[Ord. 6-97-429, 6/12/1997, § 12.1]
1. The Board of Commissioners may, from time to time, revise and amend
this chapter in accordance with law. Amendments to this chapter shall
become effective only after a public hearing held pursuant to public
notice in the manner prescribed for enactment of a subdivision and
land development ordinance amendment by §§ 505 and
506 of the MPC. In the circumstance where a proposed amendment to
this chapter has not been prepared by the Township Planning Commission,
the Board of Commissioners shall submit each such amendment to the
Township Planning Commission for recommendations at least 30 days
prior to the date fixed for the public hearing on such proposed amendment.
In addition, at least 30 days before the Board of Commissioners' hearing
on the proposed amendment to this chapter, the Township shall submit
the proposed amendment to the County Planning Commission for recommendations.
2. Within 30 days after adoption of any such amendment, the Township
shall forward a certified copy of the amendment to this chapter to
the County Planning Commission.
[Ord. 6-97-429, 6/12/1997, § 12.2]
1. The Township Board of Commissioners or Township Planning Commission,
as applicable, may grant a waiver or modification of the requirements
of one or more provisions of this chapter if it is demonstrated to
the satisfaction of the Board of Commissioners or Planning Commission
that:
A. Literal enforcement of the provision(s) of this chapter will exact
undue hardship because of peculiar conditions pertaining to the land
in question, or, that under the peculiar conditions pertaining to
the land in question, an alternative standard will provide equal or
better results than the provision(s) of this chapter.
B. The requested waiver or modification will not be contrary to the
public health, safety, welfare and interest.
C. The purpose and intent of this chapter will be observed.
2. All requests for a waiver or modification shall be in writing and
shall accompany and be a part of the initial plan application for
subdivision or land development. The request shall state in full the
grounds and facts of hardship or unreasonableness upon which the request
is based, the provision or provisions of the ordinance involved, and
the minimum modifications necessary.
3. The Board of Commissioners, in considering requests for a waiver
or modification, shall consider the recommendations of the Township
Planning Commission in regard thereto.
4. The Board of Commissioners, or the Township Planning Commission,
as applicable, shall keep a written record of all action on all requests
for waivers or modifications.
5. If a waiver or modification of one or more requirements of this chapter
is granted, a note stating the provision(s) waived or modified, the
nature of the waiver or modification and the justification for the
granted waiver shall appear on the plan sheet to be recorded at the
Recorder of Deeds Office.
[Ord. 6-97-429, 6/12/1997, § 12.3]
1. The Township Board of Commissioners shall establish, from time to
time by resolution, a schedule of application fees to be paid by the
developer to the Township and a schedule of escrow deposits for money
to be posted by the developer with the Township at the time of filing
a sketch, preliminary, preliminary/final and/or final plan submission.
No plan shall be accepted for filing unless the required number of
plans are submitted to the Township, accompanied by the supplemental
materials required under this chapter for any such plan submission
and the required application fee and escrow deposit.
2. The developer shall be required to reimburse the Township for all
of the reasonable and necessary administrative costs, legal, engineering
and other professional consultant fees and costs actually incurred
by the Township for the review and processing of a proposed subdivision
or land development plan. The review fees from the Township's Engineer,
Solicitor or other professional consultants, shall be based upon a
schedule established by resolution. Such review fees shall be reasonable
and in accordance with the ordinary and customary charges by the Township
Engineer, Solicitor or other professional consultants for similar
service in the community, but in no event shall the fees exceed the
rate or cost charged by the Township Engineer, Solicitor or other
professional consultant to the Township when fees are not reimbursed
or otherwise imposed upon applicants.
3. The money placed in escrow with the Township shall be utilized to
reimburse the Township for any and all reasonable and necessary administrative
costs, engineering, legal or other professional consultant fees and
expenses incurred by the Township for reviewing and processing any
plan submission. Whenever the escrow deposit balance is 50% or less
of the required initial escrow deposit, the developer shall make payment
within 15 days after request by the Township in an amount necessary
to fully fund the escrow account.
4. Upon the recordation of the subdivision and/or land development plan
with the County Recorder of Deeds and the payment of all Township
administrative costs, engineering, legal and other professional consultant
fees and expenses, the balance of the escrow account shall be refunded
to the developer. Money held in escrow will not be returned until
all invoices from the Township Engineer, Township Solicitor or other
professional consultant have been received by the Township and paid
by the developer.
5. In the event the developer disputes the amount of such review fees,
the developer shall, within 10 days of the billing date, notify the
Township Planning and Zoning Office in writing that such fees, or
any portion thereof, are in dispute.
6. In the event that the developer and the Township cannot reach agreement,
within 20 days of the billing date, on the amount of the review fees,
then the developer and the Township shall follow the procedures for
dispute resolution set forth in § 510(g) of the MPC.
[Ord. 6-97-429, 6/12/1997, § 12.4]
1. The preventative and enforcement remedies as delineated in §§ 515.1
and 515.3, respectively, of the MPC shall apply.
A. The Board of Commissioners shall appoint one or more agents to enforce
the provisions of this chapter and the accompanying design standards
and improvement specifications required under this chapter.
B. Review of actual construction under any approved subdivision or land
development plan to determine compliance with this chapter, and any
conditions of approval for such plan, shall be undertaken solely by
the Township, its agents or representatives.
C. Any action inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter shall
be subject to a cease and desist order, and other appropriate measures
deemed appropriate by the Board of Commissioners, or agent authorized
by it to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. 6-97-429, 6/12/1997, § 12.5]
1. Completion of Improvements. In the event that any improvements which
may be required have not been installed as required in the Subdivision
and Land Development Ordinance or in accord with the approved final
plat, the Township will enforce any security by appropriate legal
and equitable remedies, as outlined in the MPC.
2. In addition, any person, partnership or corporation violating the
provisions of this chapter may be named in a civil enforcement proceeding
commenced by the Township, pursuant to the enforcement remedies provided
for in the MPC.
[Ord. 6-97-429, 6/12/1997, § 12.6]
An appeal from a decision of the Township Board of Commissioners,
or Township Planning Commission where it is authorized to approve
applications, with respect to the approval or disapproval of a subdivision
or land development plan shall be appealed directly to the Court of
Common Pleas of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, within the time period
and in the manner prescribed by the MPC.