The purpose of this Article is to provide the Township Planning Commission with the opportunity to review the proposed use of a site in relation to surrounding uses, accessibility, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, spatial relationships, off-street parking, public utilities, general drainage, environmental characteristics, site vegetation, screening and buffering, developmental characteristics and other site elements which may have an effect upon the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, and its relationship and harmony with adopted Township ordinances and plans. Site improvements and development shall conform exactly to the approved site plans and supplemental drawings as approved by the Planning Commission.

1.

A site plan shall be submitted for review by the Planning Commission whenever one or more of the following conditions apply:

1.

The site plan shall present the proposed use of a site in relation to surrounding uses, accessibility, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, spatial relationships, off-street parking, public utilities, general drainage, environmental characteristics, site vegetation, screening and buffering, developmental characteristics and other site elements which may have an effect upon the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare and its relationship and harmony with adopted Township ordinances and plans.

2.

All the development features, including the principal building or buildings and any accessory buildings or uses, open space, and any service roads, driveways and parking areas, shall be so located and related as to minimize the possibility of any adverse effects upon adjacent property, such as, but not limited to, channeling excessive traffic onto local residential streets, lack of adequate screening or buffering or parking or service areas, the accumulation of litter, production of noise, light, smoke, fumes, or the piling of plowed snow. Building groupings and circulation routes of traffic shall be located so as not to interfere with police or fire equipment access. Public streets adjacent or through the proposed development shall be required when it is essential to promoting and protecting public health, safety and general welfare, and to provide continuity to the public road system.

3.

Recreation areas and facilities, such as playgrounds, pathways, open space and preservation areas, swimming pools and community buildings, shall be provided to the extent necessary to meet the anticipated needs of the residents of the project it is designed to serve. Provision of separate adult and tot-lot recreation areas adequately landscaped is encouraged. Recreation facilities generally should be provided in a central location and should be convenient to the project community center. In larger developments, however, recreation facilities can be decentralized, if more than one, or if made part of an open space area.

4.

The site plan shall show that attention has been given in the placement of proposed buildings, parking areas, driveways, landscaping and other physical improvements of the site in relation to existing on-site natural features and vegetation such as trees, wooded areas, natural groves, and terrain features.

5.

The Planning Commission may require further landscaping, fences, walls and berms pursuant to the objectives of this Ordinance, and such improvements shall be provided and maintained as a condition of the establishment and the continued maintenance of any use.

6.

The site plan shall show that any proposed service roads, driveways, and parking areas are so related to each other within the site, and so related to the roads bordering the site as to promote pedestrian and vehicular safety and to minimize the likelihood of accidents.

Whenever required by this Ordinance, a site plan meeting the following minimum standards shall be submitted, reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission prior to the issuance of a building permit.

1.

Where it is determined by the Planning Commission that certain requirements of this Section are not necessary to the review and understanding of a site, the Planning Commission may waive the requirements.

1.

The proposed site plan shall be submitted to the Township Planning and Zoning Department who shall check the posted submission dates and transmit the plan and application to the following departments, agencies and consultants for their review:

2.

The Township Planning and Zoning Department shall place the site plan along with the available written comments from the various agencies and departments on the next available Planning Commission agenda (based on submittal date) for their review.

3.

The site plan shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission at a public meeting against the specific requirements of the Ordinance, including those items listed above and other acceptable planning concepts as appropriate.

1.

If approved or approved with additions, corrections, or alterations, the site plan shall be signed by the Planning Commission Chair as the official approved plan and all additions, corrections, or alterations shall be noted.

2.

If not approved, the reasons for such denial shall be stated in writing and a copy of such reasons shall be promptly transmitted to the applicant.

3.

If plans require significant alterations or if additional information is necessary to render a decision, the applicant may request that the planning commission postpone their decision until such time such alterations or information is provided for review.

4.

Approval of the site plan (as submitted, or with additions, corrections, or alterations) by the Planning Commission shall satisfy the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance for the issuance of a zoning compliance permit. It shall not, however, exempt the petitioner from compliance with other Township ordinances.

1.

A site plan approval shall be valid for one (1) year after the date of the Planning Commission meeting where approval was granted. If physical improvement of the site is not in actual progress at the end of a year and completed within two years, the approval becomes null and void unless renewed or extended by specific Planning Commission action. If approval is not extended before expiration of the one-year period, then a new application and a new approval shall be required before a building permit may be issued.

1.

The Planning Commission shall require that a financial guarantee in the form of a cash, letter of credit, or other financial guarantee acceptable to the Township, covering the estimated cost of improvements associated with the approved site plan, be deposited with the Township to ensure faithful completion of the improvements. The performance guarantee shall be deposited at the time of the issuance of the permit authorizing the activity or project, and any cash deposits shall be rebated in reasonable proportion to the ratio of work completed on the required improvements as work progresses.

Financial guarantees shall not expire prior to the completion of the proposed project. Appropriate assurance shall be provided which either notifies the Township that the financial guarantee is set to expire or that the financial guarantee has an evergreen clause or similar mechanism as a condition of the guarantee.

(Ord. of 3-15-2022)

1.

An applicant for a site plan approval may appeal the decision or absence of a decision of the Planning Commission to the Township Zoning Board of Appeals as described in this Ordinance.

Prior to the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy for all development requiring site plan approval, an "as-built" survey shall be completed by the Township Engineer for compliance with the approved site plan and all applicable Township ordinances. Furthermore, any applicable building bonds will not be released to the developer/owner until the as-built plans have been reviewed and accepted by the Township.

(Ord. of 3-15-2022)