The provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced
by the Zoning Officer, who shall be appointed by the Borough Council.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer and he/she shall have the
power to:
A. Receive and examine all applications for zoning permits.
B. Issue permits or certificates only where there is compliance with
the provisions of this chapter, with other Borough ordinances and
with the laws of the commonwealth and the federal government. Permits
for construction of uses requiring a special exception or variance
shall be issued only upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board. Permits
requiring approval by the Borough Council shall be issued only after
receipt of approval from the Borough Council.
C. Record and file all applications for zoning permits with accompanying
plans and documents. All applications, plans and documents shall be
a public record.
D. Receive applications for special exceptions and variances and forward
these applications and all pertinent information to the Zoning Hearing
Board for action thereon.
E. Receive applications for conditional uses, curative amendments and
zoning changes, forwarding requests and all pertinent information
to the Borough Council, the Planning Commission and other appropriate
agencies.
F. Following refusal of a permit, to receive applications for interpretation,
appeals and variances. These applications and all pertinent information
will then be forwarded to the Zoning Hearing Board for action thereon.
G. Conduct inspections to determine compliance or noncompliance with
the terms of this chapter.
H. Institute civil enforcement proceedings in accordance with §
440-160.
I. With the approval of the Borough Council or when directed by it,
institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent unlawful
erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion,
maintenance or use; to restrain, correct or abate such violation so
as to prevent the occupancy of or use of any building, structure,
landscaping or land; or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business
or use in or about such premises.
J. Revoke any order or zoning permit issued under a mistake of fact
or contrary to the law or the provisions of this chapter.
K. Maintain a map or maps showing the current zoning classification
of all land in the Borough.
L. Register nonconforming structures, uses and lots in accordance with the provisions of §
440-124.
Hereafter, no use listed in §§
440-14 and
440-15 may be established or changed; no structure shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, razed or removed; and no building used or occupied or changed in use, until a zoning permit has been secured from the Zoning Officer. Upon completion of changes in use or construction, reconstruction, alteration or moving of structures, the applicant shall notify the Zoning Officer of such completion. No permit shall be considered as complete or as permanently effective until the Zoning Officer has noted on the permit that the work or occupancy and use have been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
All applicants for zoning permits shall, at the time of making
application, pay to the Zoning Officer for the use of the Borough
a fee in accordance with the fee schedule adopted by resolution of
the Borough Council upon the enactment of this chapter or as such
schedule may be amended by resolution of the Borough Council.
Any erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration or moving
of a building or other structure, including a sign, authorized by
a zoning permit shall be commenced and any change in use of a building
or land authorized by a zoning permit shall be undertaken within one
year after the date of issuance of the permit. If not, the permit
shall be considered null and void. However, in case of erection or
construction of a building, the right to proceed with construction
may be extended annually without additional fees for an aggregate
period of not more than three years, provided that the construction
pursuant to said permit has commenced within the first one-year period.