[Ord. 690, 9/10/2009; Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
1.
There are three stages in the procedure for approval of subdivision and land development plans. These stages are required to enable the Warminster Township Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors to have an adequate opportunity to review the submission, and to insure that their formal recommendations are reflected in the final plan.
2.
The separate stages of approval require the submission of sketch, preliminary, and final plans. These plans differ in their purpose and required level of detail. The table below indicates the required plans for the different types of submissions:
Type of Subdivision | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plan Approval Stage | Lot Line Change | Minor Subdivision | Major Subdivision | Land Development | |
Sketch | Suggested | Suggested | Suggested | Suggested | |
Preliminary | Not required | Not required | Required | Required | |
Final | Required | Required | Required | Required | |
3.
The review process for all applications listed as “required” in § 22-301, Subsection 2, above shall be for no more than 90 days following the date of submission. The date of submission is the date of the regular meeting of the Township Planning Commission next following the date the submission is filed, provided that, should the said next regular meeting occur more than 30 days following the filing of the submission, the ninety-day period shall be measured from the 30th day following the day the submission is filed. The said ninety-day period may be extended upon the applicant's agreement to waive the ninety-day requirement. The presentation of a revised sketch, revised preliminary or revised final plan shall also be considered a separate submission.
4.
The presentation of a preliminary plan and final plan shall each be considered a separate submission and the maximum ninety-day review period may be required for each such plan.
5.
Fees and escrow.
A.
The submission of any subdivision and land development plans are subject to the Warminster Township Fee Schedule as modified from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Warminster Township to be used for Township costs of review, legal costs, and engineering costs related to the plans submitted. The amount of the refundable escrow fee shall be paid at the time of submission of any plans and may be used for the purposes defined in such resolution and the fee schedule. The applicant is required to maintain the original escrow deposit in the amount as indicated in the fee schedule. The Township shall require the applicant to post additional escrow in the event payments from such escrow reduce the amount below 20% of the original escrow deposit. The additional escrow amount shall be paid within 10 days of the request by the Township. The applicant shall agree at the time of the submission of the plans to the terms of this provision, including the understanding that the further review and approval of plans may be withheld pending the reimbursement of such escrow deposit to the Township. The applicant shall further agree that any such delays shall constitute an extension of time for the rendering of a decision by the Board of Supervisors.
B.
The fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors shall apply to the processing of sketch plans, lot line change plans, minor subdivision plans, major subdivision plans, land development plans, and all other plans processed by the Township as indicated in the fee schedule.
C.
When a set of plans is presented to the Licenses and Inspections Department pursuant to the procedures set forth within this chapter, the applicant shall deposit with the Licenses and Inspections Director a sum to cover the cost of processing the plan according to a schedule as from time to time approved by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
D.
If the escrow deposit is expended, the applicant shall make further deposits upon notice from the Licenses and Inspections Department in such a manner that the total deposit with the Township shall at all times equal the initial amount as determined by the Licenses and Inspections Department until approval of the plans and final acceptance of construction by Warminster Township.
E.
Occupancy permits shall be withheld until all fees and costs have been paid to the Township in connection with the processing of any plans.
6.
The following shall not require land development approval, provided that all the conditions for the uses or activities proposed have been met as demonstrated by a written report submitted to the Township Engineer and Township Zoning Officer complete with all relevant information:
A.
The conversion of an existing single-family detached dwelling or single-family semidetached dwelling into not more than three residential units, unless such units are intended to be a condominium;
B.
The addition of an accessory building, including farm building, on a lot or lots subordinate to an existing principal building; or
C.
The addition or conversion of buildings or rides within the confines of an enterprise which would be considered an amusement park if the applicants can show that sufficient parking is provided and if the Board of Supervisors grants a waiver from the requirement of a land development plan submission. For the purposes of this subsection, an "amusement park" is defined as a tract or area used principally as a location for permanent amusement structures or rides. This exclusion shall not apply to newly acquired acreage by an amusement park until initial plans for the expanded area have been approved by the proper authorities.
D.
The addition of a nonresidential accessory building of 300 square feet or less in gross floor area to be used for storage or other purposes incidental and subordinate to the principal use and which does not increase the impervious surface on the lot may be approved without land development plans if the use proposed for the accessory building is permitted by Chapter 27, Zoning, and if the applicants can show that sufficient parking is provided and if the Board of Supervisors grants a waiver from the requirement of a land development plan submission.
(1)
Submission of the application and checklist for waiver of land development [Appendixes A and E] shall be required, along with a letter requesting waiver of land development.
E.
An addition to an existing nonresidential building which addition is 500 square feet or less in gross floor area to be used for storage or other purposes incidental and subordinate to the principal use and which does not increase the impervious surface on the lot may be approved without land development plans if the use proposed for the accessory building is permitted by Chapter 27, Zoning, and if the applicants can show that sufficient parking is provided and if the Board of Supervisors grants a waiver from the requirement of a land development plan submission.