[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Caernarvon Township 5-8-2018 by Ord. No. 291. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The Planning Commission shall be comprised of five members who are residents of the Township.
B. 
Each Planning Commission member shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to term of four years or until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. A Planning Commission member may hold any other office or appointment with the Township, except for those incompatible offices set forth and described in the Second Class Township Code.[1] An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term of the member whose position has been vacated. The Township Solicitor shall serve as Solicitor for the Planning Commission.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 65101 et seq.
C. 
The Planning Commission shall elect its own Chairperson and other officers as it deems necessary. It may only make and alter rules for its procedures consistent with the ordinances of the Township and the laws of the commonwealth.
D. 
Prior acts and appointments. All acts of the existing Planning Commission done heretofore are hereby expressly approved, ratified, and confirmed in all respects. This chapter shall not impact the appointments or terms of any Planning Commission member serving as of the date of enactment.
A. 
The Planning Commission shall, at the request of the Board of Supervisors, have the power to undertake the following tasks with Board assent:
(1) 
Prepare the Comprehensive Plan for the development of the Township as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., and present it for the consideration of the Board of Supervisors.
(2) 
Maintain and keep on file records of its action. All records and files of the Planning Commission shall be in the possession of the Board of Supervisors.
B. 
The Planning Commission at the request of the Board of Supervisors may:
(1) 
Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning the adoption or amendment of an Official Map.
(2) 
Prepare and present to the Board of Supervisors a zoning ordinance, and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on proposed amendments to it in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 500, Zoning.
(3) 
Prepare, recommend, and administer subdivision and land development and planned residential development regulations, as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 425, Subdivision and Land Development.
(4) 
Do such other acts or make such studies as may be necessary to fulfill the duties and obligations imposed by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
(5) 
Prepare and present to the governing body of the municipality a building code and a housing code and make recommendations concerning proposed amendments thereto.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 240, Construction Codes.
(6) 
Prepare and present to the Board of Supervisors an environmental study.
(7) 
Submit to the Board of Supervisors a recommended capital improvements program.
(8) 
Prepare and present to the Board of Supervisors a water survey, which shall be consistent with the State Water Plan and any applicable water resources plan adopted by a river basin commission. The water survey shall be conducted in consultation with any public water supplier in the area to be surveyed.
(9) 
Promote public interest in, and understanding of, the Comprehensive Plan and planning.
(10) 
Make recommendations to governmental, civic, and private agencies and individuals as to the effectiveness of the proposals of such agencies and individuals.
(11) 
Hold public hearings and meetings.
(12) 
Present testimony before any board.
(13) 
Require from other departments and agencies of the municipality such available information as relates to the work of the Planning Commission.
(14) 
In the performance of its functions, enter upon any land to make examinations and surveys with the consent of the owner.
(15) 
Prepare and present to the governing body of the municipality a study regarding the feasibility and practicability of using renewable energy sources in specific areas within the municipality.
(16) 
Review Chapter 500, Zoning, Chapter 425, Subdivision and Land Development, the Official Map, provisions for planned residential development, and such other ordinances and regulations governing the development of land no less frequently than it reviews the Comprehensive Plan.
A. 
The Board of Supervisors may appoint, by resolution, at least one but no more than three residents of the Township to serve as alternate members of the Planning Commission.
B. 
The term of office of an alternate member shall be four years.
C. 
The Chairman of the Planning Commission may designate an alternate member or members to participate in a Planning Commission meeting in the event that any other member of the Planning Commission is absent, recused, abstained or disqualified. In such circumstances, the alternate shall be entitled to participate in the meeting to the same and full extent as provided by law as any other Planning Commission member, including specifically the right to cast a vote as a voting member on recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. In the event the Board of Supervisors has appointed multiple alternate members, the designation of an alternate shall be made on a case-by-case basis in rotation according to declining seniority among all alternates. Alternates shall continue to serve on the Planning Commission in all proceedings involving the matter or case for which the alternate was initially appointed until the Planning Commission has made a final decision on the matter or case. Upon designation of an alternate member to sit on the Planning Commission, the alternate be entitled to participate in all proceedings and discussions of the Planning Commission to the same and full extent as provided by law for Planning Commission members, including, specifically, the right to cast a vote as a voting member during the proceedings, and shall have all powers and duties set forth in the Municipalities Planning Code[1] and this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
D. 
Alternates shall not serve as a member of the Zoning Hearing Board, as Zoning Officer or any other incompatible office as determined by law.
Any ordinances or part of ordinances conflicting with the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to Ordinance No. 32, are hereby repealed insofar as they are inconsistent with this chapter's provisions.
If any article, section, subsection, provision, regulation, limitation, restriction, sentence, clause, phrase or word in this chapter is, for any reason, declared to be illegal, unconstitutional or invalid, by any court of competent jurisdiction, this decision shall not affect or impair the validity of the chapter as a whole, or any other article, section, subsection, provision, regulation, limitation, restriction, sentence, clause, phrase, word, or remaining portion of this chapter. The Board of Supervisors of Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, hereby declares that it would have adopted this chapter and each article, section, subsection, provision, regulation, limitation, restriction, sentence, clause, phrase and word thereto irrespective of the limitations, restrictions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or word that may be declared illegal, unconstitutional or invalid.
The Code of Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, as amended, shall be and remain unchanged and in full force and effect except as amended, supplemented, and modified by this chapter. This chapter shall become a part of the Code of Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, as amended, upon adoption.