[Adopted 3-5-1956 by Ord. No. 8]
[Amended 4-7-1969; 2-13-2008 by Ord. No. 204-2008]
The East Whiteland Township Planning Commission shall have not less than three nor more than seven members. Members of the Planning Commission shall be appointed by the Supervisors of the Township for terms of four years, except that the terms of the members first appointed shall be so fixed that on a Commission of eight members or less no more than two shall be reappointed or replaced during any future calendar year, and on a Commission of nine members no more than three shall be so reappointed or replaced. The members of the existing Commission which was established under former laws shall continue in office until the end of the terms for which they were appointed. Their successors shall be appointed as provided by this article. Should the number of members on the existing Commission be increased, the additional members shall be appointed as provided by this article. All members shall be residents of the Township. They shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses.
Township Planning Commission shall elect its own Chairman and create and fill such other offices as it may determine. Commissions may make and alter rules for its procedure consistent with the ordinances of the Township and the laws of the Commonwealth. It shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, which records shall be a public record. The Board of Supervisors shall appropriate from the general township funds such money as may be necessary and may be available for the work of the Planning Commission in the year in which the appropriation is made. The Planning Commission may appoint such employees and staff as it may deem necessary for its work and may contract with planners, surveyors and other consultants for such technical services as it may require upon authorization of the Board of Supervisors. These and other expenditures as may be necessary and proper shall be within the amount appropriated for the purpose by the Board of Supervisors or placed at the Commission's disposal from other sources.
A. 
The Planning Commission shall prepare and adopt a plan of development for the Township. The plan, with accompanying maps, charts, drawings, and descriptive matter, shall show the Commission's recommendation for the development of the Township.
B. 
The development plan shall be based on studies of the physical, social, economic and governmental conditions and trends, and shall be designed to promote with the greatest efficiency and economy the coordinated development of the Township and the general welfare and prosperity of its people.
C. 
Any maps or plans adopted by the Commission shall not be effective unless they are approved and adopted by ordinance of the Township Supervisors.
D. 
After such adoption and approval they may be amended from time to time as the Township Supervisors may deem expedient by ordinance of the Board of Supervisors.
A. 
The Board of Supervisors may establish by ordinance as the Official Map of the Township any part of the development plan after public hearing, with notice of such public hearing to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township at least 10 days prior to the hearing.
B. 
The Board of Supervisors may by resolution, whenever and as often as it may deem it for the public interest, change or add to the Official Map of the Township. Before changing or adding to the Official Map, the matter shall be referred to the Planning Commission for its recommendation. If the Planning Commission shall not make its recommendation thereon within 30 days after such reference, it shall be deemed to consent thereto.
C. 
Upon the receipt of the recommendation of the Planning Commission or upon the expiration of 30 days after reference to the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors may hold a public hearing on the proposed change in or addition to the Official Map, and if such hearing is to be held, shall cause notice of the hearing to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. At such public hearing, all interested parties shall be given an opportunity to present their views prior to the final vote upon the resolution providing for the change in or addition to the Official Map. Upon final passage of the resolution, the changes or additions shall become a part of the Official Map of the Township.
In the event that subdivision regulations are adopted by the Township supervisors under authority granted by the Municipalities Planning Code, the Supervisors, before approving plans for proposed subdivisions, shall refer such plans to the Planning Commission, if any, for its recommendation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).