[Ord. No. 493, 5/24/2022]
The Board of Supervisors hereby establishes a planning department for the Township to be known as the "Department of Community Development," hereafter referred to as the "Department."
[Ord. No. 493, 5/24/2022; as amended by Ord. No. 514, 8/8/2023]
The Department shall be responsible for promoting the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens through the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and the enforcement of building, zoning, land development, and life safety codes.
[Ord. No. 493, 5/24/2022]
1. 
Department Head.
[Amended by Ord. No. 514, 8/8/2023]
A. 
The Department of Community Development shall be headed by the Director of Community Development.
(1) 
The Director of Community Development (hereafter referred to as the "Director") shall serve as the Director of Planning and shall be responsible for administration of the Department. The Director shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and shall hold no elective office in the Township. The Director shall meet the qualifications established by the Township and shall be able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Township, a working knowledge of municipal planning.
B. 
Powers and Duties:
(1) 
The Director shall have powers and duties as provided by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as amended, this Code and other ordinances adopted by the Township as if fully set forth herein. In addition, the Director shall have the following specific powers and duties:
(a) 
To be the administrator of the Department;
(b) 
To advise Township officials and the public on:
1) 
Traffic and parking issues;
2) 
Preparation and modification of Township maps, plans and ordinances;
3) 
Highway layout;
4) 
Traffic and parking problems;
5) 
Use, design, and layout of Township structures, buildings, land, parks, and other Township lots; and
6) 
Zoning enforcement and ICC International Property Maintenance Code enforcement operations.
(c) 
To prepare an annual report of Township planning activities and present the information to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors each year;
(d) 
To direct, control, and account for the expenditure of Department funds in accordance with budget appropriations and supervise the keeping of complete financial records for Department expenditures;
(e) 
To ensure that all applicable laws, ordinances, and/or regulations pertaining to the Department and Department activities are adhered to;
(f) 
To serve as secretariat to the Zoning Hearing Board;
(g) 
To serve as secretariat to the Planning Commission;
(h) 
To serve as secretariat to the Codes Appeals Board; and
(i) 
To perform such other duties as the Township Manager and/or Assistant Township Manager may, from time to time, direct.
C. 
Assistant Director.
(1) 
The Assistant Director of Community Development shall assist the Director with the administration of the Department.
(a) 
When the position of Director of Community Development is vacant, the powers and duties of the Director of Planning under the MPC, this Code, and any other Township ordinances shall be held and exercised by the Assistant Director.
1) 
If both the positions of Director and Assistant Director are vacant, the powers and duties of the Director of Planning under the MPC, this Code, and any other Township ordinances shall be held and exercised by the Township Manager.
2. 
Code Administrators.
A. 
The Board of Supervisors shall appoint Code Administrators to administer various Township ordinances and regulations, including the Building Code, Fire Code, and Property Maintenance Code. Officials appointed as Code Administrators may include the Zoning Officer, Deputy Zoning Officers, Building Code Officials, Fire Code Officials, and Code Enforcement Officers.
3. 
Zoning Officer.
A. 
Unless designated otherwise by the Board of Supervisors, the Director shall serve as the Zoning Officer.
B. 
Deputy Zoning Officers.
(1) 
The Board of Supervisors may appoint Deputy Zoning Officers to assist the Zoning Officer with his/her duties. Deputy Zoning Officers shall have the same roles and responsibilities as the Zoning Officer as outlined in § 27-1515 of the Township Code.
[Ord. No. 493, 5/24/2022]
The duties and responsibilities of the Department shall be to:
1. 
Protect persons and property within the Township through:
A. 
Enforcement of zoning, subdivision, building, electrical, heating, housing, demolition, fire, property maintenance, and such other related structural and land use codes as may be enacted by law or ordinance.
B. 
Issuance of such licenses and permits as may be required by law or ordinance.
2. 
Prepare short- and long-range planning and community development programs for the Township, including:
A. 
Performing the various duties and exercising the several powers as prescribed by law, specifically the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, such as conducting zoning studies, both initial preparation and periodic comprehensive revision of the regulations and map; preparing subdivision standards and regulations and conducting periodic reviews and suggesting revisions; conducting renewal studies and community renewal programs; identifying renewal areas; determining development standards; and recommending use changes.
B. 
Preparing, reviewing, and maintaining plans for human services, including health care, education, employment, recreation, and other social services, and coordinating such plans with the plans for the physical and economic development of the Township.
C. 
Preparing, reviewing, and maintaining the Comprehensive Plan of the Township, including data collection, mapping, and analysis.
3. 
Provide fire prevention and fire code enforcement in the Township, utilizing the services of the Fire Code Official who is appointed by the Board and will serve as a liaison between the Department and the volunteer fire companies.
4. 
Provide building inspection services in the Township, utilizing the services of the Building Code Official who is appointed by the Board and will serve as a liaison between the Department and the Building, Fire, and Property Maintenance Codes Appeals Board.
5. 
Provide Code Enforcement services in the Township, utilizing the services of the Code Enforcement Officers who are appointed by the Board.
6. 
Provide engineering services in the Township, utilizing the services of the Township Consulting Engineer who is appointed by the Board.
7. 
Perform such other duties for the Township as the Board of Supervisors, the Township Manager, Assistant Township Manager, and/or the Director of Community Development may, from time to time, direct.