Preliminary and final plans are required for all subdivisions and land developments within the Township. A Stormwater BMP Operations and Maintenance Plan is required for all regulated earth disturbance activities, as that term is defined in Chapter
125 (Stormwater Management), within Whitpain Township. The Stormwater BMP Operations and Maintenance Plan shall satisfy the requirements set forth in Chapter
125 (Stormwater Management), Article
IV (Stormwater BMP Operations and Maintenance Plan Requirements).
The purpose of the minor subdivision is to provide an expeditious means of subdivision approval for the annexation of land between existing lots and the adjustment or relocation of one existing boundary line between two adjacent lots or the shifting of boundary lines to increase the area of an existing lot; provided, however, that the lot line change results in the same number of or fewer lots than existed prior to the lot line change; and, provided that all provisions of this chapter and the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter
160) are met. Minor plans may be submitted and processed only for lot line adjustments, simple conveyances, minor subdivisions and minor land developments as characterized in this article, in accordance with the standards and requirements in this section.
A. Standards for qualification as a minor plan submission.
(1) Lot line adjustment.
(a)
A proposal between two abutting, existing, legally approved
and recorded lots.
(b)
A common lot line is proposed to be adjusted in terms of configuration.
(c)
The land area of each lot may be different after adjustment,
but the total area of the two lots will be unchanged.
(d)
No alteration will occur to the perimeter boundary lines of
the two lots.
(e)
Neither lot shall violate the applicable dimensional requirements
of the Zoning Ordinance as a result of the lot line adjustment.
(f)
Possible reasons for lot line adjustments include, but are not
necessarily limited to:
[1]
Correcting errors regarding locations of existing improvements
(e.g., if the driveway of Lot No. 1 is located on Lot No. 2).
[2]
Relating the line to definitive, physical characteristics (e.g.,
to adjust the line to run along an existing hedgerow).
[3]
Preferences of the landowners involved.
(2) Annexation.
(a)
A proposal between two abutting, existing, legally approved
and recorded lots.
(b)
A portion of one lot is being divided off to be conveyed to
the owner of the abutting lot.
(c)
The land area of each lot will be different after conveyance,
but the total lot area of the two lots will be unchanged.
(d)
The lot from which the land is being conveyed must be suitable
in terms of the applicable dimensional requirements of the Zoning
Ordinance so that, after conveyance, it will remain in compliance
with those requirements.
(e)
The land area being conveyed need not satisfy any of the dimensional
requirements applicable to lotting in the district in which it is
located, nor the street frontage requirements of the Zoning Ordinance,
provided that it shall be deed restricted to the extent that it may
not be transferred independently, but must be transferred together
with the lot to which it is being functionally added by the process
of simple conveyance.
(3) Minor subdivision.
(a)
A subdivision proposal which would divide one existing lot into
two lots, both of which will comply with the applicable dimensional,
requirements of the Zoning Ordinance district in which the existing
lot is located.
(b)
The existing lot has sufficient frontage on an existing, improved
public street to satisfy the applicable Township requirements for
lot frontage and access to a public street for both proposed lots.
(c)
The subdivision will not require new street construction, street
improvements or the extension of existing public utility lines.
(d)
The proposal will not involve significant stormwater and/or
erosion control issues, as determined by the Township Engineer.
(e)
Disqualification. The Board of Supervisors may require standard
preliminary plan submission in place of a minor plan when conditions
warrant it on the advice of the Township staff.
B. Submission requirements.
(1) Drafting standards.
(a)
Plans shall be drawn on sheets 24 inches by 36 inches. All sheets
comprising a submission shall be one size. Sheets shall be large enough
to clearly show all required features but at a scale not less than
one inch equals 100 feet. The plan shall be clear and legible white
paper print.
(b)
Plans shall also be delivered to the Township on electronic
media in a software format as established by the Board.
(c)
The boundary of the site shall be shown as a solid heavy line.
(d)
The submission shall include a copy of a site plan for all properties
involved in the proposed minor subdivision. This plan shall be on
a single sheet at an appropriate scale that will fit the maximum sheet
size submitted.
(e)
Dimensions shall be in feet and decimal parts thereof, and bearings
in degrees, minutes and seconds.
(f)
Each sheet shall be numbered and shall show its relationship
to the total number of sheets.
(g)
Where any revision is made or when the plan is a revision of
a previously approved plan, notations of revisions shall be numbered,
described and dated.
(h)
The plan shall be so prepared and bear an adequate legend to
indicate clearly which features are existing and which are proposed
and a description of the symbols used.
(i)
Property lines shall be drawn and labeled in conformance with
accepted surveying and civil engineering practices, including dimensions
shown in feet and decimals and bearings shown in degrees, minutes
and seconds.
(2) Basic information to be shown on the plan.
(a)
The name, address and phone number of the applicant.
(b)
The name, address, and phone number of any other property owner
involved in the proposal.
(c)
The name, address, phone number and professional seal of the
individual that prepared the plan.
(d)
Date of the preparation of the plan and a descriptive list of
revisions to the plan, and the revision dates.
(e)
North point and graphic and written scale.
(f)
Location plan showing the relationship of the subject tract
to the surrounding street network and major physical features. The
location plan shall be at a scale of not less than one inch equals
800 feet.
(g)
Entire boundary lines of all lots involved in the proposal,
with bearings and distances and lot areas. Boundary lines shall be
established by field survey and shall be shown as solid heavy, lines.
The date of and by whom the survey was performed shall be indicated
on the plan.
(h)
A list of the basic dimensional requirements of the applicable
zoning districts.
(i)
Legend sufficient to indicate clearly between existing and proposed
conditions.
(j)
Notes sufficient to describe what is being proposed and which
land areas to be transferred as a result of the proposal.
(k)
Zoning standards, required and proposed, including:
[2]
Maximum density, if applicable.
[3]
Lot area and yard requirements.
[4]
Maximum building coverage and impervious service ratio.
[5]
Any variances, conditional uses, or special exceptions granted.
(l)
Streets on and adjacent to the site with legal and ultimate
rights-of-way.
(m)
All existing buildings (and the uses contained therein), driveways,
wells, sewer systems, utility easements, etc.
(n)
Monuments, existing and proposed.
(3) Existing and proposed features to be shown on the plan.
(a)
For lot line adjustments:
[1]
The lot line proposed to be adjusted, as it currently exists,
shown as a dashed line labeled "lot line to be removed."
[2]
The lot line as it is proposed to be after adjustment, drawn
using a solid heavy line and labeled "proposed new lot line."
[3]
Any existing physical features of the site which are involved
in the decision to adjust the line.
[4]
Any existing and/or proposed features which will be directly
affected by lot line adjustment.
(b)
For simple conveyances:
[1]
The land area to be conveyed, drawn in a manner which makes
it readily identifiable.
[a] The lot lines defining this area shall be drawn
using the standard lot line delineation at a heavier line weight than
the other lot lines.
[b] This area shall be labeled "this area to be conveyed
to (name) and is not a separate building lot."
[2]
The area of the parcel being conveyed.
[3]
The areas of the previously existing lots and their areas following
conveyance.
[4]
Any existing and/or proposed site features which will be directly
affected by the conveyance.
(c)
For minor subdivisions:
[1]
Existing features:
[a] Streets bordering or crossing the tract, showing
names, rights-of-way and cartway widths, and surface conditions.
[b] Locations of all storm sewer lines, sanitary sewer
lines, water supply lines and any other underground utility lines.
[c] Location of all watercourses and limits of any
floodplain and flood-prone areas as defined in the Zoning Ordinance.
[d] Contours of the newly created lot shall be established
by field surveyor aerial photography at vertical intervals of two
feet for land with an average slope of 4% or less; vertical intervals
of five feet for more steeply sloping land.
[e] Location and description of existing buildings
and other structures, labeled "to remain" or "to be removed" as applicable
and location and description of existing buildings and other structures
less than 50 feet beyond the tract boundaries.
[f] Outer limits of trees masses.
[g] Locations of any natural or man-made feature which may affect the developability of the land, including, but not limited to, those features identified under §
129-20 and §
129-58C of this chapter, which are located within the property and up to 100 feet beyond the tract boundaries.
[h] Location, type and ownership of major utilities,
such as pipelines and electric transmission lines, both above and
below ground, with notes describing:
[i]
Easement of right-of-way dimensions.
[ii]
Additional setback or development restrictions imposed by the
utility company.
[iii] Specific type of product using pipelines.
[2]
Proposed features:
[a] Layout and dimensions of both lots, including net
lot areas and ultimate rights-of-way.
[b] All building setback lines.
[c] Locations of on-site water supply and sewage disposal,
if applicable.
[d] For minor subdivision involving public sewer, the
applicant shall submit a sewer planning module to the Township and
Authority at the time of initial plan submission.
An as-built plan shall be submitted to the Township for all
subdivisions and land developments. This plan will be similar to the
final plan but shall indicate all field changes, together with all
dimensions for all constructed facilities.