Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10501 et seq., (hereinafter at times abbreviated as "MPC"), and as subsequently amended, hereby establishes this chapter that may be cited as the "Upper Mount Bethel Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance."
A. 
All subdivision or land development of any lot, tract or parcel of land, whether or not on existing or proposed streets, including a new street, sanitary or storm sewer, water main or other improvement intended to be dedicated for public use or intended for the use of occupants or tenants of buildings abutting thereon, shall comply with this chapter. A resubdivision shall be considered the same as a new subdivision herein.
B. 
This chapter shall also apply to previously approved subdivisions when the required improvements and other approved aspects of the subdivision in accordance with the terms of such approval have not been fully completed within five years of final plan approval by the Board of Supervisors.
All applications and plans for subdivision or land development of land in Upper Mount Bethel Township shall be submitted to the Township for review and processing. The Township Planning Commission will then make a recommendation for action upon such application and plans to Upper Mount Bethel Township Board of Supervisors.
This chapter has been adopted for the purpose of providing the following, to:
A. 
Promote orderly future growth and development of the Township;
B. 
Promote protection and promotion of safety, health, welfare, convenience, economy and protection of the environment;
C. 
Promote and comply, whenever possible, with the statement of goals and objectives as found in the Township's Comprehensive Plan, April 2001;
D. 
Reduce of foreseeable maintenance and improvement problems for public improvements;
E. 
Regulate the subdivision and/or development of land in potential conservation land areas, or in other constrained areas, including without limitation, floodplains, and steep slopes in order to promote the general health, welfare, and safety of the community;
[Amended 3-30-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-03]
F. 
Require that each subdivision or land development be provided with a safe building site with adequate access;
G. 
Protect individuals from buying lands which are unsuitable for use by prohibiting improper subdivision and/or land development;
H. 
Utilize and promote the natural resource maps (Maps 1 through 8) contained in the Comprehensive Plan (July 9, 2001), in evaluating the suitability of proposed subdivision developments to the greatest extent possible;
[Added 3-30-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-03]
I. 
Utilize and promote conservation design principles, as set forth herein, to the maximum extent possible, in the approval of subdivision and land development applications;
[Added 3-30-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-03]
J. 
Promote the conservation of open space and the protection of natural resources to the maximum extent possible, in the approval of subdivision and land development applications;
[Added 3-30-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-03]
K. 
Promote the preservation and enhancement of interconnected networks of open space or greenways, and to promote the establishment of substantial buffer zones along the boundaries of existing protected or conserved lands, in connection with the approval of subdivision and land development applications;
[Added 3-30-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-03]
L. 
Utilize and promote the restoration or rehabilitation of degraded lands or resources by means of land management practices, in connection with the creation of open space or greenways as part of the subdivision development approval process.
[Added 3-30-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-03]
Upon enactment by the Board of Supervisors this chapter shall become effective as provided in § 298-41.
The grant of a permit or approval of the plan for any proposed subdivision and/or land development to be located within any zoning district shall not constitute a representation, guarantee, or warranty of any kind by the municipal or by any official or employee thereof of the practicability or safety of the proposed use, and shall create no liability of any kind upon the municipality, its officials, employees or designated agents.
Any plan or plat hereafter made for each subdivision (or part thereof) and for any land development (or part thereof) lying within Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, shall be prepared, presented for approval, and recorded as herein prescribed. However, it is specifically understood that the Township of Upper Mount Bethel, itself, is exempt from compliance with this chapter.