No subdivision plan will be approved unless all streets and roads shown thereon shall be of sufficient width and proper grade and shall be so located as to accommodate the probable volume of traffic thereon, afford adequate light and air, facilitate fire protection, provide access of fire-fighting equipment to buildings, and provide a coordinated system of streets conforming to the Township's official plans of streets and roads, and unless the land whereon buildings are to be constructed shall be of such character that it can be used for building purposes without danger to health or peril from fire, flood or other hazard. All improvements necessary to accomplish this purpose shall be shown on the plan, including, where required by this chapter or by the Board, curbs, sidewalks, streetlights, street signs, fire hydrants, water mains, gas mains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers and such other improvements as the Board may require.
A. 
Right-of-way. Streets or roads which are essentially residential in character shall have a right-of-way of not less than 50 feet; streets or roads which are not main thoroughfares, but are essentially commercial or partially commercial and partially residential in character, shall have a right-of-way width of not less than 60 feet; and main thoroughfares shall have a right-of-way width of not less than 70 feet. In addition, rights-of-way and types of construction shall conform to the following schedule, provided that the Board may, in any case where it is deemed necessary, require a greater right-of-way width or a greater cartway width than the minimum herein shown, or may require a city-type highway to be installed in place of a suburban-type highway:
Right-of- Way Width
(in feet)
Suburban-Type Highway Minimum Cartway Width
(distance between curbs, in feet)
Required Cartway Width
(distance between curbs, in feet)
City-Type Highway Required Sidewalk Width
(2 required)
50
30
30
10 feet each
60
30
40
10 feet each
70
30
50
10 feet each
B. 
Adjoining streets. The highway system shall take into consideration present streets and roads of adjoining tracts already laid out and of adjoining tracts not yet subdivided. Circles, islands, culs-de-sac or circular segments shall be permitted only where and as expressly approved by the Board.
C. 
Curbing. All curbing at street and road intersections shall be circular curves with radius of not less than 15 feet, and larger for sharp corners.
D. 
Names. Names of all existing streets and roads shall be continued, and there shall be no duplication of names existing elsewhere in the Township.
E. 
Alleys. Alleys shall be provided in business and industrial districts, and such alleys shall have a right-of-way width of not less than 20 feet and a paving width of not less than 16 feet, and shall not terminate in a permanent barrier unless adequate turning area at the dead end is provided.
F. 
Dead-ends. Streets and roads shall not end in dead ends, except where they will connect with streets or roads provided for on the Township's official plans of streets and roads or where specifically approved by the Board.
G. 
Intersections. Intersections with main thoroughfares shall be not less than 800 feet apart, except where otherwise permitted by the Board.
H. 
Blocks. Blocks in excess of 1,320 feet in length will not be approved.
I. 
Sidewalks. Concrete sidewalks, not less than four feet wide each, shall be provided on any street or road which is residential or commercial in character, except where otherwise permitted by the Board.
A. 
Electric service. Provision shall be made for electric service for public streetlighting by underground conduits or cables with suitable metal poles for lights, and the method and location of such streetlighting facilities shall be shown on the plans submitted for approval.
B. 
Sewers.[1] Where connection with the Township sanitary sewer systems is practicable, the owner shall install sanitary sewers and sewer laterals in conformity with Township specifications for sanitary sewer construction before streets and roads shown on the plans are constructed. All gas, water, electric and other mains, pipes and conduits, together with all service connection or laterals, shall be laid before the streets and roads shown on the plans are constructed and shall be located to minimize or eliminate flood damage and infiltration of floodwaters into the systems and discharges from the systems into the floodwaters.
[Amended 6-8-1977 by Ord. No. 663; 8-10-1977 by Ord. No. 665]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 81, Sewers.
C. 
Reserve strips. There shall be no reserve strips controlling access to streets, roads or alleys.
D. 
Lot configuration.
[Amended 10-11-2006 by Ord. No. 881]
(1) 
Every lot shall have frontage along the right-of-way line of a street or road, except where otherwise permitted by the Board.
(2) 
Lot lines intersecting street lines shall be substantially at right angles or radial to street lines, from the street line to the rear lot line. "Substantially at right angles" shall mean an intersection angle of not less than 80°.
E. 
Dedication of land suitable for park and recreation use to the Township.
[Amended 10-13-2004 by Ord. No. 866]
(1) 
The developer or applicant shall offer for dedication land suitable for park or recreation use to Springfield Township. Land shall not be offered for dedication until the completion of any necessary and agreed upon public improvements on the land proposed to be dedicated have been completed by the developer or applicant. All improvements shall be completed prior to 50% of the homes in the subdivision being occupied.
[Amended 10-11-2006 by Ord. No. 881]
(2) 
The amount and location of land to be offered for dedication to the Township shall bear a reasonable relationship to the incremental need for additional park and recreation facilities in the Township created by the additional residents or occupants of the proposed development. At a minimum, the following criteria for dedication of park and recreation areas to the Township shall apply:
[Amended 10-11-2006 by Ord. No. 881]
(a) 
Residential subdivision or land development. The amount of land to be offered for dedication for park and recreational areas in residential subdivision or land developments of three or more individual dwelling units, whether they are single-family dwellings or contained within a multifamily (two or more units assembled together in any fashion) arrangement, shall be 3,000 square feet per residential dwelling unit; in the event that any existing building is converted to accommodate three or more residential dwelling units, the developer will be subject to the aforementioned regulations.
(b) 
Nonresidential subdivision or land development. The amount of land to be offered for dedication for park and recreational areas in a nonresidential subdivision or land development shall be 3,000 square feet per 4,000 square feet of building area.
(c) 
The land dedicated to the Township for park and recreation purposes need not be a part of the land development or subdivision and may be located on a separate parcel of land, provided that the Board of Commissioners determines that the land offered for dedication is convenient to the subdivision or land development. The developer, with the approval of the Board of Commissioners, may construct park and recreation facilities at existing Township facilities or facilities of another developer to satisfy the requirements of this section. Park and recreation facilities which are available to all Township residents as opposed to facilities which are available only to the residents of a particular subdivision or land development are encouraged.
(d) 
No more than 25% of the park and recreation space may consist of floodplain areas or areas with slopes in excess of 8%. Floodplain and steep slope areas may not be used for active recreation.
(e) 
The land to be offered for active recreation must be suitable for active recreation by reason of its size, shape, location and topography.
(f) 
The land to be offered for passive recreation must be suitable by reason of its size, shape, location and topography for walking, hiking and similar passive recreation.
(3) 
When land is offered for dedication, notwithstanding the foregoing, the land must meet the minimum lot size for the district within which it is offered for dedication.
(4) 
Any land offered for dedication to the Township shall be used only for the purpose of providing park and recreation facilities.
(5) 
When land is offered for dedication, acceptance by the Township shall be by means of a signed resolution to which a property description of the dedicated recreational area shall be attached.
(6) 
Where a developer dedicates land, the acquisition value of the land plus any improvements placed on the land for park and recreation purposes must equal or exceed the fee in lieu of dedication as established by the Board of Commissioners from time to time. If the value of the fee in lieu of dedication is not met or exceeded, the developer must supply the balance of his obligation to supply park and recreation facilities by one or more of the alternatives set forth in this chapter.
(7) 
Criteria for locating recreation areas. The Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners, in exercising their duties regarding the review of subdivision and land development plans, shall consider the recommendations of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee as well as the following criteria in determining whether to approve the proposed recreation plan submitted by the developer/applicant. A recreation plan shall include both the use and location of the proposed park and recreational area in an applicant's subdivision or land development plan.
(a) 
Land being offered for dedication shall be easily and safely accessible. For a park being dedicated to the Township, the proposed park and recreation area shall be located in the front of the subdivision, with direct access onto the external street to which the subdivision has access. If the land is to be dedicated to a homeowners' association, it may be located in the interior of the subdivision in a location that is convenient to all of the residents of the subdivision.
(b) 
The geometry of the land being dedicated shall be as close to square as is reasonably possible.
(c) 
Land being offered for dedication shall be a single contiguous parcel.
(d) 
Land being offered for dedication shall have suitable topography and soil conditions for use and development as a recreation area.
(e) 
Land being offered for dedication shall be directly accessible to essential utilities, such as sewer, water and power. If water, sewer and power is not readily available, the developer/applicant shall provide the necessary utilities to the site.
(f) 
Land being offered for dedication shall be provided with off-street parking to serve the proposed facilities.
(g) 
Sidewalks and /or a trail must be provided to the land being offered for dedication to allow all residents of the subdivision to have access to the proposed park and recreation facilities.
(h) 
The land being offered for dedication shall be in conformance with the Township's Comprehensive Plan.
(i) 
Where the proposed subdivision or land development is located adjacent to existing park and recreation facilities, the land offered for dedication shall be adjacent to the existing park and recreation facilities and shall be contiguous thereto. The land being offered for dedication shall be laid out to maximize the usefulness of the combined facilities as a single unified park and recreation facility.
(8) 
Alternatives to dedication of land.
(a) 
Fee in lieu of dedication.
[1] 
Where the Board of Commissioners determines that, because of the size, shape, location, access, topography or other physical features of the land or any other need of the Township, it is impractical to dedicate land to the Township as required by the chapter, the Commissioners may permit dedication of the land to the homeowners' association. If the Board of Commissioners determines that it is impractical or undesirable to dedicate land to either the Township or the homeowners' association, the Commissioners shall require a payment of a fee in lieu of dedication of such land from the applicant/developer to the Township. The fee in lieu of dedication shall be set forth from time to time in a resolution and shall bear a reasonable relationship to the demand for and the use of the park and recreation facilities of Springfield Township by the future residents or occupants of the proposed development.
[Amended 10-11-2006 by Ord. No. 881]
[2] 
Any fee in lieu of dedication which is collected by the Township shall be used only for the purpose of providing park and recreational facilities within Springfield Township.
[3] 
A fee authorized under this subsection shall, upon its receipt by the Township, be deposited in an interest-bearing account, designated the Springfield Township Park and Recreation Fund. Interest earned on the account shall become funds of that account. Funds from the account may only be expended on specific park and recreation facilities approved by the Board of Commissioners.
[4] 
Upon request of any person who paid fees under this subsection, the Township shall refund such fee, plus interest accumulated thereon from the date of payment, if the Township has failed to utilize the fee paid for recreation purposes within three years from the date such fee was paid unless return of the fee has been waived by written agreement between the applicant/developer and the Township.
(b) 
Improvements to park facilities.
[1] 
With the approval of the Board of Commissioners, the applicant/developer may perform improvements to park and recreation facilities as identified by the Board of Commissioners.
[2] 
Improvements to park facilities shall be constructed in accordance with Township standards under the direction and inspection of the Township Engineer or his assigned designee.
(c) 
Combination. With the approval of the Board of Commissioners, the applicant/developer may utilize any combination of the aforementioned techniques to satisfy his park and recreation obligations. However, in no circumstance shall the total value of the acquisition of land, improvements to park and recreation facilities or dedicated land fail to meet or exceed the value of the fee in lieu of dedication established by the Board of Commissioners.
F. 
Parking. Provision shall be made for garage structures or open spaces suitably located and adapted for parking for automobiles and trucks, wherever and to the extent deemed desirable by the Board.
G. 
Right-of-way. A right-of-way not less than 40 feet wide shall be provided along natural watercourses, where required by the Board, in order to enable the Township to construct and maintain sanitary and storm sewers.
H. 
Survey monuments.
[Amended 6-12-1974 by Ord. No. 636]
(1) 
Complete outline survey of the property to be subdivided or developed and the final placement of all street control survey monuments shall be provided, showing all bearings, distances and tie-ins to all adjacent intersections. The survey shall not have an error of closure greater than one part in 10,000.
(2) 
The surveyor's field work must be performed to locate and position all major control survey monuments and property corners accurately. The allowable positional tolerances of said survey points may not be greater than 0.04 foot in suburban lots or parcels and/or 0.02 foot in suburban area blocks wherein buildings can be erected along the property line or where high land values so warrant.
(3) 
The surveyor shall furnish to the Township upon completion of the survey work a statement to read as follows:
This is to certify that the survey performed for the property located at _______________, Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was made in accordance with the Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for Land Title Surveys jointly established and adopted by A.T.A. and A.C.S.M. in 1962.
(Signed)
(Seal)
(License No.)
I. 
Landscaping. The Board of Commissioners shall require, as a condition for approval of subdivisions and land developments, appropriate landscaping. This shall include but not be limited to side and rear boundaries, along streets and for off-street parking to soften visual impact and screen glare and to minimize noise and other threats to safety or the environment while preserving the aesthetic nature of the community.
[Added 10-8-1975 by Ord. No. 645; amended 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786]
(1) 
Subdivisions and land developments shall be required to provide landscape buffering along side and rear boundaries of the tract to be subdivided or developed except in the development of single-family detached residences.
(a) 
Types of buffers. Softening buffers are designed to soften visual impact of adjacent land uses. Screening buffers are designed to provide a more substantial visual barrier between conflicting land uses. The impact of the proposed use on adjacent properties is the basis for establishing buffer standards. The buffer type is subject to approval of the Board of Commissioners.
(b) 
Softening buffers shall have a minimum width of at least 15 feet. Screening buffers shall have a minimum width of at least 10 feet and a maximum width of 15 feet. In cases where zoning setback requirements for side or rear yards are narrower than the required buffer width, the buffer shall be the width of the actual side or rear yard or the required buffer width of the side or rear yard, whichever is less. Buffer areas may be considered as part of the required yard setback.
(c) 
Softening buffers shall provide an average one canopy tree, one understory tree and one evergreen tree per 35 feet. When consistent with the character of the neighborhood, plantings should be in naturalized clusters which soften the transition rather than form a solid barrier. Screening buffers will be used when the buffer width is 10 feet or less. These should include one canopy tree, one understory tree, four evergreen shrubs and four deciduous shrubs per 35 feet. Additional planting shall be required for each portion thereof exceeding the dimensions listed above. All trees and shrubs shall be selected from the recommended plant materials in Table I. The Board of Commissioners may permit other species if they are adapted to the area, are not generally subject to insects or diseases and are of the same general character and growth habit as those listed in Table I. All plant materials shall meet the standards of the American Association of Nurserymen.
(d) 
Buffers shall be located parallel to property or right-of-way boundaries but may be sited on any portion of the property if permitted by the Board of Commissioners.
(e) 
The buffer requirement may be wholly or partially waived by the Board of Commissioners if they determine that existing plantings, topography, increased setbacks or man-made structures provide adequate buffers.
(2) 
Street trees. Within any subdivision or land development, street trees shall be planted along new and existing streets.
(a) 
Street trees shall be planted within all front yard setbacks between 15 feet and 25 feet from the curb or edge of pavement, but in no case shall they be planted within the right-of-way. At intersections, trees shall be located no closer than 25 feet from the radius of the curb. Care should be taken to avoid eventual interference with overhead utilities.
(b) 
No less than one tree shall be provided for each 35 feet of street length or portion thereof. Trees shall be an approved species of canopy tree, as noted with an asterisk in Table I, and shall be installed pursuant to an approved landscape plan.
(3) 
Parking area landscaping. Except in single-family detached residences, all off-street parking areas and all loading areas shall be landscaped in accordance with the following standards:
(a) 
Perimeter landscaping. All parking and loading areas shall be landscaped with buffers along the front yard, as well as side and rear yard boundaries.
(b) 
Internal landscaping. All parking areas containing more than 10 spaces shall be landscaped in accordance with the following standard:
[1] 
For each 10 spaces or portions thereof, at least 500 square feet of planting area shall be provided in the form of landscaped islands, which shall contain at least two canopy trees, one understory tree, six shrubs and ground cover or mulch of 100%.
[2] 
The minimum square footage of any one island shall be 200 square feet, with a minimum width of six feet. All trees shall be drawn from the list of street trees marked with an asterisk in Table I. All plant materials shall meet the standards set forth in Subsection I(7).
[3] 
All landscape material within parking and loading areas shall be protected from injury due to vehicular encroachment by the use of berms, wheel stops, concrete curbs, bollards, railings and other similar devices.
(4) 
Parking area landscaping shall be designed so as not to obstruct or interfere with pedestrian circulation. For example, landscaped islands should not be placed between parking spaces and building entrances unless pedestrian walkways across these islands are provided.
(5) 
Nonconforming buffers.
(a) 
Where property boundary buffers or street buffers are nonexistent or nonconforming, such buffers shall be installed as a condition for permission to:
[1] 
Make a change in zoning district, when requested by property owner(s); or
[2] 
Expand an existing structure beyond 25% of gross square footage or 25% of lot coverage.
(b) 
The applicant shall conform to this chapter to the maximum extent possible. If the required minimum buffer width is not available, structural measures such as fences, walls or berms may be used in conjunction with landscape material, with the approval of the Board of Commissioners, to provide an equivalent degree of screening.
(6) 
Recommended plant materials. The landscaping material shall be as follows:
(a) 
Table I. Recommended plant materials:
[1] 
Canopy trees shall be a minimum of 2 1/2 to three inches in caliper. The table of permitted canopy trees is on file in the business office of the Board of Commissioners. All trees listed may be used in rear and side buffer yards. Only trees marked with an asterisk are permitted as street trees or in buffers along streets.
[2] 
Small understory trees shall be a minimum of two to 2 1/2 inches in caliper or eight feet in height. The table of permitted small understory trees is on file in the business office of the Board of Commissioners. All trees listed may be used in rear and side buffer yards. Only trees marked with an asterisk are permitted as street trees or in buffers along streets.
[3] 
Evergreen trees for buffers shall be a minimum height of six feet (not for use as street trees; may be used in buffers along streets if a minimum width of 10 feet is available). The table of permitted evergreen trees for buffers is on file in the business office of the Board of Commissioners.
[4] 
Shrubs shall be any locally grown shrubs, a minimum height of three feet, that conform to the standard set forth in Subsection I(b)(a)[2] above and are native or well-adapted to southeastern Pennsylvania, which may be planted in buffers or other landscaped areas.
(7) 
Landscaping installation and maintenance criteria. The criteria set forth in this subsection shall apply to all landscaping material installed under the provisions of this chapter.
(a) 
Plant material shall not at maturity obstruct the necessary visibility of traffic control signs or signals or obstruct visibility at street intersections or driveway entrances or within parking lots.
(b) 
All plant material should be of locally grown nursery stock. It shall be free of insects, pests and disease and in conformity with the standards of the American Association of Nurserymen.
(c) 
All landscape material shall be installed to ensure the availability of sufficient soil, water and drainage to sustain healthy growth. No impervious material which impedes the passage of air, water or other nutrients shall be permitted within the dripline of trees or shrubs at maturity.
(d) 
A depth of soil of at least 30 inches, with a depth of loose friable topsoil of at least 12 inches, shall be provided in any planter used for trees or shrubs. Either the planter should be slightly raised above ground level to ensure good drainage or the subsurface drainage system should be specified.
(e) 
Street trees, when planted, shall be a minimum of 2 1/2 inches in caliper and shall have a minimum clearance under the lowest branches of seven feet where pedestrians or vehicular traffic will pass under the tree.
(f) 
A thirty-percent maintenance bond shall be posted to ensure replacement of landscape materials that are removed, destroyed, damaged or in ill health within 18 months of installation.
(g) 
The following vegetation shall not be installed as landscape material:
Scientific Name
Common Name
Acer platanoides
Norway maple
Acer pseudo-platanus
Sycamore maple
Acer saccharinum
Silver maple
Lonicera japonica
Japanese honeysuckle
Lonicera morrowi
Morrow honeysuckle
Pyrus calleryana cv.
Bradford callery pear
Bradford
Polygonum cuspidatum
Japanese knotweed
Populus species
Poplars
Pueraria thunbergiana
Kudzu
Salix species
Willows
Ulmus pumila
Siberian elm
(h) 
The number of tree species to be planted in new development shall be according to the following table:
Number of Trees
Minimum Number of Species
Maximum Percent of Any 1 Species
1 to 5
1
100%
6 to 15
2
50%
16 to 30
3
40%
31 to 50
4
30%
51 and over
6
20%
(8) 
Protection of existing landscape material. All subdivisions and land developments shall be laid out in such a manner as to preserve the healthy trees and shrubs intended to remain on the site.
(a) 
Existing vegetation shown to remain as part of the landscape plan for a land development shall be identified in the field prior to any clearing and physically protected throughout the construction process. No construction activities or storage of construction materials shall take place within the dripline of existing trees that are to be retained.
(b) 
A temporary physical barrier such as a snow fence shall be erected a minimum of one foot from the dripline on all sides of stands of vegetation or individual trees shown to remain prior to clearing or construction. The barrier shall be placed to prevent disturbance to or compaction of soil inside the barrier and shall remain until construction is complete. The specific method of preserving existing vegetation shall be noted on the landscape plan.
(c) 
If topsoil is to be stockpiled, it shall be located in an area outside the dripline of any tree shown to remain.
(d) 
Those trees whose removal will damage other trees which are to remain must be removed by hand, and the resulting stumps must be carefully removed to minimize damage to roots and trunks of other trees.
(9) 
Pruning standards.
(a) 
Within any commercial, industrial or multifamily development, pruning of new or existing street, buffer and parking lot trees required by this chapter shall be limited to the following purposes:
[1] 
To provide 12 feet of clearance for mature trees above streets and sidewalks;
[2] 
To provide clear sight triangles at vehicular intersections as per § 114-136 of Chapter 114, Zoning;
[3] 
To provide a six-foot clearance radius for transmission wires and cables; and
[4] 
To remove tree limbs which are hazards to safety, to existing structures or to the health of the tree or shrub.
(b) 
All pruning shall be done to preserve the natural form of the tree. Pruning shall be performed by an arborist certified in Pennsylvania or according to the standards of the National Arborists Association. Topping of trees is not permitted.
(10) 
Damage and destruction of existing or required street, buffer and parking lot trees or of trees planted through the expenditure of public moneys. Except in cases of immediate necessity for protection of life or property, it shall be a violation of this subsection for any person to do any of the following acts:
(a) 
To remove, cut, break, climb with spurs or injure in any manner any tree.
(b) 
To interfere in any manner with the main roots of any tree.
(c) 
To place any rope, guy wire, cable, sign, poster or other fixture on a tree. This shall not apply to rope, wire, cable, etc., placed on the tree to protect the integrity of the subject tree.
(d) 
To interfere with or remove any device placed to protect trees.
(11) 
Standards for tree removal.
(a) 
No tree over three inches in caliper within a tract proposed for subdivision or land development shall be removed unless any of the following conditions exist:
[1] 
Immediate danger to life or property.
[2] 
Affliction by a disease which threatens to injure or destroy other trees.
[3] 
Where compliance with federal, commonwealth or Township laws, regulations and rules which supersede these provisions requires removal.
[4] 
There exists an approved land development plan showing landscape material to be retained or removed. Tree removal pursuant to such a plan shall be limited to those trees within 15 feet of a proposed structure, six feet of a proposed impervious surface or an area to be graded pursuant to an approved grading plan.
(b) 
All specimen trees which are not to be removed shall be preserved in their natural condition. Retention or replacement of substantial areas of small trees and vegetation is encouraged.
(c) 
In the event that a tree over three inches in caliper must be removed for reasons stated in Subsection I(11)(a)[4] above, said trees shall be replaced with approved trees of two to 2 1/2 inches caliper at a rate of two new trees to each one tree removed.
(12) 
Replacement of trees.
(a) 
All trees required by this chapter which are removed or substantially damaged pursuant to Subsection I(10) shall be replaced on the parcel from which the trees were removed, with trees of a minimum caliper of 3 1/2 inches. When the tree damage or tree removal was intentional or in any manner inconsistent with provisions of this chapter, a fine of $1,000 shall also be paid for each tree removed. Trees shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of Subsection I(7) and shall be of the same category of tree (canopy, understory or evergreen) as those removed.
(b) 
Notwithstanding the three-inch caliper limitation in Subsection I(ll), retention or replacement of substantial areas of small trees and vegetation is encouraged.
(13) 
Landowner liability.
(a) 
The cost of planting, destroying or replacing any tree or part thereof, the necessary protection of any tree and the repair or replacement of any pavement or sidewalk necessarily disturbed in the excavation for such work shall be paid for by the owner of the real estate upon which the vegetation is located whether such work is performed by the Township or by a contractor hired by the Township or by the owner of the real estate or by a contractor hired by the owner of the real estate.
(b) 
The amount the owner of the real estate is required to pay shall be limited to the costs incurred in performing the work required by this subsection, plus administration costs, as determined by the Township.
(c) 
The Township shall give 30 days' written notice to the person against whose property an assessment will be made. The notice shall state the amount of the assessment and the time and location of payment.
(d) 
The amount assessed against the real estate shall be a lien from the time of the filing of the notice. If the lien is not paid within the time designated on the notice, a claim may be filed and collected by the Township in the same manner that municipal claims are filed and collected.
(14) 
Township Landscape Fund.
[Added 2-10-1999 by Ord. No. 836]
(a) 
In those instances when the Township agrees to waive any portion of the landscaping improvements required by Chapter 95, Subdivision of Land, the applicant shall be required to make a monetary contribution to the Springfield Township Landscape Fund.
(b) 
Such fees should be in the amount equal to the cost of acquiring and establishing the required landscape materials on the subject parcel as determined by the Township.
(c) 
The Township Landscape Fund will be used to perform landscaping improvements for public benefit only. Such improvements shall include but not be limited to new tree plantings and maintenance to all new and existing landscape materials on public lands throughout the Township.
(d) 
Projects financed using the Township Landscape Fund shall be reviewed by the Springfield Township Shade Tree and Planning Commissions and approved by the Board of Commissioners.
J. 
Stormwater management.[2] All land-disturbance activities shall be consistent with the following:
[Added 11-13-1985 by Ord. No. 735]
(1) 
All subdivision and land development proposals shall comply with Chapter 28 of this Code unless specifically excluded, by § 28-7 of Chapter 28, from the stormwater management plan requirement.
(2) 
Unless the Township Engineer recommends an alternative approach, water should be drained to the streets rather than across lots within the subdivision or land development.
(3) 
It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to obtain any stormwater easements required by the Board of Commissioners on, over or through other properties.
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsections J and K were redesignated as Subsections K and L in order to accommodate the addition of this new Subsection J.
K. 
[3]All subdivision and land development proposals shall be reviewed to ensure that such proposals are consistent with the need to minimize flood damage and that adequate drainage is provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards.
[Added 6-8-1977 by Ord. No. 663; amended 8-10-1977 by Ord. No. 665]
[3]
Editor's Note: Former Subsections J and K were redesignated as Subsections K and L in order to accommodate the addition of the new Subsection J.
L. 
Where a watercourse is to be altered or relocated as a result of any development activity, the developer shall submit to the Township evidence that the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs and all neighboring communities have received prior notification of this fact. Furthermore, the developer shall assure the Township that the carrying capacity of the watercourse will be maintained.
[Added 6-8-1977 by Ord. No. 663; amended 8-10-1977 by Ord. No. 665]
[Amended 10-8-1975 by Ord. No. 645; 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 960]
No subdivision or land development plan shall be granted final plan approval until either:
A. 
The owner or developer completes the construction and installation of the required public improvements, as determined by the Township Engineer in accordance with this chapter and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (the "MPC"); or
B. 
In lieu of the completion of any required public improvements, owner or developer deposits with the Township financial security in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of such improvements, an improvements contingency and a consultant and administration fee and cost escrow, as certified by the Township Engineer, and in accordance with the MPC. The financial security shall be provided to the Township in a form acceptable to the Township Solicitor.