Ralpho Township City Zoning Code
PART 7
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
§ 701 Enforcement.
[Ord. 100, 10/12/1993, § 701]
1.
Code Enforcement Officer (also Building Permits Officer and Zoning Officer). A Code Enforcement Officer shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to administer and enforce this Chapter. A Code Enforcement Officer may not hold any elective office in the Township.
2.
Duties and Powers of Code Enforcement Officer. It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement officer to enforce literally the provisions of this Chapter, and amendments and he shall have such duties and powers as are conferred on him by this Chapter and as are reasonably implied for that purpose. The Code Enforcement Officer's duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
A.
Receive applications for and issue zoning permits and sign permits as permitted by the terms of this Chapter.
B.
Keep an official record of all business activities including complaints of a violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter and of the action taken consequent on each such complaint. All such records shall be open to public inspection. File copies of all applications received, permits issued, reports and inspections made in connection with any structure building, sign and/or land, shall be retained as long as they remain in existence.
C.
Make inspections as required to fulfill his duties.
D.
Issue permits for special exception uses or for variances only after such uses and/or buildings have been approved by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with the regulations of this Chapter.
E.
Be responsible for keeping this Chapter and the Zoning Map up to date so as to include all amendments thereto.
F.
Issue certificates of use and occupancy in accordance with the terms of this Chapter.
G.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall identify and register nonconforming uses and structures created as a result of the adoption of this Chapter or created as a result of amendments thereto.
§ 702 Zoning Permit.
[Ord. 100, 10/12/1993, § 702]
No building, structure or sign shall be erected, constructed, razed, moved, added to or structurally altered nor shall land be put to any use without a zoning permit therefor issued by the Code Enforcement Officer. No such permit shall be issued except in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter, any applicable laws or any court of competent jurisdiction. Also, see Part 4 for other requirements concerning, construction or other improvements in the floodplain.
A.
Form of Application.
(1)
Site plans (8 sets) described below, must accompany all submissions for plan examination and building permits whenever the application proposes the following:
(a)
A proposed use or structure located in or within 100 feet of a floodplain as stipulated in § 406.
(b)
A proposed use or structure on steep slopes (25% or greater).
(c)
A proposed use required to have a parking lot as stipulated in § 505.
(d)
Whenever development is proposed involving two or more primary uses or structures on a single lot including, but not limited to, apartment complexes, shopping centers and industrial parks.
(e)
For lots created in subdivisions approved with a model stormwater plan, if the building permit applicant proposes a use or improvement(s) with increased impervious coverage beyond what was included on the approved plan, the applicant shall comply with all the provisions of Chapter 26 (stormwater), including, as applicable, the need for an engineering escrow and a supplemental recorded plan prior to the issuance of the building permit.
[Amended by Ord. No. 190, 12/11/2018]
B.
Site plans should include:
(1)
The name of the proposed development and the name and address of the owner of the property and the individual or firm preparing the site plan.
(2)
Date of application for a zoning permit.
(3)
Graphic scale of one inch equals 50 feet or larger.
(4)
North point.
(5)
Key map at a scale of one inch equals 400 feet showing streets and roads, buildings and motor vehicle access within 500 feet from the property boundary of the lot.
(6)
Total size of the property and/or area to be leased.
(7)
Proposed use of the property.
(8)
Topographic contour lines drawn at vertical intervals of two feet for land with average undisturbed slopes of 4% or less and at intervals of five feet for land with average undistributed slopes exceeding 4%, including the source of the topographic data.
(9)
The perimeter boundaries of the tract, showing bearings to the nearest minute and distances to the nearest hundredths of a foot. Boundary must be balanced and closed with an error of closure not to exceed one foot in 15,000 feet.
(10)
Location of the front, side and rear yard setback areas as required by the applicable zoning district.
(11)
All existing and proposed structures, showing location and a statement of the ground floor area, and any retail and service floor area of each.
(12)
All streams, floodplain boundaries and slopes of 25% or more.
(13)
All existing and proposed street rights-of-way and cartways, including those abutting the property.
(14)
All existing and proposed motor vehicle access points to the property.
(15)
All existing and proposed parking and loading spaces, parking lots, required curbing, vehicular use areas, utility poles, signs, drainage facilities, bulk trash containers, walkways and a statement of the surfacing materials to be used.
(16)
The location of all outdoor lighting fixtures.
(17)
The location and generic name of the vegetation to be used for landscaping.
(18)
The location of any required buffer yards or screening.
(20)
Information concerning the construction and landscaping of parking lots, including sections, elevations, plans and details of all landscaping elements, such as earth mounds, retaining walls, vegetation by common name, materials to be used and required trees by common name and caliper size.
(21)
Date and descriptions of revisions to the site plan occurring after initial submission.
C.
All other applications shall be made in writing and shall be accompanied by three sets of plans showing at least the following information, if applicable:
(1)
Actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon, including the zoning district in which the property is located.
(2)
The exact size and location on the lot of buildings, structures or signs existing and/or proposed extensions thereto.
(3)
The number of dwelling units, if applicable.
(4)
Parking spaces provided and/or loading facilities.
(5)
A statement indicating the existing or proposed use.
(6)
Height of structure, building or sign.
(7)
Essential services such as water supply, sewerage, percolation tests, etc.
(8)
All other information necessary for such Code Enforcement Officer to determine conformance with and provide for enforcement of this Chapter.
(a)
One copy of the plans shall be returned to the applicant by the Code Enforcement Officer after he shall have marked such copies either as approved or disapproved and attested to same by his signature on such copy.
(b)
One copy shall be retained by the Code Enforcement Officer for his permanent records.
(c)
One copy shall be sent the Township Secretary.
(9)
See Part 4 for other requirements regarding floodplains.
Such approval and zoning permit shall be issued or refused within 30 days from date of application. In case of refusal, the applicant shall be informed of his rights of appeal. The application fee for permit shall be submitted in such form as the Code Enforcement Officer may prescribe. |
D.
Expiration of Zoning Permit. A zoning permit shall expire within six months from date of issuance, if work described in any permit has not begun. If work described in any zoning permit has begun within the six-month period, said permit shall expire after two years from date of issuance thereof. See Part 4 for special provisions regarding permit life in floodplain. See § 501(20) regarding demolition.
E.
Temporary Zoning Permits. A temporary zoning permit may be authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board for a nonconforming structure or use which it deems beneficial to the public health or general welfare or which it deems necessary to promote the proper development of the community; provided, that such nonconforming structure or use shall be completely removed upon expiration of the temporary zoning permit. Such temporary permits shall be issued for a specified period of time not to exceed one year and may be renewed annually for an aggregate period not to exceed three years. The method of application and issuance provided for "zoning permits," above, shall also apply to temporary zoning permits.
§ 703 Certificate of Use and Occupancy.
[Ord. 100, 10/12/1993, § 703]
A certificate of use and occupancy shall be required upon the completion of the work contemplated. It shall be unlawful to use and/or occupy any structure, building and/or land or portions thereof in any manner until a certificate of use and occupancy has been issued.
A.
Form of Application. The application for certificate of use and occupancy shall be submitted in such form as the Code Enforcement Officer may prescribe.
B.
Issuance of Certificate of Use and Occupancy.
(1)
The Code Enforcement Officer has the right to inspect any use, structure, building, sign and/or land or portions thereof and shall determine the conformity therewith to this Chapter. If he is satisfied that the completed work is in conformity with this Chapter and with the work listed in the zoning permit, he shall issue a certificate of use and occupancy.
(2)
Certificate of use and occupancy shall be granted or refused in writing, within 10 days from the date of application.
§ 704 Schedule of Fees, Charges and Expenses.
[Ord. 100, 10/12/1993, § 704]
1.
The Board of Supervisors shall establish by resolution a schedule of fees, charges and expenses and collection procedures for zoning permits, certificate of occupancy, special exceptions, variances and appeals and other matters pertaining to this Chapter.
2.
The schedule of fees shall be available for inspection in the office of the Code Enforcement Officer and may be amended by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
3.
Until all application fees, charges and expenses have been paid in full, no action shall be taken on any application or appeal.
§ 705 Amendments.
[Ord. 100, 10/12/1993, § 705]
The provision of this Chapter and boundaries of zoning districts as set forth on the Official Zoning Map may, from time to time, be amended or changed by the Board of Supervisors of the Township, in accordance with the provisions of Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.