[Amended 2-8-1958 by Ord. No. 50; 12-22-1959 by Ord. No.
78; 10-1-1962 by Ord. No. 119; 6-15-1987 by Ord. No. 87-516]
In order to ensure compliance with the provisions
of this chapter with regard to uses of the land; the size, height,
bulk and location of buildings and structures to be occupied, as well
as open space and distances to be left unoccupied by uses and structures;
the density of population and intensity of use; and other matters
pertaining to the public health, safety and general welfare, except
as set forth below, the applicant shall, prior to the issuance of
a building permit, submit to and obtain approval of a development
plan by the Board of Supervisors.
Development plans shall be required for the
use and development of land in all zoning districts within the Township,
except R-1A, R-1, R-2A and R-2 Residential Zoning Districts; R-3 Residential
Zoning District for construction of single-family dwellings only;
and AG Agricultural Zoning District where residential or agricultural
development only is planned.
The procedure for obtaining approval of a development
plan shall be the procedure for obtaining subdivision or land development
approval pursuant to the Upper Merion Subdivision Ordinance.[1] All applications made pursuant to the requirements of
the Upper Merion Subdivision Ordinance shall be considered simultaneously
as applications pursuant to this article. The Board of Supervisors
may refer all applications made pursuant to this article to the Montgomery
County Planning Commission, the Upper Merion Planning Commission and/or
the Township Staff Plan Review Committee for their comments prior
to the approval or disapproval of said plans.
A preliminary plan shall contain such information
as is required of preliminary plans by the Upper Merion Subdivision
Ordinance. The plan shall be accompanied by documentary evidence which
shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors
that:
A.
The plan is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and with the purposes of this chapter as set forth in Article I.
B.
The appropriate use and value of adjacent properties
shall be safeguarded.
C.
The capacity of existing or proposed utilities, streets
and highways is adequate to absorb the additional burden created by
the development.
D.
The development will consist of a harmonious grouping
of buildings or other structures, together with adequate service,
parking and open space areas, and shall be planned as a single and
common operating and maintenance unit, if applicable.
E.
All buildings shall be served by a central sewage
disposal system, public water supply and public utilities.
F.
If the development is to be carried out in stages,
each stage shall be so planned that the foregoing conditions and the
intent of this chapter shall be fully complied with at the completion
of any stage.
A final plan shall contain such information
as is required of final plans by the Upper Merion Subdivision Ordinance.
The final plan and accompanying documentation shall demonstrate:
A.
That adequate provision is made for safe and efficient
pedestrian and vehicle circulation within the site.
B.
That the location, dimensions and arrangements of
all open spaces, yards, accessways, entrances, exits, off-street parking
areas, loading areas, pedestrian walkways and width of streets are
adequate to provide for safe and efficient ingress and egress to and
from public streets serving the development.
C.
The location, uses planned, dimensions, gross floor
area, building coverage and height of each building or other structure.
D.
The location, dimension and arrangement of all areas
devoted to planted lawns, trees, recreation and other similar purposes.
E.
The location of existing or proposed sewage disposal,
water supply, stormwater drainage, parking lot lights and other utilities.
F.
Sufficient other data as required by the Board of
Supervisors to enable the Board to judge the effectiveness of the
design and character of the entire property and to consider such items
as the relationship to the surrounding area, anticipated traffic,
public health, safety and general welfare.
No plan shall be required in any district for
the extension or addition to existing structures when such extension
or addition is less than 25% of the existing gross floor area and
is less than 5,000 square feet in gross floor area.
