The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced
by the Zoning Officer with the aid of the Police Department and other
municipal agencies. The Zoning Officer shall be appointed at the first
meeting of the Township Board of Supervisors following the adoption
of the chapter, to serve until the first Monday of January next following,
and shall thereafter be appointed annually to serve a term of one
year and/or until his successor is appointed. The Zoning Officer may
succeed himself. He shall receive such compensation as the governing
body by resolution shall provide.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer,
and he shall have power to:
A. Keep a permanent record of all plans and applications
for permits and all permits issued, with notations as to special conditions
attached thereto. All records shall be open for public inspection
and shall be the property of the Township.
B. Review applications for zoning permits for erections
or alterations of structures or changes of use, determine whether
such construction or use is in accordance with the general requirements
of this chapter, all other applicable ordinances and with the laws
and regulations of the commonwealth.
C. Conduct inspections and surveys to determine compliance
or noncompliance with the terms of this chapter. In carrying out such
surveys, the Zoning Officer or his representative may enter upon any
land or building.
D. Make written orders requiring compliance with the
provisions of this chapter to be served personally or by registered
mail.
E. Institute proceedings in courts of proper jurisdiction
for the enforcement of provisions of this chapter.
F. Maintain a map showing the current zoning classification
of all land.
G. Maintain a map and register showing the registration,
identification, location and type of all nonconforming use.
H. Participate in all proceedings before the Zoning Hearing
Board, present facts and information to assist the Board in reaching
a decision, resist and oppose any deviations from the standard provisions
of this chapter and have decisions of the Board reviewed in a court
of proper jurisdiction when, in the judgment of the Zoning Officer,
such review is desirable.
Hereafter, no use listed herein may be established
or changed; no structure shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed,
altered, razed or removed; and no building used or occupied, or changed
in use, until a zoning permit has been secured from the Zoning Officer.
Upon completion of changes in use or construction, reconstruction,
alteration or moving of structures, the applicant shall notify the
Zoning Officer of such completion. No permit shall be considered as
complete or as permanently effective until the Zoning Officer has
noted on the permit that the work or occupancy and use have been inspected
and approved as being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
Any erection, construction, reconstruction,
alteration or moving of a building or other structure, including a
sign authorized by a zoning permit, shall be commenced, and any change
in use of a building or land authorized by a zoning permit shall be
undertaken, within one year after the date of issuance of the permit.
If not, the permit shall be considered null and void. However, in
case of erection or construction of a building, the right to proceed
with construction may be extended annually without additional fees
for an aggregate period of not more than three years, provided that
the construction pursuant to said permit has commenced within the
first one-year period.
[Amended 8-23-1990 by Ord. No. 604]
Appeals to the Board may be taken by any landowner,
developer or person affected by any decision of the Zoning Officer.
Such appeal shall be taken within the time limitations established
by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, by filing
a notice of appeal with the Board, specifying the grounds thereof.
The applicant for a permit shall, at time of
making the application, pay to the Zoning Officer for the use by cash
payments to the Township in accordance with a fee schedule adopted
by resolution of the Board of Supervisors upon the enactment of this
chapter or as such schedule may be amended by resolution of the Board
of Supervisors.