Upper Darby Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
Zoning Hearing Board
§ 550-54 Creation; membership; Board functions and power.
A.
Creation of the Board. A Zoning Hearing Board is hereby created in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. The members of the Zoning Hearing Board existing at the effective date of this chapter shall continue to serve for their appointed terms.
B.
Membership of the Board.
C.
Board functions and power. The Board shall have the functions and powers prescribed by law. In accordance with the provisions of Article IX of the Municipalities Planning Code, the Board:
(1)
Shall hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the appellant that the Zoning Officer has failed to follow prescribed procedures or has misinterpreted or misapplied any provision of this chapter or the Zoning Map or any valid rule or regulation governing the action of the Zoning Officer.
(2)
Shall hear requests for variances where it is alleged that the provisions of this chapter inflict unnecessary hardship upon the applicant, subject to the standards prescribed by law and contained in § 550-54J of this article.
(3)
Shall hear and decide requests for special exceptions where this chapter states that a special exception may be granted or denied by the Board in accordance with express standards and criteria contained in this chapter.
(4)
May hear all challenges to the validity of this chapter or to the Zoning Map involving issues of fact and of interpretation which properly come before the Board in accordance with law and shall take evidence and make a record thereof as prescribed by the Municipalities Planning Code. In granting any variance or special exception, the Board shall comply with the provisions and standards of § 550-54J of this section.
D.
Organization of Board. The Board shall elect officers and shall organize and operate in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Municipalities Planning Code and by any rules adopted by the Board consistent with any Township ordinance and state law. For the conduct of any hearing and the taking of any action, a quorum shall not be less than a majority of all the members of the Board, but as provided for by the Municipalities Planning Code, the Board may appoint a hearing officer from its own membership to conduct any hearing on its behalf, and the parties may waive decision of findings by the Board and accept the decision or findings of the hearing officer as final. The Board shall adopt rules of procedure, keep full public records of its business, and shall submit a report of its activities to the Township Council at least once a year as required by the Municipalities Planning Code. The Board rules may include, but shall not be limited to, the manner of filing appeals, the manner of filing requests for special exceptions and variances from the terms of this chapter, and other rules and forms for its procedure.
E.
Appeals to the Board.
(1)
Appeals from determinations of the Zoning Officer and proceedings to challenge this chapter may be filed with the Board by any officer or agency of the Township or by any person aggrieved. Request for a variance and special exception may be filed with the Board by any landowner. An appeal to the Board shall be taken as provided by the Municipalities Planning Code and the Board's Rules of Procedure by filing a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof. Such appeal shall be filed both with the Board and the Zoning Officer, and the Zoning Officer shall forthwith transmit to the Board all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken. The raising of issues and the filing of certain proceedings before the Board also shall be subject to the time limitations contained in the Municipalities Planning Code.
(2)
An appeal, or request for a special exception or variance from the terms of this chapter, shall be filed with the Zoning Officer and shall state:
(a)
The name and address of the applicant;
(b)
The name and address of the owner of the real estate property;
(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)
The applicant may provide a statement of the section of this chapter under which the variance or exception is requested and the reasons why it should be granted; and
(f)
A reasonably accurate description of the present improvements and the additions intended to be made under this application, indicating the size of such proposed improvements, material and general construction thereof. Where applicable, there shall be attached a plot plan of the real estate to be affected, indicating the location and size of the lot and size of the improvements now erected and proposed to be erected thereon.
F.
Public hearings. The Board shall conduct hearings and make decisions in accordance with the requirements of the Municipalities Planning Code and any pertinent provisions of this chapter or the rules of the Board. Upon the filing with the Board of an appeal or a request for a special exception or variance from the terms of this chapter, the Board shall fix a time and place for a public hearing thereon in accordance with the Municipalities Planning Code. The Chairman or Acting Chairman of the Board, or the hearing officer presiding, shall have the power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant documents and papers. The Board or the hearing officer, as the case may be, shall render a written decision or, when no decision is called for, make written findings on the application within the time requirements of the Municipalities Planning Code.
G.
Notice of public hearings. In any case where the Zoning Hearing Board shall hold a public hearing, the Board shall give notice as follows, which notice shall state the time and the place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing:
(1)
By publishing a notice thereof once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered at the hearing. The first publication shall be not more than 30 days or less than seven days from the date of the hearing.
(2)
By mailing due notice thereof to the applicant and other parties in interest.
(3)
By mailing notice thereof to the Mayor, each Councilman, the Zoning Officer, and the Delaware County Planning Department.
H.
Expiration of special exceptions and variances. Unless otherwise specifically extended by the Zoning Hearing Board, a special exception or variance shall expire at the end of one year from date of authorization if the applicant fails to obtain a building permit or put the property to the use for which said special exception or variance has been granted.
I.
Zoning appeals to court. Zoning appeals from decisions of the Board and appeals upon report of the Board in proceedings to challenge the validity of this chapter and the Zoning Map may be taken by any party before the Board, or any officer or agency of the Township, to the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County in accordance with the provisions of Article X-A of the Municipalities Planning Code. All such zoning appeals shall be filed as required by law.
J.
Standards for review of special exceptions or variances.
(1)
In any instance where the Board is required to consider a request for a special exception or variance in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the Board shall to the full extent permitted by law consider the following factors where appropriate:
(a)
Give full consideration to the size, scope, extent and character of the special exception or variance desired and assure itself that such request is consistent with the criteria and objectives of the Township's Comprehensive Plan, and with the spirit, purpose and intent of the Zoning Ordinance.
(b)
Consider the suitability of the property for the use desired and the extent to which the new or expanded use is susceptible of regulation by appropriate conditions and safeguards.
(c)
Consider the public interest in, or the need for, the proposed use or change; and determine that the proposal will serve the best interests of the Township, the convenience of the community (where applicable), and the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.
(d)
Consider, where pertinent, the effects of the proposed change with respect to: the most appropriate use of land; conserving the value of buildings; safety from fire, panic and other dangers: adequacy of light and air; the overcrowding of land; congestion of population: and the adequacy of public and community services.
(e)
Take into consideration the character and type of development in the area surrounding the location for which the request is made and determine that the proposed change or modification, as permitted, will constitute an appropriate use in the area and will not substantially injure or detract from the use of surrounding property or from the character of the neighborhood.
(f)
Guide the development of highway frontage insofar as possible so as to limit the total number of access points, reduce the need for on-street parking and encourage the frontage of buildings on parallel marginal roads perpendicular to the highway.
(g)
Consider the probable effects of proposed development on highway congestion and ensure that adequate access arrangements are provided in order to protect major highways from undue congestion and hazard.
(2)
In the case of a variance, in addition to any applicable standards of this section above, the more specific requirements or criteria contained in Section 910.2 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. § 10910.2) shall apply. The Zoning Hearing Board may grant a variance, provided the following findings are made where relevant in a given case:
(a)
That there are unique physical circumstances or conditions, including irregularity, narrowness or shallowness of lot size or shape, or exceptional topographical or other physical conditions peculiar to the particular property, and that the unnecessary hardship required by law is due to such conditions and not the circumstances or conditions generally created by the provisions of this chapter in the neighborhood or district in which the property is located.
(b)
That, because of such physical circumstances or conditions, there is no possibility that the property can be developed in strict conformity with the provisions of this chapter and that the authorization of a variance is therefore necessary to enable the reasonable use of the property.
(c)
That such unnecessary hardship has not been created by the appellant.
(d)
That the variance, if authorized, will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood or district in which the property is located, nor substantially or permanently impair the appropriate use or development of adjacent property, nor be detrimental to the public welfare.
(e)
That the variance, if authorized, will represent the minimum variance that will afford relief and will represent the least modification possible of the regulation at issue.
(3)
In granting any variance or special exception, the Board may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those expressed in this chapter, as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of the Municipalities Planning Code and the Zoning Ordinance, which conditions and safeguards may relate to, but are not limited to, aesthetics, screening, lighting, noise, safety and the minimizing of noxious, offensive or hazardous elements. Each special exception shall be clearly authorized by a provision of this chapter and shall comply with any more specific standards relating to such exception contained in this chapter.
(4)
In all cases of requests for a special exception or variance, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to present such evidence as is necessary to demonstrate that the proposed use or modification complies with the pertinent criteria or standards set forth in this section, will not cause a detrimental effect on surrounding property or the neighborhood, and is in accord with the spirit and intent of this chapter.
(5)
Any person desiring to erect any structure or increase the height of any structure or permit the growth of any object of natural growth or otherwise use his property in violation of airport zoning regulations may apply to the Zoning Hearing Board for a variance from the zoning regulations in question. A variance shall only be granted after the requirements of this subsection are satisfied. A variance may be allowed where a literal application or enforcement of the regulations would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship and the relief granted would not be contrary to the public interest but would do substantial justice and would be in accordance with the spirit of the regulations and this chapter. Any variance may be granted subject to any reasonable conditions that the Zoning Hearing Board may deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. The application for variance shall be accompanied by a determination from the Federal Aviation Administration as to the effect of the proposal on the operation of air navigation facilities and the safe, efficient use of navigable airspace. Additionally, no application for variance to the requirements of this chapter may be considered by the Zoning Hearing Board unless a copy of the application has been furnished to the Airport Manager (or person of equivalent description) for advice as to the aeronautical effects of the variance. If the Airport Manager (or person of equivalent description) does not respond to the application within 15 days after receipt, the Zoning Hearing Board may act without such input to grant or deny said application.