All subdivision and land development plans shall be subject to approval, modification, or rejection by the Board of Supervisors; in the event such a plan is disapproved the reasons therefor shall be set forth in writing. All plans shall be referred to the Planning Commission for its review and recommendations.
The subdivider or land developer shall submit preliminary copies of proposed plans to the Township Secretary and the Township Secretary shall distribute the required number of copies to the Township agencies concerned as provided for in Article VII. All plans when first submitted shall be considered preliminary plans. If the subdivider or land developer makes substantial revisions in his plans after they have been approved in preliminary form, such revised plans shall be treated as preliminary plans when resubmitted. Upon approval of the preliminary plans, the subdivider shall submit final plans to the Township Secretary and the Township Secretary shall distribute the required number of copies to the Township agencies concerned as provided for in Article VIII. Mobile home park plans shall be reviewed in the same manner as subdivision and land development plans. When the literal compliance with mandatory provisions is shown to the Township Supervisors to be unreasonable, to cause undue hardship or where alternative standards are equal or better, a waiver may be granted.
Subdivision and land development plans shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission at its first regular meeting following the date of submittal, providing that such plans are submitted at least 14 days prior to the meeting. Meetings of the Planning Commission at which plans are reviewed shall be open to the public.
Approval of preliminary plans by the Board of Supervisors shall be considered approval of the arrangement and dimensions of streets, lots and other features shown on the plans and may be made conditionally on specified changes to be incorporated in the plans. No subdivision or land development plans shall be approved unless: there has been an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the Board of Supervisors that provides for minimizing erosion and sedimentation; or there has been a determination by the Board of Supervisors that a plan for minimizing erosion and sedimentation is not necessary. The Board's approval of the final plans shall be given only after the requirements and conditions indicated on or in connection with the preliminary plans have been met; and said approval shall constitute final Township approval for the purpose of recording the plans in the Office of the County Recorder of Deeds. Before acting on any plan, the Board of Supervisors may arrange for a public hearing thereon after giving such notice as it may deem necessary and desirable in each case.
Any subdivision which contains no more than 10 lots may be reviewed and acted upon as a final plan without the necessity of prior preliminary plan approval. Such determination shall be made by the Board of Supervisors upon recommendation of the Township Planning Commission based upon the following consideration:
A. 
The proposed subdivision does not involve site and related improvements to the extent that a detailed review by the Township necessitates processing initially as a preliminary plans.
B. 
The proposed subdivision does not require the review and approval of agencies and/or jurisdictions other than the Township, where in the opinion of the Township such review may not be completed within the time period set forth in this chapter.
C. 
The proposed subdivision complies with the applicable provisions of this chapter.
D. 
The proposed subdivision does not require that an Overall Master Plan be on file with the Township as provided herein.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 505, Overall master plan requirements, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 4-27-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1.
Fees shall be established by resolution and be available for public review at the Township office. These fees include the following:
A. 
A filing fee for preliminary and final plan applications as well as any re-approval and revisions.
B. 
An engineering fee in the amount estimated by the Township Engineer on the basis of the submitted plan to cover such costs as: reviewing the plan for conformance to the provision of the codes and ordinances of the Township; site inspection for conformance to survey; and preparing cost estimates of required improvements. Such fee shall be sufficient to cover the cost of all necessary engineering reviews. Failure to pay such fee within 15 days from notification of costs, shall constitute grounds for denial of plan approval.
C. 
An inspection fee in the amount estimated by the Township Engineer for:
(1) 
Inspection of required improvements by the Township during installation; and
[Amended 4-27-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1]
(2) 
Final inspection of required improvements.
(a) 
Such fee shall be paid at the time the final plan is submitted for approval.
(b) 
Engineering and inspection fees shall be estimated by the Township Engineer using the prevailing engineering rates for the Franklin County area. The developer may request a meeting with the Board of Supervisors and the Township Engineer to appeal any estimated fee. The Board of Supervisors shall have the final determination of the adequacy of all fees.
(c) 
The developer or subdivider shall be reimbursed if the actual cost is under the estimated cost. The developer or subdivider shall be required to pay any additional amounts required because of unforeseen circumstances after any such amounts have been authorized by Township Supervisors. No final plan shall be approved until all fees have been paid in full.
(d) 
All fees shall be in the form of a check or money order and payable to the Township.
D. 
A fee shall be paid for the preparation of financial security agreements as required by Article XI.
E. 
A fee shall be paid by the developer to the county to cover the cost of county review of the preliminary plan or final plan if preliminary plan is waived. Such fee shall be paid at the time the preliminary plan is submitted for approval and shall be in the form of a check or money order and payable to the county.
F. 
Review fees for charges by the Township Engineer and the Township Planner.
[Added 6-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-7; amended 8-11-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-6]
(1) 
The Township Engineer and the Township Planner have been employed to provide administrative and technical services in subdivision and land development plan reviews and site inspections. The cost for the plan review for these professional employees shall be charged to the applicant at their cost to the Township per Township resolution for their services on such application for subdivision and land development plan approval.
(2) 
The Township Engineer and the Township Planner shall prepare and publish a report of comments and recommendations on said application for subdivision and land development approval to the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors and the Zoning Office within a time period sufficient to be presented at the next officially scheduled meeting. A copy of this report shall be made available to the applicant’s representatives at the same time.
G. 
Administration of professional fees and escrow accounts.
[Added 8-11-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-6]
(1) 
Upon filing application for a preliminary or final subdivision or land development plan, a parking and circulation plan, or a stormwater management plan, the applicant shall deposit with the Township an amount set by resolution from time to time for professional fees related to plan review, which monies shall be placed into an escrow account.
[Amended 7-27-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-7; 5-26-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-6[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it take effect 6-1-2015.
(2) 
The escrow deposit is payable at the time of filing each application. It can be utilized to pay for planning and engineering services and any other consultant costs necessary in the opinion of the Board of Supervisors to properly examine the proposed application for subdivision and land development.
(3) 
Any monies remaining in the plan review escrow account may be carried into a site inspection escrow account. Upon completion and acceptance of dedication of public improvements, if any, by the Board of Supervisors, any monies remaining in this account shall be refunded to the applicant within 60 days of recording with the Franklin County Recorder of Deeds, or upon written withdrawal of the plans for the record.
(4) 
A detailed invoice shall be forwarded to the applicant on a periodic basis, and it shall be paid from the designated escrow account. In the event the applicant disputes the amount of the professional fees, this must be done, in writing, to the Board of Supervisors no later than 45 days after transmittal of the invoice to the applicant. The dispute shall be explained as to the basis of objections to the fees charged. Failure to dispute the invoice in such manner or acknowledgement of the correct amount in the detailed invoice shall be a waiver to the applicant’s rights to arbitration in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Section 510(g).[2]
[2]
Editor’s Note: See 53 P.S. § 10510(g).
(5) 
When the escrow account reaches 50% of its initial amount, the applicant shall be directed to refresh the escrow account to its original balance. If this account is not replenished within 15 days of said notice to the applicant, plan review or site inspection, whichever is applicable, shall cease.