| Zoning Hearing Board
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Members include: John Miller - Chairman Tom Cooke - Member Paul Higgins Jr - Member John Thomas - Alternate Mark S. Eberhardt - Alternate |
| 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. Meetings are held upon application. |
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