In order not to unreasonably delay the time when a landowner
may secure assurance that the ordinance or map under which he proposed
to build is free from challenge and recognizing that the procedure
for preliminary approval of his development may be too cumbersome
or may be unavailable, the landowner may advance the date from which
time for any challenge to the ordinance or map will run under Section
914.1 of the Municipalities Planning Code by the following procedure:
A. The landowner may submit plans and other materials describing his
proposed use or development to the Zoning Officer for a preliminary
opinion as to their compliance with the applicable ordinances and
maps. Such plans and other materials shall not be required to meet
the standards prescribed for preliminary, tentative or final approval
or for the issuance of a building permit so long as they provide reasonable
notice of the proposed use or development and a sufficient basis for
a preliminary opinion as to its compliance.
B. If the Zoning Officer's preliminary opinion is that the use or development
complies with the ordinance or map, notice thereof shall be published
once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general
circulation in the Township. Such notice shall include a general description
of the proposed use or development and its location, by some readily
identifiable directive, and the place and times where the plans and
other materials may be examined by the public. The favorable preliminary
approval under Section 914.1 of the Municipalities Planning Code and the time therein specified for commencing a proceeding
with the Board shall run from the time when the second notice thereof
has been published.