The purpose of conditional use regulations is to permit certain
uses in particular zones or districts when the conditions described
for each use have been fulfilled, as determined by the Summit Hill
Borough Council upon recommendation of the Planning Commission.
Decisions for granting or denying conditional use permits shall
be made by the Borough Council according to the following procedures:
A. Decisions.
(1) Decisions for granting or denying conditional use permits shall be
made by the Borough Council after its receipt and review of the Planning
Commissions recommendation and after it has held the required public
hearing in order to hear evidence from involved parties for the purpose
of better gauging the potential implications of the proposed use.
(2) The Borough Council shall submit the application for the proposed
conditional use to the Planning Commission at least 30 days prior
to the public hearing on the proposed use to provide the Planning
Commission with an opportunity to submit a nonbinding recommendation.
(3) The Borough Council shall render a final decision on the application
within 45 days after the last public hearing. Where the Borough Council
fails to make its decision within the period required, the decision
shall be deemed in favor of the applicant.
B. Effect of ordinance changes on application:
(1) When an application for conditional use has been filed with the Borough Council and the subject matter of such would ultimately constitute either a land development or a subdivision as defined in Article
II, no change or amendment of the zoning, subdivision or other governing ordinance or plans shall affect the decision on such application adversely to the applicant, and the applicant shall be entitled to a decision in accordance with the provisions of the governing ordinances or plans as they stood at the time the application was filed.
(2) Provided, further, should such application be approved by the Borough
Council, the applicant shall be entitled to proceed with the submission
of either land development or subdivision plans within a period of
six months or longer, or as may be approved by the Borough Council,
following the date of such approval in accordance with the provisions
of the governing ordinances or plans as they stood at the time the
application was duly filed before the Borough Council.
(3) If either a land development or subdivision plan is so filed within
said period, such plan shall be subject to the provisions of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247, as amended), Section 508(1)
through (4), and specifically to the time limitations of Section 508(4), which shall commence as of the date of filing such land
development or subdivision plan.
C. Site plan. A plan for the proposed development of a site for a conditional
use shall be submitted with the application for a conditional use
permit to the Zoning Officer. Such plan shall show the location of
all buildings, open space, parking areas, traffic access and circulation,
landscaping and any other conditional use with the regulations for
that use.
D. General standards. Decisions for granting all conditional uses shall
be guided by the following general standards:
(1) The proposed use shall not jeopardize the objectives of the Comprehensive
Plan.
(2) Public services and facilities such as streets, sewers, water, police,
and fire protection shall be adequate for the proposed use.
(3) Existing and future streets and access to the site shall be adequate
for emergency services, for avoiding undue congestion and for providing
for the safety and convenience of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
(4) The relationship of the proposed use to other activities existing
or planned in the vicinity shall be harmonious in terms of the location
and size of the site relative to the proposed operation, and the nature
and intensity of the operation involved.
(5) The relationship of the proposed use to other activities existing
or planned in the vicinity shall be harmonious in terms of the character
and height of buildings, walls, and fences so that property is not
impaired.
(6) The proposed use shall not be more objectionable in its operations
in terms of noise, fumes, vibrations, smoke, fly ash, or lights (such
as flashing, neon, flood, spot, etc.) than would be the operations
of any permitted use in the district.
(7) Any other reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those
expressed in this chapter, may be implemented by the Borough Council
if it deems it necessary for implementing the purpose of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247, as amended) and this chapter.