[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of East Cocalico 4-6-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
This chapter may be known and shall be cited as the "East Cocalico
Township Impact Fee Ordinance."
A.
The Board of Supervisors enacts this chapter in accordance with the
authority of Article V-A of the Municipalities Planning Code, as added
by Act 209 of 1990. In 2010 and 2011, pursuant to Act 209, the Township
prepared and adopted land use assumptions, a roadway sufficiency analysis,
and a transportation capital improvements plan. The Board of Supervisors
desires to enact an impact fee ordinance to provide for the calculation
and imposition of impact fees.
B.
It is the further intent of the Board that this chapter impose impact
fees to the maximum extent authorized by law, including any retroactivity
provisions. If a project is no longer protected from the effect of
changes to governing ordinances by Article V of the Municipalities
Planning Code, it is the intent of the Board that such project shall
be subject to payment of impact fees in accordance with this chapter.
All terms defined in Act 209 shall have the meanings set forth
in Act 209 except as specifically modified by this section. In addition,
the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth
in this section:
Article V-A of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
as added by the Act of December 19, 1990, P.L. 1343, and as subsequently
amended, 53 P.S. § 10501-A et seq.
The East Cocalico Township Impact Fee Advisory Committee,
established in accordance with Act 209.
Any person who submits an application for development to
the Township.
An application for approval of a subdivision or land development
plan (whether preliminary or final) or for planned residential development
approval or for a construction or zoning permit or for a certificate
of use and occupancy when no prior application for a construction
or zoning permit is required.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township.
A permit issued under the East Cocalico Township Uniform Construction Code Ordinance, codified as Chapter 84, Construction Codes, Uniform, of the Code of Ordinances.
The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act of July
31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as amended and reenacted, 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq.
Any commercial, industrial, residential or other project
which involves new construction, enlargement, reconstruction, redevelopment,
relocation or structural alterations (including change of use) within
the Township and which is expected to generate additional vehicular
traffic within the applicable transportation service area of the Township.
An individual, partnership, limited partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, trust, estate, or any other legally recognized
entity, and the members of such partnership and the officers, members
or managers of such corporation or company.
The new development proposed in an application for development.
The Township of East Cocalico, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The East Cocalico Township Zoning Ordinance of 2003, codified as Chapter 220 of the Code of Ordinances, and as may be amended or reenacted in the future.
The Township hereby establishes three transportation service
areas, identified as Eastern, Western and Southern as outlined on
the map attached hereto as Appendix A and incorporated herein by reference.[1] Appendix A may hereafter be amended from time to time
by ordinance or resolution.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
The Township hereby imposes and establishes an impact fee to
generate revenues for funding the costs of transportation capital
improvements within the Township necessitated by and attributable
to new development to the maximum extent authorized by the laws of
the commonwealth, except as exempted, credited or limited by this
chapter. The amount of the impact fee shall be determined by following
the calculations and methodology set forth in Appendix B to this chapter,
which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.[1] All new development for which an application for development
is filed after the effective date of this chapter shall pay impact
fees calculated in accordance with Appendix B. The Township, pursuant
to Section 505-A(c)(2) of Act 209, specifically imposes impact fees
in the amount of $1,000 per peak-hour trip on all new development
which Act 209 limits to such impact fee, i.e. new development proposed
by an application for development first filed with the Township after
the advertisement of notice of intent to enact an impact fee ordinance
and prior to the date of enactment of this chapter. Appendix B may
hereafter be amended from time to time by ordinance or by resolution.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix B is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A.
Before submitting or simultaneously with the submission of an application
for development, each applicant shall complete and submit on a form
obtained from the Township the information necessary to calculate
the impact fee pursuant to Appendix B.[1] If an applicant is submitting a second or subsequent application
for development relating to a project for which the Township has previously
established the amount of the impact fee, the applicant shall submit
a copy of the determination of the impact fee and a statement that
the applicant has not changed the scope of the project in the application
for development with the second or subsequent application for development.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix B is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B.
Review of application.
(1)
The Township, or where deemed necessary by the Township, the Township
Solicitor or the Township Engineer or both, shall review the form
submitted by the applicant within 30 days of receipt by the Township
and shall calculate the impact fee due for the project. The Township
shall promptly notify the applicant of the amount of the impact fee
required for the project proposed in the application for development.
(2)
An applicant may calculate the impact fees due for a project and
submit that calculation with the form required by this section. The
applicant's calculation shall be subject to review by the Township
and, where deemed necessary by the Township, the Township Solicitor
or the Township Engineer or both, who or which shall verify the accuracy
or inaccuracy of the calculation. If the Township determines that
the applicant's calculation is inaccurate, the Township shall calculate
the proper amount of the impact fee for the project and so inform
the applicant.
C.
If the applicant shall disagree with the calculation of the impact
fee for the project, the applicant may request that the Board consider
the calculation of the impact fee at a public meeting of the Board.
The applicant shall submit such request in writing to the Township
Secretary within 30 days of the date of the calculation of the impact
fee and shall specify, in detail, the reasons for the disagreement.
D.
Special transportation studies.
(1)
Where a project will result in increased density, intensity or trip
generation as compared to the land use assumptions prepared by the
Advisory Committee, the Township may require that the applicant prepare
a special transportation study at the applicant's expense in order
to determine traffic generation or circulation for such project to
assist in the determination of the amount of the impact fee for such
project.
(2)
An applicant may, at any time authorized by Act 209, voluntarily
prepare and submit a traffic study for a project for use in calculating
the impact fee for the project or for use in any appeal as provided
for under Act 209 or this chapter. An applicant which has elected
to prepare and submit a traffic study for a project shall not have
the right to prepare or submit a second or subsequent traffic study
for the same project.
(3)
Any special transportation study, whether required by the Township
or prepared voluntarily by the applicant, shall be prepared by a qualified
traffic or transportation engineer using procedures and methods established
by the Township and shall be based on generally accepted transportation
planning and engineering standards. The study, where required by the
Township, shall be submitted prior to the imposition of an impact
fee and shall be taken into consideration by the Township in increasing
or reducing the amount of the impact fee for the project as calculated
in accordance with the impact fee schedule adopted by the Township
as set forth in Appendix B.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Appendix B is included as an attachment to this chapter.
E.
An applicant shall be entitled to credits against the impact fee
as set forth in the following subsections. No applicant shall be entitled
to any credit for any on-site improvement required by the Subdivision
and Land Development Ordinance[3] or other applicable Township ordinance or required by
another governmental entity including, but not limited to, the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation. If the applicant will not pay the impact
fees attributable to the project in a single payment, the Township
shall grant the credit proportionally as the applicant pays the impact
fees. By way of example, if the project is comprised of 100 dwelling
units, the applicant shall be entitled to 1% of the credit when the
applicant pays the impact fee attributable to each dwelling unit.
(1)
The Township shall grant a credit in the amount of the fair market
value of any land the applicant dedicates to the Township for future
rights-of-way, realignment or widening of any existing roadways or
for the value of any construction of road improvements contained in
the transportation capital improvement program which is performed
at applicant's expense; provided, however, that such improvement does
not constitute an on-site improvement. The amount of such credit for
any capital improvement the applicant constructs shall be the amount
allocated in the capital improvement program, including contingency
factors, for such work. The fair market value of any land the applicant
dedicates to the Township shall be determined as of the date of the
submission of the application for development to the Township. The
applicant who requests a credit for the value of right-of-way or other
interest in land shall have the burden to present evidence to the
Township to demonstrate the fair market value of the interest in land
dedicated to the Township.
(2)
The Township shall grant a credit against the applicable impact fee
for projects that involve the reuse of a building which is vacant
on the effective date of this chapter which shall be based upon the
number of p.m. peak-hour trips for the use which existed prior to
the existing building becoming vacant. By way of example, if a building
which is vacant on the effective date of this chapter was used for
retail sales in 2009, the number of p.m. peak-hour trips for such
retail sales usage would be subtracted from the number of p.m. peak-hour
trips anticipated to be generated by the project.
The applicant shall pay the impact fee calculated in accordance
with this chapter, less any credits specifically authorized by this
chapter, prior to the issuance of a construction permit for the structure
to which the impact fee relates. Where no construction permit is required,
the applicant shall pay the applicable impact fee prior to the issuance
of a certificate of use and occupancy for the structure or land. If
the applicant fails or refuses to pay the impact fee in full, the
Township shall deny the application for a construction permit or certificate
of use and occupancy.
The Township shall place all impact fees collected under this
chapter in a capital improvement account in accordance with the requirements
of Act 209. The Township shall expend impact fees in accordance with
the requirements of Act 209 or in accordance with any waivers to which
a payor of impact fees may agree.
A.
An applicant who has paid an impact fee may make an application for
a refund of such impact fee where Act 209 requires the Township to
refund an impact fee. The applicant desiring a refund of the impact
fee shall file a written application with the Township requesting
such a refund no later than 30 days after the event which gives rise
to the right to claim a refund unless a different procedure is required
by Act 209. The written request for a refund shall contain all of
the following information:
(1)
The name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the
refund and, if different, the full name, address and telephone number
of the person who paid the impact fee. If the person requesting a
refund is different from the person who paid the impact fee, the request
shall clearly identify the right of the person making the request
to receive the refund.
(2)
The address and Lancaster County Tax Account Number of the property
for which the impact fee was paid and, if applicable, the name and
recording reference of the subdivision and/or land development plan
creating the lot or authorizing the development.
(3)
The amount of the impact fee paid and the date upon which it was
paid.
(4)
The specific provision of Act 209 granting the right to a refund
and all facts applicable to a determination of why the applicant qualifies
for a refund of impact fees under such Section of Act 209. Failure
to provide all required information shall result in the denial of
the refund request.
B.
The Board shall act upon a request for a refund within 90 days. The
Board may, in its discretion, conduct a hearing in a request for a
refund of impact fees. Should the Board conduct a hearing, the costs
relating to the attendance of the court reporter and preparation of
the transcript shall be allocated as set forth in Municipalities Planning
Code Section 908.
The following types of projects are exempt from the requirements
of this chapter:
A.
Projects constructed and/or owned by the federal government, state
government, county government, the Township, or East Cocalico Township
Authority to be used by such entity in the exercise of its governmental
functions.
B.
The addition to or construction of buildings for agricultural use
on properties devoted to farming. The establishment of a new dwelling
unit, home occupation, rural occupation or farm occupation on such
property shall be subject to impact fees under this chapter.
C.
Additions to single-family dwellings and residential accessory structures
which do not add additional dwelling units or which will not contain
a home occupation or a rural occupation. The establishment of a new
dwelling unit, home occupation or rural occupation shall be subject
to impact fees under this chapter.
An applicant who believes that its project is subject to unreasonable hardship not of the applicant's making which results in a manifest injustice may file a request to the Board for a waiver of one or more of the provisions of this chapter. An applicant seeking a waiver shall file the written request together with the calculation of the impact fee provided in § 203-5 of this chapter. The written request for a waiver shall contain the following information:
A.
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant and, if different,
the name, address and telephone number of the landowner.
B.
The address and Lancaster County Tax Account Number of the property
which is the subject of the request.
C.
A brief description of the project.
D.
The section or sections of this chapter which the applicant requests
the Board to waive.
E.
The reasons for the waiver, including, if applicable, improvements
to the Township's highway system proposed as part of the project.
Any appeal from a determination under this chapter shall be
made in accordance with Section 506-A of Act 209.
A.
It shall be a violation of this chapter to commit or permit any other
person to commit any of the following acts:
(1)
To commence construction of any improvement for which an impact fee
is required prior to payment of the impact fee.
(2)
To place false information on or omit relevant information from an
application for development or an application for a permit or an application
requesting calculation of impact fees for a project under this chapter
or any other document filed with the Township pursuant to this chapter.
(3)
To fail to comply with any other provisions of this chapter.
B.
For each violation of this chapter, any person who commits, takes
part in, or assists in any such violation shall be liable upon conviction
thereof in a summary proceeding to pay a fine of not less than $200
nor more than $600 for each offense, together with the costs of prosecution.
Each day or portion thereof in which a violation exists shall be considered
a separate violation of this chapter, and each section of this chapter
which is violated shall be considered a separate violation.
In addition to any other penalty or remedy provided by this
chapter and by applicable statutes and regulations, the Township may
institute proceedings in equity to restrain any violation of this
chapter or to require compliance with this chapter.
The Township reserves the right to review and, if appropriate,
to revise the land use assumptions, roadway sufficiency analysis,
transportation capital improvements plan, and/or any other study or
data upon which the Township based this chapter. The Township reserves
the right to review and, if appropriate, to revise this chapter should
circumstances warrant. The Board directs the Advisory Committee and
the Township Planning Commission to annually examine such matters
and make recommendations to the Board.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect any rights
acquired by the Township or any agreements concerning the payment
of impact fees or road improvement contributions entered into prior
to the enactment of this chapter. Nothing contained in this chapter
shall be construed to affect other chapters of the Code of Ordinances
of this Township. The impact fee imposed herein is in addition to
any existing or future fees, charges or taxes imposed by the Township.
