVEMENTS AGREEMENT
INFILTRATION
INFILTRATION STRUCTURES
LAND DEVELOPMENT
(1)
(2)
LAND DEVELOPMENT, MAJOR
LAND DEVELOPMENT, MINOR
LANDOWNER
LOT
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
LOT AREA
MAJOR LAND DEVELOPMENT
MINOR LAND DEVELOPMENT
PEAK DISCHARGE
PERMANENT POOL CONDITION
PIPE
PLAN, FINAL
PLANNING COMMISSION
PLAN, PRELIMINARY
PLAN, SKETCH
PLANTING STRIP
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
PROJECT SITE
RETENTION BASIN
REVERSE FRONTAGE LOT
RIGHT-OF-WAY
RUNOFF
SECRETARY
SEDIMENT
SEDIMENT BASIN
SEEPAGE PIT/SEEPAGE TRENCH
SETBACK LINE
STORM SEWER
STORMWATER
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITIES
STREET
(1)
(a)
(b)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
STREET, PRIVATE
STRUCTURE
SUBDIVIDER
SUBDIVISION
(1)
(2)
(3)
SUBDIVISION, MAJOR
SUBDIVISION, MINOR
SURFACE DRAINAGE PLAN
SWALE
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
WATERCOURSE
WATERSHED
WETLANDS
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the terms as set
forth in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have
the meanings indicated. Words in the singular include the plural,
and words in the plural include the singular. The word "person" includes
a corporation, unincorporated association and a partnership, as well
as an individual. The word "building" shall be construed as if followed
by the words "or part thereof." The word "watercourse" includes "drain,"
"ditch" and "stream." The words "shall" and "will" are mandatory;
the word "may" is permissive.
Any person, other than the developer, who, acting for the
developer, submits to the Board of Commissioners subdivision or land
development plans for the purpose of obtaining approval thereof.
A minor right-of-way providing secondary vehicular access
to the side or rear of two or more properties.
A landowner or developer, as hereinafter defined, who has
filed an application for development, including his heirs, successors
and assigns.
A form available at the Township office containing a checklist
of plan requirements and other general information used for administrative
purposes to aid in the review of the subdivision or land development
plan.
Those practices and methodologies specified in The Pennsylvania
Handbook of Best Management Practices for Developing Areas, prepared
by CH2MHILL, Spring 1998 or latest edition.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
An area bounded by three or more streets.
The Board of Commissioners of Caln Township.
A two-way access street to a commercial, industrial or residential
development, one such access for ingress and one such access for egress,
separated by a planted landscape center island, which island shall
continuously be maintained as such by the property owners formed for
the development which the boulevard serves or the owners of the development.
[Added 10-9-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-15]
The diameter of a tree trunk measured at a point four feet
from the ground elevation.
[Amended 6-10-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-7]
The surface of a street or alley available for vehicular
traffic.
A line of unobstructed vision from a point 4 1/2 feet
above the center line of a street to the nearest point at the top
of an object four inches high on the same center line.
An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections defined
by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection
of street center lines.
A parcel or parcels of land or an area of water, or a combination
of land and water, within a development site and intended for the
use or enjoyment of its residents, not including streets, off-street
parking areas and areas set aside for public facilities.
A right-of-way, municipally or privately owned, intended
to furnish access for pedestrians.
A minor street originating at a through street at one end
and terminating at the other end with a vehicular turnaround or by
looping back to itself, i.e., a single access street having only one
access originating at a through street. A cul-de-sac street shall
be measured beginning from the edge of the right-of-way of the through
street from which it originates and terminating at its furthest point
of paved cartway.
[Amended 9-11-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-4]
An enclosed water carrying structure of one or more barrels
having a combined span less than eight feet and having a total flow
area greater than forty-eight-inch diameter.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A basin designed to drain completely after retarding stormwater
runoff by temporarily storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined
rate.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
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.
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining,
dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A lot with front and rear street frontage.
A right granted by a landowner to a grantee allowing the
use of private land for stormwater management purposes.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
Any ditch, gutter, pipe, culvert, storm sewer or other structure
designed, intended or constructed for the purpose of diverting surface
waters from or carrying surface waters off streets, public rights-of-way,
parks, recreational areas or any part of any subdivision, land development
or contiguous land areas.
A right-of-way granted for limited use of land for public,
quasi-public or private purpose.
The horizontal alignment of a surface, as it exists or as
it is made by cut and/or fill.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
FLOOR ELEVATIONThe elevation of the lowest level of a particular building, including the basement.
ROAD GRADEThe rate of rise and fall of a road surface, measured along the profile of the center of the cartway.
The removal of soil particles by the action of water, wind,
ice or other geological agents.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
Material placed or deposited so as to form an embankment
or raise the surface elevation of the land, including but not limited
to levees, bulkheads, dikes, jetties, embankments and causeways.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A road that provides fire apparatus access from the fire
station to a facility, building or portion thereof. This is a general
term inclusive of all other terms such as fire lane, public street,
private street, parking lot lane and access roadway.
[Added 3-31-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-3]
An interior lot that has an access strip not less than 50
feet in width that connects to a street. Said access strip shall be
within the title lines of the lot. The minimum lot area and other
dimensional requirements shall be those of the applicable zoning district
and shall be met on that portion of the lot exclusive of the access
strip. The access strip shall not be includable for purposes of calculating
lot area. If a configuration of the lot meets this definition of a
flag lot, it shall retain its classification as a flag lot even if
access to the lot is by means other than the access strip.
[Added 9-11-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-4]
Replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies;
infiltration.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A street, generally parallel and adjacent to a property line,
having a right-of-way width less than normally required for a satisfactory
improvement and use of the street.
A surface which prevents the percolation of water into the
ground.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
Those physical additions and changes to the land that may
be necessary to produce usable and desirable developments.
A list of improvements prepared by the Township Engineer
which the developer agrees to install as a prerequisite to final plan
approval.
Replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies;
groundwater recharge.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A structure designed to direct runoff into the ground.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous
lots, tracts or parcels of land for the purpose involving a group
of two or more principal buildings, or the division or allocation
of land or space between or among two or more existing or prospective
occupants by means of or for the purpose of streets, common areas,
leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
A subdivision of land.
See “major land development.”
[Added 6-26-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-12]
See “minor land development.”
[Added 6-26-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-12]
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 shall be deemed
to be a "landowner" for the purposes of this chapter.
A designated parcel of land intended for transfer of ownership,
use, improvement and/or dedication in accordance with the following:
[Amended 9-11-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-4]
Lots shall conform to the Township Zoning Ordinance.[1]
All lots shall abut a public street or shall
have access to an approved private street. In general, side lot lines
shall be at right angles or radial to street lines. If, after subdividing,
there exist remnants of land, they shall be included in the area of
proposed or existing lots.
Double frontage lots are prohibited.
Reverse frontage lots are encouraged.
The number of lots permitted in a particular
subdivision shall be determined by the following schedule:
The area contained within the property lines of the individual
parcels of land and existing right-of-way line, including the area
of any easement. Minimum lot area is the same area as lot area, but
it excludes all areas within the right-of-way for a street.
Any land development which does not meet the criteria for
a minor land development.
[Added 6-26-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-12]
A land development which complies with all of the criteria set forth in § 137-14.1 of this chapter.
[Added 6-26-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-12]
The maximum rate of flow of water at a given point and time
resulting from a specified storm event.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A condition where water exists in a stormwater retention
facility on a permanent basis.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
An enclosed water-carrying structure of one or more barrels
having a total flow area equivalent to forty-eight-inch diameter or
less.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A complete and exact subdivision or land development plan
prepared for official recording as required by statute to define property
rights, proposed streets and other public improvements.
The Planning Commission of the Township of Caln.
A tentative subdivision or land development plan in lesser
detail than the final plan, indicating the approximate proposed layout
of the area to be subdivided and/or developed as a basis for consideration
prior to preparation of the final plan.
An informal plan, not necessarily to exact scale, indicating
salient existing features of a tract and its surrounding and general
layout of the proposed subdivision or land development.
The unpaved portion of a street right-of-way.
Any persons who provide expert or professional advice, including
but not limited to architects, attorneys, certified public accountants,
engineers, geologists, land surveyors, landscape architects or planners.
[Added 5-26-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-6]
An area of land under development and within the jurisdiction
of this chapter.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A basin designed to retain stormwater runoff with its primary
release of water being through the infiltration of said water into
the ground.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A lot extending between and having frontage on an arterial
or collector street and on a local street, with vehicular access solely
from the latter.
A strip of land granted for public or private use.
That part of precipitation which flows over the land.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
Whenever any duty is imposed under the terms of this chapter
upon the Township Secretary, the same shall be deemed to include and
may be performed by any Assistant Secretary lawfully appointed or
by the Township Manager.
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension,
is being transported or has been moved from its site of origin by
water.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A barrier, dam, retention or detention basin designed to
retain sediment.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
An area of excavated earth filled with loose stone or similar
material and into which stormwater runoff is directed for infiltration
into the ground.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A line parallel to, and at a prescribed distance from, a
public or private street as specified in the Township Zoning Ordinance[2] which determines an area within which no structure may
be erected; the minimum front yard requirement.
A system of pipes, conduits, swales or other similar structures,
including appurtenant works, which carries intercepted runoff and
other drainage but excludes domestic sewage and industrial wastes.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from
precipitation or snow or ice melt.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A program of controls and measures designed to regulate the
quantity and quality of stormwater runoff from a development while
promoting the protection and conservation of groundwaters and groundwater
recharge.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
Those controls and measures used to effect a stormwater management
program.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway,
lane, alley, viaduct and any other strip of land, including the entire
right-of-way used or intended to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians,
whether public or private.
LOCAL STREET (LOCAL ACCESS ROADS)A street used primarily to provide access to abutting properties.
CUL-DE-SACA street not exceeding 1,600 feet in length (measured from the center line of the closest through street with which it connects) originating at a through street at one end and terminating at the other in a vehicular turnaround.
MARGINAL ACCESS STREETA street parallel and adjacent to an arterial street, providing access to abutting properties and control of intersections with collector or arterial streets.
COLLECTOR STREETSThose which, in addition to giving access to abutting properties, intercept minor streets and provide routes, carrying considerable volumes of traffic, to community facilities and to major traffic streets.
MAJOR TRAFFIC STREETSThose serving larger volumes of traffic between communities, and includes facilities classified as Class II and Class III highways by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways.
ARTERIAL HIGHWAYSThose with more than two lanes, both limited access and nonlimited access, which provide for large volumes of traffic between major population centers.
SERVICE DRIVEA street primarily for service access to the back or sides of properties.
Those streets not offered for dedication.
Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location
on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
The owner of a subdivision or the authorized agent of the
owner.
A division of a single lot, tract or parcel of land, or a
part thereof, into two or more lots, tracts or parcels of land, including
changes in street lines or lot lines, for the purpose, whether immediate
or future, of transfer of ownership or of building development, provided
that a division of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of
more than 10 acres and not involving any new streets or easements
shall not be deemed a subdivision.
Where land is being conveyed solely for the
purpose of increasing the size of an existing lot, the following note
shall be placed on the plan: "The lot is to be used for additional
yard area only and will not be used for building purposes except extensions
of existing buildings or additional drainage requirements."
The creation of a mortgage encumbering real
estate is deemed to be a subdivision if it encumbers less than the
entire tract of land standing in the mortgagor's name at the time
the mortgage is created.
The term "subdivision" includes resubdivision
and, as appropriate in this chapter, shall refer to the process of
subdividing land or to the land subdivided.
Any subdivision not a minor subdivision.
[Added 5-12-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-9]
A subdivision involving up to five lots and proposing no
new streets or public improvements or common amenities.
[Added 5-12-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-9]
A plan showing all present and proposed grades and facilities
for stormwater drainage.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A wide shallow ditch which carries surface water runoff.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, duly appointed as the engineer for the Township.
A permanent or intermittent stream, river, brook, run, creek,
channel, swale, pond, lake or other body of surface water carrying
or holding surface water, whether natural or artificial.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
All the land from which water drains into a particular watercourse.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
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, prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including
swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas.
[Added 3-29-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
[Amended 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-14]
Any person, partnership or corporation who or which has violated the provisions of this Chapter 137 shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township, pay a judgment of not more than $500 plus all court costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Township as a result thereof. No judgment shall commence or be imposed, levied or payable until the date of the determination of a violation by the District Justice. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation, unless the District Justice determining that there has been a violation further determines that there was a good faith basis for the person, partnership or corporation violating the chapter to have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one such violation until the fifth day following the date of the determination of a violation by the District Justice, and thereafter each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation.