[Adopted 5-17-2000 as § 302
of Ord. No. 5-00]
The membership of the Commission shall consist of five residents
of the Township appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Their terms
of office shall be for four years and shall be so fixed that no more
than two members shall be reappointed or replaced during any calendar
year. Vacancies may be filled only for the unexpired term.
Planning Commission members may be removed from office upon
failure to attend more than three advertised meetings during the course
of any twelve-month period; for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance
in office; or for other just cause. The removal shall be by a majority
vote of the Board of Supervisors taken after the member has received
15 days' advance notice of the intent to take such a vote. A hearing
shall be held in connection with the vote if the member shall request
it in writing.
The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Vice Chairman
and create and fill such other offices as it may determine necessary.
Officers shall serve annual terms and may succeed themselves. The
Commission may make and alter bylaws and regulations to govern its
procedures consistent with Township ordinances and the laws of the
commonwealth. The Commission shall keep a full record of its business
and shall annually provide a written report of its activities to the
Board of Supervisors by March 1. Details of required conduct of business
are included in the Cecil Township Planning Commission Rules of Procedure.
The powers and duties of the Planning Commission shall include
those required or allowed by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning
Code, including those outlined below:
A. Prepare the Comprehensive Plan for the development of the municipality
and present it for the consideration of the Board of Supervisors.
B. Maintain and keep on file records of its actions, such records to
be kept in the possession of the Board of Supervisors.
C. Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning the adoption
or amendment of an Official Map.
D. Provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning proposed
amendments to the Township's land development ordinances.
E. Prepare, recommend, and administer regulations for planned residential
developments and subdivision and land developments.
F. Prepare and present to the Board of Supervisors a recommended building
code and housing code and provide recommendations concerning proposed
amendments.
G. Prepare and present to the Board of Supervisors a recommended capital
improvements program.
H. Review and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning
any subdivision, land development and application for rezoning or
conditional use.
I. Hold public hearings and meetings.
J. Promote public interest in and understanding of the Comprehensive
Plan and planning.
K. 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.
L. Review and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on
all site plans submitted for the erection of a building, structural
alterations to a building, or change in use of a building for all
land uses except single-family dwellings, their accessory structures,
and signs.
[Adopted 5-17-2000 by Ord. No. 5-00]
There is hereby established a Department of Planning in the
Township of Cecil, which shall have all the powers and duties conferred
upon it by law and any other powers vested in it by law or ordinance.
Authority is granted by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code for the appointment by the Board of Supervisors of a Director
of Planning, who shall be charged with administration of the Department
and who shall have those duties specifically conferred by this chapter.
The duties of the Director of Planning are set forth as follows:
A. Recommend governmental measures affecting land use, public utilities,
community facilities, housing, transportation, and such studies authorized
by the Municipalities Planning Code to control and guide community
development and renewal.
B. Direct the preparation and updating of the Township Comprehensive
Plan and all ordinances enforced by the Township, as well as other
functions of a planning department outlined in the MPC that may be
assigned by the Township Supervisors.
C. Prepare proposed amendments to the Township's land development ordinances
at the request of the Township Supervisors or upon recommendation
from the Planning Commission.
D. Provide recommendations to decisionmaking bodies on requests for
rezoning and applications for subdivision approval, land developments,
conditional uses, special exceptions, temporary uses, and variances.
E. Conduct reviews of all site plans, referring said plans to the Township
Engineer when deemed necessary, and provide recommendations to the
Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
F. Provide technical and staff review assistance to the Township Planning
Commission, any existing advisory planning councils, Zoning Hearing
Board, and Board of Supervisors.
G. Meet with prospective applicants regarding application content and
procedures for review.
H. Monitor development trends in the Township and maintain computerized
recordkeeping and GIS systems.
I. Coordinate long-range planning activities.
J. Coordinate grant applications.
K. Assemble data for preparation and updating of the Capital Improvements
Program.
L. Coordinate with federal, state and county agencies regarding Township
development activities.
M. Monitor expiration of subdivision and land development approvals
and expiration of performance bonds posted for approved plans.
N. Prepare annual report of building permit trends and Planning Commission
and Zoning Hearing Board activities for submission to the Board of
Supervisors.
O. Provide assistance to the Building Code Official in the administration
of zoning regulations.
P. Attend meetings of the Planning Commission, Advisory Planning Council,
Zoning Hearing Board, and Board of Supervisors.
Q. Keep the Township fee schedule current with costs incurred by the
Township and receive all required zoning and subdivision fees.
R. Supervise the updating of Township maps.
S. Keep a record of all correspondence, reports, plans and documents
concerning each development application to the Township.
The jurisdiction and authority of the Director of Planning may
be delegated to his or her designee except as prohibited by law.