The purpose of rezoning is to protect the safety, capacity and efficiency
of the Borough's existing infrastructure systems; to maintain fiscal
responsibility; and to uphold the objectives of the Oakmont Comprehensive
Plan.
All applicants submitting rezoning applications shall be required to prepare a series of plans, analyses and reports as enumerated in § 205-1804 to demonstrate the compatibility of a rezoning proposal.
Upon receipt of a rezoning application, the Zoning Officer will
perform a desk check review of the package to determine the completeness
of the application.
The Zoning Officer will provide the applicant a letter within
seven business days stating that the application has been submitted
with all required information attached.
When the rezoning application is found to be complete, the Zoning
Officer shall compile a report and forward the application package
and report to the Planning Commission for review.
As part of the rezoning approval process, the Planning Commission
and Council shall consider the motivation and implications of each
plan, analysis and report.
If the rezoning proposal is found to be generally consistent
with the Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Commission shall consider
any projected beneficial and/or detrimental effects on the Borough.
The Planning Commission may host a public hearing on the application
if it deems it applicable.
Based on these analyses, the Planning Commission shall submit
a written recommendation either in favor or not in favor of the rezoning
proposal including a specific statement as to whether or not the proposed
rezoning is in accordance with the objectives of the Borough Comprehensive
Plan.
Upon receipt of the Planning Commission's final recommendations, the Council shall host a public hearing on the application. The Council shall compose a brief summary explanation of its decision and forward the decision and explanation to the applicant. The Council may deny the rezoning proposal and shall provide a brief summary explanation of the decision to the applicant. Upon approval of the rezoning proposal the Zoning Officer shall update the official Zoning Map accordingly. See also § 205-1601.
Application requirements. The following outlines the plans, analyses
and reports that a landowner and/or developer shall submit as part
of rezoning applications. The plans, analyses and reports to be submitted
include:
A summary of anticipated impacts on adjoining lots including
but not limited to noise, vibration, night-time lighting, service
area locations and visibility, hours of operation.
Depending upon the location of lot access, infrastructure service/demands and impacts identified in Subsection A(4) on adjoining lots, the Council may require a landowner and/or developer to prepare other potential related studies.
The Planning Commission and the Council reserve the right to
request additional information as part of the rezoning review and
approval process in order to evaluate the applicability of the rezoning.