The Board of Supervisors of East Lampeter Township, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 of 1968, as amended,[1] hereby enacts and ordains this chapter governing subdivisions and land developments within the limits of East Lampeter Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "East Lampeter Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 2022."
This chapter is adopted for the following purposes:
A. 
To assist in the orderly, efficient and integrated development of land in accordance with any Comprehensive Plans, standalone plan and Official Map adopted by East Lampeter Township.
B. 
To facilitate the rational movement of traffic.
C. 
To ensure coordination and conformance of subdivision and land development plans with the public improvements plans of the Township.
D. 
To provide for the proper extension of community services and facilities at minimum cost and maximum convenience.
E. 
To ensure equitable handling of all subdivision and land development plans by providing uniform standards and procedures.
F. 
To promote the general health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Township.
G. 
To ensure that the reservation of any area designed for use as public grounds shall be suitably sized and located for its designated uses.
A. 
In order that the actions of the Board of Supervisors under this chapter may be correlated with all relevant data and procedures, the Board of Supervisors hereby designates the Township Planning Commission as the agency of the Board of Supervisors:
(1) 
To which all applications relating to either sketch, preliminary or final approval of subdivision and land development plans shall be initially submitted;
(2) 
With which applicants shall hold all preliminary consultations relating to the plans;
(3) 
Which shall make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning approval, disapproval, modification and conditions of approval of such plans; and
(4) 
Which shall make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning the interpretation of and the granting of modifications to provisions and standards of this chapter.
B. 
No subdivision or land development of any lot, tract or parcel of land shall be made, no street, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main or other improvements in connection therewith shall be laid out, constructed, opened or dedicated for public use or travel, or for the common use of occupants of buildings abutting thereon, except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
The provisions of this chapter shall not adversely affect an application for approval of a preliminary or final plan which is duly filed with the Township and is pending action at the time of the effective date of this chapter, and in which case 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 has been duly filed. When a preliminary application has been duly approved, the applicant shall be entitled to final approval in accordance with the terms of the approved preliminary application; however, if an application is properly and finally denied, any subsequent application shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
D. 
When a plan has received preliminary or final plan approval prior to the effective date of this chapter, no provision of this chapter shall be applied to adversely affect the right of the applicant to commence and to complete any aspect of the approved development, including application for final approval, in accordance with the terms of such approval within three years from the date of enactment of this chapter. In the case of any doubt as to the terms of a preliminary or final plan approval, the terms shall be construed in the light of the provisions of the governing ordinances or plans as they stood at the time when the application for such approval was duly filed. The Board of Supervisors may grant an extension to the three-year period if it determines that the plan as approved prior to this chapter will not have an adverse effect on the adjoining properties and that a hardship would be created if redesign is required.