The purpose of this chapter is to regulate subdivision and land development within the Borough of Northampton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Northampton Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance."
[Amended 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
This chapter shall apply to and have jurisdiction over:
A. 
Subdivision. The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling, shall be exempted.
B. 
Land development. Any of the following activities:
(1) 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(a) 
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots, regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or
(b) 
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
(2) 
A subdivision of land.
(3) 
"Land development" does not include development which involves:
(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. 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.
[Added 7-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1048]
The following are exempt or partially exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
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 buildings, 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. 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 proper authorities.
All plans shall be submitted to the Borough of Northampton Planning Commission for approval. The Borough Planning Commission report shall only be a recommendation to the Borough, and the decision of the Borough Council shall be final.
All plans shall be sent to the Joint Planning Commission of Lehigh-Northampton Counties for their review prior to approval by the Borough Planning Commission. If a report is not received within 30 days from the date the application is forwarded to the Joint Planning Commission of Lehigh-Northampton Counties, the Borough Planning Commission may proceed to act without their comments. The Joint Planning Commission report shall only be a recommendation to the Borough, and the decision of the Borough Council shall be final.