[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Willistown 10-9-2000 by Ord. No. 9-2000. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created the Willistown Township Open Space Review Board, which shall consist of seven members appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Willistown Township, which may include one or more members of the Board of Supervisors, one member of the Environmental Advisory Council,[1] one member of the Parks and Recreation Board and one representative of the Willistown Conservation Trust.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Environmental Advisory Council, formerly described in Ch. 13, was terminated 5-14-2012 by Ord. No. 1-2012.
A. 
The term of membership shall be five years, except as originally established herein.
B. 
The initial members of the Open Space Review Board shall be appointed to terms of office as follows:
(1) 
Two members for a term to expire December 31, 2000.
(2) 
Two member for a term to expire December 31, 2001.
(3) 
One member for a term to expire December 31, 2002.
(4) 
One member for a term to expire December 31, 2003.
(5) 
One member for a term to expire December 31, 2004.
The Board of Supervisors shall fill vacancies in the term of membership for the unexpired term.
A. 
The Chairman of the Open Space Review Board shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors until such time as the Open Space Review Board members, by majority vote, elect their own Chairman, and all other necessary officers, including a Secretary. All officers shall be elected for a period of one year, that period of office to be coterminous with the calendar year.
B. 
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Open Space Review Board and make a copy of those minutes available to the Board of Supervisors by providing a copy to the Township Secretary.
The Open Space Review Board shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its own meetings and business. Said rules and regulations shall comply with all applicable statutory regulations, including but not limited to the applicable provisions of the Open Meetings Law, commonly referred to as the "Sunshine Act." The Open Space Review Board shall establish regular meeting dates and criteria for the calling of special meetings.
The Open Space Review Board shall have the following powers and responsibilities:
A. 
To identify, review, evaluate and rate the relative desirability of interests in real property to be acquired by the Township; and submit recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for its consideration to acquire such interests in real property.
B. 
To recommend to the Board of Supervisors procedures for:
(1) 
Reviewing open space property interests.
(2) 
Rating the relative desirability of interests in particular parcels of real property.
(3) 
Establishing the price the Township will pay for acquisition of real property interests.
The Open Space Review Board shall submit the following information and reports to the Board of Supervisors unless otherwise indicated herein:
A. 
An annual report to the Board of Supervisors not later than February 28 following the year for which the report applies, and said report to include a summary of the activities of the Open Space Review Board with particular reference to the extent and adequacy of the program and its effectiveness in view of the public expenditure involved and the public objectives to be met.
B. 
Prepare and submit recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the following:
(1) 
Type of real property (open space) interest to be acquired (fee simple, conservation easement, other).
(2) 
Type of use of real property (open space) to be considered (passive, active, public access, public view, other).
(3) 
Management, covenants and restrictions to be considered.
(4) 
Establishment of a program to purchase open space property interests on an installment or other deferred basis.
C. 
Review proposed ordinance provisions that relate to the protection, preservation and management of open space in the Township.
D. 
Coordinate with the Parks and Recreation Board and Planning Commission in evaluating any property to being considered for active recreation or passive open space to effect program implementation.
Act 153 of 1996,[1] as amended, requires local government units to establish procedures to review, rate and value open space interests as to their relative desirability. In addition to any procedures recommended by the Open Space Review Board and approved by the Board of Supervisors, the following shall be reviewed and incorporated by the Open Space Review Board into its procedures and recommendations:
A. 
Township Comprehensive Plan; Township Open Space, Recreation and Environmental Resources Plan; other Township plans and studies related to land use and planning for the Township; and the Chester County Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Landscapes); as each may be amended from time to time.
B. 
Orderly engagement and use of qualified professional independent appraisers.
C. 
Recordation of each interest in real property acquired by the Township in the Chester County Office of Recorder of Deeds.
D. 
Maintenance of records to be filed in the Township Building of the interests in real property which have been reviewed and acquired by the Township.
E. 
Submit to the Great Valley School District, in compliance with Act 153, a copy of the deed reflecting the open space property interests acquired and certified by the Chester County Recorder of Deeds.
F. 
Compliance with Act 153 regarding the termination or sale of open space property interests acquired under the Act through this chapter.
G. 
Compliance with all other applicable provisions of Act 153, as amended.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 5001 et seq.