The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by an agent,
to be appointed by the Borough Council, who shall be known as the
"Zoning Officer." He shall serve at the pleasure of the Borough Council
and shall receive such fees or compensation as the Borough Council
may, by resolution, provide. He shall not hold any elective office
in the municipality.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer and he shall have
the power to:
A. Keep a record of all plans and applications for permits and all permits
issued, with notation as to special conditions attached thereto. All
records shall be open for public inspection.
B. Review applications for permits for the erection or alteration of
structures or changes of use and determine whether such construction
or use is in accordance with the general requirements of this chapter,
all other applicable ordinances and with the laws and regulations
of the Commonwealth. The Zoning Officer shall issue no permit unless
it conforms with all applicable ordinances, statutes and regulations.
C. Conduct inspections and surveys to determine compliance or noncompliance
with the terms of this chapter. In carrying out such surveys, the
Zoning Officer or his representative may enter upon any land or building
within the Borough.
D. Make written orders requiring compliance with the provisions of this
chapter to be served personally or by registered mail.
E. Institute proceedings in courts of proper jurisdiction for the enforcement
of provisions of this chapter.
F. Maintain a map available for public inspection showing the current
zoning classification of all land within the Borough.
G. Maintain a register available for public inspection showing the identity,
location and type of nonconforming uses within the Borough.
H. Participate in all proceedings before the Zoning Hearing Board, present
facts and information to assist the Board in reaching decisions which
shall be compatible with this chapter and have decisions of the Board
reviewed in a court of proper jurisdiction when, in the judgment of
the Zoning Officer, such a review is desirable or indicated.
No building shall be constructed or enlarged in the Borough,
nor the use of any building changed, until a permit has been secured
from the Zoning Officer. Upon completion of the work authorized by
any permit, the applicant for the permit shall notify the Zoning Officer
of such completion. No permit shall be considered as complete or as
permanently effective until the Zoning Officer has noted on the permit
that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity
with the provisions of this chapter.
All applications for permits shall be made, in writing, by the
owner or tenants or authorized agent and shall be filed with the Zoning
Officer. The application shall include a statement as to the proposed
use of the building; and, when required by the Zoning Officer, shall
be accompanied by a plot plan based upon a plan prepared by a registered
engineer or land surveyor, showing the location of the building in
relation to property and road lines; and shall contain all information
necessary to enable the Zoning Officer to ascertain whether the proposed
building complies with the provisions of this chapter.
A permit issued under the authority of this chapter shall expire
six months after date of issuance, unless the permittee shall have
commenced substantial construction or utilization of the property
which is the subject of the permit in accordance with the intent thereof
within such period.
An appeal or an application for a special exception or variance
from the terms of this chapter or a decision of the Zoning Officer
may be filed with the Secretary of the Zoning Hearing Board and shall
state:
A. The name and address of the applicant.
B. The name and address of the owner of the property to be affected
by the proposed exception or variance.
C. A brief description and location of the property to be affected by
such proposed change.
D. A statement of the present zoning classification of the property
in question, the improvements thereon and the present use thereof.
E. A statement of the section of this chapter under which the variance
or exception requested may be allowed and the reasons why it should
be granted.
F. A reasonably accurate description of the present improvements and
the additions intended to be made under the application, indicating
the size of such proposed improvements. In addition, there shall be
attached a plot plan of the property to be affected, indicating the
location and size of the lot and the size of improvements now erected
and those proposed to be erected thereon.
An appeal from the decision of the Zoning Officer shall be taken
within 30 days, according to the procedures described herein.
Fees for permits shall be paid in accordance with a fee schedule
to be adopted by resolution or ordinance by the Borough Council. Such
fees shall be designed to cover the costs of administering the Zoning
Ordinance. Each applicant for an appeal, special exception or variance
shall, at the time of making application, pay a fee in accordance
with the aforementioned fee schedule, for the cost of advertising
and mailing notices and such other costs as are required by this chapter
and the rules of the Zoning Hearing Board. All fees shall be paid
into the Borough Treasury.