Source: https://www.ecode360.com/11441017
Timestamp: 2019-01-17 18:51:07
Document Index: 161743002

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300', '§ 300']

Borough of Moosic, PA Zoning Hearing Board
Ch 300 Art VIII Zoning Hearing Board
§ 300-39 Organization and procedure.
§ 300-40 Functions.
§ 300-41 Parties appellant before Board.
§ 300-42 Time limitations.
§ 300-43 Zoning challenges.
§ 300-44 Stay of proceedings.
§ 300-45 General grant of power.
§ 300-46 Zoning appeals to courts.
Article VIII Zoning Hearing Board
Chapter 300 Zoning Article VIII Zoning Hearing Board
Establishment. Pursuant to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Article IX,[1] a Zoning Hearing Board is hereby established.
Members of the Board shall be residents of the municipality, appointed by resolution of the governing body. The Zoning Hearing Board shall consist of five members, one of whom shall be designated to serve until the first day of January following the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance, one until the first day of the second January thereafter, one until the first day of the third January thereafter, one until the first day of the fourth January thereafter, and one until the first day of the fifth January thereafter. Their successors shall be appointed on the expiration of their respective terms to serve five years. Members of the Board shall hold no other public office in the municipality.
Appointment to fill vacancies. The Board shall promptly notify the governing body of any vacancies which occur. Appointment to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term of the member or members whose term or terms become vacant and such appointments to fill vacancies shall be made in the same manner as the original appointment.
Removal. Any Board member may be removed for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office or for other just cause by a majority vote of the governing body who appointed the member, taken after the member has received 15 days' advance notice of the intent to take such a vote. A hearing shall be held in connection with the vote if the member shall request it in writing.
Organization of Board. The Board shall elect from its own membership its officers, who shall serve annual terms as such and may succeed themselves. For the conduct of any hearing and the taking of any action, a quorum shall be not less than a majority of all the members of the Board but the Board may appoint a hearing officer from its own membership to conduct any hearing on its behalf and the parties may waive further action by the Board as provided in Subsection D. The Board may make, alter and rescind rules and forms for its procedure, consistent with ordinances of the Borough and laws of the commonwealth. The Board shall keep full public records of its business, which records shall be the property of the Borough, and shall submit a report of its activities to the governing body once a year.
Appointment of alternate members. The governing body may appoint up to three alternate members of the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 903(b) of Act 247, as amended. The term of office of an alternate member shall be three years. When seated pursuant to the provisions of Section 906 of Act 247, as amended, an alternate shall be entitled to participate in all proceedings and discussions of the Board to the same and full extent as provided by law for Board members, including specifically the right to cast a vote as a voting member during the proceedings, and shall have all the powers and duties set forth in this act and as otherwise provided by law. Alternates shall hold no other office in the municipality, including membership on the Planning Commission and Zoning Officer. Any alternate may participate in any proceeding or discussion of the Board but shall not be entitled to vote as a member of the Board nor be compensated pursuant to Section 907 of Act 247, as amended, unless designated as a voting alternate member pursuant to Section 906 of Act 247, as amended.
Expenditures for services. Within the limits of funds appropriated by the governing body, the Board may employ or contract for secretaries, clerks, legal counsel, consultants and other technical and clerical services. Members of the Board may receive compensation for the performance of their duties, as may be fixed by the governing body, but in no case shall it exceed the rate of compensation authorized to be paid to the members of the governing body.
Notice; date of hearing.
Notice shall be given to the public, the applicant, the local planning agency, the Zoning Officer, such other persons as the governing body shall designate by ordinance and to any person who has made timely request for the same. Written notices shall be given at such time and in such manner as shall be prescribed by ordinance or, in the absence of ordinance provision, by rules of the Board. The governing body may establish reasonable fees, based on cost, to be paid by the applicant and by persons requesting any notice not required by this chapter. In addition to the written notice provided herein, notice of said hearing shall be conspicuously posted on the affected tract of land at least one week prior to the hearing.
The hearings shall be conducted by the Board or the Board may appoint any member or an independent attorney as a hearing officer. The decision or, where no decision is called for, the findings shall be made by the Board; however, the appellant or the applicant, as the case may be, in addition to the Borough, may, prior to the decision of the hearing, waive decision or findings by the Board and accept the decision or findings of the hearing officer as final.
The parties to the hearing shall be the Borough, any person affected by the application who has made timely appearance of record before the Board, and any other person including civic or community organizations permitted to appear by the Board. The Board shall have power to require that all persons who wish to be considered parties enter appearances in writing on forms provided by the Board for that purpose. The Chairman or Acting Chairman of the Board or the hearing officer presiding shall have power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant documents and papers, including witnesses and documents requested by the parties.
The parties shall have the right to be represented by counsel and shall be afforded the opportunity to respond and present evidence and cross-examine adverse witnesses on all relevant issues. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply, but irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence may be excluded.
The Board or the hearing officer shall not communicate, directly or indirectly, with any party or his representatives in connection with any issue involved except upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate, shall not take notice of any communication, reports, staff memoranda, or other materials unless the parties are afforded an opportunity to contest the material so noticed and shall not inspect the site or its surroundings after commencement of hearings, with any party or his representative unless all parties are given an opportunity to be present.
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 45 days after the last hearing before the Board or hearing officer. Where the application is contested or denied, each decision shall be accompanied by findings of fact and conclusions based thereon together with the reasons therefor. Conclusions based on any provisions of this chapter, rules, or regulations shall contain a reference to the provisions relied on and the reasons why the conclusion is deemed appropriate in the light of the facts found. If the hearing is conducted by a hearing officer, and there has been no stipulation that his decision or findings are final, the Board shall make his report and recommendations available to the parties and the parties shall be entitled to make written representations thereon to the Board prior to the final decision or entry of findings, and the Board's decision shall be entered no later than 30 days after the report of the hearing officer. Except for challenges filed under Section 916.1 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, where the Board fails to render the decision within the period required by this subsection, or fails to hold the required hearing within 60 days from the date of the applicant's request for a hearing, the decision shall be deemed to have been rendered in favor of the applicant unless the applicant has agreed in writing or on the record to an extension of time. When a decision has been rendered in favor of the applicant because of the failure of the Board to meet or render a decision as hereinabove provided, the Board shall give public notice of said decision within 10 days from the last day it could have met to render a decision in the same manner as provided in Subsection D(1) of this section. If the Board fails to provide such notice, the appellant may do so. Nothing in this subsection shall prejudice the right of any party opposing the application to appeal the decision to a court of competent jurisdiction.
Substantive challenges to the validity of any land use ordinance, except those brought before the governing body pursuant to Sections 609.1 and 916.1(a)(2) of Act 247, as amended.
Challenges to the validity of a land use ordinance raising procedural questions or alleged defects in the process of enactment or adoption which challenges shall be raised by an appeal taken within 30 days after the effective date of said ordinance.
Applications for variances from the terms of the zoning ordinance and flood hazard ordinance or such provisions within a land use ordinance, pursuant to § 300-40 hereof.
Applications for special exceptions under the zoning ordinance or floodplain or flood hazard ordinance or such provisions within a land use ordinance, pursuant to Section 912.1 of Act 247, as amended.
Appeals from the Zoning Officer's determination under Section 916.2 of Act 247, as amended.
Appeals from the determination of the Zoning Officer or municipal engineer in the administration of any land use ordinance or provision thereof with reference to sedimentation and erosion control and stormwater management insofar as the same relate to development not involving applications under the municipality's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[2]
The Board shall hear requests for variances where it is alleged that the provisions of the zoning ordinance inflict unnecessary hardship upon the applicant. The Board may by rule prescribe the form of application and may require preliminary application to the Zoning Officer. The Board may grant a variance, provided that all of the following findings are made where relevant in a given case:
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 the zoning ordinance and that the authorization of a variance is therefore necessary to enable the reasonable use of this property.
In granting any variance, the Board may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter and Act 247, as amended.[1]
Upon approval of a variance, the Board shall direct the Zoning Officer to issue a permit to the applicant, which permit shall authorize the applicant to proceed with development in accordance with the terms of the approved variance.
Variance approvals shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of approval. If the proposed development is not completed within one year of approval, the applicant shall submit a new application for a variance and shall require approval thereof.
Board action. Special exceptions, as enumerated in Article III, shall be permitted only upon authorization by the Zoning Hearing Board. The Board may refer such applications to the Planning Commission for its review and recommendations. The Board shall hear and decide requests for special exceptions in accordance with the standards and criteria set forth herein. In granting a 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 this chapter and Act 247, as amended.
Review criteria. Approval of special exceptions shall be authorized only if they are found to comply with the following requirements and other applicable requirements as set forth in this chapter:
That the use is a permitted special exception as set forth in Article III hereof.
That the use is so designed, located and proposed to be operated that the public health, safety, welfare and convenience will be protected.
That the use shall be compatible with adjoining development and the character of the zoning district where it is proposed to be located.
That adequate landscaping and screening is provided as required in § 300-19 and as otherwise provided herein.
That the use conforms with all applicable regulations governing the district where located, except as may otherwise be determined for large-scale development.
That such use shall not result in unsafe traffic conditions, traffic congestion or other dangerous traffic conditions.
That such use shall be located on a site where the soils are suitable to safely support any structure to be erected; and, where soils are not deemed suitable, a plan shall be submitted, describing proposed methods to compensate for such unsafe soils conditions.
Special exceptions; effect of filing an application. When an application for a special exception has been filed with the Zoning Hearing Board, and the subject matter of such application would ultimately constitute either a "land development" as defined in Section 107 or a "subdivision" as defined in Section 107 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended, no change or amendment of the zoning, subdivision or other governing ordinance or plans shall affect the decision on such application adversely to the applicant and the applicant shall be entitled to a decision in accordance with the provisions of the governing ordinances or plans as they stood at the time the application was duly filed. Provided, further, should such an application be approved by the Zoning Hearing Board, the applicant shall be entitled to proceed with the submission of either land development or subdivision plans within a period of six months or longer or as may be approved by the Zoning Hearing Board following the date of such approval in accordance with the provisions of the governing ordinance or plans as they stood at the time the application was duly filed before the Zoning Hearing Board. If either a land development or subdivision plan is so filed within said period, such plan shall be subject to the provisions of Section 508(1) through (4) of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended, and specifically to the time limitations of Section 508(4) which shall commence as of the date of filing such land development or subdivision plan.
Parties appellant before the Board shall be as set forth in Section 913.3 of Act 247, as amended.
Filing proceedings with the Board. No person shall be allowed to file any proceeding with the Board later than 30 days after an application for development, preliminary or final, has been approved by an appropriate municipal officer, agency or body if such proceeding is designed to secure reversal or to limit the approval in any manner unless such person alleges and proves that he had no notice, knowledge, or reason to believe that such approval had been given. If such person has succeeded to his interest after such approval, he shall be bound by the knowledge of his predecessor in interest. The failure of anyone other than the landowner to appeal from an adverse decision on a tentative plan pursuant to Section 709 of Act 247, as amended, or from an adverse decision by a Zoning Officer on a challenge to the validity of this chapter pursuant to Section 916.2 of Act 247, as amended, shall preclude an appeal from a final approval except in the case where the final submission substantially deviates from the approved tentative approval.
Appeals from adverse determinations. All appeals from determinations adverse to the landowner shall be filed by the landowner within 30 days after notice of the determination is issued.
Procedure for landowner curative amendments. The procedure to be followed for landowner curative amendments shall be as set forth in Section 609.1 of Act 247, as amended.[1]
Procedure for curative amendment by the Borough. If the Borough determines that this chapter or portions thereof are substantially invalid, it shall take action in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 609.2 of Act 247, as amended.
Mediation. The Borough may offer a mediation option as an aid in resolving conflicts which may arise under this chapter. In exercising such an option, the municipality and mediating parties shall meet the stipulations and follow the procedures set forth in Article IX of Act 247, as amended.
Upon filing of any proceeding referred to in Section 913.3 of Act 247, as amended,[1] and during its pendency before the Board, all land development pursuant to any challenged ordinance, order or approval of the Zoning Officer or of any agency or body, and all official action thereunder, shall be stayed unless the Zoning Officer or any other appropriate agency or body certifies to the Board facts indicating that such stay would cause imminent peril to life or property, in which case the development or official action shall not be stayed otherwise than by a restraining order, which may be granted by the Board or by the court having jurisdiction of zoning appeals, on petition, after notice to the Zoning Officer or other appropriate agency or body. When an application for development, preliminary or final, has been duly approved and proceedings designed to reverse or limit the approval are filed with the Board by persons other than the applicant, the applicant may petition the court having' jurisdiction of zoning appeals to order such persons to post bond as a condition to continuing the proceeding before the Board.
The questions whether or not such petition should be granted and the amount of the bond shall be within the sound discretion of the court. An order denying a petition for bond shall be interlocutory. An order directing the responding party to post a bond shall be interlocutory.
If an appeal is taken by a respondent to the petition for a bond from an order of the court dismissing a zoning appeal for refusal to post a bond and the appellate court sustains the order of the court below to post a bond, the respondent to the petition for a bond, upon motion of the petitioner and after hearing in the court having jurisdiction of zoning appeals, shall be liable for all reasonable costs, expenses, and attorney fees incurred by the petitioner.
The Zoning Hearing Board shall perform all the duties and have all the powers prescribed by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code[1] and as herein more particularly provided.
The procedure for appeals for any decision made under Act 247, as amended, shall be pursuant to Article X-A of said Act.