Hereafter, no land shall be used or occupied, and no building
or structure shall be erected, altered, demolished, used or occupied,
except in conformity with this chapter, and as it may be from time
to time amended.
The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by the
person or persons appointed by the Township Supervisors as the Zoning
Officer.
The Zoning Officer shall not hold any elective office in the
Township and shall meet qualifications established by the Township
and shall be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Township
a working knowledge of municipal zoning. The Zoning Officer shall
administer this chapter in accordance with its literal terms, and
shall not have the power to permit any construction or any use or
change of use which does not conform to this chapter. The duties and
powers of the Zoning Officer shall be:
A. To receive, review and make a determination on all applications for permits to build, alter, or use land, as well as applications for signs in accordance with Article
XXI and to refer applications to the appropriate reviewing body for review and recommendation or determination when deemed advisable or required.
B. To issue permits for the initial use of land, buildings, structures
and signs, changes in the use thereof, or the change in use or extension
of a nonconforming use.
C. To issue permits for uses authorized by variance, special exception
and conditional use only upon written order and only after such uses
or buildings and structures permitted in conjunction therewith are
reviewed, ordered and approved by the Zoning Hearing Board or the
Board of Supervisors, as applicable, in accordance with the regulations
of this chapter or as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction,
subject to such conditions or stipulations contained in any such order.
D. To conduct inspections or field surveys to determine compliance or
noncompliance with the terms of this chapter.
E. To record and file all applications for permits and accompanying
plans and documents and keep them for public record. In addition,
keep an official record of all business and activities, including
complaints of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter
and of the subsequent action taken on each such complaint.
F. To report all violations of this chapter to the Board of Supervisors
and to issue to all violators notices of violation that are in accordance
with the Municipalities Planning Code as well as orders to cease and desist.
G. To institute civil enforcement proceedings in accordance with §
162-2306, as a means of enforcement when acting within the scope of employment.
H. To make an initial determination of whether the property is within
the Flood Hazard District.
I. To make a preliminary determination of compliance with this chapter
and Zoning Map under Section 916.2 of the Municipalities Planning
Code.
J. Upon the request of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission,
or the Zoning Hearing Board, to present such bodies facts, records
and any similar information on specific requests to assist such bodies
in reaching decisions.
K. Any other related duties which may be required from time to time
by the Board of Supervisors.
All activities related to building inspection and the issuing
of permits for construction and occupancy shall be in accordance with
the Township Building Code (Uniform Construction Code) adopted in
2004, as amended, and the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of
1999 (35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 through 7210.1103), as amended.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer. If it
appears to the Zoning Officer that a violation of this chapter has
occurred, the Zoning Officer shall initiate enforcement proceedings
by sending an enforcement notice as provided in this section and Section
616.1 of the MPC, as amended. The enforcement notice shall be sent to the owner of record
of the parcel on which the violation has occurred, to any person who
has filed a written request to receive enforcement notices regarding
that parcel, and to any other person requested in writing by the owner
of record. An enforcement notice shall state at least the following:
A. The name of the owner of record and any other person against whom
the Township intends to take action.
B. The location of the property in violation.
C. The specific violation with a description of the requirements which
have not been met, citing in each instance the applicable provision
of this chapter.
D. The date before which the steps for compliance must be commenced
and the date before which the steps must be completed.
E. That the recipient of the notice has the right to appeal to the Zoning
Hearing Board within 30 days in accordance with procedures set forth
in this chapter.
F. That failure to comply with the notice within 30 days, unless extended
by appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board, constitutes a violation, with
possible sanctions clearly described.