[Ord. 1458, passed 7-12-1976]
It is the legislative intent of Council to implement the provisions of Article XVII of the Municipal Charter and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968); to provide for orderly growth of the Municipality; to provide an effective and comprehensive system for administering all ordinances, codes, regulations and procedures related to community planning; and to provide effective and comprehensive systems, methods and procedures directed toward achieving sound economic and physical development of the community.
[Ord. 1458, passed 7-12-1976]
The Department of Planning and Development shall consist of the following divisions:
(a) 
Administrative;
(b) 
Division of Comprehensive Planning;
(c) 
Division of Economic Development; and
(d) 
Division of Urban Redevelopment. The Division of Urban Redevelopment shall be the administrative agency charged with conducting functions related to the implementation of urban redevelopment policies, plans and programs established by the governing body.
[Ord. 1466, passed 10-4-1976]
The Department of Planning and Development shall be responsible for the preparation of short and long range planning and community development programs for the Municipality.
[Ord. 1458, passed 7-12-1976; Ord. 1466, passed 10-4-1976]
(a) 
The Department of Planning and Development shall be headed by a Director who shall be responsible to the Manager for the performance of the functions of the Department.
(b) 
The Director shall be appointed on the basis of demonstrated professional competency and related training, education and experience.
[Ord. 1466, passed 10-4-1976]
It shall be the duty of the Department of Planning and Development to:
(a) 
Advise Council and the Manager on all matters relative to community planning;
(b) 
Review, under the supervision of the Director, all applications for subdivisions, site plans, zoning changes and grading permits, in conjunction with the Municipal Engineer, and present appropriate recommendations thereon to Council. The Director shall recommend to Council, through the Manager, additional requirements, terms and conditions incidental to guaranteeing effective and orderly community development, adequate density control, protection and preservation of the environment in general and the accommodation of proposed projects to the physical configuration of the land on a proposed site, in the absence of or as a supplement to any provision or standard established by ordinance.
(c) 
Present recommendations to the Mayor and Council concerning the following:
(1) 
A Municipal comprehensive plan;
(2) 
A Municipal land use plan;
(3) 
A Municipal zoning ordinance;
(4) 
A Municipal subdivision ordinance;
(5) 
A Municipal grading ordinance;
(6) 
A building code, housing code and/or property maintenance code;
(7) 
Community development plans and programs;
(8) 
Municipal housing and rehabilitation plans and programs; and
(9) 
Related community planning affairs.
(d) 
Recommend, subject to the approval of Council, administrative regulations designed to implement the provisions of this chapter;
(e) 
Develop and implement, with the approval of Council, plans and programs designed to further the economic growth of the community;
(f) 
Conduct such other related planning functions as may be designated, from time to time, by the Manager and Council;
(g) 
Administer approved community development and planning programs under Article VII, Section 701 et seq., of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, being Act 247 of 1968, July 31, P. L. 805.
(h) 
Apply for and seek, when requested, available Federal and State funds for the Municipality.
[Ord. 1466, passed 10-4-1976]
Council, on the recommendation of the Planning and Development Director, may enact an ordinance establishing a Redevelopment Agency pursuant to Act 62. Such agency, upon finding that a particular area of the Municipality (whether residential, commercial or mixed) has or is about to become blighted, may acquire property in such area by purchase, condemnation, gift or other means and may sell, lease or otherwise transfer such real estate or any part thereof to public or private persons for redevelopment.
[Ord. 1458, passed 7-12-1976]
The Manager shall establish administrative regulations detailing exact methods, procedures and time limits intended to implement the policies established by ordinances and rules adopted by Council.
[Res. 81-1977, passed 8-24-1977]
(a) 
The Director of Planning and Development shall provide all appropriate advice and counsel on home loan financing to minorities and lower income families and individuals.
(b) 
The Director shall provide further advice to lower income and minority families and individuals with regard to Federal programs that may be available for the rental or financing of housing. The Director or his designated staff shall be available for such counseling from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Penn Hills Municipal Building, 12245 Frankstown Road, Penn Hills, Pa., telephone 795-3500.
(c) 
The Director shall advise the public that any complaints of discrimination in the sale, rental or financing of housing should be reported directly to him and he in turn shall forward this information to the proper H.U.D. authorities. Furthermore, he shall notify the local realtors that he has been given this responsibility.