Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Township of Hanover, PA
Northampton County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A. 
When required. A preliminary plan shall be submitted for all subdivisions and land developments, except in cases where each of the following conditions are met:
(1) 
No new streets or other improvements are required for the property involved to be in conformance with the Township ordinances and standards.
(2) 
The total property acreage is less than two acres.
(3) 
The developer does not have an option to purchase or title to or an interest in adjacent undeveloped land.
(a) 
When all the above exception conditions are met, a lot location plan may be submitted in lieu of a preliminary plan. (See § 159-31.)
(b) 
Each revision of the initially certified preliminary plan shall be processed as a new submittal.
B. 
Drafting standards.
(1) 
For the plan layout, horizontal scale shall be 50 feet to the inch or such other horizontal scale as may be approved by the Township Engineer, and shall be accurate to within one part in 200. Vertical scale of the street profile shall be five feet to the inch. Sheet size shall be 24 inches by 36 inches.
(2) 
Distances shall be in feet and decimals, and bearings in degrees, minutes and seconds.
(3) 
Each sheet shall be numbered to show its relation to the total number of sheets in the plan, as "Sheet No. 1 of 5 Sheets." Where there are two or more sheets, a key map of the overall proposed subdivision or land development areas on a scale sufficient to show the relationship of each respective sheet shall be furnished for multiphase projects. Sheets shall be numbered in the same order as the proposed construction sequence.
(4) 
Where the plan is a revised plan, dotted lines shall be used to show the abandoned plan, and solid lines to show the new plan.
C. 
Existing features of the land. The plan shall set forth:
(1) 
The location, names and widths of streets and roads, including existing streets and those shown on the Township Street and Road Map; the location and names of railroads; the location of adjacent property lines and the names of property owners; the names of all bordering subdivisions; and the location of watercourses, sanitary sewers, storm drains, and similar features on or within 200 feet of any part of the land to be subdivided.
(2) 
The contour lines shall be provided at intervals not to exceed two feet. All elevations shall be based on the USGS sea level datum. The benchmark used to establish the contours should be referenced on the plan.
(3) 
The location and character of existing buildings, the location and species of all trees four inches or more in trunk diameter at a height of 4 1/2 feet above the original grade, and the location of quarries, marshlands, areas subject to inundation, and other topographical features which may affect the location of proposed streets or roads. Aircraft glide paths in close proximity to a subdivision shall be noted and defined.
(4) 
Measured distances from the center line of streets to existing buildings, or other control points, and the location of all monuments with reference to them.
(5) 
Existing easements.
(6) 
The subdivision and/or land development plan for any parcel of land containing existing trees, tree rows or woodlands that are proposed to be removed or protected shall be submitted to and may be reviewed by the Township Shade Tree Commission. A preliminary plan or record plan for the proposed subdivision or land development shall show:
(a) 
The location, trunk diameter (4 1/2 feet above ground), and species of existing trees and shade trees, including trees within tree rows and woodlands, as defined by this chapter.
(b) 
The designation of all trees to be saved or removed, including their trunk and dripline locations. Driplines should be plotted accurately, to scale.
(c) 
The tree protection zone and proposed tree protection fencing or guards shall be shown on the plan. When groups of trees are to be saved, only the locations of the tree protection zone of the trees on the perimeter of the group must be shown.
(d) 
The location of proposed retaining walls around trees and related grading shall be shown.
(e) 
Construction details of all retaining walls shall be provided, including special soil and fill mediums where applicable. Any grade changes which would alter surface and/or subsurface water movement either to or from the tree protection zone must also be indicated.
(f) 
The proposed locations, sizes, species and method of planting for any tree or shrub or landscaping planting bed including, but not limited to:
[1] 
Street trees;
[2] 
Shade trees;
[3] 
Planting screen, strip and/or buffer planting material (if required or proposed);
[4] 
Evergreens;
[5] 
Flower trees;
[6] 
Shrubs;
[7] 
Planting or flower beds; and
[8] 
Any replacement trees required because of proposed tree removal.
D. 
Proposed street and lot layout. The plan shall also contain the following information:
(1) 
A title consisting of the name and address of the developer and the registered engineer or surveyor; the location and area of the subdivision or land development area; the date, dates of any revisions, scale, and North point.
(2) 
The courses, distances and curve data of the boundary line survey of the land to be subdivided or developed. The survey shall not have an error of closure greater than one part in 5,000.
(3) 
The layout of streets, design dimensions, courses, curve data, including names and widths of streets, roads and crosswalks. A profile and elevation along the present ground surface over the center line and right-of-way lines shall be shown for each proposed street. When the subdivision abuts or includes a legislative route, the legislative route station should be shown for each proposed intersection.
(4) 
The location of sidewalks, pathways and curbing, including any unusual construction features. Grades along the top of the curbs shall be shown giving percentage of grade on tangents, and details of vertical curves, and deviations of the curb at tangent points of horizontal curves.
(5) 
The layout and approximate dimensions of lots.
(6) 
A reference note to all land and streets proposed for dedication to the Township, including land to be held in reserve for specified future community use.
(7) 
Tentative grades to an existing street or to a point 50 feet beyond the boundaries of the subdivision.
(8) 
Location and size of sanitary sewers, storm drains and other underground utilities, including profiles over each sewer and/or storm drain of the present and finished ground surface, showing manhole locations with typical location, size and depth of sewered storm drains and other underground utilities.
(9) 
Building restriction lines, with distances from the right-of-way line.
(10) 
Indication of any lots on which a use other than residential is intended.
(11) 
Typical street, sidewalk and pathway cross-sections.
(12) 
Typical paving cross-section for private drives or parking areas.
(13) 
Easements, including utility, screening, pathway, crosswalk, drainage or others.
(14) 
"No parking" fire zones, as applicable.
E. 
Other required supporting documents:
(1) 
Certification from sewer and water supply utilities that any usage of their respective utility proposed by the developer is within their capacity, and that they would provide such service upon finalization and approval of plans and execution of necessary agreements in accordance with their current rules and regulations.
(2) 
Completed land development planning module, with soils and percolation test data where applicable.
(3) 
Storm drainage computations.
(4) 
Bridge or culvert design details.
(5) 
Detention facilities construction plan, including details on structures, size, and ground cover.
(6) 
Soil erosion control plan and narrative.
(7) 
Landscape plan, including size and type of material to be planted.
(8) 
Proposed construction timetable and phasing schedule, if project is proposed to be broken into stages.
(9) 
Sketch plan layout for any contiguous land holdings not shown in the preliminary plan.
F. 
Certificates. An approved preliminary plan shall contain:
(1) 
The signature of the developer certifying his adoption of the plan, and his authority to represent full ownership rights to the land being developed.
(2) 
The signature of the registered engineer or surveyor certifying that the preliminary plan represents a survey made by him; that the monuments shown thereon exist as located, and that all dimensional details are correct.
(3) 
The signature of the Secretary of the Planning Commission certifying review by the Township Planning Commission.
(4) 
Acknowledgment of review by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
(5) 
The signature of the Township Engineer certifying his review.
(6) 
The signature of the Township Secretary-Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors certifying that the Board of Supervisors approved the plan on the date shown.
(7) 
Owner's signed acknowledgment of a list of dedications.
(8) 
Proof, satisfactory to the Township Engineer, that a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation highway encroachment permit has been applied for.
A. 
When required. A record plan is required whenever all or any part of an approved preliminary plan is constructed, but in no case shall lots be sold or a building permit be issued without prior certification of a record plan.
B. 
Drafting standards. The same standards shall be required for a record plan as for a preliminary plan, except that the tracing from which prints are made shall be entirely in ink on linen or equivalent Mylar process.
C. 
Information to be shown. The record plan, which may constitute all or a portion of an approved preliminary plan, shall show:
(1) 
A title, as required for a preliminary plan.
(2) 
Courses, distances and curve data sufficient for the legal description of all the lines shown on the plan. The error of closure shall not be greater than one part in 5,000.
(3) 
Names of abutting owners, names, locations, widths, and other dimensions of streets, including center line courses, distances and curve data, descriptive data of right-of-way lines not parallel with or concentric with a center line, and location tie-ins by courses and distances to the nearest intersections of all existing, planned and approved streets, and easements, recreational areas and other public improvements, within the land to be subdivided.
(4) 
Location, material and size of monuments, and pins, with references to them.
(5) 
Building restriction lines with distances from the right-of-way.
(6) 
Restrictions in the deed affecting the subdivision of the property.
(7) 
The layout and dimensions of lots.
(8) 
A formal notation as to the streets, parks, and other public improvements offered for dedication to the Township and such land area reserved for future nonresidential use.
(9) 
Date set for completion of all proposed and required improvements.
D. 
Other required supporting documents:
(1) 
Copy of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection permit for sewer extension, or certification of approval for on-lot sewage disposal approval for each lot or use from the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer, and approval of planning module by Department of Environmental Protection, as applicable.
(2) 
Copy of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation highway encroachment permit, if applicable, together with a notice approved by the Township Engineer, on the final plan, that a highway occupancy permit is required pursuant to Section 420 of the Act of June 1, 1945 (P.L. 1242, No. 428),[1] as amended, known as the "State Highway Law."
[1]
Editor's Note: See 36 P.S. § 670-420.
(3) 
Copy of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dams and encroachments permit, if applicable.
(4) 
Copy of agreement with sewer and water utility, indicating specific approval for each proposed extension and/or use, or copy of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection permit for each private centralized sewer and/or water system, if applicable.
(5) 
Copy of agreement and security accepted and approved by the Township to secure the completion of any required improvements that have not yet been completed. The amount of security to be posted for the completion of the required improvements shall be equal to 110% of the cost of completion estimated by the Township Engineer and approved by the Township, as of 90 days following the date scheduled for completion by the developer. The Township may grant adjustments to the amount of security, on an annual basis, by comparing the actual cost of the improvements which have been completed and the Township Engineer's estimated cost for completion of the remaining improvements as of the expiration of the 90th day after either the original date scheduled for completion or a rescheduled date of completion. Subsequent to said adjustment, the municipality may require the developer to post additional security in order to assure that the financial security equals 110%, together with an extension agreement extending the time for completion.
(6) 
Copy of maintenance agreement and security accepted and approved by the Township to secure the maintenance of any required improvements for a period of one year from the date of acceptance of such improvement by the Township.
E. 
Certificates. An approved record plan shall contain:
(1) 
The signature of the registered engineer or surveyor, certifying that the plan represents a survey made by him, that the monuments shown thereon exist as located, and that all dimensional details are correct, including profiles and cross-sections.
(2) 
The signature of the developer certifying his adoption of the plan and his authority to represent full ownership rights to the land being developed.
(3) 
The signature of the Township Engineer certifying that the improvements have been constructed or guaranteed.
(4) 
The signature of the Secretary of the Planning Commission, certifying that the plan conforms with the approved preliminary plan.
(5) 
Owner's signed acknowledgment of:
(a) 
List of dedications;
(b) 
That such areas so dedicated shall be maintained at the owner's expense for a period of 18 months from the date of acceptance by the Township; and
[Amended 10-11-2005 by Ord. No. 05-11]
(c) 
Date of completion of improvements.
(6) 
The signature of the Township Secretary-Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors certifying that the Board of Supervisors approved the plan on the date shown.
(7) 
Evidence of official recording of plan shall be signature acknowledgment of review by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
(8) 
Evidence of official recording of plan shall be signature acknowledgment as follows:
"Recorded in the office for the Recording of Deeds in and for the County of Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in Plan Book No. _____, at Page _____.
Recorder"
(9) 
Receipt of the originals of any deeds of dedication for road/street rights-of-way, recreation land and/or open space land. Where monies in lieu of land are to be given to the Township, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, actual receipt of said monies.
A. 
When required. A lot location plan is required whenever lots abut existing dedicated streets, and no prior preliminary plan has been approved or recorded for the land in question. A lot location plan may be submitted in lieu of a preliminary plan for a subdivision or land development where each of the following conditions are met:
(1) 
No new streets or other improvements are required for the property involved to be in conformance with the Township ordinances and standards;
(2) 
The total property acreage is less than two acres;
(3) 
The developer does not have an option to purchase or title to an interest in adjacent undeveloped land.
B. 
Drafting standards. The same standards shall be required for a lot location plan as for a preliminary plan.
C. 
Information to be shown. The plan shall contain the following information:
(1) 
Information required to be shown on a record plan.
(2) 
Township building restriction lines to conform to ultimate road right-of-way width as adopted by the Township.
(3) 
Lot lines set in accordance with the ultimate lot right-of-way as adopted by the Township.
D. 
Certificates. An approved lot location plan shall contain:
(1) 
The signature of the developer certifying his adoption of the plan and his authority to represent full ownership rights to the land being developed.
(2) 
The signature of the Township Engineer certifying his review.
(3) 
The signature of the Secretary of the Planning Commission certifying that the Planning Commission approved the lot location plan on the date shown.
(4) 
The signature of the Township Secretary-Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors certifying that the Board of Supervisors approved the lot location plan on the date shown.
(5) 
The signature of the registered engineer or surveyor certifying that the lot location plan represents a survey made by him, that the monuments shown thereon exist as located and that all dimensional details are correct.
(6) 
Owner's signed acknowledgment of any land areas dedicated for right-of-way requirements meeting Township design standards.
(7) 
Acknowledgment of review by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
(8) 
Evidence of official recording of plan shall be signature acknowledgment as follows:
"Recorded in the office for the Recording of Deeds in and for the County of Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in Plan Book No. _____, at Page _____.
Recorder"