[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Nether Providence 8-14-1986 as Ord. No. 544. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A written evaluation and report prepared by an applicant
as provided herein.
A.
It is declared the policy of Nether Providence Township,
in the interests of the health, safety and welfare of the Township
and the orderly development thereof:
(1)
To seek to conserve and enhance the natural environment
and to provide for the wisest use of available resources by minimizing
adverse environmental impacts.
(2)
To seek to preserve unique natural and cultural features.
(3)
To assure the best possible environment for persons
and other living organisms within or affected by any development area.
(4)
To understand, evaluate and protect the quality of
the environment of the Township.
(5)
To analyze long-range patterns of development and
encourage the most desirable alternatives.
B.
It is in furtherance of this policy that environmental
impact assessments will be required in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter.
A.
To permit the Township Commissioners, the Township
Engineer, the Township Planning Commission and the Township Environmental
Advisory Committee to meet their responsibilities hereunder, an environmental
impact assessment shall be prepared by every applicant for:
[Amended 12-10-1992 as Ord. No. 581]
(2)
Approval of a land development or subdivision plat under Chapter 289, Subdivision and Land Development, if the area of the plat is more than seven acres, or if the area involved is less than seven acres when so ordered by the Township Commissioners, where the site contains floodplains, steep slopes and is affected by adverse traffic conditions.
B.
Six copies of any required environmental impact assessment
shall be filed by delivering the same to the Township Manager. The
environmental impact assessment, with respect to a land development
or subdivision plat or a PRD, shall be filed at the time the preliminary
plan is required to be filed.
C.
If an environmental impact assessment is required
to be filed with any preliminary plan for a land development or a
subdivision plat or PRD, such preliminary plan shall not be approved
by the Township Commissioners unless such assessment has been filed
with and found acceptable in form and substance by the Township Commissioners
as herein provided.
A.
The environmental impact assessment shall contain
a description with drawings and/or sketches of the proposed or potential
site improvement for the tract in question, a site plan and any other
thematic maps (such as topography or wetlands) that convey the specialized
inventory and a detailed analysis of its environmental impact. In
analyzing environmental impact, each environmental impact assessment
shall address the impact of the proposed or potential site improvement
on topography, wildlife, vegetation, water resources, wetlands, surface
water drainage, erosion, sewage and waste disposal, population, recreational
facilities, traffic and transportation, air pollution, noise pollution,
public facilities and services, and any other special environmental
considerations which are applicable in the opinion of the Township
Commissioners.
B.
The environmental impact assessment shall state that
the proposed site improvement will meet all requirements of any applicable
federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental
impact and/or related matters, to pollution control, water resources,
surface water discharge, sewage and waste disposal, including, without
limitation, Township ordinances relating to Floodplain Conservation
Districts and Township ordinances relating to the control of accelerated
erosion and sedimentation.
[Amended 12-10-1992 as Ord. No. 581]
A.
Upon receipt of an environmental impact assessment,
the Township Manager shall submit one copy to the Township Engineer,
one copy to the Township Planning Commission and two copies to the
Township Environmental Advisory Committee. The Township Environmental
Advisory Committee will review the assessment and submit a written
report thereon to the Township Commissioners within 45 days of the
date of submission. Such report shall set forth the comments of the
Environmental Advisory Committee with respect to the form and substance
of the assessment, including any recommendations as to further information
required in the assessment, and any recommendations as to modifications
or conditions to approval, necessary or desirable to conform the proposal
outlined in such application to the policy set forth herein. All such
reports must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the members at a meeting of the Township Environmental Advisory Committee
at which a majority of the entire Committee is present.
B.
As soon as practicable after receipt of the report
of the Township Environmental Advisory Committee, the Township Commissioners
shall advise the applicant submitting the environmental impact assessment
that the same does not comply with the provisions hereof, in which
event such party shall amend the assessment in form or substance so
that it shall comply with such provisions; or, if the environmental
impact assessment complies with the provisions hereof, advise the
applicant and make such recommendations, if any, for the modification
or conditions of approval of the proposal outlined in such assessment
as the Township Commissioners shall deem necessary, appropriate or
desirable so that the environmental impact of such proposal will be
consistent with the health, safety and welfare of the Township. Each
such applicant shall be required to make such modifications or accept
such conditions before the preliminary plan giving rise to such assessment
is approved by the Township Commissioners.
