Town of McCandless, PA ARTICLE IX PLANNING AND LAND USE ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 901 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR.

(a) Appointment and Compensation. The Town shall have a Planning and Development Administrator, appointed by the Manager with the approval of Council, at a rate of compensation consistent with the qualifications and experience of the individual. The Planning and Development Administrator shall be a qualified person with training and experience in municipal planning and related matters.

(b) Duties. The Planning and Development Administrator shall have the following powers and duties, under the general supervision of the Manager and Council, and in cooperation with the Planning Commission:

(i) To draft and propose a long-range and comprehensive master plan for the Town and modifications thereof, embodying land use planning and practices consistent with the quality of living desired by the people of the Town;

(ii) To review and to make recommendations regarding proposed Council actions implementing the comprehensive plan;

(iii) To prepare information and land use recommendations on capital projects for implementation in the annual capital budget;

(iv) To assist in the acquisition of available federal, state, and county funding assistance for capital projects and operating programs;

(v) To assist the Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, Building Inspector, Bureau of Fire Prevention, Manager and Council with respect to the applications for zoning changes and other land use and development matters;

(vi) To assist with the administration of zoning ordinances and other land use controls;

(vii) To assist in the preparation and administration of a building and housing code for the Town and amendments thereto;

(viii) To prepare and to recommend land development techniques and practices beneficial to the people of the Town; and

(ix) To carry out such other duties and functions as may be delegated to him under this Charter or by Council or the Manager.

(c) Removal. The Planning and Development Administrator may be removed by the Manager, with the approval of Council, at any time, with or without cause.

SECTION 902 PLANNING COMMISSION.

(a) Appointment. The Town shall have a Planning Commission consisting of such number of qualified electors of the Town as may be determined by Council, who shall be appointed by Council for such terms as may be established by Council.

(b) Expenses. The members of the Planning Commission shall serve without compensation, but they shall be reimbursed for the reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(c) Duties. The Planning Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(i) To review and to make recommendations to Council with respect to all applications for changes in zoning districts, for subdivision approvals, for site plan approvals, and for excavation permits;

(ii) To review and to make recommendations to Council with respect to proposals for the enactment or amendment of the master plan or of ordinances regulating any of the matters referred to in Section 902(c); and

(iii) To provide such other advice and assistance as may be requested at any time by Council, the Manger, or the Planning and Development Administrator.

(d) Procedures. Council shall establish procedures for the performance of the powers and duties of the Planning Commission; provided, however (i) that all recommendations of the Planning Commission with respect to the matters referred to in Sections 902(c)(1) and 902(c)(2) shall be approved by the Planning Commission at public meetings, and (ii) that the agenda of all public meetings of the Planning Commission shall be established and made available to interested citizens and taxpayers of the Town at least six (6) days in advance.

SECTION 903 LAND USE AND BUILDING REGULATIONS.

(a) Regulations Required. Council shall adopt, maintain in effect, and enforce each of the following forms of regulations, containing provisions consistent with this Charter and with all applicable provisions of law:

(i) A comprehensive plan and official zoning map;

(ii) A Zoning Ordinance applicable to all land within the Town;

(iii) A Subdivision Ordinance applicable to all subdivisions of land;

(iv) A Site Plan Ordinance applicable to all proposed land uses except for single family residences;

(v) An Excavation Ordinance applicable to all substantial excavation and earth moving activities; and

(vi) A Building and Housing Code, wnich may consist in whole or in part of the adoption by reference of a nationally recognized model building code.

(b) Review by Planning Commission. Council shall not adopt or amend any ordinance concerning the matters referred to in Section 903(a), and it shall not approve any application for an approval under any of these, without having first referred the proposal to the Planning Commission for its consideration and recommendations.

SECTION 904 ZONING HEARING BOARD.

The Town shall have a Zoning Hearing Board consisting of such number of qualified electors of the Town as may be determined by Council who shall be appointed by Council for such terms as may be established by Council, subject to the applicable provisions of law. The Zoning Hearing Board shall have such powers and duties and shall utilize such procedures as shall be determined by Council, subject to the applicable provisions of law; provided, however (i) that all hearings held by the Zoning Hearing Board shall be open to the public, and (ii) that the agenda for all such hearings shall be established and made available to interested citizens and taxpayers of the Town at least six (6) days in advance.