[Adopted 3-5-1956 by Ord. No. 8]
[Amended 4-7-1969; 2-13-2008 by Ord. No. 204-2008]
The East Whiteland Township Planning Commission
shall have not less than three nor more than seven members. Members
of the Planning Commission shall be appointed by the Supervisors of
the Township for terms of four years, except that the terms of the
members first appointed shall be so fixed that on a Commission of
eight members or less no more than two shall be reappointed or replaced
during any future calendar year, and on a Commission of nine members
no more than three shall be so reappointed or replaced. The members
of the existing Commission which was established under former laws
shall continue in office until the end of the terms for which they
were appointed. Their successors shall be appointed as provided by
this article. Should the number of members on the existing Commission
be increased, the additional members shall be appointed as provided
by this article. All members shall be residents of the Township. They
shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary
and reasonable expenses.
Township Planning Commission shall elect its
own Chairman and create and fill such other offices as it may determine.
Commissions may make and alter rules for its procedure consistent
with the ordinances of the Township and the laws of the Commonwealth.
It shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings
and determinations, which records shall be a public record. The Board
of Supervisors shall appropriate from the general township funds such
money as may be necessary and may be available for the work of the
Planning Commission in the year in which the appropriation is made.
The Planning Commission may appoint such employees and staff as it
may deem necessary for its work and may contract with planners, surveyors
and other consultants for such technical services as it may require
upon authorization of the Board of Supervisors. These and other expenditures
as may be necessary and proper shall be within the amount appropriated
for the purpose by the Board of Supervisors or placed at the Commission's
disposal from other sources.
A.Â
The Planning Commission shall prepare and adopt a
plan of development for the Township. The plan, with accompanying
maps, charts, drawings, and descriptive matter, shall show the Commission's
recommendation for the development of the Township.
B.Â
The development plan shall be based on studies of
the physical, social, economic and governmental conditions and trends,
and shall be designed to promote with the greatest efficiency and
economy the coordinated development of the Township and the general
welfare and prosperity of its people.
C.Â
Any maps or plans adopted by the Commission shall
not be effective unless they are approved and adopted by ordinance
of the Township Supervisors.
D.Â
After such adoption and approval they may be amended
from time to time as the Township Supervisors may deem expedient by
ordinance of the Board of Supervisors.
A.Â
The Board of Supervisors may establish by ordinance
as the Official Map of the Township any part of the development plan
after public hearing, with notice of such public hearing to be published
in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township at least 10
days prior to the hearing.
B.Â
The Board of Supervisors may by resolution, whenever
and as often as it may deem it for the public interest, change or
add to the Official Map of the Township. Before changing or adding
to the Official Map, the matter shall be referred to the Planning
Commission for its recommendation. If the Planning Commission shall
not make its recommendation thereon within 30 days after such reference,
it shall be deemed to consent thereto.
C.Â
Upon the receipt of the recommendation of the Planning
Commission or upon the expiration of 30 days after reference to the
Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors may hold a public hearing
on the proposed change in or addition to the Official Map, and if
such hearing is to be held, shall cause notice of the hearing to be
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township at
least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. At such public hearing,
all interested parties shall be given an opportunity to present their
views prior to the final vote upon the resolution providing for the
change in or addition to the Official Map. Upon final passage of the
resolution, the changes or additions shall become a part of the Official
Map of the Township.
In the event that subdivision regulations are
adopted by the Township supervisors under authority granted by the
Municipalities Planning Code, the Supervisors, before approving plans
for proposed subdivisions, shall refer such plans to the Planning
Commission, if any, for its recommendation.
