This chapter shall be known as the "Newtown Township Subdivision
and Land Development Ordinance" and may be cited as the "Township
Subdivision Ordinance."
This chapter has been prepared in accordance with the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., Act
247 of 1968, as amended) and the Newtown Township Comprehensive Plan
for the following purposes:
A. To assure that development occurs only on sites suitable for building
purposes and human occupancy.
B. To assure that development of the Township is orderly, efficient,
integrated and harmonious with the environment.
C. To coordinate proposed streets with existing streets or other proposed
streets, parks or other features of the Township.
D. To assure that adequate open spaces are retained for recreation and
for the proper distribution of population.
E. To ensure coordination of subdivision and land development plans
with Township, intermunicipal, county and commonwealth improvement
plans.
F. To eliminate or minimize adverse effects or damage to the environment
and biosphere and to encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between
man and his environment, consistent with the mandates of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and Article 1, Section 27 (the Environmental
Amendment), of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
G. To secure equitable handling of all subdivision and land development
plans by providing uniform procedures and standards.
H. To protect the social and economic stability of the Township and
conserve the value of land and buildings in the Township.
I. To create conditions favorable to the health, safety and general
welfare of the citizens of Newtown Township.
The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements
to meet the above-stated purposes. Where the provisions of this chapter
impose greater restrictions than those of any statute, other ordinance
or regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail. Where
the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose
greater restrictions than those of this chapter, the provision of
such statute, ordinance or regulation shall prevail.
From and after the effective date hereof, the Board of Supervisors
shall have the authority to regulate subdivision and land development
within the Township.
The Board of Supervisors shall have the jurisdiction of subdivision
and land development within the Township limits. In order to aid the
Board of Supervisors in its consideration of subdivisions and land
developments, the Board of Supervisors hereby decrees that the Planning
Commission of Newtown Township shall serve the following functions:
A. All plans upon submission to the duly authorized representative of
the Township shall be referred to the Planning Commission for review,
except minor changes to conditional use applications.
B. The Planning Commission shall make recommendations to the Board of
Supervisors concerning approval, disapproval, modification and/or
conditions for approval of such plans.
C. The Planning Commission shall make recommendations to the Board of
Supervisors concerning the interpretation of the granting of modifications
to provisions and standards of this chapter and related ordinances.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed to the extent that such ordinances or parts of ordinances are inconsistent herewith, except to the extent that they are made applicable to projects by state statute because of the dates of the projects. However, no such ordinance or parts of such ordinance shall be deemed to be repealed by virtue of a more stringent interpretation as provided for in §
148-3.