The applicant shall provide a plan for the long-term management of the designated open space that is to be created as part of the development, including maintenance and management of any wastewater disposal, water supply, stormwater management or any other common facilities which may be located within areas of designated open space. The purpose of the open space management plan is to guide the future owners of the development in the care, operation and maintenance of the natural features and infrastructure contained in the site.
A. Open space management plan information. The open space management plan shall include a narrative description of the following:
(1) The manner in which the designated open space and any facilities included therein will be owned and by whom they will be managed and maintained.
(2) The conservation, land management and agricultural techniques and practices which will be used to conserve and perpetually protect the designated open space, including conservation plan(s) approved by the Chester County Conservation District where applicable.
(3) The professional and personnel resources that will be necessary in order to maintain and manage the property.
(4) The nature of public or private access that is planned for the designated open space.
(5) The source of money that will be available for such management, preservation and maintenance on a perpetual basis.
(6) The estimated lifespan of infrastructure that is to be owned privately or in common, and the cost to replace it, and the end of its usability.
B. At the time of preliminary plan submission, the applicant shall provide a draft open space management plan with sufficient detail to demonstrate feasible compliance with the provisions required under this section.
C. The management plan shall be recorded with the final subdivision or land development plans in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County.
D. The Board of Supervisors may require as a condition of subdivision and/or land development approval that appropriate management contracts or homeowners' association fees be established as evidence of the ability to adhere to the provisions of the approved management plan.
E. In order to allow for the changing needs inherent in the perpetual management of land, the management plan shall contain a provision to the effect that it may be changed by written application to the Board of Supervisors. Approval of such application by the Board of Supervisors shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, so long as:
(1) The proposed change is feasible, is consistent with the purposes of preservation of open space set forth in this section and with the approved subdivision and land development plans; and
(2) The plan for such change avoids a likelihood of the obligation for management and maintenance of the land falling upon the Township without the consent of the Board of Supervisors.
[Amended 6-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-04]
A. Purpose. The purposes of this section are to accomplish the following:
(1) Ensure development is consistent with the goals of the Township's Comprehensive Plan related to natural resources and environmental and land use standards.
(2) Promote the public health, safety, and general welfare.
(3) Conserve energy by providing shade and wind breaks.
(4) Provide pervious areas to reduce stormwater runoff.
(6) Protect and preserve the appearance, character, and value of neighboring properties.
B. Applicability. As part of any subdivision and/or land development process, the subject property shall be planted and maintained with landscaping and an all-season ground cover according to an overall plan, which may include the retention of existing landscape features as provided for herein, which shall be submitted and approved as part of the subdivision or land development plan application.
C. Landscape plan contents. A landscape plan shall include the following:
(1) Existing landscape features, including, without limitation: wooded areas (indicated by general type, e.g., evergreen or deciduous); location of tree dripline; small groupings of trees; individual trees of eight inches' or greater DBH; distinctive natural features, such as rock formations or notable topography; all water features, including streams, springs, and wetlands; existing trails; greenways; parks; and man-made features of local or historic significance.
(2) The location, size, and layout of all proposed plant materials and verification that minimum landscaping, tree canopy percentages, and screening requirements of Township ordinances have been satisfied (dimensions of landscaped areas shall be indicated, and trees shall be depicted at full canopy). Plant materials may be indicated in generic terms, e.g., large or medium canopy tree; evergreen tree; shrub; hedge, etc.
(3) A schedule of proposed plantings, including number, height, caliper or container size, botanical names, and tables calculating the amount of open space and tree cover required and provided.
(4) Where the preservation of existing, noninvasive plant material is being proposed to satisfy landscape planting and tree canopy retention requirements of this chapter, the landscape plan shall indicate:
(c) Location and type of protective fencing;
(d) Grade changes requiring tree wells or walls; and
(e) Trenching or tunneling proposed within 10 feet of the limits of disturbance of any tree protection zone.