The regulations, restrictions, boundaries and requirements set forth in this chapter may, from time to time, be amended, supplemented, changed or repealed through amendment by the Board of Township Commissioners by amending the chapter in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,[1] as amended, and this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10601
et seq.
The following requirements shall be observed
in making any amendment to this chapter:
A.
The Board of Township Commissioners may, upon its
own initiative or upon the recommendation of the Planning Commission,
prepare or have prepared an ordinance amending, supplementing or changing
the district boundaries or the regulations herein established, or
a request for amendment may be initiated:
(1)
Upon a petition signed by the owners of 50%
or more of the frontage of any area, which shall be not less than
the area contained between two streets, wherein a change of zoning
regulations is sought; or
B.
The Board of Township Commissioners shall submit each
proposed zoning amendment, other than one prepared by the Township
Planning Commission, to the Planning Commission at least 30 days prior
to any hearing which is to be held on the proposed amendment to provide
the Commission with an opportunity to submit its recommendations prior
to final action. The Planning Commission shall consider whether or
not the proposed amendment would be, in the view of the Commission,
consistent with and desirable in furtherance of the Township Plan
for future land use, and in the case of any formally adopted Comprehensive
Plan or any part thereof, the recommendations of the Commission shall
include a specific statement as to whether or not the proposed action
is in accordance with the intent of said formally adopted Comprehensive
Plan. As required by the State Planning Code, a copy of any proposed
zoning amendment also shall be submitted to the County Planning Commission
at least 30 days prior to any hearing to be held on a proposed amendment
in order to provide the Commission with an opportunity to submit its
recommendations prior to final action.
C.
Before voting on the enactment of an amendment, the
Board of Township Commissioners shall hold a public hearing thereon
pursuant to public notice. Notice of any such public hearing shall
be given by publishing a notice thereof once each week for two successive
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township and by
mailing a notice thereof to the parties in interest and to every resident
or association of residents of the Township who shall have registered
their names and addresses for this purpose with the Township for the
current year. The first publication of the notice shall be not more
than 30 days or less than 14 days from the date of the hearing. The
required public notice shall state the time and place of the hearing
and the particular nature of the proposed amendment.
D.
No action to amend or change this chapter shall become
effective until after a public hearing in relation thereto, at which
parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard.
E.
If, after any public hearing held upon an amendment,
the proposed amendment is revised or further revised to include land
previously not affected by it, the Board of Township Commissioners
shall hold another public hearing, as required by law pursuant to
public notice, before proceeding to vote on the amendment.
