Pennsburg City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Administration
§ 110-1700 Zoning Officer.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer, who shall be appointed by the Borough Council. The Zoning Officer shall be appointed at the first meeting of the Borough Council following the adoption of this chapter to serve until the first day of January next following and shall thereafter be appointed annually to serve for a term of one year and/or until his or her successor is appointed. The Zoning Officer may succeed himself or herself. He or she shall receive such fees or compensation as the Borough Council, by resolution, may provide.
§ 110-1701 Duties and powers.
The Zoning Officer shall have the duty and power to:
A.
Keep a report of all plans and applications for permits, and all permits issued, with notations as to special conditions attached thereto. All records shall be open for public inspection.
B.
Review applications for permits for erection or alteration of structures or changes of use and determine whether such construction or use is in accordance with the general requirements of this chapter, all other applicable ordinances of the Borough, and with the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Zoning Officer shall issue no permit unless it conforms with all applicable ordinances, statutes, and regulations of the Borough of Pennsburg.
C.
Conduct inspections and surveys to determine compliance or noncompliance with the terms of this chapter. In carrying out such surveys, the Zoning Officer or his or her representatives may enter upon any land or building within the Borough within the limits of law regarding trespass and illegal search.
D.
Make written orders requiring compliance with the provisions of this chapter, to be served personally or by registered mail.
E.
Institute civil enforcement proceedings for the enforcement of provisions of this chapter, when acting within the scope of his or her employment.
F.
Maintain a map showing the current zoning classification of all land within the Borough.
G.
Maintain a map and register showing the registration, identity, location, and type of all nonconforming uses within the Borough.
H.
Participate in all proceedings before the Zoning Hearing Board and present facts and information to assist the Board in reaching decisions which shall be compatible with this chapter.
§ 110-1702 Permits.
[Amended 11-19-2019 by Ord. No. 5-2019]
With the exception of sheds 50 square feet or less in area, no building or structure shall be constructed or enlarged in the Borough, or use of any building changed, until a zoning permit has been secured from the Zoning Officer. Upon completion of the work authorized by any permit, the applicant for the permit shall notify the Zoning Officer of such completion. No permit shall be considered as complete or as permanently effective until the Zoning Officer has noted on the permit that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
§ 110-1703 Application for permit.
All applications for zoning permits shall be made in writing by the owner or tenant or authorized agent and shall be filed with the Zoning Officer. The application:
A.
Shall include a statement as to the proposed use of the buildings or land.
B.
Shall be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing the location of the buildings in relation to all abutting property and street lines.
C.
Shall include a statement that the side lines of all roads shown on the plan have been located and staked on the premises by a registered professional engineer or registered land surveyor competent to give such location.
D.
Shall give the name and address of the person who has so located and staked the street lines. In the case of signs, the size, height, location, and construction shall be shown on the application.
§ 110-1704 Expiration of permits.
A permit issued under the authority of this chapter shall expire six months after date of issuance unless the permittee shall have commenced substantial construction or utilization of the property which is the subject of the permit in accordance with the intent thereof within such period.
§ 110-1705 Appeals.
§ 110-1706 Appeal and application procedure.
An application for special exception, or for a variance from the terms of this chapter, or an appeal from a decision of the Zoning Officer may be filed with the Secretary of the Zoning Hearing Board and shall state:
A.
The name and address of the applicant.
B.
The name and address of the owner of the real estate to be affected by the proposed special exception or variance.
C.
A brief description and location of the real estate to be affected by such proposed change.
D.
A statement of the present zoning classification of the real estate in question, the improvements thereon, and the present use thereof.
E.
A statement of the section of this chapter from which the variance is required, or special exception may be allowed, and the reasons why it should be granted.
F.
A reasonably accurate description of the present improvements and the additional improvements intended to be made under the application, indicating the size of the lot and size of improvements now erected and those proposed to be erected thereon.
§ 110-1707 Fees.
The applicant for a permit shall, at the time of making the application, pay to the Zoning Officer a fee in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by the Borough Council by resolution.