West Conshohocken City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVI
Administration
§ 113-105 Zoning Officer appointed.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by an agent, to be appointed by the Borough Council, who shall be known as the "Zoning Officer." He shall serve at the pleasure of the Borough Council and shall receive such fees or compensation as the Borough Council may, by resolution, provide. He shall not hold any elective office in the municipality.
§ 113-106 Powers and duties of Zoning Officer.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer and he shall have the power to:
A.
Keep a record of all plans and applications for permits and all permits issued, with notation as to special conditions attached thereto. All records shall be open for public inspection.
B.
Review applications for permits for the 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 and with the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth. The Zoning Officer shall issue no permit unless it conforms with all applicable ordinances, statutes and regulations.
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 representative may enter upon any land or building within the Borough.
D.
Make written orders requiring compliance with the provisions of this chapter to be served personally or by registered mail.
E.
Institute proceedings in courts of proper jurisdiction for the enforcement of provisions of this chapter.
F.
Maintain a map available for public inspection showing the current zoning classification of all land within the Borough.
G.
Maintain a register available for public inspection showing the identity, location and type of nonconforming uses within the Borough.
H.
Participate in all proceedings before the Zoning Hearing Board, present facts and information to assist the Board in reaching decisions which shall be compatible with this chapter and have decisions of the Board reviewed in a court of proper jurisdiction when, in the judgment of the Zoning Officer, such a review is desirable or indicated.
§ 113-107 Permit requirements.
No building shall be constructed or enlarged in the Borough, nor the use of any building changed, until a 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.
§ 113-108 Application for permit.
All applications for permits shall be made, in writing, by the owner or tenants or authorized agent and shall be filed with the Zoning Officer. The application shall include a statement as to the proposed use of the building; and, when required by the Zoning Officer, shall be accompanied by a plot plan based upon a plan prepared by a registered engineer or land surveyor, showing the location of the building in relation to property and road lines; and shall contain all information necessary to enable the Zoning Officer to ascertain whether the proposed building complies with the provisions of this chapter.
§ 113-109 Expiration of permit.
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.
§ 113-110 Information required on appeals and applications for special exceptions and variances.
An appeal or an application for a special exception or variance from the terms of this chapter or 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 property to be affected by the proposed exception or variance.
C.
A brief description and location of the property to be affected by such proposed change.
D.
A statement of the present zoning classification of the property in question, the improvements thereon and the present use thereof.
E.
A statement of the section of this chapter under which the variance or exception requested may be allowed and the reasons why it should be granted.
F.
A reasonably accurate description of the present improvements and the additions intended to be made under the application, indicating the size of such proposed improvements. In addition, there shall be attached a plot plan of the property to be affected, indicating the location and size of the lot and the size of improvements now erected and those proposed to be erected thereon.
§ 113-111 Time limit for appeals.
An appeal from the decision of the Zoning Officer shall be taken within 30 days, according to the procedures described herein.
§ 113-112 Fees.
Fees for permits shall be paid in accordance with a fee schedule to be adopted by resolution or ordinance by the Borough Council. Such fees shall be designed to cover the costs of administering the Zoning Ordinance. Each applicant for an appeal, special exception or variance shall, at the time of making application, pay a fee in accordance with the aforementioned fee schedule, for the cost of advertising and mailing notices and such other costs as are required by this chapter and the rules of the Zoning Hearing Board. All fees shall be paid into the Borough Treasury.