[Amended 2-13-1974 by Ord. No. 633]
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any land
in the Township to subdivide the same into two or more lots or parcels
or to lay out, construct, open or dedicate any street, road, highway,
alley, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main, gas main or other
public improvement for public use or travel, or for the common use
of occupants of buildings abutting thereon, or to sell any lot or
erect any building in a subdivision, or to improve one lot or two
or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose
involving a group of two or more buildings, or to divide or allocate
land or space between or among two or more existing or prospective
occupants by means or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds,
condominiums, building groups or other features, unless and until:
A.
A plan or plat thereof shall have been prepared by
a registered professional engineer and submitted to and approved,
in writing thereon, by the Board. For the purpose of this section
and this chapter, a "plat" shall mean a graphic or written representation
or document, which, in the case of condominiums, shall include a declaration,
code of regulations and declaration plans.
B.
The plan or plat as approved shall have been recorded.
[Amended 4-13-1988 by Ord. No. 755]
Before approving a land subdivision/land development
plan, the Board may, in its discretion, arrange for a public hearing
with respect thereto, after giving such notice as required by the
Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[1] The Board may require alterations, changes or modifications
of any kind which it deems necessary in such plans and may refuse
its approval until all such alterations, changes or modifications
in the plan have been made. One or more tentative land subdivision/land
development plans may be submitted to the Township Engineer for study,
review and comments. The Board may also refuse its approval in the
event that a land subdivision/land development plan fails to conform
to any of the requirements of the Township Zoning Code[2] or in the event that a special exception(s) or variance(s)
is required as a condition precedent to making the plan conform to
such code.
Preliminary plans shall be submitted in duplicate
and shall be drawn to a minimum scale of 50 feet equals one inch.
Profiles of proposed improvements showing grades, cuts and fills shall
be drawn to a minimum scale of 40 feet horizontal and four feet vertical
equals one inch.
Preliminary and final plans shall contain at
least the following specific items:
A.
Complete block dimensions with bearings, tangent distances
and all curve data and stations corresponding to those used on the
profile; lot numbers and lot dimensions with bearings; profiles of
the highways; design, course, structure and capacity of any drainage
facilities; and the method of drainage with respect to adjacent or
contiguous territory.
B.
Location of all street monuments at street intersections,
angle points and beginning and ending of all curves.
C.
Curb grades; profiles showing grades, cross sections,
rate of grade and bench marks.
D.
Width of rights-of-way, cartways and sidewalks.
E.
Cross section of proposed paving indicating depth
and type of each course, position and type of curbs and sidewalks
and all other improvements.
F.
Location of all existing and proposed utility facilities,
together with all service connections.
G.
Existing natural features and proposed landscaping
on the site, including the following details:
[Added 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
(1)
Locations of natural features which may affect the
location of proposed construction, including soil types (from the
Montgomery County Soil Survey of 1967), rock outcroppings and areas
of slopes of 10% or greater, floodplains, watercourses, open water
bodies and wetlands.
(2)
Existing vegetation, including outer limits of tree
and shrub masses and a general description of their types, sizes and
conditions. Areas of trees and shrubs to be removed shall be clearly
identified.
(3)
Location, size, species and condition of trees six
inches in caliper or greater, standing alone or in small groups where
affected by proposed construction. Trees shall be labeled "To Remain"
or "To Be Removed," as applicable.
H.
A landscaping plan, for all subdivisions and all land developments, to be prepared by a licensed landscape architect or one who possesses a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture or a horticulturist possessing an undergraduate degree in that field and familiar with the vegetation of eastern Pennsylvania. In addition to all information required under § 95-7G above, the plan shall include:
[Added 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
(1)
A proposed planting schedule, including the locations,
species and size of plantings, and methods for their permanent protection
on the site. Protection may include such devices as concrete curbs,
bollards, cover gratings and railings.
(2)
Growing conditions, including but not limited to soil
type and drainage and the area and depth of soil supporting each proposed
tree or shrub.
(3)
The location, type and depth of existing utilities
within the growing area of proposed landscape material.
I.
Traffic management studies.
[Added 5-9-2018 by Ord.
No. 954[1]]
(1)
Purpose: for the conduct of traffic management studies.
(a)
A traffic management study shall be required for all major subdivisions,
land developments and rezoning requests as described in the Springfield
Township Code. This study and report will enable Springfield Township
to assess the effect of a proposed: 1) subdivision, 2) land development
or 3) rezoning request on the transportation system in Springfield
Township. The purpose of the study is to ensure that proposed developments
or zoning changes do not adversely affect the transportation network,
to identify any traffic problems associated with site access and to
determine traffic problems on Township, county or state roads in the
study area of the proposed project. The study also will assist in
the protection of air quality, the conservation of energy and the
safety of the motoring public. The study shall also present specific
determination of necessary traffic control signing (i.e., stop signs,
speed limit signing, warning signs, no parking signs, etc.), conforming
to Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, and applicable Township
requirements.
(2)
Conduct of traffic management study.
(a)
The Township shall select a qualified traffic engineer and/or
transportation planner with previous traffic study experience to prepare
and review traffic management studies. The subdivision and/or land
development applicant shall select a qualified traffic engineer and/or
transportation planner with previous traffic study experience to prepare
traffic management studies. The traffic engineer/planner for the applicant
shall, prior to undertaking a traffic management study, submit a sketch
plan of the planned development and, together with the Township traffic
engineer/planner, set the scope of the traffic management study. The
traffic engineer/planner for the applicant shall conduct the traffic
management study. If, in the judgement of the traffic engineer/planner
for the Township, additional traffic data or analysis are required,
the traffic engineer/planner for the Township may collect the traffic
data and perform the additional analysis. The applicant shall be responsible
for all costs incurred for its traffic engineer/planner and all costs
incurred by the Township for services provided by its traffic engineer/planner.
The estimated costs for the traffic engineer/planner for both the
applicant and Township shall be guaranteed in a method consistent
with this chapter.
(b)
Subdivisions and land developments for which study is required.
[1]
A traffic management study shall be required for all subdivisions
and land developments that meet one or more of the following criteria:
[a]
Residential: five or more dwelling units.
[b]
Commercial: a commercial building or buildings consisting of 5,000 square feet or more of gross floor area or when Chapter 114 of the Springfield Township Code, entitled "Zoning," requires 50 or more parking spaces for the proposed use.
[c]
Office: a development consisting of 5,000 square feet or more of gross floor area or when Chapter 114 of the Springfield Township Code, entitled "Zoning," requires 50 or more parking spaces for the proposed use.
[2]
The Board of Commissioners, at its discretion, may request the
preparation of a traffic management study for any other subdivision
or land development not cited above.
[3]
The Board of Commissioners shall have the discretion to require
the posting of additional moneys in escrow, by the applicant, for
the preparation of a traffic management study for any other subdivision
or land development not cited above.
(3)
General requirements and standards for traffic management study. A traffic management study shall follow the outline in Subsection I(3)(a) and traffic management report guidelines contained in Subsection I(3)(b).
(a)
(b)
Traffic management study report guidelines. The report made
after the study shall be in the following format and contain the following
information unless any part of the following requirements is specifically
waived by the Board of Commissioners.
[1]
Introduction. The objective of this section is to clearly identify
the site and use and transportation setting for the site and its surrounding
area.
[a]
Site and study area boundaries. A brief description of the size,
location, general terrain features, proposed land uses, construction
staging and completion date of the proposed land development shall
be provided. If the development is residential, types of dwelling
units and number of bedrooms shall be included. Also, the description
shall include probable socioeconomic characteristics of site users
with respect to transportation needs of the site (i.e., number of
senior citizens).
[b]
Existing and proposed site uses. The existing and proposed uses
of the site shall be identified in terms of type and zoning classification
category.
[c]
Existing and proposed nearby uses. A complete description of
the existing land uses in the vicinity of the site as well as their
current zoning, proposed uses for adjacent land and other major existing
and proposed land development shall be provided.
[d]
Existing and proposed roadways and intersections. The description
shall contain full documentation of the proposed internal and existing
external transportation system. This description shall include proposed
internal vehicular bicycle and pedestrian circulation, all proposed
ingress and egress locations, all internal roadways (widths and rights-of-way),
parking conditions, traffic channelization and any traffic signals
or other intersection control devices at all intersections within
the site. Also, locations for all signing (i.e., speed limits, etc.)
shall be shown and verified. The report shall describe the entire
external roadway system within the study area. Major intersections
in the study area shall be identified and illustrated. All existing
and proposed public transportation services and facilities within
a one-mile radius of the site shall also be documented. All future
highway improvements within Springfield Township and the study area,
including proposed construction and traffic signalization, shall be
noted. Improvements cited within the most recent Springfield Township
Comprehensive Plan shall be referenced. Improvements from the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation's twelve-year Highway and Bridge
Program, within Springfield Township and the study area, shall also
be noted. Any proposed or in-place roadway improvements due to proposed
surrounding developments shall be noted.
[2]
Analysis of existing conditions. This section shall describe
the results of the volume/capacity analysis to be completed for the
roadways and intersections in the study area under existing conditions
as well as any data collection efforts that are required.
[a]
Daily and peak-hour volumes. Schematic diagrams shall be presented
depicting existing traffic volumes for average daily traffic (ADT),
the weekday peak highway traffic hour(s) and peak development-generated
hour(s) and the Saturday peak traffic hour. All documentation must
be contained in the report. Turning movement and mainline volumes
shall be presented for all peak-hour conditions (weekday a.m. peak,
weekday p.m. peak, weekday site-generated and Saturday peak) while
only mainline volumes are required for ADTs. Source and method of
computation must be included.
[b]
Volume/capacity analysis at critical points. A volume/capacity
analysis based upon existing volumes shall be performed during the
weekday and Saturday peak traffic hour(s) and the peak development-generated
hour(s) for all roadways and major intersections in the study area.
[c]
Levels of service at critical points. Based on the results obtained
in the previous section, levels of service are to be computed and
presented in schematic form. Included in this section shall also be
a description of typical operating conditions at each level of service.
[3]
Analysis of future conditions without the proposed development.
This section shall describe the anticipated traffic volumes in the
future and the ability of the roadway network to accommodate this
traffic without the proposed development. The future year(s) for which
projections are made shall be the development completion year unless
required otherwise by the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners.
Factors included within this section include, but are not limited
to, background traffic growth expansion and traffic generated by other
proposed development as well as associated improvements.
[a]
Daily and peak-hour traffic volumes. This section shall clearly indicate the method and assumptions used to forecast future volumes in order that Township personnel can duplicate these calculations. The schematic diagrams depicting future volumes shall be similar for those described previously in Subsection I(3)(a) in terms of location and times (daily and peak hours).
[b]
Volume/capacity analysis at critical points. The ability of
the roadway system to accommodate future traffic (without the proposed
development) is to be described in this section. If roadway improvements
or modifications are committed for implementation, the volume/capacity
analysis should be presented for these conditions. Periods of analysis
shall be presented for these conditions. Periods of analysis shall
be the same as those previously performed in Subsection I(3)(b)[2][b].
[c]
Levels of service at critical points. Based on the results obtained
in the previous section, levels of service are to be determined and
presented as in Subsection I(3)(b)[2][c].
[4]
Trip generation. The estimation of vehicular trips to result
from the proposal shall be completed for average weekday, average
Saturday, peak traffic hours during the weekday a.m. and p.m. peak
traffic hours, the weekday peak development-generated hour and the
Saturday peak traffic hour. These development-generated traffic volumes
shall be provided for the inbound and outbound traffic movements as
estimated, and the reference source(s) and methodology followed shall
be documented. Any characteristics of the site which may cause particular
trip generation problems shall be noted.
[5]
Trip distribution. The direction of approach for site-generated
traffic will be presented in this section for the appropriate time
periods. As with all technical analysis steps, the basic method and
assumptions used in this work must be clearly stated in order that
Township officials may replicate these results.
[6]
Traffic assignment. This section describes the utilization of study area roadways by site-generated traffic. The proposed traffic volumes shall be combined with anticipated traffic volumes as calculated under Subsection I(3)(b)[4] to describe mainline and turning movement volumes for future conditions with the site developed as proposed. Traffic volumes shall be assigned to individual access points. If school crossings are to be used, pedestrian volumes shall be assigned to each crossing.
[7]
Analysis of future conditions with the proposed development.
This section describes the adequacy of the roadway system to accommodate
future traffic with development of the site.
[a]
Daily and peak-hour traffic volumes. Mainline and turning movement
volumes shall be presented, in schematic form, for the highway network
in the study area as well as driveways and internal circulation roadways
for the appropriate time periods (identified previously).
[b]
Volume/capacity analysis at critical points. Similar to Subsections
I(3)(b)[2][b] and I(3)(b)[3][b] a volume/capacity analysis shall be
performed for the appropriate peak hours for future conditions with
the site developed as proposed.
[c]
Levels of service at critical points. Based upon the results
obtained in the previous section, levels of service are to be determined
and presented as in Subsections I(3)(b)[2][c] and I(3)(b)[3][c].
[8]
Recommended improvements. A description of proposed improvements to remedy deficiencies shall be included in this section. Improvements shall be identified which would replace capacity and/or return predevelopment levels of service conditions. Alternative improvement schemes shall be presented for post-development traffic volumes to operate at a minimum Level of Service D or in no circumstances at a level of service worse than predevelopment levels. These recommendations shall separately identify committed projects of governmental agencies which were described and independently identified in Subsection I(3)(b)[1][d] and reflected in the analysis contained in Subsections I(3)(b)[3] and I(3)(b)[7].
[a]
Proposed recommended improvements. This section should describe
the location, nature and extent of proposed improvements to assure
sufficient capacity. The listing of recommended improvements shall
include, but not be limited to, the following elements: internal circulation
design, speed limit, stop and no-parking sign locations, site access
location and design, external roadway and intersection design and
improvements, and traffic signal installation and operation, including
phasing and timing. All physical roadway improvements shall be shown
in sketches. This listing shall also include, for each improvement,
preliminary cost estimates, funding source, timing and likelihood
of the improvement implementation and the party responsible for the
improvement.
[b]
Volume/capacity analysis at critical points. Another iteration
of the volume/capacity analysis shall be presented and described which
demonstrates the anticipated results of making recommended improvements.
[c]
Levels of service at critical points. Based on the results obtained
in the previous section, levels of service for the study area with
improvements shall be presented.
[d]
Conclusion. The last section of the study shall be a clear,
concise description of the study findings. It is anticipated that
this concluding section should serve as an executive summary.
(4)
Time of submission.
(a)
The traffic management study shall be submitted to the Township
Secretary with the preliminary plan application or the petition for
rezoning, as the case may be. An application for preliminary plan
approval shall be deemed incomplete and unacceptable for filing if
the traffic study is not included in the submission, and the time
period for approval of such plans pursuant to Section 508 of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10508, shall not
commence until the study is received by the Township Secretary. A
petition for rezoning will not be accepted or scheduled for hearing
until the traffic management study is received.
(b)
The preliminary plan and accompanying improvement construction
plans shall not be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
until the plans and the traffic management study have been reviewed
by the Springfield Township Planning Commission and the Springfield
Township Engineer, and approved by the Springfield Township Board
of Commissioners. The submittal to PennDOT shall be accompanied by
the comments of Springfield Township.
(5)
Implementation.
(a)
The Springfield Township Planning Commission, the Township Engineer
and the Board of Commissioners shall review the traffic management
study to analyze its adequacy in solving any traffic problems that
may occur due to the land development, subdivision or request for
rezoning.
(b)
The Springfield Township Board of Commissioners may decide,
after receiving the reports and recommendations of the Planning Commission
and Township Engineer, that certain improvements are necessary and
may make these additional improvements to be completed by and at the
cost of the developer as conditions to the subdivision, land development
or request for rezoning approval.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection
I, Traffic impact studies, added 12-12-2007 by Ord. No. 891.
[Amended 2-14-1951 by Ord. No. 340; 11-9-1960 by Ord. No.
465; 11-11-1970 by Ord. No. 600; 4-14-1976 by Ord. No. 650]
A.
All preliminary and final plans for subdivision and
land developments shall be submitted to the Township Engineer, who
shall stamp the filing date thereon and subject the plan thereafter
to the processing requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, and its amendments.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq.
B.
At the time of filing said plans with the Township
Engineer, in addition to the payment of those fees required by Montgomery
County, the following application fees shall be made payable to Springfield
Township, for the use of the Township, in accordance with the following
schedule:
[Amended 7-11-1984 by Ord. No. 725; 4-13-1988 by Ord. No.
755; 7-14-2004 by Ord. No. 865]
|
Fee Schedule
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Use
|
Waiver Request/ Sketch Plan
|
Preliminary Plans
|
Final Plans
| |
|
Residential
| ||||
|
Subdivision
|
$250
|
$350 + $50 per lot
|
$500 + $100 per lot
| |
|
Land Development
|
$250
|
$200 per D.U.
|
$250 per D.U.
| |
|
Nonresidential
| ||||
|
Subdivision
|
$250
|
$300 + $100 per lot
|
$500 + $150 per lot
| |
|
Land Development
|
$250
|
$500 + $100 per acre
|
$2,500 + $150 per acre
| |
|
NOTE: D.U. = dwelling unit.
| ||||
C.
Professional fees and escrow deposits.
[Added 4-13-1988 by Ord. No. 755]
(1)
When the Township incurs charges from its Solicitor,
Engineer, Traffic Engineer, Planner or other professional consultants
in connection with any land use matter, such charges shall be billed
to the applicant at the same rate normally charged the Township by
such consultants for work which is not reimbursable. Upon submission
of a complete land subdivision/land development application, the applicant
shall be required to execute a contract for the Township's professional
services in the form prescribed by the Township and to establish with
the Township such escrow amounts as are required under such contract
before the application is officially received and review commenced.
If all fees and escrow deposits are not established in accordance
with such contract, the application shall be considered incomplete.
[Amended 5-14-2003 by Ord. No. 854]
(2)
At the time of filing said contract for the Township's
professional services, in addition to those fees required for administration
and review of the land subdivision/land development plan, an escrow
account shall be established as prescribed above, in accordance with
the following schedule:
[Amended 7-14-2004 by Ord. No. 865]
|
Escrow Deposit Schedule
| |
|---|---|
|
Use
|
Initial Deposit
|
|
Minor subdivision (4 lots or fewer)
|
$500 per lot
|
|
Major subdivision (5 or more lots)
|
$1,000 per lot
|
|
Land development
|
$3,000 per acre or fraction thereof
|
