A Planning Commission consisting of five members is hereby created and established for Indiana Borough, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the provisions of Article
II, Section 201, of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as established by the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as amended and reenacted.
The Planning Commission shall be comprised of five members who
shall be appointed for terms of office of four years, except that
the terms of office for three of the original members shall be fixed
at one year, two years and three years, respectively, and the terms
of office for two of the original members shall be fixed at four years,
to be established on a series of overlapping terms with one term expiring
each year, except for one year in which two terms shall expire.
[Amended 12-8-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-06; 2-2-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-01]
The Planning Commission shall have the following powers and
duties:
A. Upon request of Borough Council, review and revise the Comprehensive
Plan for the development of the municipality and present it for consideration
to Borough Council through the Planning Department.
B. Promote public interest in, and understanding of, the Comprehensive
Plan and planning.
C. Review and make recommendations to the Planning Department to present
to Borough Council on any existing zoning or land use regulations.
D. Make recommendations to the Borough Council concerning the adoption
or amendment of an Official Map.
E. Prepare, revise or recommend any other long-range or capital plan
to the Planning Department to present to Borough Council.
F. Present testimony before any board.
G. Prepare agendas and maintain records and minutes of all meetings
and present them monthly to Borough Council. All records and files
of the planning agency shall be in the possession of the governing
body.
H. Review the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,
Official Map, provisions for planned residential development, and
such other ordinances and regulations governing the development of
land no less frequently than it reviews the comprehensive plan.
A Planning Department is hereby created and established for Indiana Borough, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the provisions of Article
II, Section 201, of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as established by the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as amended and reenacted.
[Amended 12-8-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-06]
The Planning Department shall consist of a Director appointed
by Borough Council, and upon recommendation of the Borough Manager
additional staff positions may be approved by Council.
[Amended 12-8-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-06; 2-2-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-01]
The Planning Department shall perform the duties and responsibilities
assigned by Council, including but not limited to:
A. Serve as an advisor/consultant to the Planning Commission and provide
technical assistance and coordination for review and revision of the
Comprehensive Plan.
B. Serve as a liaison between Council and the Planning Commission.
C. Review plans submitted to the Planning Department and report its recommendations to Borough Council for approval or denial of an application as set forth in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Part II, Chapters
405 and
460 of the Code of the Borough of Indiana] and planned residential development regulations, as required.
D. Present plans to committees of Borough Council.
E. Advise the Planning Commission of regulation updates.
F. Prepare, review or revise an existing zoning or land use regulation,
and make recommendations to Borough Council on proposed amendments.
G. Maintain an operational schedule that includes regular office hours,
the number and times of which to be established in consultation with
the Borough Manager or his designee.
H. Act as Zoning Officer as described in Chapter
460, Zoning, Article
IX, §
460-54 D, E, and F.
I. Prepare recommendations for land and real estate development that
ensure they are in conformity with the comprehensive plan.
J. Regularly attend meetings of the Community Development Committee
in order to keep them abreast of planning and development issues.
K. Report activities directly to the Borough Manager or his designee
and complete planning related tasks and other general tasks as assigned
by the Manager.
L. Maintain and keep on file records of its action. All records and
files of the planning agency shall be in the possession of the governing
body.
M. Prepare and present to Borough Council an environmental study.
N. Promote public interest in, and understanding of, the Comprehensive
Plan and planning.
O. Present testimony before any board.
P. Review the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,
Official Map, provisions for planned residential development, and
such other ordinances and regulations governing the development of
land no less frequently than it reviews the comprehensive plan.
The authority for the adoption of these articles is the Borough
Code, 53 P.S. § 45101 et seq. and the Municipalities Planning
Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.