[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Schwenksville as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 147.
Zoning — See Ch. 176.
[Adopted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
There is hereby created a department to be known as the "Planning Commission" consisting of five members, which is hereby created and established for Schwenksville Borough, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 201, of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as established by the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as amended and reenacted.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10201.
The Planning Commission shall be comprised of five members who shall be appointed for terms of office of four years, to be established on a series of overlapping terms with one term expiring each year, except for one year in which two terms shall expire.
The Planning Commission shall have all the powers and duties conferred and imposed upon it as set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, established by the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, as amended and reenacted.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
[Adopted 7-12-2001 by Ord. No. 305]
Schwenksville Borough shall join with the municipalities of Upper Frederick Township, Lower Frederick Township, Perkiomen Township, Skippack Township, Collegeville Borough, and Trappe Borough to create the Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission as per the guidelines set forth under Articles I, II and XI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 as amended August 2000.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
The seven municipalities of the Central 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 effectively address. They recognized that current growth, and anticipated growth, if not properly managed will lead to the diminution of the region's quality of life. Furthermore, the participating municipalities 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. To this end, the municipalities of the Central Perkiomen Valley hereby embark on a course of action to implement regional planning. Schwenksville Borough empowers the Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission to undertake the development of a Regional Comprehensive Plan.
[Amended 11-8-2001 by Ord. No. 308]
Each participating municipality shall appoint two members. One member from each municipality shall be from the elected governing board and the other from the Municipal Planning Commission.
[Amended 11-8-2001 by Ord. No. 308]
Each member municipality shall have one vote to cast on all matters that come before the Regional Planning Commission that require action. If two members from a municipality are present at a meeting and cannot agree as to how to cast their vote, then the vote of the member from the elected governing board of the municipality shall control.
[Added 11-8-2001 by Ord. No. 308]
The term of each member shall be two years.
[Added 11-8-2001 by Ord. No. 308]
A. 
The positions of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Treasurer shall be held by individuals representing three different municipalities.
B. 
Officers shall serve a one-year term and may succeed themselves for a second one-year term provided that at the end of two years, the position shall be filled by an individual representing a different municipality.
The Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission shall have the responsibility to prepare a Regional Comprehensive Plan for the seven participating municipalities. To this end, the powers and duties of the Regional Planning Commission are as follows:
A. 
To prepare a Regional Comprehensive Plan pursuant to Article III of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10301 et seq.
B. 
That in the preparation of said 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. 
That upon completion of the Regional Comprehensive Plan, the Regional Planning Commission shall forward said Plan on to the participating municipalities by unanimous consent.
D. 
The Regional Planning Commission shall not usurp the powers, duties and obligations of the individual municipal planning commissions and zoning hearing boards regarding subdivisions, land developments, and zoning matters.
E. 
The Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission is an advisory body.
[Amended 11-8-2001 by Ord. No. 308]
A. 
The Central Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission shall prepare an annual budget which shall be approved by each of the member municipalities. The Regional Planning Commission shall appropriate funds for its operation only to the limit of its approved budget. The Regional Planning Commission may also seek federal, state and county grants to offset the cost of operation.
B. 
Each member municipality shall be responsible to pay 1/7 of all budgeted expenditures.
C. 
All budgeted items shall be approved by the unanimous vote of the voting members of the Regional Planning Commission.
Within the limits imposed upon it by the funds available for its use, the Regional Planning Commission may employ such staff or personnel and enter into contracts with consultants as it seems fit to aid in its work.
Any participating municipality may withdraw from the Regional Planning Commission after six months written 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 and the creation of a Regional Comprehensive Plan.
[Amended 11-8-2001 by Ord. No. 308]
Any municipality which has exercised its right to withdrawal from the Regional Planning Organization shall be financially responsible, even after withdrawal, for only those budgeted items which it or its representative to the Regional Planning Commission had agreed to or voted for, for a period of one year after the effective date of withdrawal.
[Added 11-8-2001 by Ord. No. 308]
Each of the Central Perkiomen Valley municipalities shall retain their individual Planning Commissions. Each local Planning Commission shall continue to review those subdivisions, land developments and zoning revisions that are proposed within their own municipality, and then provide advisory comment to the elected officials.