Council may from time to time amend, supplement, change, modify or repeal this chapter, including the Zoning Map. When doing so, Council shall proceed in the manner prescribed in §
205-197 of this article.
Enactment of any proposed amendment, other than a challenge to the validity of the ordinance and curative amendment in §
205-198, shall be done in accordance with the following:
A. Before
voting on the enactment of an amendment, Council shall hold a public
hearing thereon, pursuant to public notice.
B. If the
proposed amendment involves a Zoning Map change, notice of said public
hearing shall be conspicuously posted by the Township at points deemed
sufficient by the Township along the perimeter of the tract to notify
potentially interested citizens. The affected tract or area shall
be posted at least one week prior to the date of the hearings.
C. For an
amendment other than that initiated by the Planning Commission, Council
shall submit each such amendment to the Planning Commission at least
30 days prior to the hearing on such proposed amendment to provide
the Planning Commission an opportunity to submit recommendations.
D. Proposed
amendments shall not be enacted unless the requirements for publication,
advertisement, and availability of proposed ordinances and amendments
as set forth by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act
247, as amended (Section 610), are met.
E. If, after
any public hearing held upon an amendment, the proposed amendment
is changed substantially, or is revised to include land previously
not affected by it, Council shall hold another public hearing, pursuant
to public notice, before proceeding to vote on the amendment. Council
shall at least 10 days prior to enactment readvertise, in one newspaper
of general circulation in the Township, a brief summary setting forth
all the provisions in reasonable detail together with a summary of
the amendment.
F. The Township
shall submit each amendment to the Bucks County Planning Commission
at least 30 days prior to the public hearing for recommendations.
G. Within
30 days after enactment, a copy of the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance
shall be forwarded to the Bucks County Planning Commission.
H. Council may retain, at a petitioner's expense, experts to review and comment on any or all issues addressed in impact statements in accordance with §
205-199.
For any petition filed pursuant to §
205-196 of this chapter, Council at its discretion may require an impact statement to be submitted with the petition whenever it deems necessary. A change of zoning generally means a deviation from the previously planned growth pattern. Such changes invariably have an impact on the community, on the environment and on taxes. A detailed statement of these impacts shall be submitted by the applicant for any change in zoning classification or where required for a proposed use pursuant to this chapter. Such statement shall contain the following:
A. Bristol
Township Comprehensive Plan. An analysis of the consistency of the
proposed zoning change with the Comprehensive Plan shall be presented.
The analysis shall include, but not be limited to, the compatibility
with the statement of community goals and objectives, and the impact
on the land use plan, community services and facilities, regional
population and housing projections.
B. Environmental impact. An analysis of the impact on stormwater runoff, aquifer recharge, erosion, sedimentation, wildlife habitats, scenic areas, and the general amenity of the community. The environmental or natural features listed in §
205-108, Environmental performance standards, shall be identified and mapped. The ability of the proposed use to comply with the requirements of §
205-108 shall be shown. The site capacity calculations of §
205-107 shall be completed for the subject tract.
C. Transportation
impact.
(1) An
analysis of the impact of the proposed zoning change on the transportation
system, both highways and public transportation, shall be provided.
(2) Where
a proposed zoning change or amendment could result in traffic generation
that meets the applicability for a traffic impact study in Section
525.c of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, a transportation
impact study shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions in
Section 525 of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
D. Water
resources impact. An analysis of the impact of the proposed zoning
change on underlying aquifers, streams and existing nearby wells or
on the public water supply system shall be provided. The following
information shall be included.
(1) Any
reports, studies or plans previously prepared for the Township shall
be utilized in the analysis.
(2) The
proposed water supply system including source(s), storage and distribution
shall be discussed.
(3) Existing
and proposed water resources near the site should be identified.
E. Sewage
facilities impact. An analysis which evaluates the consistency of
the proposed zoning change with the municipal sewage facilities plan.
All appeals from all land use decisions rendered pursuant to
this article shall be taken to the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks
County and shall be filed within 30 days after entry of the decision,
or in the case of a deemed decision, within 30 days after the notice
of said deemed decision is given as set forth in this chapter.
The applicant for any hearing on an appeal or amendment before
Council shall at the time of making application, pay to the Zoning
Officer, for the use of the Township, a fee in accordance with a fee
schedule adopted by resolution of Council upon enactment of this chapter.