[Ord. 6/20/1979]
There shall be a Zoning Officer who shall be appointed by the
Board of Supervisors and whose duty it shall be, and he/she is hereby
given the power and authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
He/She shall examine all applications for permits, issue permits only
for construction and uses which are in accordance with the requirements
of this chapter, record and file all applications for permits with
any accompanying plans and documents which are matters of public record,
and make such reports as the Board of Supervisors may require. Permits
for construction and uses which are a variance from the requirements
of this chapter shall be issued only upon order of the Zoning Hearing
Board. Permits for construction and uses which are conditional uses,
shall be issued only upon order of the Board of Supervisors. The Zoning
Officer shall not hold any elective office in the Township.
[Ord. 6/20/1979]
A building permit shall be required prior to the erection or
alteration of, or addition to any building or other structure or portion
thereof. It shall be unlawful for any person to commence work for
the erection or alteration of, or addition to any building or other
structure or portion thereof until a building permit has been duly
issued.
[Ord. 6/20/1979]
All applications for building permits shall be made in writing
on forms furnished by the Township and shall be accompanied by a plot
plan drawn to scale, showing the exact size and location of any buildings
or other structures existing on the lot in question or upon abutting
land within 50 feet of the side and rear lot line of such lot, and,
the lines within which the proposed building or other structure shall
be erected or altered. In addition, there shall be included with the
applications such other plans, documents, and information as may be
necessary to enable the Zoning Officer to ascertain compliance with
this chapter and all other pertinent ordinances.
[Ord. 6/20/1979]
No building permit shall be issued until the Zoning Officer
has certified that the proposed building, structure or alteration
complies with the provisions of this chapter and other applicable
statutes, regulations and ordinances, including the highway entrance
regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the
Township. A building permit, once issued, shall be posted on the property.
Upon completion of the erection, addition to, or alteration of any
building, structure, or portion thereof authorized by any building
permit obtained in compliance with this chapter, and prior to use
or occupancy, the holder of such permit shall notify the Zoning Officer
of such completion. Use and occupancy shall not be authorized until
the Zoning Officer has certified that the work has been inspected
and approved as being in conformity with this and other applicable
ordinances, and has issued a use and occupancy permit as provided
below.
[Ord. 6/20/1979; as amended by Ord. 63-1992, 4/20/1992, § 1]
1.
A use and occupancy permit shall be required prior to any of the
following:
A.
Use and occupancy of any building or other structure hereafter erected
or altered, for which a building permit is required.
B.
Change in use, occupancy, re-occupancy, change of tenancy or change
of ownership of any nonresidential land, building or structure, or
any part thereof.
C.
Use of land or change in the use thereof, except that the placing
of vacant land under cultivation shall not require a use and occupancy
permit.
D.
Change in use or extension of a non-conforming use.
2.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or occupy any building
or other structure or land until a use and occupancy permit, if required,
has been duly issued.
[Ord. 6/20/1979]
All applications for use and occupancy permits shall be made
in writing on forms furnished by the Township and shall include all
information necessary to enable the Zoning Officer to ascertain compliance
with this chapter.
[Ord. 6/20/1979; as amended by Ord. 159-2010, 10/4/2010,
§ 8]
No use and occupancy permit shall be issued until the Zoning
Officer has certified that the proposed use complies with all the
provisions of this chapter. Pending completion of a building or of
alterations thereto, a temporary use and occupancy permit may be issued
by the Zoning Officer for a temporary occupancy which would not in
any manner jeopardize life or property.
[Ord. 6/20/1979]
If the Zoning Officer determines that an application is in compliance
with the provisions of this chapter, it shall be his/her duty to issue
the appropriate permit; and, if he/she determines that an application
is not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, it shall
be his/her duty to refuse the permit, in which case, he/she shall
instruct the applicant in the method of appeal or application to the
Zoning Hearing Board, or the Board of Supervisors, whichever is applicable.
No permit shall be issued to any applicant until any and all fees
incurred, which are payable to the Township, are paid.
[Ord. 6/20/1979; as amended by Ord. 73-1996, 10/21/1996,
§ 2; and by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
1.
In evaluating an application to the Board of Supervisors for a conditional
use, the Board of Supervisors shall require the applicant to provide
a narrative report along with all necessary information to demonstrate
that:
A.
The proposed use is consistent with the purpose of the Part whereby it is permitted and the overall purpose of this chapter as contained in § 27-102, and all applicable provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.
B.
The proposed use will satisfy all of the provisions and requirements of the Charlestown Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 1982 [Chapter 22], as amended, and any other applicable ordinances and codes.
C.
The proposed use and its location are consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan, including the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan,
as well as the Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan and the Act 209 Transportation
Plan.
D.
The proposed use will not have an adverse effect on the health, safety,
morals, and general welfare of the Township.
E.
The proposed use is consistent with the nature of the uses existing
on any immediately adjacent lots.
F.
The proposed use will not detract from the value of the land of neighboring
properties or cause harm to neighboring lots and will be maintained
in a manner in keeping with the character of the neighborhood.
G.
The proposed use is consistent with the logical extension of public
services, and will not measurably affect the public services and utilities
of the surrounding properties.
H.
Any proposed construction will be in accordance with sound design
principles and sound engineering and land development practices, and
is in keeping with the character of any existing construction within
the neighborhood.
I.
The proposed use will provide safe and adequate access to roads and
public services (existing or proposed) and will not result in excessive
traffic volumes or congestion, or will make any improvements needed
to guarantee compatibility with adjacent roads and public services.
J.
The proposed use will provide for adequate sanitation and water supply,
including, where applicable, public sewer or private individual on-lot
sewage disposal, and public water or private individual water supply.
L.
The proposed use will provide for adequate parking according to Part
13.
M.
The proposed use will provide for adequate signage according to Part
14.
N.
The proposed use will provide for adequate environmental controls in accordance with § 27-1617, such as lighting control, sound control, and the minimization of the potential effects of any offensive or hazardous elements or substances.
O.
The proposed use will minimize adverse impacts within the Flood Hazard
District.
P.
The proposed use will minimize adverse impacts within the Steep Slope
Conservation District.
Q.
The proposed use will utilize effective stormwater management techniques,
and soil erosion and sedimentation control techniques, in accordance
with prevailing regulations.
[Ord. 6/20/1979; as amended by Ord. 104-2002, 8/19/2002,
§ 1; and by Ord. 127-2004, 12/20/2004, §§ 2,
3]
1.
All historic structures shall be maintained to prevent demolition
of the structure by the intrusion of the elements of weather, and
demolition caused by persons or the hazards of fire and explosion.
All vacant or abandoned historic structures shall be made weather-tight
and secure from intruders at all times by, at a minimum, boarding
windows and doors and patching, repairing and covering siding and
roofs.
2.
A demolition permit shall be required for the partial or total demolition,
including demolition by neglect, of any historic structure located
within the Township.
3.
A historic structure is defined as any structure identified on the
Historic Resource Map (Map 14) of the Township's Comprehensive
Plan as amended. All applications for a demolition permit shall be
made in writing on forms furnished by the Township. Upon receipt of
an application for a demolition permit, the Zoning Officer shall forward
to the Chairman of the Board of Historical and Architectural Review,
a copy of the application for the demolition permit together with
all other documents, photographs and materials filed by the applicant
as part of the application.
4.
The application for a demolition permit set forth herein shall be subject to the procedures, requirements and criteria set forth in §§ 27-708, 27-709, 27-710, 27-711 and 27-712 of this chapter, as amended, except that the references to the "Charlestown Village Historic District" shall be deleted. The provision in Part 7 of this chapter regarding the application for a demolition permit within the Charlestown Village Historic District shall be unchanged.
[Added by Ord. No. 210-2019, 11/4/2019]
1.
A dwelling may be used for a group home where the Board of Supervisors
determines that it will have no greater impact on the surrounding
neighborhood than a family. A group home shall have the generic character
of a family and be a relatively permanent household and not a framework
for transients or transient living.
2.
Residents of the group home shall remain in residence for a period
of at least six months, and a change of residence shall not routinely
occur except in cases of death, extended illness, disability, or recovery
from the original conditions that caused the person to be eligible
for residency in a group home.
3.
Residents of the group home shall maintain a single household with
shared use of rooms, except bedrooms, and shared mealtimes and housekeeping
responsibilities.
4.
The applicant shall present a plan and program to indicate provision
of twenty-four-hour care and supervision adequate to prevent vandalism,
disorderly conduct or any other antisocial behavior on the part of
the residents.
5.
The applicant shall demonstrate how the property will be maintained
to prevent disrepair, overgrowth of weeds, accumulation of trash,
debris and like conditions which might lead to health hazards or diminution
of property values.
6.
The use shall not create an increase in traffic or parking from that
generated by a family unit.
7.
All parking for supervisors, employees, residents, guests, and visitors
shall be off street.
8.
The group home shall be licensed and operated by the Department of
Public Welfare or by any other state agency or department pursuant
to statutory authority.
9.
A group home shall not have more than four residents, excluding foster
parents and staff.
10.
No group home shall be allowed within 1/2 mile from any other group
home.
11.
A group home shall be permitted only in a single-family dwelling
and not in any other type of structure.
12.
No commercial cooking shall occur on the premises.
13.
All off-street parking regulations of Part 13 shall apply.
