[Ord. 386, 9/10/1997, § 1]
Red Hill shall join with municipalities of East Greenville Borough,
Pennsburg Borough, Green Lane Borough, Upper Hanover Township and
Marlborough Township to create the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional
Planning Commission (Commission) as per the guidelines set forth under
§ 1102 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
Act 247 of July 31, 1968, as reenacted and amended. Each participating
municipality shall appoint two members. The term of each member shall
be two years; however, initially each municipality shall appoint one
member for a one-year term and a second member for a two-year terms
so that the term of membership of the members appointed by the individual
municipalities shall be on a staggered basis. Qualification of members,
the removal of members, the conduct of business, etc., shall be governed
by Article II and Article XI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning
Code.
[Ord. 386, 9/10/1997, § 2]
1.
The six municipalities of the Upper Perkiomen Valley have come to
recognize that the issues associated with growth and development such
as, but not limited to, traffic congestion, air and water pollution
and loss of open space, are too large for any one municipality to
deal with. They further recognize that current growth and anticipated
growth, if not properly managed, will lead to the diminution of the
region's quality of life. They are concerned that current zoning requirements
which call for each and every municipality to provide for a full range
of uses, regardless of historic development patterns, is inefficient
and potentially destructive to the region's economic and social structure.
2.
To this end, the six municipalities of the Upper Perkiomen Valley
hereby embark on a course of action to implement regional planning
and regional zoning. Only through regional planning and regional zoning
can growth and development be rationally and fairly managed. Therefore,
the Borough of Red Hill authorizes the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional
Planning Commission to undertake the development of a joint municipal
comprehensive plan that shall encompass the six municipalities of
the Upper Perkiomen Valley. Upon the successful completion of the
joint municipal comprehensive plan, and its adoption by all the participating
municipalities, the participating municipalities may so instruct the
Regional Planning Commission to undertake the development of a joint
municipal zoning ordinance and zoning map.
[Ord. 386, 9/10/1997, § 3]
The Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission shall
have the responsibility to prepare a joint municipal comprehensive
plan for the six participating municipalities of the Upper Perkiomen
Valley. To this end, the powers and duties of the Commission are as
follows:
A.
To prepare a joint municipal comprehensive plan pursuant to Article
III and Article XI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
B.
That in the preparation of the joint municipal comprehensive plan,
the members of the Commission shall represent the interests of their
respective municipalities, and shall cast one vote per municipality
on all matters that require action.
C.
Any vote taken by Commission members pertaining to regional planning
and regional zoning must be unanimous for it to pass. All other non-planning
and non-zoning related matters may be approved by simple majority.
All budgetary matters relating to the operation and costs of the Commission
must be approved by each participating municipality.
D.
Upon the completion of the joint municipal comprehensive plan by
the Commission, and its adoption by all the participating municipalities,
the Commission may be instructed by the participating municipalities
to prepare a joint municipal zoning ordinance and zoning map which
shall be presented to the participating municipalities for their consideration
and adoption.
E.
If so directed by the participating municipalities to develop a joint
municipal zoning ordinance and zoning map, the joint municipal zoning
ordinance and zoning map shall be prepared pursuant to Article VI
and Article VIII-A of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
The joint municipal zoning ordinance and zoning map so prepared shall
take effect when adopted by all of the participating municipalities.
F.
Should joint municipal zoning be formally adopted by the participating
municipalities, the Regional Planning Commission shall review all
proposed changes to the joint municipal zoning ordinance and zoning
map and shall make a formal recommendation to the participating municipalities
regarding said change. The recommendation of the Commission shall
be advisory only. A change to the joint municipal zoning ordinance
and zoning map shall become effective only when adopted by all of
the participating municipalities.
[Ord. 386, 9/10/1997, § 4]
Each municipality shall retain its own municipal planning commission
and zoning hearing board. The participating municipalities agree that
any matter relating to lot line changes, subdivisions, land developments,
variances, special exceptions and conditional uses, or any other matter
of a planning or zoning nature in which jurisdiction resides within
the governing body of a municipality, shall not be a joint planning
or joint zoning activity.
[Ord. 386, 9/10/1997, § 5]
1.
The officers of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission
shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary, all
of whom are to serve for a term of one year.
2.
The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be members of the Commission,
but the Secretary need not be a member of the Commission.
[Ord. 386, 9/10/1997, § 6]
Any participating municipality may withdraw from the Regional
Planning Commission after one month's formal notice. Upon receiving
notice that a municipality wishes to withdraw from the Regional Planning
Commission, the governing bodies of the remaining municipalities shall
promptly schedule a meeting to consider whether the remaining municipalities
wish to continue with the Regional Planning Commission. Should joint
municipal zoning be enacted, notice of withdrawal shall be pursuant
to the standards set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning
Code.
