[Ord. 2-80, 11/17/1980; as added by Ord. 91-4, 9/3/1991]
The purposes of this Part are:
1. To insure that the provisions of this chapter which are concerned
with the uniform treatment of dwelling type, bulk, density and open
space within each zoning district, shall not be applied to the improvement
of land by other than lot-by-lot development in a manner which would
distort the objectives of this chapter.
2. To encourage innovations in residential development and renewal so
that the growing demand for housing may be met by greater variety
in type, design and layout of dwellings and by the conservation and
more efficient use of open space ancillary to said dwellings.
3. To provide greater opportunities for better housing and recreation
for all who are or will be residents of the Township of Richmond.
4. To encourage a more efficient use of land and public services and
to reflect changes in the technology of land development so that the
economies so secured may inure to the benefit of those who need homes.
5. To encourage more flexible land development which will respect and
conserve natural resources such as streams, lakes, floodplains, groundwater,
wooded areas, steeply-sloped areas, and areas of unusual beauty or
importance to the natural ecosystem.
6. In aid to these purposes, to provide a procedure which can relate
the type, design and layout of residential development to the particular
site and the particular demand for housing existing at the time of
development in a manner consistent with the preservation of the property
values within existing residential areas, and to assure that the increased
feasibility of regulations over land development established hereby
is carried out pursuant to sound, expeditious and fair administrative
standards and procedures.
[Ord. 2-80, 11/17/1980; as added by Ord. 91-4, 9/3/1991]
No application for tentative approval of a planned residential
development shall be approved or even considered unless the following
general conditions are met:
1. The planned residential development shall consist of a contiguous
area of at least 25 acres.
2. The development shall be served by a community water supply and sewage
disposal system, which shall be implemented at the time of construction
of structures as the development commences.
3. The proposed developments shall be found to be generally consistent
with the Township of Richmond Comprehensive Plan.
[Ord. 2-80, 11/17/1980; as added by Ord. 91-4, 9/3/1991]
1. Responsibility for the issuance of permits and all matters pertaining
to administration of the plan as finally approved shall be vested
in the Zoning Officer.
2. Upon application of the landowner showing compliance with the requirements
of final approval, the Zoning Officer shall issue permits for construction
pursuant to the plan, or any section thereof.
[Ord. 2-80, 11/17/1980; as added by Ord. 91-4, 9/3/1991]
1. Any person, partnership or corporation who or which has violated
the provisions of this Part shall, upon being found liable therefor
in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township of Richmond,
pay a judgment of not more than $500 plus all court costs, including
reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Township of Richmond as a
result thereof. No judgment shall commence or be imposed, levied or
be payable until the date of the determination of a violation by the
District Justice. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals
the judgment, the Township of Richmond may enforce the judgment pursuant
to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day that a violation
continues shall constitute a separate violation, unless the District
Justice, determining that there has been a violation further determines
that there was a good faith basis for the person, partnership or corporation
violating the chapter to have believed that there was no such violation,
in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one such violation
until the fifth day following the date of the determination of a violation
by the District Justice and thereafter each day that a violation continues
shall constitute a separate violation.
2. The court of common pleas, upon petition, may grant an order of stay,
upon cause shown, tolling the per diem judgment pending a final adjudication
of the violation and judgment.
3. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed or interpreted
to grant to any person or entity other than the Township of Richmond
the right to commence any action for enforcement pursuant to this
section.
4. District Justices shall have initial jurisdiction over proceedings
brought under this section.