This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "West Donegal
Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance."
This chapter is adopted for the following purposes:
A.
To promote and protect the public health, safety, morals and welfare.
B.
To promote orderly, efficient, integrated and harmonious development
in the Township as a means of fulfilling the growth management goals
of the Comprehensive Plan.
C.
To require sites suitable for building purposes and human habitation
in keeping with the standards of quality existing in the Township
and to alleviate peril from fire, flood, erosion, excessive noise,
smoke or other menace.
D.
To coordinate proposed streets and other improvements with existing
or proposed streets, parks or other features of the Comprehensive
Plan and to provide for drainage, water supply, sewage disposal and
other appropriate utility services.
E.
To encourage preservation of adequate open spaces for recreation,
light and air and maintenance of the natural amenities characteristic
of the Township and its residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial,
and public areas.
F.
To ensure conformance of subdivision and land development plans with the Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 240, Zoning, of the Code of the Township of West Donegal, and public improvement plans and to ensure coordination of intergovernmental improvement plans and programs.
G.
To secure equitable treatment of all subdivision and land development
plans by providing uniform procedures and standards.
H.
To ensure that developments are environmentally sound by requiring
preservation of the natural features of the areas to be developed
to the greatest extent practicable, to maintain the economic well-being
of the Township and to prevent unnecessary or undesirable blight,
runoff and pollution.
I.
To secure the protection of water resources and drainageways.
J.
To establish provisions governing the standards by which streets
shall be granted and improved, and walkways, curbs, gutters, streetlights,
fire hydrants, water and sewage facilities and other improvements
shall be installed as a condition precedent to final approval of plats.
A.
No land development or subdivision of any lot, tract or parcel of
land shall be made and no street, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water
main or other improvements in connection therewith shall be laid out,
constructed, opened, 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.
B.
The authority for the control and regulation of subdivision and land
development within the Township shall be as follows:
(1)
Approval by the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors shall
be vested with the authority to approve or disapprove all subdivision
and land development plans.
(2)
Review by the Township Planning Commission. Plans for subdivision
and land development located within the Township shall be submitted
to the Township Planning Commission for review and report. Said submission
shall take place before approval of any plans by the Board of Supervisors.
(3)
Review by the Lancaster County Planning Commission. Plans for subdivision
and land development located within the Township shall be submitted
to the Lancaster County Planning Commission for review and report.
Said submission shall take place before approval of any plans by the
Township. However, if a report is not received from the Lancaster
County Planning Commission within 30 days after submission, the Township
may proceed without the report.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the authority of the MPC
and the Second Class Township Code[1] and governs all subdivisions and land developments within
West Donegal Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 65101 et seq.
The standards and requirements contained in this chapter shall apply as minimum standards for subdivisions and land developments located within West Donegal Township. However, when the Township, in Chapter 240, Zoning, building code, road ordinance, or other ordinance, code, resolution, or regulation other than this chapter, imposes more restrictive standards and requirements than contained herein, such other standards and requirements shall prevail. These municipal standards and requirements shall be subject to enforcement by the agency assigned such jurisdiction by said ordinance, code, resolution, or regulation. Approval of a plan by the Township shall not be construed as an indication that the plan complies with the other local standards or requirements.
