A Zoning Officer shall administer and enforce this Chapter including the receiving of applications, the inspection of premises and the issuing of zoning and occupancy permits. No zoning or occupancy permit shall be issued by said Officer except where the provision of this Chapter has been complied with. The Zoning Officer shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
A. 
Parties to proceedings authorized in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as reenacted and amended, may utilize mediation as an aid in completing such proceedings. In proceedings before the Zoning Hearing Board, in no case shall the Zoning Hearing Board initiate mediation or participate as a mediating party. Mediation shall supplement, not replace, those procedures in this Part and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as reenacted and amended, once they have been formally initiated. Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted as expanding or limiting municipal police powers or as modifying any principles of substantive law.
B. 
Participation in mediation shall be wholly voluntary. The appropriateness of mediation shall be determined by the particulars of each case and the willingness of the parties to negotiate. Any municipality offering the mediation option shall assure that, in each case, the mediating parties, assisted by the mediator as appropriate, develop terms and conditions for:
(1) 
Funding mediation.
(2) 
Selecting a mediator who, at a minimum, shall have a working knowledge of municipal zoning and subdivision procedures and demonstrated skills in mediation.
(3) 
Completing mediation, including time limits for such completion.
(4) 
Suspending time limits otherwise authorized in this act, provided there is written consent by the mediating parties, and by an applicant or municipal decision-making body if either is not a party to the mediation.
(5) 
Identifying all parties and affording them the opportunity to participate.
(6) 
Subject to legal restraints, determining whether some or all of the mediation sessions shall be open or closed to the public.
(7) 
Assuring that mediated solutions are in writing and signed by the parties, and become subject to review and approval by the appropriate decision-making body pursuant to the authorized procedures set forth in the other sections of this chapter.
C. 
No offers or statements made in the mediation sessions, excluding the final written mediated agreement, shall be admissible as evidence in any subsequent judicial or administrative proceedings.
A. 
When required. No building or structure shall be erected, added to, placed upon property, or structurally altered until a permit therefor has been issued by the Zoning Officer. Construction and/or alteration as authorized by an approved permit shall begin within the period of 90 days of the date of issuance; otherwise, the permit is null and void. All applications for zoning permits shall be in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter, and unless upon written order of the Zoning Hearing Board, no such permit shall be issued for any building where said construction, addition or alteration for use thereof would be in violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter.
B. 
Matter accompanying applications. There shall be submitted with all applications for zoning permits two copies of a layout or plot plan drawn to scale showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the exact size and location of the building on the lot and accessory buildings to be erected, and other such information as may be deemed necessary by the Zoning Officer to determine and provide for the enforcement of this Chapter.
C. 
Fee. One copy of such layout or plot plan shall be returned when approved by the Zoning Officer together with the permit to the applicant upon a payment of a fee as predetermined from the fee schedule adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
A. 
When required. Completion of the authorized new construction, alteration, placement, remodeling, change of use of building or land under the provisions of a zoning permit shall not be occupied until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer. Written request to the Zoning Officer shall be processed within 90 days of receipt of the request for the proposed use provided the use is in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter and other effective and applicable ordinances. Zoning Officer refusal to issue an occupancy permit shall include a written statement to the applicant containing reasons for such denial.
B. 
Occupancy permits are required for the following:
(1) 
Occupancy of a new building, including a mobile home.
(2) 
Occupancy and use of a building hereafter moved or altered so as to require a zoning permit.
(3) 
Change in the use of an existing building other than to a use of the same type.
(4) 
Occupancy and use of vacant land.
(5) 
Change in the use of land except to another use of the same type.
(6) 
Any change in use of a nonconforming use.
(7) 
A change of occupants in an existing building.
C. 
Occupancy permits shall state that the building or the proposed use of a building or land complies with all provisions of law and of this Chapter and all other ordinances of the Township. Occupancy permits are deemed to authorize and are required for both initial and continued occupancy and use of the building and land so long as such building and use if in full conformity with the provisions of the Chapter.
D. 
Fee. Application for an occupancy permit shall be returned when approved by the Zoning Officer together with the occupancy permit upon payment of the prescribed fee. Fees for occupancy permits shall be in accordance with the fees as predetermined from a fee schedule adopted by the Board of Supervisors.