[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;
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.