Trainer City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Administration
§ 265-48 Enforcement.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer of the Borough of Trainer. It shall be his duty to examine all applications for permits only for construction and uses which are in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, record and file all applications for permits with accompanying plans and documents, and make such reports as Borough Council, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning Hearing Board may require. Permits for construction and uses which are special exceptions or variances from the requirements of this chapter shall require written authorization of the Zoning Hearing Board.
§ 265-49 Zoning Officer.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. 533]
The Borough Council shall appoint a Zoning Officer to administer this chapter in accordance with its literal terms. The Zoning Officer shall be required to identify and register all nonconforming uses and buildings within the Borough. The Zoning Officer shall not hold any elective office in the Borough of Trainer.
§ 265-50 Building permits.
§ 265-51 Certificates of zoning approval.
A.
A certificate of zoning approval shall be required prior to the occupancy, use or change in use of any land, building or portion thereof hereafter erected or altered, and prior to changing or expanding a nonconforming use after the effective date of this chapter. This certificate shall indicate that such building or land has been inspected by the Building Official and that the proposed use is in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
B.
Upon written request from the owner, the Building Official shall issue a certificate of zoning approval for any building or land existing at the time of enactment of this chapter, certifying, after inspection, the extent and kind of use or disposition of the building or land, and whether such use or disposition conforms with the provisions of this chapter.
C.
Such certificates shall be granted or refused within 10 days after the Building Official has been notified of the completion of the authorized construction or alteration or, where no construction or alteration is involved, within 10 days after receipt of written application therefor.
§ 265-52 Fees.
Fees for permits shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Borough of Trainer Building Code, Chapter 80, Building Construction, Article I, Uniform Construction Code. Each applicant for a site plan review, an appeal, special exception, or variance shall, at the time of making application, pay a fee in accordance with a fee schedule to be adopted by resolution of Borough Council to defray the cost of advertising and mailing notices, as required by this chapter and the rules of the Board of Appeals.
§ 265-53 Site plan approval.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. 533]
Except for one- and two-family dwellings, all additions of 3,000 square feet or greater to existing buildings and all new construction of 5,000 square feet or greater shall require a site plan to be submitted to the Planning Commission for its review and recommendation to Borough Council. No building permit shall be issued by the Building Official except for plans in conformity with the site plan so approved.
A.
Objectives. In considering and reviewing site plans, the Planning Commission shall take into consideration the public health, safety and welfare, the comfort and convenience of the public in general and of the residents of the proposed development and of the immediate neighborhood in particular, and may prescribe such appropriate conditions and safeguards as may be required in order that the result of its action shall, to the maximum extent possible, further the expressed intent of this chapter and the accomplishment of the following objectives in particular:
(1)
That all proposed traffic accessways are adequate but not excessive in number; adequate in width, grade, alignment and visibility; not located too near street corners or other places of public assembly; and other similar safety considerations.
(2)
That adequate off-street parking and loading spaces are provided to prevent parking in public streets of vehicles of any persons connected with or visiting the use and that the interior circulation system is adequate to provide safe accessibility to all required off-street parking lots, loading bays and building services.
(3)
That all playground, parking and services areas are reasonably screened at all seasons of the year from the view of adjacent residential lots and streets and that the general landscaping of the site is in character with that generally prevailing in the neighborhood.
(4)
That all existing trees over eight inches in diameter, measured three feet above the base of the trunk, shall be retained to the maximum extent possible.
(5)
That all plazas and other paved areas intended for use by pedestrians shall use decorative pavements, street furniture, lighting, and plant materials so as to prevent the creation of vast expanses of pavement.
(6)
That all outdoor lighting is of such nature and so arranged as to preclude the diffusion of glare onto adjoining properties and streets.
B.
Procedure.
(1)
Prior to the submission of a formal site plan, a presubmission conference shall be held wherein the applicant and/or his representative shall meet in person with the Zoning Officer, Building Official, Borough Engineer, Planning Commission or its designated representative, and all other appropriate Borough officials to discuss the proposed site plan so that the necessary subsequent steps may be undertaken with a clear understanding of the Commission's requirements in matters relating to the development of the site.
(2)
Within six months following the presubmission conference, six copies of the site plan and any related information shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer at least 30 days prior to the Planning Commission meeting at which review is requested. If not submitted within this six-month period, another presubmission conference may be required.
(3)
The Zoning Officer shall certify on each site plan or amendment whether or not the plan meets the requirements of all zoning ordinance provisions other than those of this article regarding site plan review.
(4)
The Zoning Officer shall retain two copies and send one copy each to the Planning Commission, the Borough Engineer, the Building Official and four copies to the County Planning Commission at least 45 days prior to the Borough Planning Commission meeting at which the site plan review is requested.[1]
(5)
The Planning Commission shall complete its review of any such site plan and forward its recommendations with any conditions to the Borough Council within 90 days after the meeting at which review is requested. Failure to act within 90 days shall be deemed a recommendation for approval. Conditional recommendations by the Planning Commission shall include written findings upon any site plan submission. In reviewing the application, the Planning Commission may secure the advice or assistance of one or more expert consultants qualified to advise as to whether a proposed use will conform to the requirements of this chapter.
(6)
Review of amendments to an approved site plan shall be acted upon in the same manner as the review of the original site plan.
(7)
After review and approval by Borough Council, the Planning Commission Chairman and Secretary shall be directed to sign and return to the applicant four copies of the site plan, as amended, with any conditions noted on the site plan. One of the remaining two copies will be filed with the Planning Commission and the other will be sent to the Building Official for his files.
(8)
Recommendations for approval of a site plan by the Planning Commission shall be valid for a period of 120 days from the date thereof for the purpose of obtaining a building permit. Any extension of the said period shall require approval of the Planning Commission.
C.
Site plan requirements. The applicant shall cause a site plan map to be prepared by an architect, landscape architect, civil engineer, surveyor, land planner, or other competent person at a scale sufficient in size to permit an adequate review. The site plan shall include those of the elements listed herein which are appropriate to the proposed development or use as indicated by the Planning Commission in the presubmission conference. This information, in total, shall constitute the Site Plan, and shall be the same information, drawings and supplementary material normally understood to constitute completed working drawings.
(1)
Legal data.
(a)
Name and address of the owner of record.
(b)
Name and address of person, firm or organization preparing the map.
(c)
Date, North point, and written and graphic scale.
(d)
Sufficient description or information to define precisely the boundaries of the property. All distances shall be in feet and tenths of a foot. All angles shall be given to the nearest 10 seconds or closer. The error of closure shall not exceed one in 10,000.
(e)
The locations, names, and existing widths of adjacent streets, alleys and curblines.
(f)
The locations and owners of all adjoining lands as shown on the latest tax records.
(g)
Location, width and purpose of all existing and proposed easements, setbacks, reservations and areas dedicated to public use within or adjacent to the property.
(h)
A complete outline of existing deed restrictions or covenants applying to the property.
(i)
Existing zoning.
(2)
Natural features.
(a)
Existing contours with intervals of two feet or less, referred to a datum satisfactory to the Planning Commission.
(b)
Approximate boundaries of any areas subject to flooding or stormwater overflows.
(c)
Location of existing watercourses, marshes, wooded areas, rock outcrops, isolated trees with a diameter of eight inches or more, measured three feet above the base of the trunk, and any other significant existing natural features.
(3)
Existing structures and utilities.
(a)
Outlines of all structures and location of all uses not requiring structures.
(b)
Paved areas, sidewalks and vehicular access between the site and public streets.
(c)
Locations, dimensions, grades and flow direction of any existing sewers, culverts, waterlines, as well as other underground and aboveground utilities within and adjacent to the property.
(d)
Other existing development, including fences, landscaping and screening.
(4)
Proposed development.
(a)
The location of proposed buildings or structural improvements.
(b)
The location and design of all uses not requiring structures, such as off-street parking and loading areas.
(c)
The location, direction, power and time of use for any proposed outdoor lighting or public address systems.
(d)
The location and design of any outdoor signs.
(e)
The location, arrangement and materials of proposed means of access and egress, including sidewalks, driveways or other paved areas. Profiles indicating grading and cross sections showing width of roadway, location and width of sidewalks, and location and size of waterlines and sewer lines. Any proposed direct pedestrian connection to public parking lots or structures will also be shown.
(f)
Any proposed screening and other landscaping, including types and locations of proposed street and other trees.
(g)
The location of all proposed waterlines, valves and hydrants, and of all sewer lines, or alternate means of water supply and sewage disposal and treatment.
(h)
An outline of any proposed easements, deed restrictions or covenants.
(i)
Any contemplated public improvements on or adjoining the property.
(j)
Any proposed new grades, indicating clearly how such grades will meet existing grades of adjacent properties or the street.
(k)
If the site plan only indicates a first stage, a supplementary plan shall indicate ultimate development.
(l)
Any other information deemed by the Planning Commission to be necessary to determine conformity of the site plan with the spirit and intent of this chapter.