Source: https://ecode360.com/32584259
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 06:31:46+00:00

Document:
§ 7-303.6 Types of uses.
§ 7-303.7 Applications for zoning permits.
§ 7-303.10 Suspension of permits and approvals.
§ 7-303.11 Interpretation and uses not regulated.
§ 7-303.14 Changes to approved plans.
§ 7-303.15 Zoning Code amendments.
Appeals from Zoning Hearing Board — see Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code §§ 1001-A to 1006-A, 53 P.S. §§ 11001-A to 11006-A.
Appointment and powers of Zoning Officer — see Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code § 614, 53 P.S. § 10614.
Building permits — see Chapter 8-101.
Enforcement remedies — see Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code § 617.2.
Sign regulations — see Chapter 7-325.
Nonconforming uses and structures — see Chapter 7-321.
The purpose of this chapter is to describe the responsibilities of the Zoning Officer, the process for approval of zoning permits, the procedures to amend the Zoning Code, enforcement provisions, and other related items.
This chapter applies to all requests for construction or expansion of buildings or structures, including parking and signs, and requests for a change of use in the City of Harrisburg. Any activity regulated by the Zoning Code shall only occur in conformity with the regulations of the Zoning Code.
The provisions of this Zoning Code, as amended from time to time, shall be interpreted as the minimum requirements to promote public health, safety, morals, and general welfare. Where more than one provision of this Zoning Code controls a particular matter, the provision that is more restrictive upon uses and structures shall apply. The provisions of this Zoning Code are in addition to any other applicable City ordinance. Any activity regulated by this Zoning Code shall only occur in such a way that conforms to the regulations of this Zoning Code. All applicants are presumed to be on notice regarding the requirements of this Code and any amendments thereto.
The City of Harrisburg complies with the Federal Fair Housing Act, as amended, and will ensure that policies and regulations do not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, or family status. The City shall grant requests for reasonable accommodation if such requests provide equal housing opportunity to persons with disabilities and do not constitute substantial changes of the Zoning Code. Written requests for reasonable accommodation shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be treated as administrative decisions. The Zoning Officer will provide a written response to the request within 30 days unless additional information is requested by the Zoning Officer.
The provisions of this Zoning Code shall be administered and enforced by the Zoning Officer, who shall be appointed by the Mayor after meeting the qualifications established by the City for the Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer shall not hold any elective office within the City but may hold other appointed offices. In the case of the absence of the Zoning Officer, the Deputy Director for Planning will be the Acting Zoning Officer.
Have no power to permit any activity which does not conform to this Zoning Code.
Permitted by right use. The Zoning Officer shall issue a zoning permit for a use that is permitted by right if it meets all of the requirements of the Zoning Code.
Special exception. The Zoning Officer shall issue a zoning permit for a use that is permitted by special exception only in response to a written approval from the Zoning Hearing Board, following a hearing, and compliance with any conditions by the Zoning Hearing Board and any conditions of the Zoning Code.
Variance. The Zoning Officer shall issue a zoning permit for a variance requesting relief from specific development standards only in response to a written approval from the Zoning Hearing Board, following a hearing, and compliance with any conditions by the Zoning Hearing Board and any conditions of the Zoning Code.
Alteration, new construction, or demolition of any building or structure within a municipal historic district as regulated by Chapter 7-317.
Such additional information as the Zoning Officer deems necessary to determine compliance with this Code.
Plans for the use or improvement of land for new or expanded parking facilities shall fully describe surface water drainage facilities, driveways, and the other requirements relative thereto as set forth in Chapter 7-327, Off-Street Parking and Loading.
A zoning permit shall only authorize the construction, type of use, and/or other activity stated on such permit although application for the same may be included on the building permit application form. However, a zoning permit shall not by itself authorize the occupancy of any new structure, nor shall it authorize the activation of any new or changed use.
Editor's Note: See Part 5, 7-500, Subdivision Regulations.
If the Zoning Officer determines that the application does not fully comply with the Zoning Code, he/she shall deny the zoning permit and shall supply, within 10 days following the date after application was made, written evidence of the denial to the applicant or his/her representative at his/her last known address, together with one or more reason(s) for the denial.
After all applicable permits have been received by the applicant, the applicant may undertake the action specified, in compliance with other City Ordinances. However, applicants shall be advised to wait 30 days to begin construction if there is a possibility of an appeal by another party. Any commencement of construction or a use within this thirty-day appeal period shall be at the risk of the applicant.
The Zoning Officer shall have the authority to void any zoning permit at any time after six months following the date of issuance of the zoning permit if the Zoning Officer determines that the permittee has not substantially initiated and pursued the action(s) for which the permit was issued. A zoning permit shall not be voided after a certificate of compliance has been issued. Appeals from the voiding of a zoning permit may be made to the Zoning Hearing Board, or the permittee may file an application for a new permit.
If a zoning permit is issued involving a structure, then the entire structure shall be made available for inspection by the Zoning Officer.
The schedule of fees for zoning permits, certificates of compliance, inspections, statements of nonconformity, and other determinations, applications, appeals, and approvals under this Zoning Code shall be published and revised from time to time by the Department of Housing and Building Development, or his/her successor, as provided in § 2-301.8.
No application or appeal under this Zoning Code shall be considered complete and no permit shall be issued until all fees required under this Zoning Code are paid in full.
The Uniform Construction Code and the International Property Maintenance Code, as adopted, amended, and supplemented, shall govern and control the classes, types, and manner of construction, erection, reconstruction, alteration, expansion, or enlargement of all structures or uses in the City.
Every application under this Zoning Code shall also comply with all provisions of the City of Harrisburg Subdivision and Land Development Code, if applicable.
Violation of any applicable portion of the City of Harrisburg Zoning Code.
When more than one provision of this Code controls a particular matter, the provision that is more restrictive upon uses and structures shall apply. The provisions of this Code are in addition to any other applicable ordinance.
Proposed use would meet the standards that would apply under Chapter 7-323, Special Exceptions and Variances.
The Zoning Officer shall literally apply the wording of this Code and the location of all zoning district boundaries to applications. In any case, the Zoning Officer may also request an advisory opinion from the City of Harrisburg City Solicitor or the Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor to aid in the Zoning Officer's determination.
If an applicant disagrees with the Zoning Officer's determination and believes that the ordinance should be interpreted in the applicant's favor, the applicant may appeal the determination to the Zoning Hearing Board.
That failure to comply with the notice within the time specified, unless extended by appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board, shall constitute a violation of the Zoning Code, with possible sanctions clearly described in the notice.
Appeal of a special exception or variance decision by the Zoning Hearing Board to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.
Any such appeal shall occur within the time period established in Sections 914.1 and 1002-A of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. §§ 10914.1 and 11002-A.
The provisions for appeals to court that are stated in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, shall apply.
After the issuance of a permit and/or approval of a site plan under this Zoning Code by the City, such permit and/or approved site plan shall not be changed without the written consent of the Zoning Officer.
Changes to an application approved by the Zoning Hearing Board shall require approval of the changes by the Zoning Hearing Board with advice from the Planning Commission if the Zoning Officer determines that such changes significantly affect matters that are within the jurisdiction or conditions of their approval. Such reapproval by the Zoning Hearing Board is not required for minor technical adjustments or corrections of information that do not affect the significant features of the site plan and the intensity of the use, as determined by the Zoning Officer.
Amendment authority. Within the requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, the City Council may amend, supplement, change, or repeal, any or all portions of this Zoning Code, including the Official Zoning Map. Any amendment, supplement, change, or repeal may be initiated by the Harrisburg Planning Commission, the City Council, or by an interested person.
Payment of fees as set forth in § 7-303.8.
Proposed zoning amendments shall be referred to the Dauphin County Planning Commission at least 30 days prior to the review of the proposed amendments by the Harrisburg Planning Commission.
After receiving a recommendation from the Harrisburg Planning Commission on an amendment to the Zoning Code, the City Council shall conduct a public hearing to inform the general public of the nature of the amendment, and to obtain public comment. The City Council shall conduct a public hearing on a proposed amendment after public notice has been given and will hold its first public hearing within 90 days from the date of the final hearing by the Harrisburg Planning Commission on the proposed zoning amendment.
The City Council shall take final action on the proposed zoning amendment within 90 days after its last public hearing. Within 30 days after enactment, a copy of the zoning amendment shall be forwarded to the Dauphin County Planning Commission.
For Zoning Map amendments, public notice shall also include the posting of a sign at conspicuous locations along the perimeter of the subject property and first class mailing of the public notice shall be sent to all current property owners who own parcels within the area proposed to be rezoned at least 30 days prior to the hearing by City Council.
If, after any public hearing held upon an amendment, the proposed amendment is changed substantially, or is revised, to include land previously not affected by it, the City Council shall hold another public hearing, pursuant to public notice, before proceeding to vote on the amendment.
Curative amendments to the Planning and Zoning Code will follow the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended.
Any review of activity within the floodplain, site plan review, subdivision or land development approval, erosion control review, wetland delineation review, stormwater runoff review, review of activity on steep slopes, or any other review, approval, or permit under this Zoning Code by an officer, employee, board, commission, solicitor, consultant, or agency of the City shall not constitute a representation, guarantee, or warranty of any kind by the City, or its employees, officials, boards, solicitor(s), consultants, or agencies, of the practicality or safety of any structure, use, or subdivision, and shall create no liability upon nor a cause of action against the City, such entity and/or person for any damage that may result pursuant thereto.
If the Zoning Officer mistakenly issues a permit under this Zoning Code, the City shall not be liable for any later lawful withdrawal of such permit.
Whenever a provision of this Zoning Code requires a City staff person to perform a review, act, or duty, that provision shall be construed as authorizing that staff person to delegate such responsibility to another City staff person under his/her authority.

References: § 7

§ 7

§ 7

§ 7

§ 7
 § 614
 § 10614
 § 617
 § 2
 § 7