[Added 9-2-1997 by Ord. No. 3-97]
The Borough of Pennsburg shall join with the
municipalities of East Greenville Borough, Red Hill Borough, Green
Lane Borough, Upper Hanover Township and Marlborough Township to create
the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission (hereinafter
"Commission") as per guidelines set forth under Section 1102 of the
Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of July 31, 1968,
as reenacted and amended.[1] Each participating municipality shall appoint two members. The term of each member shall be two years; however, initially each municipality shall appoint one member for a one-year term and a second member for a two-year term so that the term of membership of the members appointed by the individual municipalities shall be on a staggered basis. Qualification of members, the removal of members, the conduct of business, etc., shall be governed by Article II of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Code.[2]
A.
The six municipalities of the Upper Perkiomen Valley
have come to recognize that the issues associated with growth and
development, such as but not limited to traffic congestion, air and
water pollution and loss of open space, are too large for any one
municipality to deal with. They further recognize that the current
growth, and anticipated growth, if not properly managed will lead
to the diminution of the region's quality of life. They are concerned
that current zoning requirements which call for each and every municipality
to provide for a full range of uses, regardless of historic development
patterns, is inefficient and potentially destructive to the region's
economic and social structure.
B.
To this end, the six municipalities of the Upper Perkiomen
Valley hereby embark on a course of action to implement regional planning
and regional zoning. Only through regional planning and regional zoning
can growth and development be rationally and fairly managed. Therefore,
the Borough of Pennsburg empowers the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional
Planning Commission to undertake the development of a Joint Municipal
Comprehensive Plan that shall encompass the six municipalities of
the Upper Perkiomen Valley. Upon the successful completion of the
Joint Municipal Comprehensive Plan, and its adoption by all the participating
municipalities, the participating municipalities may so instruct the
Regional Planning Commission to undertake the development of a Joint
Municipal Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map.
The Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning
Commission shall have the responsibility to prepare a Joint Municipal
Comprehensive Plan for the six participating municipalities of the
Upper Perkiomen Valley. To this end, the powers and duties of the
Commission are as follows:
B.
That in the preparation of the Joint Municipal Comprehensive
Plan, the members of the Commission shall represent the interests
of their respective municipalities and shall cast one vote per municipality
on all matters that require action.
C.
Upon the completion of the Joint Municipal Comprehensive
Plan by the Commission, and its adoption by all the participating
municipalities, the Commission may be instructed by the participating
municipalities to prepare a Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance and Zoning
Map which shall be presented to the participating municipalities for
their consideration and adoption.
D.
If so directed by the participating municipalities to develop a Regional Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map, the Regional Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map shall be prepared pursuant to Article VI and Article VIII-A of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10601
et seq. and 53 P.S. § 10801-A et seq., respectively.
E.
Should joint municipal zoning be formally adopted
by the participating municipalities, the Regional Planning Commission
shall review all proposed changes to the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance
and Zoning Map and shall make a formal recommendation to the participating
municipalities regarding said change. The recommendation of the Commission
shall be advisory only.
Each municipality shall retain its own municipal
Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board. The participating municipalities
agree that all matters relating to lot line changes, subdivisions,
land developments, variances, special expectations and conditional
uses, or any other matter of a planning or zoning nature in which
jurisdiction resides in the governing body of a municipality, shall
not be a joint planning or joint zoning activity.
The officers of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional
Planning Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson
and Secretary, all of whom are to serve for a term of one year. The
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be members of the Commission,
but the Secretary need not be a member of the Commission.
Any participating municipality may withdraw
from the Regional Planning Commission after one month's formal notice.
Upon receiving notice that a municipality wishes to withdraw from
the Regional Planning Commission, the governing bodies of the remaining
municipalities shall promptly schedule a meeting to consider whether
the remaining municipalities wish to continue with the Regional Planning
Commission. Should joint municipal zoning be enacted, notice of withdraw
shall be pursuant to the standards set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq.
This article shall be effective upon its enactment
by all the participating municipalities.
