GLOSSARY OF PLANNINGTERMS
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Act 13 Greenways Fund
Act 13 of 2012 established the Marcellus
Legacy Fund and allocates funds to the
Commonwealth Financing Authority
for planning, acquisition, development,
rehabilitation and repair of greenways,
recreational trails, open space, parks and
beautification projects using the Greenways,
Trails and Recreation Program (GTRP).
Municipalities, councils of governments,
authorized organizations, colleges and
universities, watershed organizations and for-
profit businesses are eligible for these funds.
Adult Day Care
A non-residential facility supporting the
health, nutritional, and daily living needs of
elderly or disabled adults in professionally
staffed, group settings.
Affordable Housing Trust Fund
As of 1993, a fund authorized by county
ordinance to increase the recording fees of
deeds and mortgages to support counties’
local affordable housing efforts. The funds
raised are deposited in the general fund of
the county, and the increased revenues must
be used to fund affordable housing.
Agricultural Area Security Law
(Act 43 of 1981)
This legislation allows for the creation of
joint municipal agricultural security areas,
which promote more permanent and viable
farming operations over the long term.
Airport Hazard Zoning Act
(Act 164)
Passed in 1984, this state legislation
restricts the heights of objects around
airport areas to provide for safe aircraft
flight paths. Ultimately this requires zoning
overlay districts at a local level for affected
municipalities.
Ambulatory Surgery Center
A facility which provides day-surgery
services for patients who require less than
24-hour medical attention.
American Community Survey
An ongoing statistical survey by the U.S.
Census Bureau, sent to approximately
250,000 addresses monthly (or 3 million
per year), which gathers information
previously contained only in the long form of
the decennial census.
Arterials
A federal highway functional classification,
arterials are either “principal” or “minor,”
and provide greater mobility for longer
trips, but offer more accessibility than
expressways. Principal arterials in the county
include roads like Bethlehem Pike (PA 309),
OldYork Road (PA 611) in Upper Moreland,
and US 202 Dekalb Pike.
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
A term used to describe water
pollution controls, frequently for
stormwater management, in which structural
or engineered control devices and systems
ameliorate the negative effects of polluted
and/or excess stormwater.
Brownfield
Abandoned or underused industrial and/
or commercial facilities available for re-use,
at which expansion or redevelopment may
be complicated by real or perceived
environmental contamination.
Business Improvement District
A Business Improvement District (BID)
is a legal way for property owners and
businesses to jointly plan and put in place
dedicated funding for services to improve
their area. This is done through a tax
assessment on properties in a defined area
following a vote by property owners and
authorization by the local municipality.
