This chapter shall be known as "The Rapho Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 2017."
This chapter is adopted for the following purposes:
A.
To promote and protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare.
B.
To promote orderly, efficient, integrated, and harmonious development in the Township.
C.
To ensure conformance of subdivision and land development plans with the Manheim Central Regional Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 350, Zoning, of the Code of the Township of Rapho, and public improvements plans and to ensure coordination of intergovernmental improvement plans and programs.
D.
To accommodate the Township's fair share of growth within Lancaster County by encouraging such growth to occur within the Urban Growth Area/Village Growth Area (UGA/VGA) and to encourage efficient and dense development within the UGA/VGA.
E.
To protect sensitive and important natural features (e.g., floodplains, wetlands, prime farmlands, unique geologic features, steep slopes, woodlands, gamelands, wildlife habitats, etc.) from indiscriminate development.
F.
To coordinate proposed streets and other improvements with existing or proposed streets, parks, or other features of the Comprehensive Plan, and to provide for drainage, water supply, sewage disposal, and other appropriate utility services.
G.
To require sites for building purposes and human habitation to be suitably improved for their intended use and to minimize the peril from fire, flood, erosion, excessive noise, smoke, or other menace.
H.
To encourage preservation of adequate open spaces for recreation, light, air and maintenance of the natural amenities characteristic of the Township and its residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and public areas.
I.
To secure equitable treatment of all subdivision and land development plans by providing uniform procedures and standards.
J.
To ensure that developments are environmentally sound by requiring preservation of the natural features of the areas to be developed to the greatest extent practicable.
K.
To maintain the economic well being of the Township and to prevent unnecessary or undesirable blight, runoff and pollution.
L.
To secure the protection of water resources and drainageways.
M.
To establish provisions governing the standards by which streets shall be designed and improved, and by which walkways, curbs, gutters, streetlights, fire hydrants, water and sewage facilities, and other improvements shall be installed as a condition precedent to final approval of plans.
No land development or subdivision of any lot, tract or parcel of land shall be made, and no street, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water main, or other improvements in connection therewith shall be laid out, constructed, opened, or dedicated for public use or travel, or for the common use of occupants of buildings abutting thereon, except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
A.
The authority for the control and regulation of subdivision and land development within the Township shall be as follows:
(1)
The Rapho Township Board of Supervisors shall be vested with the authority to approve or disapprove all subdivision and land development plans.
(2)
Plans for subdivision and land development shall be submitted to the Rapho Township Planning Commission for their review. The Planning Commission will provide the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for plan approval, disapproval, or conditional approval. Said submission shall take place before approval of any plans by the Township Supervisors. If a report is not received from the Rapho Township Planning Commission within 30 days after submission, the Board of Supervisors may proceed without the report.
(3)
Plans for subdivision and land development located within Rapho Township shall be submitted to the Lancaster County Planning Commission for review and report. Said submission shall take place before approval of any plans by the Township. However, if a report is not received from the Lancaster County Planning Commission within 30 days after submission, the Board of Supervisors may proceed without the report.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul, or interfere with any existing ordinances or enactment, or with any rule, regulation, or permit adopted or issued thereunder, except insofar as the same may be inconsistent or in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter, provided that where this chapter imposes greater restrictions upon the use of buildings or land, or upon the height and bulk of buildings, or prescribed larger open spaces than are required by the provisions of other such ordinance, enactment, rule, regulation or permit, then the provisions of this chapter shall control. Furthermore, if a discrepancy exists between any regulations contained within this chapter, that regulation which imposes the greater restriction shall apply.