Pursuant to the provisions contained in the Borough Code and in order to carry said provisions into effect, there
is hereby created in said Borough a Planning Department. In addition,
there is created a Borough Planning Commission which shall be in charge
of the Planning Department and shall have all the powers and duties
conferred upon it by law and any other powers vested in it by law,
ordinance or direction of the Borough Council.
[Amended 3-13-1995 by Ord. No. 415]
The Borough Planning Commission shall consist of six members
who shall be appointed by the Borough Council and shall serve without
compensation, except that they shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred
in carrying out their Commission duties upon approval of the Borough
Council.
The Borough Planning Commission shall make an annual report
to the Borough Council showing its transactions and recommendations.
It may employ planning technicians and other persons whose salaries
and wages, together with other necessary expenses of the Commission,
shall be provided for, at the discretion of the Borough Council, by
proper appropriations and resolutions. The Commission may also receive
and expend for the purposes of its planning work any gifts, grants
and appropriations of money from any other source, including commonwealth,
federal or local funds, and may contract with governmental or private
agencies or individuals with respect thereto, but may not accept funds
which must be returned or repaid unless approval of the Borough Council
is first obtained.
The Planning Commission shall have the power and duty to make,
adopt and maintain a Comprehensive Plan for the physical development
of the Borough and the surrounding territory. Said Comprehensive Plan
shall include, among other things, a land use plan, a thoroughfare
plan, a community facilities plan and a public improvements program.
In the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan, the Commission should
study population trends, existing land use, the economic base, traffic,
existing thoroughfare system and other factors related to the development
of the community. The purpose of the Comprehensive Plan should be
to accomplish a coordinated and harmonious development of the community
and its environs in accordance with present and future needs. The
Commission would have the continuing responsibility for maintaining
the Comprehensive Plan in an up-to-date condition and in so doing
would review and make recommendations to the Borough Council on all
ordinances which pertain to the physical development of the Borough.
The Planning Commission shall serve as a Zoning Commission and
may, in pursuance of its duties, prepare or cause to be prepared a
zoning ordinance for consideration of the Borough Council. The Commission
shall have a continuing responsibility to review the ordinance and
make recommendations as to proposed amendments.
The Planning Commission shall study the land subdivision regulations
of the Borough, and shall recommend amendments thereto, if desirable,
and shall assist the Council to administer said regulations by reviewing
and recommending to the Council action to be taken on subdivisions
submitted in accordance with established procedures.