The following requirements shall apply to procedures, hearings and decisions of the Zoning Hearing Board.
(A) Notice of hearings. Notice of all hearings of the Board shall be given as follows.
(1) Ad. Public notice shall be published, as defined by § 107 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, being 53 P.S. § 10107. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the particular nature of the matter to be considered.
(2) Posting. Notice of such hearing shall be conspicuously posted on the affected tract of land at least one week prior to the hearing. The township staff shall post the property. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that such notice remains posted until the hearing.
(3) Persons given notice.
(a) 1. The township shall provide written notice to the applicant of the time and place of the hearing. The township should also provide notice to the Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors. Also, such notice shall be given to any other person or group (including civic or community organizations) who has made a written timely request for such notice.
2. a. In addition, the township should give notice to the primary owner of record of land:
i. Within 200 feet of the affected lot; or
ii. That is contiguous to the subject lot.
b. All such notices should be mailed or delivered to the last known address.
(b) If a matter involves a location within 500 feet from the boundary of another municipality, notice of the hearing should also be provided to the offices of such other municipality.
(B) Initiation of hearings. A hearing required under this chapter shall be initiated within 60 days of the date of an applicant’s request for a hearing, unless the applicant has agreed in writing to an extension of time.
(C) Decision/findings.
(1) The Board shall render a written decision on each application within 45 days after the last hearing on that application before the Board, unless the applicant has agreed in writing to an extension of time.
(2) Where the application is contested or denied, the decision shall be accompanied by findings of fact and conclusions based thereon, together with the reasons for such conclusions.
(3) References shall be provided to the most pertinent section(s) of this chapter and/or the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, being 53 P.S. §§ 10101 et seq.
(D) Notice of decision. A copy of the final decision shall be delivered or mailed to the applicant or his or her representative at their last known address not later than the time limit established by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, being 53 P.S. §§ 10101 et seq. (Note: as of the adoption date of this chapter, such provisions were within § 908(9) and 908(10) (53 P.S. §§ 10908(9) and (10)) of such Act, including provisions regarding notice to other parties.)
(E) See also § 908 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, being 53 P.S. §§ 10908.
(Ord. 126, passed 3-18-2010)