In accordance with the Municipalities Planning Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the ordinances of Haverford Township, there is hereby recognized the existence of the Zoning Hearing Board for the following purposes:
A. 
To act as a quasi-judicial body responsible for conducting hearings and issuing rulings on appeals from decisions of any Township officer charged with enforcing the Township Zoning Ordinance[1] on requests for special exceptions and variances.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 182, Zoning.
A. 
The Zoning Hearing Board shall consist of five members, each of whom shall be a full-time resident and qualified elector of the Township, appointed by the Board of Commissioners for terms of five years.
B. 
The Board shall immediately appoint two additional members whose terms shall respectively expire in December 2003 and December 2004, and, at the end of the expiration of the terms of the current members, their succeeding appointees shall be appointed for terms of five years, provided that it is so fixed that the term of office of one member shall expire each year.
C. 
Should a vacancy occur, the Board of Commissioners shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term.
D. 
No member of the Zoning Hearing Board shall hold any other office in the Township, except that one member of the Zoning Hearing Board may also serve as a member of the Planning Commission.
A. 
The Zoning Hearing Board shall be an administrative board and, as such, it shall have authority only in the specific areas of responsibility granted by the ordinances of Haverford Township and the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
B. 
The Zoning Hearing Board shall have the powers and perform those duties prescribed in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. These shall include the powers and duties to:
(1) 
Conduct hearings and render decisions on appeals from any Township officer charged with enforcing the Township Zoning Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 182, Zoning.
(2) 
Hear challenges to the validity of any zoning ordinance or map.
(3) 
Hear requests for variances and render decisions thereof, attaching such reasonable conditions and safeguards as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of the Township Zoning Ordinance.
(4) 
Hear and decide upon requests for special exceptions pursuant to criteria and standards adopted by the Board of Commissioners.
(5) 
Administer oaths and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant documents and papers in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
C. 
The Zoning Hearing Board shall send notice of all hearings and decisions to the Township Planning Commission.
Within the limits of funds appropriated by the Board of Commissioners, the Zoning Hearing Board may appoint a Solicitor to act as legal counsel to the Board.