[HISTORY:[1] Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Upper Pottsgrove 12-16-2024 by Ord. No. 530. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Ch. 54, Planning Commission, adopted 8-2-1954 by Ord. No. 2A (Ch. 1, Part 5, of the 1993 Code), as amended, was repealed 2-3-2020 by Ord. No. 507, which ordinance abolished said Commission.
A. 
Pursuant to Article II, Section 201, of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. § 10201), the Upper Pottsgrove Township Planning Commission is hereby created for the purpose of carrying the authority and purposes set forth in Article II of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended and modified herein.
A. 
Said Planning Commission shall consist of five members, to be appointed by the Township Board of Commissioners. The term of each of the members of the Planning Commission shall be for four years, or until their successor is appointed and qualified except that the terms of the first approved pursuant to this chapter shall be so fixed that no more than two shall be reappointed or replaced during any future calendar year.
B. 
The Chairman of the Planning Commission shall promptly notify the Township Board of Commissioners upon a vacancy in the Planning Commission. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall only be for the unexpired portion of the term left for the vacancy being filled.
C. 
The Engineer for the Township, or an engineer appointed by the Township Board of Commissioners, shall serve the Planning Commission as engineering advisor. The Solicitor for the Township, or an attorney appointed by the Township Board of Commissioners, shall serve the Planning Commission as legal advisor.
D. 
Members of the Planning Commission shall reside within Upper Pottsgrove Township. Members of the Township Board of Commissioners may not serve on the Planning Commission.
E. 
Any member of the Planning Commission may be removed at any time, for just cause, by a majority vote of Township Board of Commissioners. The vote by the Township Board of Commissioners shall occur 30 days after notice to the member being removed. If requested, in writing, by the member being removed within that thirty-day period, a hearing shall be held in connection with the vote. Any vacancy occurring from such a vote shall only be filled for the unexpired portion of the term remaining for such vacating member.
A. 
The Planning Commission shall elect its own Chairman and Vice Chairman and create and fill such other officers as it may determine. Officers shall be appointed at the first meeting of the Planning Commission each year, shall serve annual terms, and may succeed themselves.
B. 
The Planning Commission may make its own rules and regulations to govern its procedures consistent with the ordinances of the Township and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
C. 
The Planning Commission shall keep a full record of its business and shall annually, by March 1 of each year, make a written report of its activities to the Board. Further, minutes shall be kept for each public meeting of the Planning Commission.
A. 
The Township Board of Commissioners shall appropriate such money, in its opinion, is necessary for the work of the Planning Commission for the year in which the appropriation is made.
B. 
The Planning Commission shall have all of the powers and duties, and may exercise all powers conferred by law upon Township planning commissions, including, but not limited to the following:
(1) 
Review all subdivision and land development plans and submit its recommendations thereon to the Township Board of Commissioners.
(2) 
Review all zoning applications and submit recommendations thereon the Township Board of Commissioners.
(3) 
Make recommendations to the Township Board of Commissioners concerning zoning, subdivision, land development codes, policies, and procedures and the implementation of the same.
(4) 
Promote the preservation of the natural environment and resources of the Township, including the enforcement of any conservation agreement currently in existence.
(5) 
Exercise all the powers and perform all the duties vested by law in the planning agencies for Townships of the first class.
(6) 
Any other power or duty deemed necessary by the Township Board of Commissioners.