[Adopted 10-9-1986 by Ord. No. 445 (Ch. 24, Part 4, of the 1987 Code of Ordinances)]
[Amended 11-11-1993 by Ord. No. 529; 3-13-1997 by Ord. No. 553]
A. 
The Board of Township Commissioners hereby designates the property partially zoned I Industrial and partially zoned C-2 Highway Commercial as set forth in Exhibit A,[1] containing approximately 15.7 acres, more or less, since it has been landfilled with construction and other debris; is overgrown; has extensive wetlands and floodplains; has steep topography requiring extensive fill and balancing; has an abandoned underground petroleum pipeline; and is a location for dumping and/or accumulation trash. In addition, sewer and water must be made available to the site. It is determined that said property will not be improved unless a tax exemption is granted for any improvement made to said land.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is on file in the Township offices.
B. 
The area designated as deteriorated, in accordance with said Act No. 76, is more fully described in Township Ordinance No. 444.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Said ordinance is on file in the Township offices.
Subject to the schedule hereinafter set forth, there is hereby exempted from all real property taxation that portion of the additional assessment attributable to the actual costs of improvements to the designated deteriorated property.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
IMPROVEMENTS
Repair, new construction or reconstruction, including alterations or additions, having the effect of rehabilitating the deteriorated property so that it becomes habitable, usable and attains higher standards of safety, health, economic use or amenity, and is brought into compliance with laws, ordinances or regulations governing such standards.
A. 
The schedule of real estate taxes to be exempted shall be in accordance with the following percentage of improvements to be exempted each year.
Year
Portion to be Exempt
First year
100%
Second year
90%
Third year
80%
Fourth year
70%
Fifth year
60%
Sixth year
50%
Seventh year
40%
Eighth year
30%
Ninth year
20%
Tenth year
10%
B. 
The exemption from taxes granted under this article shall be upon the property and shall not terminate upon the sale or exchange of the property.
C. 
If an eligible property is granted tax exemption pursuant to this article, the improvement shall not, during the exemption period, be considered a factor in assessing other properties.
A. 
Any person desiring tax exemption pursuant to this article shall apply to the Secretary of the Township within 30 days of the time a building permit is issued for construction of the improvement, or new construction, as the case may be. The application must be in writing, and shall set forth the following information:
(1) 
The date the building permit was issued for said improvement:
(2) 
The location of the property to be improved;
(3) 
The nature of the property to be improved;
(4) 
The type of improvement;
(5) 
The summary of the plan of the improvement;
(6) 
The cost of the improvement;
(7) 
Whether the property has been condemned or cited by any governmental body for noncompliance with laws or ordinances;
(8) 
That the property has been inspected and examined by the Township Engineer;
(9) 
Such additional information as the Township may require.
B. 
The application for tax exemption shall be considered by the Board of Township Commissioners. Within 65 days, the Board shall approve or deny the application.
C. 
After its consideration, the Board of Commissioners shall forward a copy of the exemption application to the Delaware County Board of Assessment Appeals. Within 60 days, the said Board of Assessment Appeals shall determine whether the exemption shall be granted and shall, upon completion of the improvements, or new construction, and notification from the Township of Upper Chichester that the improvements comply with all of the applicable building codes, assess separately the improvement and calculate the amounts of the assessment eligible for tax exemption in accordance with the limits established by this article, and shall notify the taxpayer and the local taxing authorities of the reassessment and the amount of the assessment eligible for exemption. In the case of new construction, the Board of Assessment Appeals shall assess separately the improvement and the land upon which the new construction stands, and shall otherwise perform its duties as above provided for construction of the improvements. The exemption provided for hereunder shall commence in the tax year immediately following the year in which the building permit is issued.
D. 
The cost of improvements and new construction to be exempted and the schedule of taxes exempted existing at the time of the initial request for tax exemption shall be applicable to that request, and subsequent amendment(s) to this article, if any, shall not apply to requests initiated prior to their adoption.
E. 
Appeals from the reassessment and the amount eligible for the exemption may be taken by the tax authorities or the taxpayer as provided by law.
This article shall become effective upon adoption by the Chichester School District and the County of Delaware of resolutions exempting from real property taxation the improvements to property in accordance with the terms of this article.
No amendment to this article shall be effective unless consented by resolution or ordinance, each taxing authority consent to be bound thereby.