This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Blair Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance."
The governing body of the municipality finds that:
A. 
When development throughout the Township is guided by the following and incorporated into the general context of areawide comprehensive planning, a mutual benefit will be derived by the developer, the buyer, adjacent local municipalities, the Township, the county, and the general public.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the orderly, logical and harmonious development of the Township and to protect, promote and create conditions favorable to the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the Township's citizenry through provisions designed to:
A. 
Insuring that all future development is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan for Blair County and other plans developed through local level planning programs.
B. 
Providing for the orderly development of open lands and acreage in concert with environmental and natural capacities and limitations.
C. 
Assuring uniform and equitable processing of all subdivision plans by providing uniform standards and procedures.
D. 
Establishing requirements, standards and specifications to aid in guiding elected public officials, planners, planning commissions, subdividers, developers, land surveyors, landscape architects, architects, engineers and others in the design and development of subdivisions and land developments throughout the Township.
E. 
Assuring a coordination of proposed streets, parks and other features in and bordering a proposed subdivision or land development, as to such widths and grades and in such locations as deemed necessary to accommodate prospective traffic, with the existing street and highway system of the Township thereby facilitating the rational movement of traffic.
F. 
Providing for adequate oversight of subdivision and land development to assure that public concerns with accessibility, stormwater management, sewage disposal, water supply and other factors are taken into account.
G. 
Providing for adequate open spaces for traffic, recreation, light and air and for proper distribution of the population.
H. 
Encouraging and providing for innovations in new residential developments such as planned mixed use development, cluster development and other evolving methods which provide for: a greater variety in type, design and layout of dwellings; the conservation and more efficient use of usable space in relation to new dwellings; savings on energy, water use, infrastructure, and paving; and integration of slope and other undevelopable areas into the total development plan for use as open space.
I. 
Protecting the character and the social and economic stability of Blair Township by promoting a harmony between existing development, future development, and the natural environment.
J. 
Protecting and conserving the value of land throughout Blair Township, and the value of buildings and improvements upon the land and minimize the conflicts among the uses of land and buildings.
K. 
Guiding public and private policy and action in order to provide adequate and efficient transportation, water supply, sewerage, stormwater management, schools, parks, playgrounds, recreation and other public requirements and facilities.
L. 
Preventing the pollution of air, stream and ponds; to assure the adequacy of drainage of facilities; to safeguard the groundwater resources; and to encourage the wise use and management of the natural resources in order to preserve the community and value of the land.
M. 
Preserving the natural beauty and topography of Blair Township and to ensure appropriate development with regard to these natural features.
N. 
Providing the most beneficial relationship between the uses of land and buildings and the circulation of traffic within Blair Township, having particular regard to the avoidance of congestion in the streets and highways, and the pedestrian traffic movements appropriate to the various uses of land and building lines.
O. 
Providing for the logical and orderly addition and extension of the community facilities and public utilities systems to developing areas.
P. 
Upgrading the quality of land records through creation and filing of accurate and legible subdivision plans with the county Recorder of Deeds for future information and use by municipal officials and the general public.
Q. 
Generally, insuring the future orderly growth and development of Blair Township is accompanied by adequate public facilities without negatively affecting the environment and making Blair Township a better place in which to live and work.
R. 
Insuring that minimum setback lines and minimum lot sizes be applied throughout Blair Township based on the availability of water and sewage.
S. 
Permitting Blair Township to minimize developmental and related problems as may exist or which may be foreseen, by encouraging development on land exhibiting the appropriate soils, slope and other physiographic and environmental characteristics.
The municipality is empowered to regulate land use activities by the authority of the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
A. 
Subdivision control. Specifically, the said Blair Township Board of Supervisors shall have the jurisdiction and control of all subdivision of land located within the limits of Blair Township. All plans shall be submitted to the Blair Township Board of Supervisors for review and approval. This includes all plans, plots, or replots of land. No subdivision or land development of any lot, tract or parcel of land within Blair Township shall be made; no street, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main, or other improvements in connection therewith shall be laid out, constructed, opened, or dedicated for public use or travel or for the common use of occupants of buildings abutting thereon, except in accordance with the provisions of these regulations. No plat shall be accepted for recording by the Blair County Recorder of Deeds unless such plat officially notes the approval of the Blair Township Board of Supervisors.
B. 
Land development control. Land development must comply with the regulations contained in this chapter. Such compliance shall include, but not be limited to, the filing of sketch, preliminary and final plans, the dedication and improvement of rights-of-way, streets and roads, and the payment of fees and charges as established by the Board of Supervisors. Land development plans shall indicate the location of each structure and clearly define each unit and shall indicate public easements, common areas, and improvements, all easements appurtenant to each unit and improvements to public rights-of-way.
C. 
Enforcement. For any person or persons violating this chapter, the following enforcement actions should be applied: a letter sent to the violator stating the violation to the chapter and that a reply is required within 30 days of the mailing date. If within the thirty-day reply period, no reply is given, then a letter written by the Township Solicitor stating that legal action may be enforced shall be sent to said violator and given a final thirty-day time period to reply before legal action may be enforced. Penalties may be enforced under Article XIII, § 350-72, Violations and penalties, of this chapter or similar type action may be enforced.
Approvals issued and actions taken under this chapter do not relieve the applicant of the responsibility to secure required permits or approvals for activities regulated by any other code, law, regulation, or ordinance.
Neither the granting nor the denial of any approval nor the compliance with the provisions of this chapter or with any condition imposed by the Township, its officials, employees, or designated representatives thereunder, shall relieve any person from any responsibility for damage to persons or property resulting therefrom, or as otherwise imposed by law, nor impose any liability upon the municipal officials, employees or its designated representatives to the maximum extent permitted by law.