[Amended 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer and he is hereby given the power and authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter by the issuance of stop, cease or desist orders or by other means. Permits for construction and use which are a special exception to the requirements of this chapter shall be issued only upon the order of the Zoning Hearing Board. The Zoning Officer is authorized to institute civil enforcement proceedings as a means of enforcement when acting within the scope of his or her employment.
A. 
A permit shall be required prior to the erection or alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof and prior to the use or change in use of a building or land and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use. Permits shall expire one year from the date of issuance; provided, however, that if work is not commenced within 90 days from the date of the permit, the permit shall automatically expire, and a new permit shall be required before such work commences.
B. 
All applications for zoning permits for nonresidential uses within the C-1 and C-3 Districts shall be submitted to the Township Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors, unless the use has been approved by a previously approved zoning permit or land development application, to ensure compliance with this chapter and to encourage compliance with the planning guidelines set forth in Township plans and policies, including but not limited to driveway access, street trees and traffic safety.
[Added 2-18-1992 by Ord. No. 213]
A. 
Applications for permits shall be made to the Zoning Officer on such forms as may be furnished by the Township. Each application shall contain all information necessary for such official to ascertain whether the proposed erection, alteration, use or change of use complies with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
A zoning permit shall be required for the clearing or removal of trees where more than 10 healthy trees of six-inch caliper, or greater, in size as measured at a height of 4.5 feet above grade level on a single lot are proposed to be removed in any calendar year and where no building permit has been requested in conjunction with the tree removal proposal. Such permit application shall show the area proposed to be cleared and the area of the tree removal, and shall state the purpose of the tree removal. If an application for subdivision or land development is made for the property within two years of the zoning permit for tree removal, the requirements for tree protection and preservation, as set forth in this chapter and in Chapter 153, Subdivision and Land Development, shall be applied to the property as it was prior to the removal of trees. If tree removal has exceeded the limits set forth in Township ordinances, the applicant shall be required to replace trees removed during the tree-clearing process so that there shall be a minimum of 70 caliper-inches of trees per acre after replanting occurs.
[Added 6-1-1993 by Ord. No. 229; amended 1-15-2019 by Ord. No. 394]
C. 
No permit shall be required for the removal of nursery stock in the normal operation of a nursery where trees or shrubs are raised for sale and where the nursery meets the use regulations for A-1, agriculture and horticulture, of this chapter, or for other activities undertaken as part of an agriculture and horticulture use A-1.
[Added 6-1-1993 by Ord. No. 229]
A. 
Zoning permits shall be granted or refused within 10 days after a complete written application has been filed with the Zoning Officer, provided that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to require or empower the Zoning Officer to grant a permit approving construction on or use of land which has been subdivided into lots pursuant to a plan of subdivision, the plan and profile of which have not been approved by the Township Board of Supervisors and duly recorded as required by law.
B. 
Upon completion of the erection or alteration of any building or portion thereof authorized by a zoning permit and prior to occupancy and/or use, the holder of such permit shall notify the Zoning Officer of such completion. No permit shall be considered complete or permanently effective until the Zoning Officer has certified that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and other applicable ordinances and regulations. All applications with accompanying plans and documents shall become and be preserved as a public record, subject to the disposition of the Board of Supervisors.
Fees for permits shall be paid in accordance with a Fee Schedule to be adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, and all such fees shall be paid into the Township Treasury.[1] Each applicant for an appeal, special exception, variance or other requested relief shall, at the time of making application, pay a fee in accordance with the aforementioned Fee Schedule for the cost of advertising, mailing notices and the cost of stenographic services, as required by this chapter and the rules of the Zoning Hearing Board.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A180, Fees.
[Added 9-19-1989 by Ord. No. 195]
A. 
If it appears to the Township that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the Township shall initiate enforcement proceedings by sending an enforcement notice as provided herein. The enforcement notice shall be sent to the owner of record of the parcel on which the violation has occurred, to any person who has filed a written request to receive an enforcement notice regarding that parcel and to any other person requested, in writing, by the owner of record.
B. 
The enforcement notice shall state at least the following:
(1) 
The name of the owner of record and any other person against whom the Township intends to take action.
(2) 
The location of the property in violation.
(3) 
The specific violation with a description of the requirements which have not been met, citing in each instance the applicable provisions of the chapter.
(4) 
The date before which the steps for compliance must be commenced and the date before which steps must be completed.
(5) 
That the recipient of the notice has the right to appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board within a prescribed period of time in accordance with procedures set forth in the chapter.
(6) 
That the failure to comply with the notice within the time specified, unless extend by appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board, constitutes a violation.
C. 
In any appeal of an enforcement notice to the Zoning Hearing Board, the Township shall have the responsibility of presenting its evidence first.
[Added 12-16-1997 by Ord. No. 268]
D. 
Any filing fees paid by a party to appeal an enforcement notice to the Zoning Hearing Board shall be returned to the appealing party by the Township if the Zoning Hearing Board or any court of competent jurisdiction in a subsequent appeal rules in the appealing party's favor.
[Added 12-16-1997 by Ord. No. 268]
[Added 4-14-2004 by Ord. No. 317]
The grant of a conditional use shall be subject to a five-year time limitation so that the conditional use shall expire five years after the date of the written decision granting the conditional use by the Zoning Hearing Board, five years from the date of the Board of Supervisors approval at a public meeting of a preliminary subdivision and/or land development plan based, in part, upon the conditional use, or five years from the date of a final Order of Court arising from an appeal from the granting of the conditional use, but same shall not be extended if the appeal arises from the grant of a subdivision and/or land development approval where the conditional use or conditional uses were a part of same.