[Adopted 12-20-1976 by Ord. No. 365]
[Amended 10-14-1996 by Ord. No. 96-10]
A Borough of Sharpsburg Planning Commission consisting of five
persons shall be appointed by the Council, of which two members shall
be appointed for an initial period of four years, one member shall
be appointed for an initial period of three years, one member shall
be appointed for a an initial period of two years and one member shall
be appointed for an initial period of one year. Thereafter, the term
shall be four years.
All members of the Planning Commission shall be appointed by
the appointing authority of the Borough of Sharpsburg. All such appointments
shall be approved by the governing body, except where the governing
body is the appointing authority. The Chairman of the Planning Commission
shall promptly notify the appointing authority of the Borough of Sharpsburg
concerning vacancies in the Planning Commission, and such vacancies
shall be filled for the unexpired term.
All of the members of the Planning Commission shall be residents
of the Borough of Sharpsburg. At least three members must be citizen
members and the remaining two members can be officers or employees
of the Borough of Sharpsburg. All members of the Planning Commission
shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary
and reasonable expenses. However, elected or appointed officers or
employees of the Borough shall not, by reason of membership thereon,
forfeit the right to exercise the powers, perform the duties or receive
the compensations of the Borough offices held by them during the membership.
Any member of the Planning Commission once qualified and appointed
may be removed from office for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance
in office or for other just cause by a majority vote of the governing
body which appointed the member, taken after the member has received
15 day's 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. Any appointment to fill a vacancy created by removal
shall be only for the unexpired term.
The Planning Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Vice
Chairman and create and fill such other offices as it may determine.
Officers shall serve annual terms and may succeed themselves. The
Planning Commission may make and alter bylaws and rules and regulations
to govern its procedures consistent with the ordinances of the Borough
and the laws of the Commonwealth. The Planning Commission shall keep
a full record of its business and shall annually make a written report
by March 1 of each year of its activities to the Borough of Sharpsburg
Council body. Interim reports may be made as often as may be necessary
or as requested by Council.
1.
The Planning Commission shall, at the request of the Borough Council,
have the power and shall be required to:
A.
Prepare the Comprehensive Plan for the development of the Borough
of Sharpsburg as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning
Code and present it for consideration of Council.
B.
Maintain and keep on file records of its action. All records and
files of the planning agency shall be in the possession of the Council.
2.
The Planning Commission. at the request of Council. may:
A.
Make recommendations to the Council concerning the adoption or amendment
of an Official Map.
B.
Prepare and represent to Council a zoning ordinance and make recommendations
to Council on proposed amendments to it as set forth in the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code.
C.
Prepare, recommend and administer subdivision and land development,
planned residential development regulations, as set forth in the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code.
D.
Prepare and present to the Council a building code and a housing
code and make recommendations concerning proposed amendments thereto.
E.
Do such other act or make such studies as may be necessary to fulfill
the duties and obligations imposed by the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code.
F.
Prepare and present to Council an environmental study.
G.
Submit to Council a recommended capital improvements program.
H.
Promote public interest in and understanding of the Comprehensive
Plan and planning.
I.
Make recommendations to governmental, civic and private agencies
and individuals as to the effectiveness of the proposals of the Planning
Commission.
J.
Hold public hearings and meetings.
K.
Require from the departments and agencies of the Borough of Sharpsburg
such available information as relates to the work of the Planning
Commission.
L.
In the performance of its functions, enter upon any land to make
examinations and surveys with the consent of the owner.
3.
In the performance of its powers and duties, any act or recommendation
of the Planning Commission which involves engineering consideration
shall be subject to review and comments of the Engineer, which shall
be incorporated and separately set forth in any report, written act
or recommendation of the Planning Commission.
Council may employ administrative and technical services to
aid in carrying out the provisions of this subpart either as consultants
on particular matters or as regular employees of the Borough of Sharpsburg.
The Allegheny County planning body, with the consent of the Council,
may perform planning for the Borough of Sharpsburg or assist the Planning
Commission of the Borough of Sharpsburg, when the Borough of Sharpsburg
Council requests such assistance, and Council may enter into agreements
or contracts for such work or assistance.
The Planning Commission may, with the consent of Council, accept
and utilize any funds, personnel or other assistance made available
by the county, the commonwealth or the federal government or any of
their agencies or from private sources. Council may enter into agreements
or contracts regarding the acceptance or utilization of the funds
or assistance in accordance with the governmental procedures of the
Borough of Sharpsburg.
