(a) Power to amend. The regulations, restrictions, boundaries and requirements set forth in this title may be amended, supplemented, changed or repealed by the Board of Commissioners by amending this title in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, and the terms of this chapter.
(b) Procedure for amendment.
(1) An ordinance amending, supplementing or changing the district boundaries (zoning map) or the regulations established herein may be initiated:
A. By the Board of Commissioners, upon its own initiative or upon recommendation of the Planning Commission.
B. Upon a petition to the Board of Commissioners signed by the owners of 50% or more of the frontage of any area, which shall be not less than the area contained between two streets, wherein a change of zoning regulations is being sought.
C. By a landowner requesting an amendment or repeal. In the case of a curative amendment, the special requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code shall apply.
(2) Before voting on the enactment of an amendment, the Board of Commissioners shall hold a public hearing thereon, pursuant to public notice. If the proposed amendment involves a map change, notice of said public hearing shall be conspicuously posted along the perimeter of the tract at least one week prior to the hearing.
(3) The Board of Commissioners shall submit each proposed zoning amendment, other than one prepared by the Township Planning Commission, to the Planning Commission at least 30 days prior to any hearing which is to be held on the proposed amendment to provide the Planning Commission with an opportunity to submit its recommendations prior to final action.
(4) If, after any public hearing held upon an amendment, the proposed amendment is revised, or further revised, to include land previously not affected by it, the Board of Commissioners shall hold another public hearing as required by law pursuant to public notice, before proceeding to vote on the amendment.
(5) As required by the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code, a copy of any proposed zoning amendment shall also be sent to the County Planning Commission at least 30 days prior to any hearing on the proposed amendment, in order to provide the County Planning Commission an opportunity to submit its recommendations prior to final action on the amendment.
(6) The township may offer a mediation option as an aid in completing proceedings authorized in this section. In exercising such an option, the township and mediating parties shall meet the stipulations of Section 908.1 of the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code, Act 247, as amended by Act 170, relating to the mediation option.
(7) Within 30 days after enactment, a copy of the amendment to this title shall be forwarded to the Delaware County Planning Commission.
(c) Fee. A fee of $1,000 shall accompany any application or petition for curative amendment filed by a landowner with the Township of Aston. If the actual costs as allowed by the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code exceed the aforementioned fee of $1,000, those allowable costs referred to above shall be billed to the aforementioned landowner who shall be responsible for the allowable costs in excess of the $1,000 fee.
(Ord. 896, passed 12-21-2011; Ord. 1001, passed 5-20-2020)