An ordinance establishing rules, regulations, and standards
governing the subdivision and development of land within the Township,
setting forth the procedures to be followed by the Township Planning
Commission and Council in administering these rules, regulations,
and standards, and setting forth the penalties for the violation thereof
as established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
These regulations shall be known and may be cited as the "Bristol
Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance."
These regulations are adopted for the following purposes:
A. To regulate
and control the division and development of land within Bristol Township
in order to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the
residents of the Township;
B. To assist
orderly, efficient, and integrated development of land;
C. To provide
for the coordination of existing streets and public utilities with
new facilities;
D. To ensure
efficient and orderly provision of community services and facilities;
E. To ensure
conformance of land utilization with good planning criteria and with
the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, and the Bristol Township
Zoning Ordinance.
F. To ensure
equitable handling of all subdivision and land development plans by
providing uniform procedures and standards for observance, by subdividers,
developers, and the Township;
G. To ensure
the proper provision of open lands for recreation and the proper location
of sites for community facilities;
H. To ensure
that proper provision shall be made for stormwater management, water,
sewerage and other needed improvements;
I. To ensure
that land to be subdivided and/or developed shall be of such character
that it can be used for building purposes without danger to health
or peril from fire, flood or other menace;
J. To provide
for adequate open space, recreation, light, air and traffic management;
K. To encourage
and promote flexibility, economy, and ingenuity in the layout and
design of subdivisions and land developments, including authority
for Council to alter site requirements in order to encourage other
practices which are in accordance with modern and evolving principles
of site planning and development.
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 regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail. Where
the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose
greater restrictions than those of this chapter, the provisions of
such statute, ordinance, or regulation shall prevail.
Section 501 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code
(Act 247), as amended, provides that Bristol Township may regulate
subdivision and land development within the Township by enacting a
subdivision and land development ordinance.
The Bucks County Planning Commission is empowered under Section
502 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247) to review and report on each subdivision or land development
plan before local approval and recording, as required by law. The
submission of plans to the Bucks County Planning Commission for review
and report shall be provided in this chapter. After consideration
of the county report, the Planning Commission and Council may proceed
to preliminary and final action.
It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent that:
A. If a court
of competent jurisdiction declares any provisions of this chapter
to be invalid or ineffective, in whole or in part, the effect of such
decision shall be limited to those provisions which are expressly
stated in the decision to be invalid or ineffective, and all other
provisions of this chapter shall continue to be separately and fully
effective.
B. If a court
of competent jurisdiction finds the application of any provision or
provisions of this chapter to any lot, building or other structure,
or tract of land, to be invalid or ineffective, in whole or in part,
the effect of such decision shall be limited to the person, property,
or situation immediately involved in the controversy, and the application
of any such provision to other persons, property, or situations shall
not be affected.
The grant of a permit or approval of a plan for any proposed
subdivision and/or land development to be located within any identified
floodplain area or district shall not constitute a representation,
guaranty, or warranty of any kind by Bristol Township or by any official
or employee thereof of the practicability or safety of the proposed
use, and shall create no liability upon the Township, or upon its
officials or employees.