The purpose of the sketch plan phase is to afford the developer
the opportunity to consult early and informally with both the Hatfield
Township Planning Commission and the Montgomery County Planning Commission
before preparation of the preliminary plan and before formal application
for its approval. During the sketch plan phase the developer can make
use of the services of both Planning Commissions to discuss the development
and plan for its sound coordination with the community through encouragement
and promotion of flexibility, economy, and ingenuity in the layout
and design of subdivisions and land developments. The developer will
be encouraged to use those practices which are in accordance with
modern and evolving principles of site planning and development. This
preliminary discussion also affords both Planning Commissions the
opportunity to give informal guidance to the developer at a stage
when potential points of difference can be more easily resolved. It
can also simplify official actions and save unnecessary expense and
delay.
All minor land developments will be processed by the following
procedures and subject to the conditions noted below:
A. Applications for minor land development approval shall be submitted
in letter form to the Zoning Officer, along with the required copies
as designated in the minor land development application of a plan
with sufficient detail and dimension to show the nature and character
of work to be performed. At a minimum, the plan shall show the entire
property, all adjacent streets and properties, all existing buildings
on the property, and the exact location of the new work with its relation
to all property lines.
B. Applications shall include the fee for minor land development application
as established by the Board of Commissioners.
C. Applications shall be subject to the requirements of §
250-64 of this chapter.
D. Each application will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for
comment and recommendation at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
The applicant shall be responsible for presenting his application
and demonstrating why a deferral is appropriate.
E. The Planning Commission recommendation will then be forwarded to
the Planning Committee of the Board of Commissioners. The Planning
Committee will consider the application and pass its recommendation
to the full Board for final action.
F. Each application shall be subject to review by the Township Engineer.
Review fees shall be paid by the applicant.
G. Review of minor land development application by the Montgomery County
Planning Commission will not be required unless deemed essential by
Hatfield Township.
Before acting on any subdivision plan, the Board of Commissioners
may, in its discretion, arrange for a public hearing thereon, after
giving public notice in accordance with the terms of this chapter.
In any case where the Board of Commissioners disapproves a subdivision
or land development plan, any person aggrieved thereby may, within
30 days from the date of issuance of notice, appeal therefrom, by
petition to the Court of Montgomery County, which Court shall hear
the matter de novo and, after hearing, enter a decree affirming, reversing
or modifying the action of the Township, as may appear just in the
premises. The Court shall designate the manner in which notices of
the hearing of any such appeal shall be given to all parties interested.
The decision of the Court shall be final.
Upon the approval of final plans, the owner shall provide a
minimum of three linen copies and five paper prints of the final plan
of subdivision and/or development. These plans shall be all notarized
and signed by the owner before obtaining signatures from the Township
officials. The applicant shall, within 90 days of final approval,
record such plan in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Montgomery
County. The Township shall retain a copy of the filing and recording
receipts, and a duplicate copy of the recorded plan shall be returned
to the subdivider. The costs of recording shall be borne by the subdivider.
Unless otherwise determined by the Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners,
approval of a subdivision plan shall expire and be void if the subdivider,
applicant or his agent fails to have the plan recorded and take action
upon the plan within two years from the date of approval of said plan.
Streets, parks, and other public improvements, shown on a subdivision
plan to be recorded, may be offered for dedication to the Township
by formal notation thereof on the plan, or the owner may note on the
plan that such improvements have not been offered for dedication to
the Township.
For any replanning or resubdivision of land, the same procedure,
rules and regulations shall apply as prescribed herein for any original
subdivision except as it would apply to lot line change plans.
Where an entire parcel of land is not subdivided, the subdivider
must indicate his intended plans for disposition of the remainder
of the parcel, including a feasible layout of roads, lots, open space,
utilities and buildings.
All plan submissions shall be made to the Township a minimum
of 10 business days preceding the meeting date.