The Planning Commission, consisting of seven members as presently
constituted, is hereby continued, with its members to serve the unexpired
portions of their present terms. All members shall be residents of
Shaler Township and not officers or employees of the municipality.
The appointment and tenure of members of the Commission shall be governed
by the Municipalities Planning Code and laws of the commonwealth.
The Planning Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Vice
Chairman and create and fill such other offices as it may determine.
Officers shall serve annual terms and may succeed themselves. The
Planning Commission may make and alter bylaws and rules and regulations
to govern its procedures consistent with the ordinances of Shaler
Township and the laws of the commonwealth. The Planning Commission
shall keep a full record of its business and shall annually make a
written report by March 1 of each year of its activities to the Board
of Commissioners. Interim reports may be made as often as may be necessary
or as requested by the Board of Commissioners.
The Planning Commission shall receive copies of all applications
for amendment to this chapter other than those prepared by the Planning
Commission, shall make recommendations thereon and shall forward such
recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.
The Planning Commission shall initiate, direct and review, from
time to time, a study of the provisions of this chapter and shall
make reports of its findings to the Board of Commissioners at least
annually.
The Planning Commission shall also receive copies of all applications
for building permits for conditional uses and other applications for
conditional uses which have been received, shall make recommendations
thereon and shall forward such recommendations to the Board of Commissioners
at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing by the Board of
Commissioners on such applications. The Planning Commission may, from
time to time, make and amend its bylaws and regulations to provide
for and change it procedures governing applications for conditional
uses, including its procedures for holding or not holding public hearings
thereon, for notices of its hearings and for the timing of its actions.
The Planning Commission shall, when requested by the Zoning
Hearing Board, review and make recommendations and supply factual
data with reference to any matter before the Zoning Hearing Board.
In the performance of its powers and duties, any act or recommendation
of the Planning Commission which involves engineering considerations
shall be subject to review and comments of the Township Engineer.
Any recommendation made by the Planning Commission to the Board
of Commissioners shall be advisory only.
The Solicitor of Shaler Township shall serve as the legal advisor
to the Planning Commission.