[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of East Bradford 12-8-1998 by Ord. No. 6-1998. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and Recreation Board — See Ch. 21.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 95.
Zoning — See Ch. 115.
There is hereby created the East Bradford Township Open Space Review Board which shall consist of five members appointed by the Board of Supervisors of East Bradford Township, which may include one member of the Parks and Recreation Board.
A. 
The term of membership shall be five years, except as originally established herein.
B. 
The initial members of the Open Space Review Board shall be appointed to terms of office as follows: one member for a term to expire December 31, 1999; one member for a term to expire December 31, 2000; one member for a term to expire December 31, 2001; one member for a term to expire December 31, 2002; and one member for a term to expire December 31, 2003.
The Board of Supervisors shall fill vacancies in the term of membership for the unexpired term.
A. 
The Chairperson of the Open Space Review Board shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors until such time as the Open Space Review Board members, by majority vote, elect their own Chairperson, and all other necessary officers, including a Secretary. All officers shall be elected for a period of one year, that period of office to be coterminous with the calendar year.
B. 
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Open Space Review Board and make a copy of those minutes available to the Board of Supervisors by providing a copy to the Township Secretary.
The Open Space Review Board shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its own meetings and business. Said rules and regulations shall comply with all applicable statutory regulations, including but not limited to the Sunshine Act.[1] The Open Space Review Board shall establish regular meeting dates and criteria for the calling of special meetings.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 P.S § 271 et seq.
All members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses as approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The Open Space Review Board shall have the following powers and responsibilities:
A. 
To identify, review, evaluate and rate the relative desirability of interests; establish the price the township will pay for particular parcels; and submit recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for its consideration to acquire such interests in the real property.
B. 
To recommend to the Board of Supervisors procedures for:
(1) 
Reviewing open space property interests;
(2) 
Rating the relative desirability of interests in particular parcels of real property; and
(3) 
Establishing the price the township will pay for acquisition of real property interests.
The Open Space Review Board shall submit the following information and reports to the Board of Supervisors unless otherwise indicated herein:
A. 
An annual report to the Board of Supervisors not later than February 28 following the year for which the report applies, and said report to include a summary of the activities of the Open Space Review Board with particular reference to the extent and adequacy of the program and its effectiveness in view of the public expenditure involved and the public objectives to be met.
B. 
Prepare and submit recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the following:
(1) 
Type of real property (open space) interest to be acquired (fee simple, conservation easement, other).
(2) 
Type of use of real property (open space) to be considered (passive, active, public access, public view, other).
(3) 
Management, covenants and restrictions to be considered.
(4) 
Establishment of a program to purchase open space property interests on an installment or other deferred basis.
C. 
Review proposed ordinance provisions that relate to the protection, preservation and management of open space in the township.
D. 
Coordinate with the Parks and Recreation Board and Planning Commission by evaluating any property being considered for active recreation or passive open space to effect program implementation.
Act 153 of 1996, and as amended,[1] requires that local government units establish procedures to review, rate and value open space interests as to their relative desirability. While the Board is authorized (in §§ 98-7 and 98-8 above) to establish such procedures, the following shall be reviewed and incorporated by the Open Space Review Board into its procedures and/or recommendations:
A. 
Township Comprehensive Plan, Open Space, Recreation and Environmental Resources Plan; other township plans and studies related to land use and planning for the township; and the Chester County Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Landscapes), and each as may be amended from time to time.
B. 
Orderly engagement and use of qualified professional independent appraisers.
C. 
Recordation of each interest in real property acquired by the township at the Chester County Office of Recorder of Deeds.
D. 
Maintenance of records to be filed in the Township Building of the interests in real property which have been reviewed and acquired by the township.
E. 
Submit to the West Chester Area School District, in compliance with Act 153, a copy of the deed reflecting the open space property interests acquired and certified by the Chester County Recorder of Deeds.
F. 
Exercise of the power of eminent domain in carrying out the provisions of the Act, through this chapter, is not permitted.
G. 
Compliance with the Act regarding the termination or sale of open space property interests acquired under the Act, through this chapter.
H. 
Compliance with all other provisions of PA Act 153 of 1996, as amended.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 5001 et seq .