Being regulations governing the subdivision and development of land, and the construction and/or opening and dedication of streets, roads, sewers, drains, or other facilities in connection therewith, in the Township of Hanover, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
A. 
Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Subdivision and Land Development Regulations of 1970," and as amended May 22, 1973, and as amended May 22, 1979.
B. 
Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to assure that subdivision and land development within the Township conforms to the provisions described in Section 503 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10503.
The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements to meet the above-stated purposes. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any statute, other ordinance, or regulations, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail. Where the provisions of any other statute, other ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions than those of this chapter, the provisions of such statute, ordinance or regulation shall prevail.
A. 
For the purpose of this chapter, the terms "subdivision" and "land development" shall not include the following:
(1) 
A transfer of land to the Township for municipal purposes.
(2) 
The conversion of an existing single-family detached dwelling or single-family semidetached dwelling into not more than three residential units, unless such units are intended to be a condominium.
(3) 
The addition of an accessory building, including farm buildings, on a lot or lots subordinate to an existing principal building.
(4) 
The addition or conversion of buildings or rides within the confines of an enterprise which would be considered an amusement park. For purposes of this subsection, an "amusement park" is defined as a tract or area used principally as a location for permanent amusement structures or rides. This exclusion shall not apply to newly acquired acreage by an amusement park until initial plans for the extended area has been approved by the proper authorities.
B. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms "subdivision" and "land development" shall include the following types of developments:
(1) 
Single-family developments.
(2) 
Multiple-family developments.
(3) 
The improvement of one or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving a group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether prepared initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or tenure.
(4) 
Any development of a parcel of land which involves installation of streets, driveways, or other utilities even though the streets may not be dedicated to public use and the parcel may not be divided immediately for the purpose of conveyance, transfer or sale.
(5) 
Any development of land which alters the drainage characteristics of any adjoining land parcels or publicly held right-of-way by reason of nonresidential structural improvements, paving and/or topographical changes which affect over 50% of the area of the parcel of land under development.
A. 
No subdivision of any lot, tract or parcel of land shall be effected and no street, sanitary sewer, storm drain, water main, or other facilities in connection therewith shall be laid out, constructed, opened, or dedicated for public use, or travel, or for the common use of occupants of buildings abutting thereon, except in strict accordance with the regulations, adopted hereunder. Nonresidential land development of any description shall be construed as being within the scope of this chapter when drainage onto adjoining land is altered by more than a 10% increase in the rate of surface water runoff computed per § 159-18.
B. 
Issuance of building permits, or erection of buildings. No building permit to erect, alter, or repair any building or improvement upon land under development may be issued and no building or improvement may be erected upon land under development, unless and until:
(1) 
A subdivision or a land development plan has been approved and recorded; and
(2) 
Until the required improvements in connection therewith, both public and private, have either been constructed, or the Township has been assured that the improvements will subsequently be installed by means of a proper completion guarantee and security acceptable to the Township Solicitor and/or the Board of Supervisors. Such security and guarantee shall be in the form of an improvements agreement with financial security. The amount of the financial security shall be sufficient to cover the cost of the required improvements, as estimated by the Township Engineer.