[Ord. 754, 8/14/2007]
The Council shall insure, through receipt of certificates of
compliance submitted and attested to by the Borough Engineer, that
required improvements have been installed according to the specifications
of the final plat or land development plan, or alternately require
the posting of adequate surety to cover the cost for such improvements.
The Council shall specify one of the following alternatives for guaranteeing
compliance with the requirements of this section for the developer
requesting final approval of a plat or a land development plan. The
decision of which alternative shall be required is that of the Council
and final approval of a plat or land development plan shall not be
granted until the surety required is fully provided.
The amount of financial security to be posted for the completion
of the required improvements shall be equal to 110% of the cost of
completion estimated as of 90 days following the applicant's
scheduled date of completion. The amount estimated shall be prepared
by a registered professional engineer for submittal to the Borough
by the applicant. If the amount of the estimated financial security
is contested by the Borough Engineer, a third registered professional
engineer chosen mutually by the applicant, and the Borough, shall
estimate the amount of financial security necessary, which estimate
shall be presumed fair and reasonable. Fees for the services of the
third engineer shall be paid equally by the Borough and the applicant.
A. Completion of Improvements Prior to Final Approval. Prior to final
plat or land development plan approval, the applicant shall complete,
in a manner satisfactory to the Council and the Borough Engineer,
all improvements required in these regulations specified in the final
subdivision plat or land development plan, and as approved by the
Council and shall dedicate same to the Borough in accordance with
these regulations. Final plat approval shall not be granted until
the dedication of said improvements has been accepted by the Council.
B. Guarantee of Future Performance. In lieu of requiring the completion
of all improvements prior to final plat approval, the Borough may,
at its discretion, enter into a contract with the applicant whereby
the applicant shall guarantee to complete all improvements required
by this chapter, or otherwise specified by the Council in a manner
satisfactory to the Council. To secure this contract, the applicant
shall provide, subject to the approval of the Council, one of the
following guarantees:
1. Surety Bond. The applicant shall obtain a security bond from a surety
bonding company authorized to do business in the State of Pennsylvania.
The bond shall be payable to the Borough and shall be in an amount
sufficient to cover the entire cost, as estimated by the Borough Engineer,
as herein provided, for the installation of all improvements, plus
10%. The duration of the bond shall be until such time as the improvements
are accepted by the Borough in accordance with the requirements of
this chapter.
2. Escrow Account. The applicant shall deposit cash, or other instruments
readily convertible into cash at face value, either with the Borough,
or in escrow with a bank. The form of any instruments other than cash,
and, in the case of an escrow account, the bank with which the funds
are to be deposited, shall be subject to the approval of the Borough
Solicitor. The amount of the deposit shall be at least equal to the
cost, as estimated by the Borough Engineer, of installing all required
improvements, plus 10%. In case of an escrow account, the applicant
shall file with the Council an agreement between the financial bank
and himself guaranteeing the following:
a. That the funds of said escrow account shall be held in trust until
released by the Council and may not be used or pledged by the applicant
as security in any other matter during the period.
b. And that in the case of a failure on the part of the applicant to
complete said improvements, the bank shall immediately make the funds
in said account available to the Borough for use in the completion
of those improvements.
3. Irrevocable Letter of Credit. An irrevocable letter of credit in
an amount equal to the cost of all required improvements, as estimated
by the Borough Engineer, plus 10%, shall be posted naming the Council
as beneficiary. The financial institution which provides the irrevocable
letter of credit shall be first approved by the Council. Failure on
the part of the applicant to complete said improvements shall cause
the funds posted as an irrevocable letter of credit to be made available
to the Borough upon written notice of a claim against said funds.
[Ord. 754, 8/14/2007]
Upon completion of the inspection and approval of the public
improvements, the developer shall submit a request to the Council,
in writing, to accept the dedication of the public improvements. The
request for acceptance shall include deeds of dedication and all other
legal descriptive documents necessary to prepare a resolution or ordinance
and shall be submitted at least 20 days prior to the regular meeting
of the Council. At the regular meeting, the Council shall enact a
resolution or ordinance accepting the public improvements as part
of the Borough's public facilities, subject to the posting of
the maintenance bond required by this Part.
[Ord. 754, 8/14/2007]
Prior to the end of the eighteen-month period when the maintenance
bond expires and before the maintenance bond is released, the Borough
Engineer shall make a final inspection and certify in writing to the
Council that all the public improvements are in good order. If any
repairs are required or maintenance needed, the developer shall be
notified in writing, and such repairs or maintenance shall be done
and approved prior to certification by the Borough Engineer.
[Ord. 754, 8/14/2007]
The applicant shall be responsible from the time there is at
least one occupant in the proposed development to plow snow and disperse
anti-skid material on development roads as may be necessary to provide
ingress and egress to the occupants at the applicant's cost,
prior to the acceptance of dedicated streets. The applicant shall
post with the borough the sum of $1,000 as an escrow to provide for
snow removal and the dispersal of anti-skid material prior to acceptance
of dedication of the streets. All payments to the Borough for said
snow removal and dispersal of anti-skid material shall be made from
the escrow fund. In the event that the escrow should become depleted,
the applicant shall post an additional sum of $1,000 and such further
amounts as may be necessary until such time as the dedication of the
streets is accepted by the Borough.
[Ord. 754, 8/14/2007]
Any applicant aggrieved by a finding, decision or recommendation
of the Planning Commission or the Council, may present additional
relevant information and request reconsideration of the original findings,
decision or recommendation upon written request within 30 days of
notification of the Planning Commission or Council decision on either
preliminary or final plat application.
[Ord. 754, 8/14/2007]
In any case where the Council shall refuse to approve any plats
submitted to them in accordance with this chapter, any person aggrieved
by the action of the Council may appeal as provided by law to the
Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
[Ord. 754, 8/14/2007]
If any road or any drainage facilities in connection therewith,
shall be opened, constructed, or dedicated for public use or travel,
except in strict accordance with plats approved and recorded as herein
provided, neither the Council nor any public authorities shall place,
construct, or operate any sewer, drain, water pipe or other facilities,
or do any work of any kind, in or upon such road; and neither the
Council nor any other public authorities shall have responsibility
of any kind with respect to any such road or drainage facilities,
notwithstanding any use of the same by the public; provided, however,
that nothing herein contained shall prevent the laying of trunk sewers,
drains, water or gas mains, if required by engineering necessity for
the accommodating of other territory.