Township of Limerick - Definitions

ACCESS DRIVE

A privately owned, constructed and maintained vehicular access from a public or private right-of-way to off-street parking or loading spaces.

ACCESS STRIP

A piece of land which provides physical access to and legal road frontage for a lot, but which does not comply with the minimum lot width regulations of this chapter. Access strips provide access to flag, rear or interior lots. The area of an access strip shall not be included in the minimum lot area required under the provisions of this chapter.

ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT

Any equipment serving or being used in conjunction with a wireless telecommunications facility or wireless support structure. The term includes utility or transmission equipment, power supplies, generators, batteries, cables, equipment buildings, cabinets and storage sheds, shelters or similar structures.

ACCESSORY STRUCTURE OR BUILDING

A structure or building detached from a principal building on the same residential lot or agricultural lands and customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal residential or agricultural building.

ACCESSORY USE

A use on the same lot and customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal use.

ACREAGE, BUILDABLE

See net buildable acreage.

ACREAGE, GROSS

The calculated land area contained within the deeded boundaries of a lot.

ACREAGE, NET

The gross land area of the tract, minus all land contained within the ultimate right-of-way of any existing roads abutting or crossing the tract.

ACT 247

See "Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

ADDITION

An extension or increase in floor area or height of a building or structure.

ADULT DAY-CARE CENTER

Any adult day-care facility in which services are provided to eight or more adults and where the day-care areas are not being used as a family residence.

ADULT DAY-CARE FACILITY

Any premises operated for profit or not for profit in which older adult daily living services, as defined herein, are simultaneously provided for four or more adults who are not relatives of the operator.

A. ADULT DAY-CARE HOME
B. ADULT DAY-CARE CENTER
See the specific definitions for these terms.

ADULT DAY-CARE HOME

Any adult day-care facility in which services are provided to between four and eight adults and where the day-care areas are being used as a family residence.

ADULT USE

Any business, club or other similar operation which permits patrons, clients, visitors or members to hear, view, read, lease, purchase, trade or exchange and/or participate in activities, publications, movies, video tapes and/or live or televised performances which have as their dominant theme or themes explicit sexual activities and/or the exhibition of portions of the human or animal anatomy which are not normally seen in public or in commercial or other club-type operations, including the genital areas, buttocks and female breasts, and which operations may or may not exclude minors by virtue of age. Included in the term "adult use" are bookstores, movie theaters, restaurants, bars and any other operation which qualifies for inclusion by virtue of the definition above, regardless of the type of other uses or operations which may also be conducted on or in the property or properties involved.

AGE-QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY

A residential community consisting of single-family detached, semidetached, and/or single-family attached dwellings, which shall be permanently occupied by at least one principal resident who shall be 55 years of age or older, if the housing meets the criteria of federal and state law.

AGRICULTURAL WASTE

Poultry and livestock manure or residual materials in liquid or solid form generated in the production and marketing of poultry, livestock, fur-bearing animals and their products, if the agricultural waste is not hazardous. The term includes the residual materials generated in producing, harvesting and marketing of agronomic, horticultural and silvicultural crops or commodities grown on the premises of a farm operation.

AGRICULTURE

The cultivation of the soil, and the raising and harvesting of products of the soil, including but not limited to nursery, horticulture and floriculture operations and keeping of livestock. This definition also includes all necessary accessory uses for packing, treating and storing agricultural products; provided, however, that the operation of any such accessory uses shall be secondary to that of the normal agricultural activities.

AIRPORT

The Pottstown-Limerick Airport in Limerick Township.

AIRPORT ELEVATION

The highest point of the airport's usable landing area measured in feet from sea level, which is 311 feet above mean sea level.

ALLEY

A minor, vehicular right-of-way, public or private, on which no principal structures front, which serves as the secondary means of access to two or more properties which otherwise front on a public street.

ALTERATION

As applied to a building or structure, a change or rearrangement in the structural parts or mechanical equipment, or any enlargement or diminution of a building or structure, whether horizontally or vertically, or the moving of a building or structure from one location to another.

ALTERNATIVE TOWER STRUCTURE

Man-made trees, clock towers, tall steeples, light poles and similar alternative design mounting structures that camouflage or conceal the presence of antennas on towers.

ANCILLARY USE

A subordinate use that is controlled by a larger permitted use. An example is a public garage (tires, batteries and accessories) or garden shop controlled by a department store.

ANIMAL HOSPITAL

A place where animals or pets are given medical or surgical treatment and the boarding of animals is limited to short-term care incidental to the hospital use.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

The raising and keeping of livestock, fish, fur-bearing animals, honey bees or poultry for any commercial purpose, which shall include, but not be limited to, the boarding of fewer than 10 horses for a fee, and the keeping of horses for domestic purposes. The keeping of livestock other than horses, fish, fur-bearing animals, honey bees or poultry as farm pets or for domestic purposes shall not be construed as "animal husbandry."

ANTENNA

Equipment designed to transmit or receive electronic signals.

ANTENNA

Any structure or device used to collect or radiate electromagnetic waves, including both directional antennas (such as panels) and omnidirectional antennas (such as Whips), but not including satellite earth stations.

ANTENNA HEIGHT

The vertical distance measured from the base of the wireless support structure at existing grade to the highest point of the structure, including the antenna(s). If the wireless support structure is on a sloped grade, then the average between the highest and lowest grades shall be used in calculating the antenna height.

APARTMENT

A single dwelling unit in a multifamily building; a single dwelling unit in a duplex or other multifamily dwelling may also be referred to as an apartment.

APPLICANT

A person who has filed an application for approval of subdivision or land development plans, including his/her heirs, successors, agents and assigns. The term also includes landowner, developer, builder and/or other persons responsible for the plans and construction of buildings or other improvements on any parcel of land.

APPLICATION (OR APPLICANT)

A formal request submitted to the Township to erect, construct, replace, collocate or modify a wireless support structure, equipment compound or a wireless telecommunications facility.

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 article. In plan, the perimeter of the approach surface coincides with the perimeter of the approach zone.

APPROACH, TRANSITIONAL, HORIZONTAL AND CONICAL ZONES

These zones are set forth in § 184-94: Requirements for multiple-tenant properties of this article.

AQUIFER

An underground bed or stratum of earth, gravel or porous stone that contains water.

AQUIFER RECHARGE AREA

The exposed ground-level portion of an aquifer.

ARCADE

A place of business where three or more coin-operated video screen game machines are located.

AREA, GROSS OR NET

See "acreage, gross" or "acreage, net."

ASSEMBLAGE

A. The merging of adjacent properties into a single unit of ownership or use.
B. The property so merged, considered as a unit.

AUDITORIUM

A building containing a stage and seating for meetings and/or performances.

AUTO SALVAGE

The dismantling or disassembling of used motor vehicles or recreation vehicles or the storage, sale or dumping of dismantled, partially dismantled, obsolete or wrecked vehicles or their parts.

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE STATION

Any premises used for supplying gasoline and oil, tires, accessories and services for motor vehicles at retail direct to the motorist consumer, including the making of automotive repairs.

AWNING SIGN

A sign painted on, printed on or attached flat against the surface of an awning.

BANK

A financial or fiduciary institution, including savings and loan, finance companies, credit unions and other similar institutions.

BANNER SIGN

Any sign intended to be hung either with or without frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic or fabric of any kind. A single United States flag of reasonable size shall not be considered a banner for the purpose of this chapter unless its use or purpose is that of advertising the location of a business at which it is flown.

BASE STATION

A station at a specified site authorized to communicate with mobile stations, generally consisting of radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial cables, power supplies and other associated electronics.

BASEMENT

A space having 1/2 or more of its floor-to-ceiling height above the average level of the adjoining ground and with a floor-to-ceiling height of not less than 6 1/2 feet. A space which does not meet the above criteria is a cellar.

BED-AND-BREAKFAST

A residential use consisting of one dwelling unit, together with no more than seven rooms or suites that are rented to overnight or weekly guests and where meals are prepared for the guests by the proprietors. The rented rooms do not contain kitchen facilities and do not constitute separate dwelling units.

BLOCK

A unit of land bounded by streets or by a combination of streets and public land, railroad rights-of-way, waterways or any other barrier to development.

BOARDING- OR ROOMING HOUSE

A building consisting of a single dwelling unit and no more than five rooms or suites, where lodging is provided with or without meals to tenants for periods generally longer than 30 days, for compensation.

BUFFER

An area that functions to visually separate site elements and land uses to ease the transitions between them. Unless otherwise regulated, buffers may be located within the required setbacks and yard areas.

BUILDING

Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any individual, animal, process, equipment, goods or materials of any kind or nature. (See "accessory structure or building" and "principal building.")

BUILDING (UCC) PERMIT

A permit indicating that a proposed construction, alteration or reconstruction of a structure is in accordance with construction provisions of the Building Code and which authorizes an applicant to commence with said construction, alteration or reconstruction.

BUILDING COVERAGE

The ratio obtained by dividing the maximum horizontal cross section of all principal and accessory buildings on a lot, including, but not limited to, balconies, covered porches, carports and breezeways, by the total area of the lot upon which the buildings are located. This definition specifically excludes all residential patios and residential decks. All nonresidential decks or nonresidential patios shall be included in the calculation of building coverage.

BUILDING ENVELOPE

The area of a lot within which a principal building may be erected. This area is defined by the limits of the minimum front, side and rear yard areas and encompasses the area of the lot not found in the yard areas and rights-of-way.

BUILDING LINE

The line which serves as the rear boundary of the minimum front yard and which is used for the purpose of measuring lot width. (See also "yard line.")

CALIPER

Tree diameter measured 2 1/2 feet from the ground.

CAMPGROUND

A plot of ground upon which two or more campsites are located, established or maintained for occupancy by camping units of the general public as temporary living quarters for recreation, education or vacation purposes.

CAREGIVER

The person responsible for the direct care, protection, supervision and guidance of children in a day-care setting.

CARPORT

A building open on three or more sides and used in conjunction with a dwelling for the storage of private motor vehicles.

CARTWAY

The paved portion of a street or highway desired for vehicular traffic.

CELLAR

That portion of a building which is partly or completely below grade and having more than 1/2 of its height below grade. (See "basement.")

CEMETERY

Land used or intended to be used for the burial of the deceased, including columbariums, crematories, mausoleums and mortuaries when operated in conjunction with the cemetery and within its boundaries.

CENTRAL SEWER OR WATER

A sewage disposal network and facilities or water supply network serving a group or series of property owners in common; it may be publicly or privately owned.

CHILD

A person under 16 years of age.

CHILD DAY-CARE FACILITY

The following types of child day-care facilities are regulated by this chapter:

A. DAY-CARE CENTER
B. FAMILY DAY-CARE HOME
C. GROUP DAY-CARE HOME
See the specific definitions for these terms.

CLEAN FILL

Uncontaminated, non-water-soluable, nondecomposable inert solid material used to level an area or bring the area to grade. It includes uncontaminated soil, rock, gravel, brick, block and concrete, as well as waste from clearing, grubbing and excavation, including trees, brush, stumps and vegetative material.

CLOSED-CUP FLASH POINT

The temperature at which a liquid sample produces sufficient vapor to flash, but not ignite, when in contact with a flame in a closed-cup tester.

CLUB

A group of people organized for a common purpose to pursue common goals, interests or activities and usually characterized by certain membership qualifications, payment of fees and dues, regular meetings and a constitution and/or bylaws.

CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT

An alternative development method wherein structures are arranged in closely related groups, reducing lot sizes, preserving land for open space and permitting more imaginative site design than may be possible under standard development.

COLLOCATION

The placement or installation of new wireless telecommunications facilities on previously approved and constructed wireless support structures, including self-supporting or guyed monopoles and towers, electrical transmission towers, water towers or any other structure not classified as a wireless support structure that can support the placement or installation of wireless telecommunications facilities if approved by the Township. The term includes the placement, replacement or modification of accessory equipment within a previously approved equipment compound.

COMMERCIAL RECREATION

Indoor or outdoor commercial recreation or amusement facilities, such as bowling alleys, skating rinks, fitness centers, tennis and/or racquet clubs, miniature golf, golf courses/clubs.

COMMON OPEN SPACE

A parcel or parcels of land within a development site designed and intended for the use or enjoyment of the residents or tenants of the development, not including streets, off-street parking areas and areas set aside for public facilities. "Common open space" shall not be part of individual residential lots and shall be free of structures, but may contain such recreational facilities for residents as are shown in the approved development plan.

COMMON SEWAGE FACILITIES

A sewage disposal system independent of the public sewer system, serving more than one residence or business through a community treatment plant, land application system or similar satellite system.

COMMON USE AREA

That area which is set aside for public use and enjoyment as part of a mixed-use office and commercial or residential development, where required by this chapter. A "common use area" may contain green areas, recreation facilities, courtyards, plazas and other public amenities.

COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER

A use involving one or more indoor gymnasium(s), plus indoor exercise rooms, classrooms and a mix of other indoor and outdoor recreation facilities that are utilized by large numbers of the population.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Limerick Township Comprehensive Plan and amendments thereto, including maps, charts and/or descriptive matter officially adopted by the Township Planning Commission and Township Supervisors, indicating recommendations for the continuing development of the municipality and including all elements required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

CONDITIONAL USE

A form of permitted use, authorized by this chapter, under the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is empowered to grant permission for "conditional uses," consistent with the public interest, in compliance with the standards and procedures established in this chapter, following thorough examination of the proposal, and under any reasonable safeguards necessary to implement the purposes and intent of this chapter and to protect the general welfare.

CONDOMINIUM

Real estate, portions of which are designated for separate ownership and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely by the owners of those portions, created under either the Pennsylvania Unit Property Act of July 3, 1963, or the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act.

CONICAL SURFACE

A surface extending outward and upward from the periphery of the horizontal surface at a slope of 20 to one 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 mobile homes.

CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION WASTE

Solid waste resulting from the construction or demolition of buildings and other structures, including wood, plaster, metals, asphaltic substances, bricks, block and unsegregated concrete. The term also includes dredging waste. The term does not include clean fill separated from other waste.

CONVERSION

The remodeling or alteration of a structure so as to accommodate more leasable or saleable units or a different use than what had originally been intended for the structure. Includes the alteration of a nonresidential structure into a dwelling unit(s) for at least one family, the modification of a single-family structure to accommodate more units than originally intended, the alteration of existing dwellings into a commercial use and the alteration of an existing dwelling into a mixed commercial and residential use.

CORNER LOT

A lot having contiguous frontage on two or more intersecting roads.

COUNTY

The County of Montgomery, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

CULTURAL USE

A use which promotes art, drama, music, science and/or history, such as a library, museum, live theatre, community center, botanical garden, including studios for dance, art, music and photography. Exercise studios shall not exceed 3,000 square feet on any one floor.

CULVERT

A drain, ditch or conduit not incorporated in a closed system that carries drainage water under a driveway, roadway or paved area.

CURATIVE AMENDMENT

An amendment, submitted either by a citizen or by the municipality, to be considered by the Board of Supervisors as a potential cure for a successful challenge to the substantive validity of a land use ordinance.

CURATIVE CHALLENGE

A substantive challenge to the validity of the land use ordinance and/or map brought before the Zoning Hearing Board for consideration.

DAY-CARE CENTER

A facility in which care is provided for seven or more children at any one time, where the child-care areas are not being used as a family residence.

DAY-CARE FACILITY

See "child day-care facility" and "adult day-care facility."

DECIBEL (DB)

A unit which describes the sound pressure level of intensity of sound. A sound level meter is calibrated in "decibels."

DEED

A written instrument whereby an estate in real property is conveyed by a grantor to a grantee.

DEED RESTRICTION

A restriction upon the use of a property placed in a deed.

DEED, WARRANTY

A deed in which, either expressly or by implication, the grantor guarantees that the title which he undertakes to transfer has not been previously conveyed by him and is free from defects and that the property is unencumbered except as stated, and for himself and heirs, agrees to defend and protect the grantee against any loss which may be suffered by reason of the existence of any other title or interest in the property existing at the time the deed was executed and not accepted therein.

DENSITY

The number of dwelling units per net buildable acre.

DETENTION BASIN OR POND

A facility for the temporary storage of stormwater runoff.

DETONABLE MATERIALS

Materials which decompose by detonation. Such materials include explosives, unstable compounds and fissionable matter.

DETONATION

A rapid buildup of a destructive pressure wave caused by chemical reaction and/or the sudden release of energy.

DEVELOPMENT

Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including buildings or other structures, streets and other paving, utilities, mining, dredging, filling, grading, excavation or drilling operations.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The provisions for guiding development, including a plan of subdivision, all covenants relating to use, location and bulk of buildings and other structures, intensity of use or density of development, streets, parking facilities, ways, common open space and public facilities.

DISPOSAL

The incineration, deposition, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of solid waste into or on the land or water in such a manner that the solid waste or a constituent of the solid waste enters the environment, is emitted into the air or is discharged to the waters of the commonwealth.

DRAINAGE

The natural or man-made features of land that are specifically designed to store or carry surface water runoff.

DRIVE-IN USE

An establishment which by design, physical facilities, service or by packaging procedures encourages or permits customers to receive services, obtain goods or be entertained while remaining in their motor vehicles.

DRIVE-THROUGH RESTAURANT

An eating establishment which serves ready-to-consume food and/or drink. Food and/or drink may be ordered while inside the restaurant or by placing orders while in a vehicle at a drive-through window. Food may be consumed on- or off-site.

DRIVEWAY

A private cartway providing vehicular access between a public street and a lot, property or development.

DUMP

See "solid waste disposal facility."

DUMP

A site used primarily for the disposal by abandonment, dumping, burial, burning or other means and for whatever purpose of garbage, trash, junk, vehicles or parts thereof or waste material of any kind.

DUPLEX (TWO-FAMILY DETACHED)

A two-family building with one dwelling unit placed above the other so that they share a common horizontal partition. When lotted, a duplex shall be entirely on one lot. Separate ingress and egress is provided to each unit.

DWELLING TYPES

For the purposes of this chapter, the following are the definitions of the various types of dwelling units:
See the specific definitions for these terms.

A. SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLING
B. SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED LOT LINE
C. SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED VILLAGE HOUSE

D. TWO-FAMILY BUILDING

(1) TWIN (SINGLE-FAMILY SEMIDETACHED)
(2) DUPLEX (TWO-FAMILY DETACHED)

E. SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED DWELLING UNIT

(1) TOWNHOUSE (ROWHOUSE)
(2) MULTIPLEX

F. MULTIFAMILY BUILDING

(1) MULTIFAMILY CONVERSION

G. APARTMENT

DWELLING UNIT

One or more rooms designed, occupied or intended to be occupied as separate living quarters, with cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities provided within the dwelling unit for the exclusive use of a single family maintaining a household.

EASEMENT

A vested or acquired right to use land other than as a tenant, for a specific purpose, such right being held by someone other than the owner who holds title to the land.

EATING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS

A. DRIVE-THROUGH RESTAURANT
B. RESTAURANT
C. TAVERN
See the specific definitions for these terms.

EDUCATIONAL USE

A use whereby instruction is offered by a public or private institution or individual and does not include a cultural use as a primary use.

ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION TOWER

An electrical transmission structure used to support overhead power lines consisting of sixty-nine-kilovolt or greater conducting lines, generally of steel construction and having a height of at least 75 feet. The term does not include any utility pole having a height of less than 75 feet.

ELECTRONIC SIGNAGE

A sign whose content may be changed by electronic process through the use of intermittent light or lights, including but not limited to light-emitting diodes, liquid crystal display, and plasma screen image display or other similar technology.

ELEVATION

A. A vertical distance above or below a fixed reference level.
B. A flat scale drawing of the front, rear or side of a building.

EQUIPMENT COMPOUND

An area surrounding or adjacent to a wireless support structure within which base stations, power supplies or accessory equipment are located.

EQUIVALENT RIGHT-OF-WAY

A street right-of-way required to be reserved where private streets are permitted. The width shall be determined by the street's function, in accordance with the street classifications contained in Chapter 155: Subdivision and Land Development.

EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL

A material which produces flammable or explosive gases or vapors under ordinary temperature conditions, and includes liquids which have a closed cup flash point of less than 105° F.

FAMILY

A. Any number of individuals living together on a nontransient basis as a single housekeeping unit and doing their cooking on the premises, when said individuals are related by blood, marriage or adoption, including any number of foster children; no more than five unrelated individuals living together as a single housekeeping unit and doing their cooking on the premises, except when an application for a special exception to enable a greater number of unrelated individuals to occupy a dwelling unit is reviewed and approved by the Zoning Hearing Board, as provided in § 184-44C.

B. Notwithstanding the definition in Subsection A, above, a "family" shall also be deemed to include any number of mentally or physically handicapped persons occupying a dwelling unit as a single, nonprofit housekeeping unit, if such occupants are handicapped persons as defined in Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. Such unrelated individuals shall have the right to occupy a dwelling unit in the same manner and to the same extent as any family unit as defined in the Subsection A , above, of this definition.

C. The definition of "family" shall not apply to the occupants of a club, fraternity house, lodge or residential club.

FAMILY DAY-CARE HOME

Any premise other than the child's own home in which child day care is provided at any one time to four, five or six children who are not relatives of the caregiver, and where the child-care areas are being used as a family residence.

FARM OPERATION

A premise which is used for the production of agricultural commodities in their unmanufactured state, such as raising livestock, and which shall include those activities which are customarily associated with such production, including the application of manure and/or fertilizers for crop production.

FEMA AND FIA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Insurance Administration who have jurisdiction over the National Flood Insurance Program and its related studies and regulations. FEMA is the parent agency of the FIA.

FLAMMABLE

Subject to easy ignition and rapid flaming combustion.

FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)

The official map on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.

FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS)

The official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that includes flood profiles, the Flood Insurance Rate Map, the Flood Boundary and Floodway Map, and the water surface elevation of the base flood.

FLOODPLAIN

The identified floodplain area as determined by the Floodplain Administrator.

FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR

The appointed Limerick Township Official designated to administrate and enforce the Limerick Township's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.

FLOODPLAIN-RELATED TERMS

A. FEMA AND FIA
B. FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
C. FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS)
D. FLOODPLAIN
E. FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR
F. IDENTIFIED FLOODPLAIN AREA
See the specific definitions for these terms.

FLOOR AREA RATIO

A ratio derived by dividing the total (gross) floor area of all buildings on a lot by the net buildable area of the lot.

FLOOR AREA, GROSS

The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a building measured from the exterior face of the exterior walls, or from the center line of a wall separating two buildings, but not including interior vehicular parking or loading, or any space where the floor-to-ceiling height is less than six feet.

FLOOR AREA, NET

The total of all floor areas of a building, excluding stairwells and elevator shafts, equipment rooms, interior vehicular parking and loading and all floor below the first or ground floor except when used or intended to be used for human habitation or service to the public. The area excluded as unusable may not exceed 15%.

FORESTRY

The management of forests and timberlands when practiced in accordance with accepted silvicultural principals, through developing, cultivating, harvesting, transporting and selling trees for commercial purposes, which does not involve any land development.

FREESTANDING SIGN

A self-supporting sign anchored to the ground or supported by means of poles or standards.

1. MONUMENT SIGN, see the specific definition for this term.

FRONT YARD

A yard which extends across the full width of a lot, for a depth equal to the minimum front yard setback distance required by the specific regulations of this chapter, measured from the ultimate right-of-way line.

FRONTAGE

A. The length of the lot line abutting a street right-of-way.

B. In measuring frontage for the requirements of any Zoning or Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance section within the Code of Limerick Township, a limited access highway shall not be used in the calculation of frontage.

C. For the purpose of any Zoning or Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance section within the Code of Limerick Township, State Route 422 shall be considered a limited access highway.

D. For the sole and exclusive purpose of calculating allowable signage pursuant to Chapter 184: Zoning, Article XII: Signs, § 184-90: Intent. through § 184-95: Sign permits., "Signs," of the Code of the Township of Limerick, the requirements for calculating frontage along a limited access highway, as defined herein, shall be waived.

GREEN AREA

Includes all landscape features, such as planters, planted islands, landscaped buffers and screens, lawn areas, meadows, woods, hedgerows and any area that is not covered by buildings, paving, or impervious surface. It is available and sometimes used for retention and maintenance of natural vegetation and for infiltration of stormwater for groundwater recharge. Decorative stone and mulch ground covers may be included if placed upon an earth surface.

GROSS LEASABLE AREA

The total floor area designed for tenant occupancy and exclusive use, including basements, mezzanines and upper floors, expressed in square feet and measured from the center line of partitions and from outside wall faces. It is the space for which tenants pay rent, including sales areas and integral stock areas. It does not include public or common areas, such as public toilets, corridors, stairwells, elevator lobbies or enclosed mall spaces.

GROUP DAY-CARE HOME

A facility in which care is provided for more than seven but fewer than 12 children at any one time where the child-care areas are being used as a family residence.

GROUP HOME

The use of a lawful dwelling unit for the housing, support, oversight and care of persons who need such assistance because of physical disability, old age, mental retardation/developmental disability or another condition that the applicant proves to the Zoning Officer involves a handicap or disability under the Federal Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988 or the Americans With Disabilities Act, as amended.

A. Such persons shall function as a common household unit.

B. A group home shall meet the restrictions in the definition of family for the maximum number of unrelated persons, except the number of bona fide paid professional staff shall not count towards such maximum and as may be approved under § 184-44C.

C. A group home shall not include a "treatment center."

D. See standards in § 184-76.1: Group homes.

GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS

See "bed-and-breakfast," "hotel" and "motel."

HAZARD TO AIR NAVIGATION

An obstruction determined to have a substantial adverse effect on the safe and efficient utilization of the navigable airspace.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

(1) Municipal or agricultural waste which, because of its quantity, concentration, physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may:

(a) Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in morbidity in either an individual or the total population; or

(b) Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed.

(2) The term does not include point sources subject to permits under Section 102 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, or source, special nuclear or by-product material as defined by the United States Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

HEALTH SERVICES

Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing medical, surgical or other services to individuals, including the offices of physicians, dentists and other health practitioners, medical and dental laboratories, outpatient care facilities, blood banks and oxygen and miscellaneous types of medical supplies and services.

HEALTH-CARE FACILITY

A facility or institution, whether public or private, principally engaged in providing services for health maintenance, diagnosis or treatment of human disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition, including a general hospital, public health center, diagnostic center, treatment center, rehabilitation center, extended-care facility, skilled nursing home, nursing home, intermediate-care facility, chronic disease hospital, maternity hospital, outpatient clinic, dispensary, home health care agency or personal-care facility.

HEIGHT

For the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones set forth in this article and shown on the zoning map, the datum shall be the mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.

HEIGHT OF BUILDING

The vertical distance measured from the average elevation of the existing grade at the location of the building to the highest point of a flat or multilevel roof or, for gable, hip or gambrel roofs, to the mean height between the eaves and ridge. Chimneys, spires, towers, mechanical penthouses, tanks and similar projections not intended for human occupancy shall be excluded.

HELIPORT, COMMERCIAL

A landing area for helicopters which includes facilities for fueling, repair and storage of helicopters and which is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PADOT).

HELIPORT, PERSONAL USE

A helicopter landing area (sometimes known as a "helistop") licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PADOT) for the purpose of picking up or discharging passengers or cargo. No fueling, helicopter repair or storage area(s) are permitted in conjunction with the operation of a personal use heliport.

HIGHLY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND SUBSTANCES

Any substance or material that, by reason of its toxic, caustic, corrosive, abrasive or other injurious properties, may be detrimental or deleterious to the health of any person handling or otherwise coming into contact with such material or substance, or as otherwise defined by applicable federal regulations.

HOME OCCUPATION

The accessory use of a residence involving the conduct of an art or profession, the offering of a service, the conduct of a business or the production of handicrafts on a residential site, pursuant to the provisions of Article IX: Supplemental Regulations of this chapter. The use is incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for residential purposes and shall not change the character of the residential use or adversely affect the uses permitted in the residential district of which it is a part.

HORIZONTAL SURFACE

A horizontal plane 150 feet above the established airport elevation, the perimeter of which in plan coincides with the perimeter of the horizontal zone.

HOTEL

An establishment providing transient accommodations, containing a minimum of six rental rooms and having the following characteristics:

A. Access to rooms is provided through a lobby and internal hallways.
B. Building height is two or more stories.
C. It often provides meeting rooms, banquet facilities and ancillary commercial shops within the building, with internal hallway access.

IDENTIFIED FLOODPLAIN AREA

Any areas of the Township, classified as special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) dated March 2, 2016, and issued by the FEMA or the most recent official version thereof adopted by FEMA, including all digital data developed as part of the FIS and the above referenced FIS and FIRMs, and any subsequent revisions and amendments are hereby adopted by the Township and declared to be a part of this chapter.

IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE

Coverage of the site by materials which cannot be penetrated by water and which therefore results in a stormwater runoff coefficient of 0.85 or greater. Included are:

A. All buildings.
B. All forms of impervious paving materials used for roads, driveways, parking, loading, walks, courts, patios, etc.

IMPROVEMENTS

The physical additions, installations and changes required to render land suitable for the use proposed, including streets, curbs, sidewalks, utilities and drainage facilities.

INDUSTRY

Those fields of economic activity, including forestry, construction, manufacturing, transportation, communication, extraction, utility services and wholesale trade. (See "industry, light" and "industry, heavy.")

INDUSTRY, HEAVY

Industrial activities which do not meet the definition of light industry.

INDUSTRY, LIGHT

Industrial activities which are carried on entirely within an enclosed building and involve no outdoor processes or outdoor storage of primary raw materials.

JUNK

Any discarded scrap, unusable or abandoned man-made or man-processed article or material, including but not limited to scrap metal, rags, containers, scrap building materials, unlicensed motor vehicles, unlicensed trailers, trailer machinery and equipment or uninhabitable mobile homes. The term "junk" shall not include the following: municipal solid waste and recyclable materials that are stored in a sanitary manner and are awaiting imminent pick-up and processing and farm machinery.

JUNK- OR SALVAGE YARD

A. Any outdoor establishment or place of business which is maintained, used or operated for storing, keeping, buying or selling junk, and, for the purposes of this section, the term shall include refuse, rubbish, garbage and debris, whether salvable or not, and made of any or all materials. It shall not include, however, refuse or garbage kept in proper containers for the purposes of prompt disposal.

B. The terms "junkyard" and "salvage yard" shall not apply to the following:

(1) The storage of operable vehicles by a duly licensed motor vehicle dealer for resale;

(2) The storage of a maximum of two inoperable motor vehicles on a lot by a resident of such lot which are stored for restoration purposes.

KENNEL, ANIMAL

Any structure or premises in which more than six dogs or domesticated small animals more than one year old are housed, groomed, bred, boarded, trained or sold.

LAKES AND PONDS

Natural or artificial bodies of water which retain water year-round. Artificial ponds may be created by dams or result from excavation. The shoreline of such waterbodies shall be measured from the maximum condition rather than permanent pool, if there is any difference. "Lakes" are bodies of water two or more acres in extent. "Ponds" are any water body less than two acres in extent.

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.

C. The following are specifically excluded from land development:

(1) The conversion of an existing single-family detached dwelling or single-family semidetached dwelling into not more than three residential units, unless such units are intended to be a condominium;

(2) The addition of an accessory building, including farm buildings, on a lot or lots subordinate to an existing principal building; or

(3) The addition or conversion of buildings or rides within the confines of an enterprise which would be considered an amusement park. For purposes of this subsection, an amusement park is defined as a tract or area used principally as a location for permanent amusement structures or rides. This exclusion shall not apply to newly acquired acreage by an amusement park until initial plans for the expanded area have been approved by proper authorities.

LANDOWNER

The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land, including the holder of an option of 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.

LARGER THAN UTILITY RUNWAY

Any runway that is constructed for and intended to be used by propeller driven aircraft of greater than 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight.

LEGAL RIGHT-OF-WAY

The street right-of-way legally in the public domain at the time a plan is submitted.

LOADING SPACE

A space, accessible from a street, in a building or on a lot, for the temporary use of vehicles while loading or unloading materials or merchandise.

LOGISTICS CENTER

A facility utilized for inbound and outbound transportation and fleet management, warehousing, distribution of materials and products, materials handling, order fulfillment, logistics network operations, inventory management, supply/demand planning and activities, and/or management of third-party logistics service providers, production, packaging, and assembly, and/or customer service.

LOT

A contiguous tract, parcel or unit of land held by a landowner and/or intended for use, development, lease or transfer of ownership, and for which a deed description is recorded or is intended to be recorded at the Office of the Recorder of Deeds for Montgomery County.

LOT AREA, GROSS

See "acreage, gross."

LOT AREA, NET

See "acreage, net."

LOT LINE

Any property boundary line of a lot, further defined as follows:

A. Front lot line is the line identical with the ultimate right-of-way line (also known as "street line").

B. Rear lot line is the line or lines most nearly parallel or concentric to the front lot line.

C. Side lot lines are the lines most nearly perpendicular or radial to the front lot line. On a corner lot, the side lot line shall be the line or lines most nearly perpendicular or radial to the higher classification of street, where applicable. The remaining line shall be considered the rear lot line.

D. A lot which fronts on more than one street shall have a front lot line on each street frontage.

LOT WIDTH

A. The horizontal distance between side lot lines, measured at the building line, parallel or concentric to the ultimate right-of-way line. For a corner lot, lot width shall be measured parallel or concentric to the ultimate right-of-way line of the higher classification of street, where applicable.

B. In measuring lot width for the requirements of any Zoning or Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance within the Code of Limerick Township, a limited access highway shall not be used in the calculation of lot width.

C. For the purpose of any Zoning or Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance section under the Code of Limerick Township, State Route 422 shall be considered a limited access highway.

LOT, FLAG

A lot which conforms in all respects to the dimensional requirements of the zoning district in which it is located, except that the only road frontage and access is limited to an access strip. This definition does not include the commonly used wedge-shaped lots located on a cul-de-sac turnaround. A "flag lot" shall also be known as a "rear lot" or "interior lot."

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MANUFACTURING

The process or operation of making wares or products from raw materials by hand or by the use of machine(s).

MASTER LOT

A large contiguous area of open space, not less than 10 acres nor more than 55% of the total open space which is required under the rural cluster zoning option contained in § 184-101C. The use of the master lot shall be limited to one single-family dwelling and accessory uses permitted under § 184-71: Accessory and livestock uses. The master lot shall be restricted from further subdivision by a deed restriction in a form acceptable to the Township Solicitor and recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Montgomery County.

MINING

The extraction of minerals and coal from the subsurface of grounds located within the Township and shall not include open-face mining.

MOBILE HOME

A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy, contained in one or more units, built on a permanent chassis, which arrives at a site complete and ready for occupancy except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used with or without a permanent foundation. It may not meet local building codes but does meet the standards of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, as indicated by the structural engineering bulletin(s) provided to the Board of Supervisors by the applicant. This term does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers.

MOBILE HOME LOT

A parcel of land in a mobile home park, improved with the necessary utility connections and other appurtenances necessary for the erection thereon of a single mobile home.

MOBILE HOME PARK

A parcel or contiguous parcels of land which has been so designated and improved that it contains two or more mobile home lots for the placement thereon of mobile homes.

MODIFICATION (OR MODIFY)

The improvement, upgrade or expansion of existing wireless telecommunications facilities or base stations on an existing wireless support structure or the improvement, upgrade or expansion of the wireless telecommunications facilities located within an existing equipment compound, if the improvement, upgrade, expansion or replacement does not substantially change the physical dimensions of the wireless support structure.

MODULAR HOME

A single-family dwelling unit for permanent occupancy, made by assembling one or more factory-produced, three-dimensional sections into one integral building not capable of easily being separated for repeated towing, whose construction materials must conform to those of conventionally built units, as required by the Township's Building Code, and must be placed on a permanent foundation. A copy of the structural engineering bulletin(s) must be provided to the Board of Supervisors, indicating approval of the dwelling or its components by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

MONOPOLE

A wireless support structure consisting of a single pole or spire constructed without guywires or ground anchor.

MONUMENT SIGN

A low profile freestanding sign supported by columns and or a base primarily by solid structural features where entire bottom of the columns and or a base sign is affixed to a base on the ground not exceeding six feet in height, measured in the same manner as height of building.

MOTEL

An establishment providing transient accommodations, containing a minimum of six rental rooms and having the following characteristics:

A. Access to rooms is from directly outside the building.

B. Building height is only one or two stories.

C. The facility is generally served by a central office rather than a lobby.

MOTOR VEHICLE SALES AGENCY

A commercial use for the sale and repair of motor vehicles, including new and used cars, trucks, recreational vehicles and/or farm equipment, having both indoor and outdoor display areas and providing maintenance and repair services for vehicle owners.

MOTOR VEHICLES

All vehicles propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power and intended for use on public highways or in agricultural activities.

MOVABLE SIGN

Any sign which is not fixed to a permanent supporting structure or building, or which is capable of being moved from one location to another, including trailer signs.

MULTIFAMILY BUILDING A detached residential building containing three or more dwelling units. Units may not be arranged entirely in vertical rows (like townhouses) and are generally located entirely above or below one another. Units may share outside access and/or internal hallways, lobbies and similar facilities. The dwelling units cannot be individually lotted, but instead, share the lot or tract on which the building containing them is located. The development is usually under one operating unit, as a rental or condominium development. This dwelling type includes, but is not limited to, garden apartments, flats and multifamily conversions, as defined below:

(1) MULTIFAMILY CONVERSION, see the specific definition for this term.

MULTIFAMILY CONVERSION

A multifamily dwelling containing not more than four dwelling units that results from the conversion of a single-family or two-family dwelling.

MULTIPLEX

An attached dwelling arranged in a group of no more than six units, in a variety of configurations: side-by-side, back-to-back or vertically. Because of the variety of configurations, a multiplex can be designed to look like a large, single-family detached house; this feature is encouraged.

MUNICIPAL WASTE

Garbage, refuse, industrial lunchroom or office waste or other material resulting from operation of residential, municipal, commercial or institutional establishments and from community activities; and sludge not meeting the definitions of residual or hazardous waste from a municipal, commercial or institutional water supply treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant or air pollution control facility.

NET BUILDABLE ACREAGE

A calculated area upon which the density, impervious coverage and building coverage requirements for the various zoning districts are computed. "Net buildable acreage" is the area of a site remaining after subtracting all or a percentage of road rights-of-way, noncontiguous lands, floodplains, wetlands, utility rights-of-way and steep slopes from the site's gross area. It can be calculated using the formula in § 184-78 herein.

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 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.

NONCONFORMING LOT

A lot the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance, but which fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located by reasons of such adoption or amendment.

NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE

A structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable use or extent of use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such structure was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of such ordinance or amendment, or prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such "nonconforming structures" include nonconforming signs.

NONCONFORMING USE

A use, whether of land or of structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of such ordinance or amendment, or prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment to its location by reason of annexation.

NONCONFORMING USE

Any preexisting structure, object of natural growth or use of land covered by this airport district which is inconsistent with the provisions of this article or an amendment thereto.

NONPRECISION 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 nonprecision instrument approach procedure has been approved or planned.

OBSTRUCTION

Any structure, growth or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height set forth in this article.

OCTAVE BAND

A means of dividing the range of sound frequencies into octaves in order to classify sound according to pitch.

OFF-PREMISES SIGN

A sign which directs attention to an object, product, service, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business located or offered elsewhere than upon the premises where the sign is located or to which it is affixed.

OLDER ADULT DAILY LIVING SERVICES

Services provided or arranged for part of a twenty-four-hour day to assist in meeting the needs, including but not limited to personal care, social, nutritional, health and education needs of a population of persons who are predominantly 60 years of age or older or who are under 60 years of age but who have a dementia-related disease, such as Alzheimer's disease, as a primary diagnosis. The term does not include services provided for persons whose needs are such that they can only be met in a long-term care facility on an inpatient basis, receiving professionally supervised nursing care and related medical and other health services. (See "adult day-care facility.")

ON-PREMISES SIGN

A sign which directs attention to an object, product, service, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business located or offered on the premises upon which the sign is displayed or to which the sign is affixed, including signs offering premises for sale, rent or development or advertising building trades during construction or alteration.

OPEN SPACE

Public or private lands designated for the use and enjoyment of residents or tenants of a development and/or the general public, incorporating natural features, such as woodlands, streams or meadows, and including Township parks, trails and other recreational facilities; also includes common open space as defined above, and other private lands which are available for the use of Township residents (i.e., through access easements). See "common open space."

PARALLEL SIGN

A sign mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface, but not extending beyond the edge of the wall, roofline or other surface to which it is mounted, and not projecting more than 10 inches from the surface to which it is mounted.

PARK

Any area which is predominantly open space, is used principally for active or passive recreation and is not used for a profit-making purpose.

PARKING FACILITIES

Outdoor areas or specially designed buildings or garages used for the storage of vehicles.

PARKING SPACE

An open or covered area with a dust-free, all-weather surface which shall be at least nine by 18 feet in size for the storage of one automobile, accessible via a driveway.

PARTICULATE MATTER

Material other than water which is suspended in or discharged into the atmosphere in a finely divided form, as a liquid or solid.

PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE

The Municipalities Planning Code, originally enacted as Act 247 of 1968, which establishes the basic authority for the exercise of municipal land use controls in Pennsylvania. All subsequent amendments are included. It is abbreviated as "MPC" or "Act 247."

PERMIT

A document issued by the proper authority authorizing the applicant to undertake specified activities. See Article II of this chapter for specific requirements regarding the following permits.

A. BUILDING (UCC) PERMIT
B. ZONING USE PERMIT
See the specific definitions for these terms.

PERSON

An individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association or government entity; including a trustee, receiver, assignee or a similar representative of any of them.

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PERSONAL SERVICE

Personal service uses are the following and no other: barber, beauty salon, tailor, dress maker, shoe repair, photography, travel agent jeweler, watch repair, dry cleaner, tanning salon, dog grooming with no more than two dogs at one time, repair of computers, business service printing or duplicating, therapeutic massage and auto tag services. These uses may include accessory retail sales of products related to the services that are provided.

PIGGERY

The keeping and breeding of swine on a property for any commercial purpose, where the animals are fed garbage as an integral part of the business.

PLACE OF WORSHIP

A building used on a regular basis primarily for religious worship by 10 or more unrelated persons.

PLAN

A graphic representation of a proposal for subdivision and/or land development, including necessary written notes.

PLANNING COMMISSION

The Limerick Township Planning Commission.

PORCH

A roofed or unroofed structure projecting from the front, side or rear wall of a building.

PRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY

A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure utilizing an Instrument Landing System (ILS) or a Precision Approach Radar (PAR). It also means a runway for which a precision approach system is planned and is so indicated on an approved airport layout plan or any other planning document.

PRIMARY SURFACE

A surface longitudinally centered on a runway. When the runway has a specifically 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 that runway. The width of the primary surface is set forth in § 184-194: Airport zones of this article. The elevation of any point on the primary surface is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway center line.

PRINCIPAL BUILDING

A building in which is conducted the principal use of the lot on which it is located.

PRINCIPAL USE

The single dominant use or single main use on a lot.

PRIVATE ELECTRICAL UTILITY FACILITY

Aboveground structures and facilities including buildings owned privately and used in connection with the production, delivery and collection of electricity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a coal, oil or nuclear powered facility is not permitted under this definition. A private electrical utility facility shall not include any facility that collects or burns trash or refuse.

PRIVATE UTILITY FACILITY

A private electrical utility facility, as well as any aboveground structures and facilities, including buildings owned privately and used in connection with the production, delivery and collection of water, sewage, electricity, gas, oil or communications signals. A private utility facility shall not include any facility that collects or burns trash or refuse.

PROCESSING

Any technology used for the purpose of reducing the volume or bulk of municipal or residual waste or any technology used to convert part or all of such waste materials for off-site reuse. Processing facilities include but are not limited to transfer facilities, composting facilities and resource recovery facilities.

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE

A building in which services are performed by a member of a profession, including an accountant, architect, author, dentist, engineer, insurance agent, landscape architect, lawyer, notary, optometrist, physician, planner, realtor or similar occupations.

PROJECTING SIGN

Any sign mounted perpendicular to a wall or other vertical surface.

PROPERTY LINE

A recorded boundary of a lot. Any property line which abuts a street or other public way shall be measured from the right-of-way.

PUBLIC HEARING

A formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the governing body, Planning Commission or other municipal agency, intended to inform and obtain public comment, prior to taking action in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.

PUBLIC MEETING

A forum held pursuant to notice under the Act of July 3, 1986 (P.L. 388, No. 84), known as the "Sunshine Act" ("...any prearranged gathering of an agency which is attended or participated in by a quorum of the members of an agency, held for the purpose of deliberating agency business or taking official action").

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice published once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not be less than seven days from the date of the hearing.

PUBLIC SEWER FACILITIES

The central sewage system operated by the Township Sewer Authority.

PUBLIC UTILITIES FACILITY

A building or structure and its equipment used for the transmission and exchange of radio, gas, power, sewer and water facilities; provided, however, that in a residential district these shall not include public business facilities, storage of materials, trucks or repair facilities or housing or repair crews. This shall not include a structure for the generation of energy. This definition of "public utilities facility" shall not include Wireless Telecommunication Facilities which are regulated under Article XXXIV: Wireless Telecommunications Facilities of this Zoning Ordinance.

PUBLIC UTILITY

An agency which, under public franchise or ownership, or under certificate of convenience and necessity, provides the public with communication, gas, power, rail transportation, sewer or water facilities or other similar service.

PUBLICKER SITE

That approximate 190-acre tract of land known as the Publicker Site situate in Limerick Township and being identified as Tax Parcel No. 37-00-02785-00-4.

PUBLICKER TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS

Traffic, roadway, and multimodal pedestrian and trail improvements to be installed contemporaneously with the redevelopment of the Publicker Site.

REAR YARD

A yard which extends across the full width of a lot, for a depth equal to the minimum rear yard setback distance required by the specific regulations of this chapter, measured from the rear lot line.

RECEIVE-ONLY EARTH STATION

An antenna and attendant processing equipment for reception of electronic signals from satellites.

RECYCLABLE MATERIALS

Materials separated from municipal waste which are to be used as raw materials for the development of new usable products. "Recyclable materials" can include the following items: newsprint, high-grade office paper, glass, aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans, plastic, corrugated paper and leaf wastes.

RECYCLING OPERATION

An establishment which is maintained or used or operated for the purposes of temporarily storing and preparing scrap and/or discard materials for consumption by other establishments whose operations include producing products from recycled materials.

RELATIVE

Persons who are related by blood, marriage or adoption to result in one of the following relationships: spouse, brother, sister, parent, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, grandparent, great-grandparent, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, parent-in-law or first cousin. "Unrelated persons" shall be persons who are not a relative of each other. Persons with a formal foster relationship with a guardian shall also be considered to be "relatives."

REPLACEMENT (OR REPLACE)

The replacement of existing wireless telecommunications facilities on an existing wireless support structure or within an existing equipment compound due to maintenance, repair or technological advancement with equipment composed of the same wind loading and structural loading that is substantially similar in size, weight and height as the wireless telecommunications facilities initially installed and that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of the existing wireless support structure.

RESIDUAL WASTE

Garbage, refuse or other discarded material or waste, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained gaseous materials resulting from industrial, mining and agricultural operations and sludge from an industrial, mining or agricultural water supply treatment facility, wastewater treatment facility or air pollution control facility, provided that it is not hazardous.

RESTAURANT

An eating establishment that serves ready-to-consume food and/or drink.

RETAIL GARDEN CENTER

The sale of plants and lawn and garden supplies to the general public. This use may contain a greenhouse and plant nursery to directly supply plants for retail sale on the same parcel. This use shall not include a landscaping contractor business unless it is accessory to the principal retail garden center use.

REVERSE FRONTAGE LOTTING

Lotting which extends between two streets of differing classifications, with vehicular access provided from the lesser street, in order to promote traffic flow and safety on the greater street.

ROOF SIGN

A sign which is mounted or otherwise affixed to the roof of a building.

RUNWAY

A defined area on an airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft along its length.

SALVAGE

Any discarded material or articles, including scrap metallic or nonmetallic items, whole or parts of vehicles and equipment, paper, glass, containers and structures, which is separated for industrial processing or reprocessing and further used or re-used. (See "junk," "waste" and "recyclable materials.")

SANITARY LANDFILL

See "solid waste disposal facility."

SANITARY LANDFILL

Any outdoor establishment or place of business operated or maintained for the disposal of solid waste by the method known as "landfilling" in accordance with any or all federal, state and local landfilling laws, statutes, rules and regulations. The term "landfill" shall have the same meaning as "sanitary landfill."

SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM

A centralized sanitary sewer system or a comparable common or package sanitary sewer facility approved by the appropriate governmental health agency.

SCRAP PROCESSOR

A firm engaged in the business of preparing scrap (metal or rags and paper) for consumption by steel mills or paper companies or other establishments whose purpose it is to use scrap in producing products.

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SENIOR INDEPENDENT LIVING UNIT

A single dwelling unit, as defined by the Fair Housing Act, in a building for senior residents aged 55 years or older who do not require assistance with daily activities or 24/7 skilled nursing. Senior independent living buildings may contain common facilities, including but not limited to common dining areas, personal service shops and recreational areas. Such common facilities shall be open to the residents and their guests, not the general public.

SEWAGE FACILITIES, CENTRAL

A sewage disposal system in compliance with all state and local regulations, approved by the Department of Environmental Protection and applicable sewer authority, and providing service to multiple customers. It includes the following definitions:

A. PUBLIC SEWER FACILITIES
B. COMMON SEWAGE FACILITIES
See the specific definitions for these terms.

SHOPPING CENTER

A group of commercial establishments, planned and developed as an integrated architectural and functional unit, providing convenient on-site parking and controlled, common vehicular and pedestrian access.

SIDE YARD

A yard which extends along a side lot line from the required front yard to the required rear yard, the minimum width of which shall be the minimum specified by the regulations of this chapter, measured from the side lot line.

SIGN

Any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, service, event or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, design, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images.

SIGN AREA

The area of a sign shall mean the area of all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background on which they are displayed (whether open or enclosed), but excluding any supporting framework which are solely incidental to the display itself, provided that the same do not contain any lettering, wording, designs or symbols.

A. When the sign consists of individual letters, designs or symbols attached to a building, awning, wall or window, the area shall be that of the smallest rectangle which encompasses all of the letters, designs and symbols.

B. In computing the area of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be counted, provided that both sides are identical in dimension and content. If the interior angle formed by the two faces of the sign is greater than 45°, then both sides of the sign shall be considered in the calculation of area.

SIGN HEIGHT

The vertical distance measured from ground level to the highest point on the sign or its supporting structure.

SIGN TYPES

A. AWNING SIGN
B. BANNER SIGN
C. FREESTANDING SIGN

1. MONUMENT SIGN

D. MOVABLE SIGN
E. OFF-PREMISES SIGN
F. ON-PREMISES SIGN
G. ROOF SIGN
H. TEMPORARY SIGN
I. VEHICULAR SIGN
J. WALL SIGN

(1) PARALLEL SIGN
(2) PROJECTING SIGN

K. WINDOW SIGN

See the specific definitions for these terms.

SINGLE AND SEPARATE OWNERSHIP

The ownership of a contiguous land area as one or more lots by one owner, whether a person, partnership, corporation or other legal entity, irrespective of the fact that parts of the land may have been acquired at different times or that the area may have been divided into parts on any plan or plat.

SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED DWELLING UNIT

A dwelling unit having its own independent outside access, with no other dwelling units located directly and totally above or below it, and having party walls in common with at least one but not more than three adjacent similar dwelling units, and located in a building comprised of at least three dwelling units. Each dwelling unit may be individually lotted, or owned as a condominium. This dwelling type shall include but not be limited to dwelling units commonly known as "townhouses," "rowhouses," "triplexes," "quadruplexes" and "multiplexes."

(1) TOWNHOUSE (ROWHOUSE)
(2) MULTIPLEX
See the specific definitions for these terms.

SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLING

A dwelling designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence for only one family and not attached to any other building or dwelling units.

SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED LOT LINE

A single-family dwelling on an individual lot, with the building set on, or close to, one side property line so that the lot has only one side yard. Lot line homes should be designed so that this side yard and the rear yard constitute the primary outdoor living areas for the dwelling. Typically, no windows are placed on the wall of the building along the lot line. If the building is set on the side lot line, a five-foot access easement is provided on the adjacent property along the lot line for necessary maintenance of the building wall.

SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED VILLAGE HOUSE

A single-family detached house on a separate lot. It differs from other forms of single-family detached housing in its lot size and its placement on the lot, which are similar to houses found in historic villages and boroughs. The house is placed close to the street and is distinguished from other single-family houses by planting or architectural treatments. In order to qualify for this use, the garage shall be set back at least 10 feet behind the front facade of the building, and each unit shall meet two or more of the following criteria:

(1) Two canopy trees per lot, or three flowering trees per lot, located within the front yard.
(2) An unenclosed porch, running across at least three-fourths of the house front, being at least seven feet in width.
(3) A front yard raised above sidewalk grade by at least 30 inches with a retaining wall of at least 18 inches at the sidewalk line.
(4) A fence of at least 30 inches and no more than four feet in height, enclosing the front yard, plus one flowering shrub per 60 inches across the width of the house front.
(5) Intensive planting of one shade tree, one flowering tree, and one flowering shrub per 30 inches across the width of the house front.
(6) A hedge of shrubs planted 18 inches apart across the width of the front yard.

SOIL SURVEY

The Montgomery County Soil Survey of 1967, prepared by the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

SOLID WASTE

Waste, including municipal, residual or hazardous wastes.

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY

A land use including buildings, land equipment and any other appurtenances used in the processing of solid waste, resource recovery, cogeneration of energy, recycling, incineration and/or landfilling as a means of disposal of solid waste.

A. DUMP
B. SANITARY LANDFILL
See the specific definitions for these terms.

SPECIAL EXCEPTION

A form of permitted use authorized by this chapter under the jurisdiction of the Zoning Hearing Board. The Zoning Hearing Board is empowered to grant permission for "special exceptions," consistent with the public interest, in compliance with standards and procedures established in this chapter.

SPECIALIZED RETAIL

Retail shops and stores selling gifts, novelties, flowers, books, periodicals, jewelry, apparel, tobacco, toys, crafts, hobby supplies, cameras and film, stationery or antiques. Stores in excess of 7,500 square feet in a single structure are not included in this use. Adult uses are excluded.

STEEP SLOPE

Areas with a gradient of 15% or greater, as determined by the soil survey or accurate contour mapping.

STORY

That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and ceiling next above it and including those basements used for the principal use.

STREET

Includes street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway, parkway, lane, alley, viaduct and any other ways used or intended to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians, whether public or private.

STREET LINE

A line identical with the front lot line and ultimate right-of-way line.

STREET RIGHTS-OF-WAY

Rights-of-way for street purposes are defined as follows:

A. LEGAL RIGHT-OF-WAY
B. ULTIMATE RIGHT-OF-WAY
C. EQUIVALENT RIGHT-OF-WAY
See the specific definitions for these terms.

STRUCTURE

Any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the ground.

STRUCTURE

An object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed by man, including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, cranes, smokestacks, earth formation and overhead transmission lines.

SUBDIVISION

The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling shall be exempted.

SUBSTANTIAL (OR SUBSTANTIALLY) CHANGE

A. Any increase in the height of the wireless support structure by more than 10%, or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater, except that the mounting of the proposed wireless telecommunications facility may exceed the size limits set forth in this definition if necessary to avoid interference with existing antennas.

B. Any further increase in the height of a wireless support structure which has already been extended by more than 10% of its originally approved height or by the height of one additional antenna array in accordance with the provisions of this act shall not be permitted.

SUPERVISORS

The duly-elected governing body of Limerick Township; also known as the "Board of Supervisors."

SWIMMING POOL

A body of water or receptacle for water having a depth at any point greater than 30 inches which is primarily used or intended to be used for swimming or bathing.

TAVERN

A place where alcoholic beverages are consumed on the premise and food may be served and consumed on-site.

TEMPORARY OR SEASONAL OCCUPANCY

The use of any premises or structure for living and/or sleeping purposes for fewer than 100 consecutive days in any calendar year.

TEMPORARY SIGN

A sign which advertises community or civic projects, construction projects, real estate for sale or lease or other special events on a temporary basis.

TEMPORARY UNIT FOR RELATIVE

A living area involving one or more rooms within an existing single-family detached dwelling or an accessory building that is designed for and occupied by relatives of the owners of the dwelling and which may include sleeping, kitchen and bathroom facilities that are separate from those of the principal dwelling unit. See standards in § 184-71B.

TOWER

Any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas for telephone, radio and similar communication purposes, including self-supporting lattice towers, guyed towers or monopole towers. The term includes radio and television transmission towers, microwave towers, common-carrier towers, cellular telephone towers, alternative tower structures and the like, as well as the structure and any support thereto.

TOWNHOUSE (ROWHOUSE)

A single-family attached dwelling in a row of at least three units, with one dwelling unit from ground to roof, with individual outside access. Although these units are in rows, their design should de-emphasize a lined up appearance.

TRACT, TOTAL AREA

The total of the lot area(s) of lots within a proposed development, after deleting existing rights-of-way of existing streets.

TRANSITIONAL SURFACES

These surfaces extend outward at the horizontal and conical surfaces. Transitional surfaces for those 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 ninety-degree angles to the extended runway center line.

TRAVEL TRAILER

A recreational vehicle requiring a separate power source for pulling, which may include living, sleeping, eating and sanitary facilities, but which is designed for vacation travel and not for long-term or permanent occupancy.

TREATMENT CENTER

A. A use (other than a prison or a hospital) providing housing for persons who need specialized housing, treatment and/or counseling because of:

(1) Criminal rehabilitation, such as a criminal halfway house;
(2) Current addiction to alcohol or a controlled substance that was used in an illegal manner; and/or
(3)A type of mental illness or other behavior that causes a person to be a threat to the physical safety of others.

B. See standards in § 184-76.2: Treatment centers.

TREE

Any object of natural growth.

TRUCKING COMPANY TERMINAL

A use involving a large variety of materials, owned by numerous corporations, being transported to a site to be unloaded primarily from tractor-trailer trucks and reloaded onto other tractor-trailer trucks and which does not involve substantial on-site manufacturing or processing of the materials.

TWIN (SINGLE-FAMILY SEMIDETACHED)

A two-family building with dwelling units placed side-by-side and joined to each other by a vertical common party wall, but otherwise surrounded by yard areas. When lotted, each dwelling unit may be on a separate lot, with the common boundary between the two lots running along the common party wall. Separate ingress and egress is provided to each unit.

TWO-FAMILY BUILDING

A residential building containing two dwelling units and which is not attached to any other building. A "two-family building" counts as two dwelling units for density purposes.

(1) TWIN (SINGLE-FAMILY SEMIDETACHED), see the specific definition for this term.
(2) DUPLEX (TWO-FAMILY DETACHED), see the specific definition for this term.

ULTIMATE RIGHT-OF-WAY

The street right-of-way projected as necessary for adequate handling of anticipated maximum traffic volumes. The "ultimate right-of-way" is the legal right-of-way where it has been offered for dedication and accepted by the Township. Front yard setbacks are measured from the ultimate right-of-way.

ULTIMATE RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE

The dividing line between a lot and the outside limit of the ultimate right-of-way of a public street (identical with "front lot line" and "street line").

USABLE REAR YARD AREA

The yard which extends from the rear or secondary entrance of a single-family attached building (townhouses and multiplex) to the minimum distance permitted in this chapter. This term identifies area of land which may be part of a common element that is designated for private use by the abutting dwelling unit. Usable rear yard area shall remain free of landscape berms, amended soils or other stormwater management features.

UTILITY RUNWAY

A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used by propeller-driven aircraft of up to 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight.

VARIANCE

The granting of permission by the Zoning Hearing Board to use or alter land or structures which requires a variation from the strict application of a requirement of this zoning chapter. Variances are granted only if specific requirements are met, in accordance with the provisions of Article VI: Zoning Hearing Board.

VEGETATIVE COVER

The land area devoted to vegetative coverage, including lawns, meadows, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens.

VEHICLE DISPLAY AREA

An open area, other than a street or parking area, used for display, sale or rental of new or used motor vehicles, recreational vehicles or boats in operable condition, and where no major repairs are done.

VEHICULAR SIGN

A vehicle to which a sign is affixed or painted and which is used or parked in such a manner that display of such sign becomes the vehicle's primary purpose.

VISUAL RUNWAY

A runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures.

VISUAL SCREEN

A barrier whose purpose is to obscure a view; generally comprised of evergreen plant materials suitable for the purpose.

WALL SIGN

(1) PARALLEL SIGN
(2) PROJECTING SIGN
See § 184-10: Definitions under "Sign Types" for the specific definitions for these terms.

WAREHOUSE

A building or group of buildings primarily used for the commercial storage, transfer and distribution of products and materials.

WAREHOUSE, MINI-

A building or group of buildings situated in a controlled access compound which are divided into individual separate access units which are rented or leased for the storage of tangible personal property.

WASTE

A material whose original purpose has been completed and which is directed to a disposal or processing facility or is otherwise disposed. This term does not include source-separated recyclable materials. "Waste" is further classified as follows, in accordance with Act 97, the Solid Waste Management Act.

A. AGRICULTURAL WASTE
B. CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION WASTE
C. CLEAN FILL
D. HAZARDOUS WASTE
E. MUNICIPAL WASTE
F. RESIDUAL WASTE
G. SOLID WASTE

See the specific definitions for these terms.

WATER FACILITIES, COMMON

A water distribution system serving a single neighborhood or development.

WATER FACILITIES, PUBLIC

A water distribution system serving all or a portion of the Township and operated by a certified public utility.

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

A system designed to transmit water from a source to users, in compliance with the requirements of the appropriate state agencies and the local authorities. Includes the following definitions:

A. WATER FACILITIES, PUBLIC
B. WATER FACILITIES, COMMON
See the specific definitions for these terms.

WATER TOWER

A standpipe or an elevated tank situated on a wireless support structure, both of which shall be constructed of steel, have a height of at least 75 feet and be used as a reservoir or facility to deliver water.

WATERCOURSE

A place intended or used for the directed surface flow of water, including permanent and intermittent streams, brooks, creeks, channels, ditches, swales and rivers.

WETLAND

An area that is considered to be a "wetland" under applicable federal and/or state regulations, whichever is more inclusive.

WHOLESALE BUSINESS

Places of business primarily engaged in selling merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional or professional business users or to other wholesalers, or acting as agents or brokers and buying merchandise for or selling merchandise to such individuals or companies.

WINDOW SIGN

A sign which is fastened to or placed in the area of a window or a display window of a building.

WIRELESS SUPPORT STRUCTURE

A freestanding structure, such as a guyed or self-supporting monopole or tower, electrical transmission tower, water tower or other structure not classified as a wireless support structure that could support the placement or installation of wireless telecommunications facilities if approved by the Township.

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY

The set of equipment and network components, including antennas, transmitters, receivers, base stations, cabling and accessory equipment, used to provide wireless data and telecommunications services. The term shall not include the wireless support structure.

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

Includes, but are not limited to:

A. Commercial mobile services, meaning any mobile service, as defined by Section 153 of the Federal Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. § 151, et seq., as amended, making interconnected service available to public or to eligible classes constituting a substantial portion of the public, including personal communications, cellular radiotelephone and paging services.

B. Common carrier wireless exchange access services, meaning the offering of access to telephone exchange services or facilities to the originator or terminator of telephone toll services by any common carrier for hire, in interstate or foreign communications by wire, radio or radio transmission of energy, excluding a person engaged in radio broadcasting to the extent of such engagement.

C. Unlicensed wireless telecommunications services, meaning the offering of telecommunication services using duly authorized devices not requiring individual licenses, excluding the provision of direct exchange satellite services.

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES SITE

A tract or parcel of land or a portion thereof containing as its principal use a wireless telecommunications facility, wireless support structure, building(s), parking and may also include other uses ancillary to the telecommunication signal transmission or processing and associated equipment (a business office, maintenance depot, vehicle storage, etc.).

WOODLANDS

Areas, groves or stands of mature or largely mature trees (i.e., greater than six inches in caliper) covering an area greater than 1/4 of an acre or groves of mature trees (greater than 12 inches in caliper) consisting of more than 10 individuals.

YARD

The area(s) of a lot which must remain free of buildings or other structures and may be used as lawn or planted area, parking or driveway space in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. A "yard" is measured at right angles from the right-of-way or lot line to the nearest building wall. "Yard" is further defined as follows:

A. FRONT YARD
B. REAR YARD
C. SIDE YARD
D. USABLE REAR YARD AREA

See the specific definitions for these terms.

YARD LINE

A line which locates and delineates the minimum yard setback requirements, measured from the front, rear and side lot lines.

YARD, SIDE, AGGREGATE

The total measurement of two side yards on the same lot.

ZONING OFFICER

The administrative officer charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of this zoning chapter.

ZONING USE PERMIT

A permit indicating that specific activities regulated by this chapter may occur and which is issued when a building (UCC) permit is not required. "Zoning use permit" may also be referred to as "zoning permit."

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MapLink™ | Definitions

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Township of Limerick, PA

MapLink™ | Definitions