[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Upper Frederick as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 11-13-1975 by Ord. No. 75-1]
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Upper Frederick
Township Planning Commission Ordinance of 1975."
The following words when used in this article shall have the meanings
indicated below:
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Upper Frederick, Montgomery
County, Pennsylvania.
The Upper Frederick Township Planning Commission as reconstituted
and established by this article.
There is recreated, reconstituted and established hereby the Upper Frederick
Township Planning Commission, which Commission shall consist of five members.
The terms of each of the members of the Commission shall be for four
years, or until his or her successor is appointed and qualified; provided,
however, that no more than two members of the Commission shall be reappointed
or replaced during any calendar year commencing January 1, 1976.
Members of the Upper Frederick Township Planning Commission appointed
and qualified under ordinance of March 8, 1962, who are presently members
of the Commission shall be deemed appointed, qualified and with full authority
to serve until the end of their respective terms as previously constituted,
and also any appointments made to membership upon the previous Commission
or the Commission established by this article to fill existing vacancies in
1975 shall be deemed appointed, qualified and authorized to serve until the
termination of the previously designated date or dates for such vacant offices
as may be filled hereunder.
In the event a vacancy shall occur otherwise than by expiration of the
Commission member's term, such vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the
Board for the unexpired term according to the provisions of this article.
The members of the Commission shall be residents of the Township, at
least three of whom shall not be officers of employees of Upper Frederick
Township.
Any member of the Commission appointed under this or the prior ordinance
or pursuant to Act of Assembly may be removed from office only for malfeasance,
misfeasance or nonfeasance in office or for other just cause by a majority
of the Board, which action may be taken only after the member has received
15 days advance written notice of the intent of the Board to take a vote removing
the member from the Commission. A hearing shall be held in conformity with
the requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
All meetings of the Commission shall be in accordance with a schedule
established and advertised by the Commission, shall be always open to the
public at large and shall be conducted according to rules established by the
Commission from time to time and as may be provided by ordinance adopted by
the Board.
The Commission shall elects its Chairman and Vice Chairman and fill
such other offices as it may determine at the regular January meeting of the
Commission, and may govern its procedures consistent with all ordinances of
the Township and the laws of the commonwealth. The Commission shall keep a
full record of its business and make a written report annually, by March 1
of each year, of its activities for the previous calendar year to the Board.
Interim reports shall be made as often as may be requested by the Board.
The powers, responsibilities and procedures of the Commission at all
times shall be as specified in and subject to the provisions of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code and other pertinent laws of the commonwealth
now in effect and as the same shall be amended or extended from time to time
hereafter. All regulations in or pursuant to this article are enacted to clarify,
implement and/or supplement the code and laws aforementioned.
[Adopted 8-9-2001 by Ord. No. 01-4]
Upper Frederick Township shall join with the municipalities of Lower Frederick Township, Perkiomen Township, Skippack Township, Schwenksville Borough, Collegeville Borough and Trappe Borough to create the Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission as per the guidelines set forth under Articles I, II and XI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended, August 2000.
A.
The seven municipalities of the Central Perkiomen Valley
have come to recognize that the issues associated with growth and development
such as, but not limited to, traffic congestion, air and water pollution and
loss of open space, are too large for any one municipality to effectively
deal with. They further recognize that current growth and anticipated growth,
if not properly managed, will lead to the diminution of the region's quality
of life. They are concerned that current zoning requirements which call for
each and every municipality to provide for a full range of uses, regardless
of historic development patterns, is inefficient and potentially destructive
to the region's economic and social structure.
B.
To this end, the municipalities of the Central Perkiomen
hereby embark on a course of action to implement regional planning. Upper
Frederick Township empowers the Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning
Commission to undertake the development of a Regional Comprehensive Plan.
The Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission shall be comprised
of the following member municipalities: Lower Frederick Township, Perkiomen
Township, Skippack Township, Schwenksville Borough, Collegeville Borough and
Trappe Borough. Each participating municipality shall appoint two members
to the Commission. One member must be from the elected governing body and
the other may be either from the governing body or Municipal Planning Commission.
The term of each member shall be two years, with the initial terms being staggered
with one-appointee serving one year and the second for two years.
[Amended 10-11-2001 by Ord. No. 01-5]
Each member municipality shall have one vote to cast on all matters
that come before the Regional Planning Commission that requires action. If
two members from a municipality are present at the meeting and cannot agree
as to how to cast their vote, then the vote of the member from the elected
governing body shall control.
The Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission shall have
the responsibility to prepare a Regional Comprehensive Plan for the seven
participating municipalities. To this end, the powers and duties of the Regional
Planning Commission are as follows:
A.
To prepare a Regional Comprehensive Plan pursuant to Article II of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
B.
That in the preparation of said plan, the members of
the Commission shall represent the interests of their respective municipalities
and shall cast one vote per municipality on all matters that require action.
C.
That upon completion of the Regional Comprehensive Plan,
the Regional Planning Commission shall forward said plan on to the participating
municipalities by unanimous consent.
D.
The Regional Planning Commission shall not usurp the
powers, duties and obligations of the individual Municipal Planning Commissions
and Zoning Hearing Boards regarding subdivision, land developments and zoning
matters.
E.
The Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission
is an advisory body.
[Amended 10-11-2001 by Ord. No. 01-5]
The Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission may prepare
an annual budget and appropriate funds for its operation. The Regional Planning
Commission may also seek federal, state and county grants to offset the cost
of operation.
Within the limits imposed upon it by the funds available for its use,
the Regional Planning Commission may employ such staff or personnel and enter
into contracts with consultants as it see fit to aid in its work.
Any participating municipality may withdraw from the Regional Planning
Commission after six months written notice. Upon receiving notice that a municipality
wishes to withdraw from the Regional Planning Commission, the governing bodies
of the remaining municipalities shall promptly schedule a meeting to consider
whether the remaining municipalities wish to continue with the Regional Planning
Commission and the creation of a Regional Comprehensive Plan.
Any municipality which has exercised its right to withdraw from the
regional planning organization shall be financially responsible, even after
withdrawal, for only those budgeted and nonbudgeted items which it, or its
representative to the Regional Planning Commission had agreed to or voted
for, for a period of one year after the effective date of withdrawal.
[Added 10-11-2001 by Ord. No. 01-5]
A.
The positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer shall
be held by individuals representing three different municipalities.
B.
Officers shall serve a one-year term and may succeed
themselves for a second one-year term; provided that, at the end of two years,
the position shall be filled by an individual representing a different municipality.
[Added 10-11-2001 by Ord. No. 01-5]
Each of the Central Perkiomen Valley municipalities shall retain their
individual Planning Commissions. Each local Planning Commission shall continue
to review those subdivisions, land developments and zoning revisions that
are proposed within their municipality and then provide advisory comment to
the elected officials.
