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| Zoning Hearing Board
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The Zoning Hearing Board is an independent,
quasi-judicial body of three citizens appointed by
the Board of Supervisors to hear and decide requests
for variances and special exceptions from the Zoning
Ordinance. Variances may be granted for
reasons such as irregularities of a lot which make
strict adherence to the ordinance impossible.
Variances are not granted simply because of an
objection to the terms of the ordinance, nor when a
forbidden USE of a property is requested. A
Special Exception is when an applicant wishes to
have a use, plot arrangement or structure which is
specifically stated in the Zoning Ordinance as being
allowable as a "special exception." For
instance, a gasoline service station is a use
permitted by special exception in the Township's
Commercial Zoning District. In granting
a variance or special exception, the Zoning Hearing
Board may attach such reasonable conditions and
safeguards as it may deem necessary to implement the
purposes of the zoning ordinance. The Zoning
Hearing Board also hears and decides challenges to
the validity of the Zoning Ordinance and Map as well
as appeals from actions of the Zoning Officer in
alleged failure to follow prescribed procedures,
misinterpretation or misapplication of a provision
of the Zoning Ordinance or Map. Appeals from
its decisions may be taken to the County Court of
Common Pleas. Its hearings are public and
formal, with testimony being taken under oath and
all proceedings recorded by a court stenographer.
All hearings are advertised and contiguous property
owners receive notice of the hearing by mail.
Members include:
Jay Heim - Chairman, Joan Tlush - Vice Chairman, and Jack Stewart - Member.
Meetings are held upon application.
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