ORDINANCE NO. 141

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE OF KENNETT TOWNSHIP, BY MODIFYING THE SKETCH PLAN STANDARDS.

 

The Board of Supervisors of Kennett Township hereby enacts and ordains the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of Kennett Township, Ordinance No. 46, as adopted August 15, 1983, as amended, be amended further as follows:


SECTION 1.

 

ARTICLE III      SUBMISSION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

 

301.2 OVERVIEW OF PLAN REVIEW PROCESS

 

I.       Amend Section 301.2.B by deleting it in its’ entirety and replacing with the following:

 

B.      CONCEPTUAL DISCUSSION AND SKETCH PLAN REVIEW:  The conceptual discussion and Sketch Plan submission and review process comprises a period of informal dialogue between the Applicant and the Kennett Township Planning Commission. This initial discussion of potential development concepts and the Sketch Plan review aims to reconcile individual and community planning objectives, to demonstrate general feasibility of the proposed development, and to resolve critical planning issues prior to undertaking of full-scale engineering.  Early resolution of critical planning issues can avoid expensive revisions later. The following steps are recommended to best facilitate this initial period of informal discussion and review:

 

1.       Conceptual Discussion.   The Applicant is strongly encouraged to arrange a meeting with the Kennett Township Planning Commission to discuss conceptual ideas for subdivision or land development in view of community development and open space resource conservation objectives.  At this point in the process, drawings of potential development ideas are not necessary.  If the applicant wishes to bring such ideas for initial discussion, only very informal conceptual sketches are recommended.

 

2.       Site Walk.  In addition to the conceptual discussion with the Planning Commission, it is recommended that the Applicant seek to schedule a site walk with representatives of the Planning Commission and other Township Boards/Committees as applicable, to familiarize all parties with the specific characteristics of the site and development and community planning objectives of the Applicant and the Township.

 

3.     Submission of Sketch Plan. Following the conceptual discussion and site walk, the Applicant is encouraged to submit a Sketch Plan consistent with the following process.  Sketch Plan submission is voluntary on the part of the Applicant, does not constitute official submission of a plan to the Township, and shall not commence the statutory review period of Section 508 of the Municipalities Planning Code.

Ordinance 141

Page 2

a.       One (1) week prior to the first meeting of the Township Planning Commission at which the Applicant requests sketch plan discussion, the Applicant shall supply the Township Secretary with three (3) or more copies of Sketch Plans.  A Sketch Plan may also be submitted to the Chester County Planning Commission for informal review and comment by either the Township or the Applicant.

 

b.       The plan information outlined in Section 402.2.E can be used as a guideline for a Sketch Plan submittal in terms of scale and level of detail to be included with the plan.

 

4.       Planning Commission Review.  The Planning Commission and/or a subcommittee thereof will be available to review and discuss Sketch Plan(s) with the Applicant at their mutual convenience.  Following such review and discussion, the Planning Commission will, at regularly scheduled meetings as needed, make recommendations to the Applicant, in accordance with Section 303.2, offering direction to the preparation and submission of a formal preliminary plan.

 

          II. Amend SECTION 302.1 by deleting it in its’ entirety and replacing with the following:

 

302.1  PLAN TO BE FILED WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION  A Sketch Plan for proposed subdivisions or development of land located within the Township may be submitted to the Planning Commission by the Applicant or his authorized representative.

 

          III. Amend SECTION 303.1 by deleting it in its’ entirety and replacing with the following:

 

303.1  A Sketch Plan shall be considered for informal discussion between the Applicant and the Planning Commission.  Submission of a Sketch Plan shall not constitute official submission of a plan to the Township.

 

          IV.   Amend Section 303.2 by deleting it in its’ entirety and replacing with the following:

 

303.2  REVIEW BY THE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

 

A.      After a Sketch Plan has been submitted, such plan shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission at its next scheduled meeting, provided it is submitted at least seven (7) days prior to said meeting.

 

B.      Following the meeting at which the Sketch Plan is reviewed, the Planning Commission shall recommend to the Applicant such changes and modifications as it shall deem necessary or advisable for inclusion in the preliminary plan.

 

C.      The Planning Commission shall send written notice of the recommendations to the Applicant after the meeting at which such recommendations are made.

 

SECTION 2.

Ordinance 141

Page 3

 

Amend Article III, SUBMISSION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES, Section 313 by deleting it in its' entirety and replacing with the following:

 

SECTION 313 MINOR SUBDIVISION

 

In the case of a proposed subdivision which does not involve the addition of any new street or right way for access and the tract of land cannot be developed beyond the depth of one (1) lot (i.e., one in which all proposed lots will have frontage on an existing public street or road), the following procedures may be followed for plan submission and review:

 

313.1 The Applicant is encouraged to prepare a Sketch Plan of the proposed subdivision in accordance with Sections 302 and 402 of this Ordinance. However, only a Final Plan submission is required for a minor subdivision. The Final Plan for a minor subdivision shall be submitted in accordance with the review procedure outlined in Section 307 and with the Final Plan information requirements of Section 404.

 

313.2 If lots in the proposed subdivision will utilize on-site sanitary sewage disposal systems, the Applicant shall perform soil percolation tests in accordance with Section 403.9 of this Ordinance and shall indicate the location of such test holes on the Final Plan.

 

313.3 The Applicant shall submit five (5) copies of the Final Plan and five (5) copies of the soil   percolation test data, plus four (4) copies of any required additional data.

 

313.4Following notification from the Board of Supervisors, the Applicant may then prepare a Final Plan in full accord with Section 404 of this Ordinance.

 

SECTION 3.

 

ARTICLE IV       PLAN REQUIREMENTS

 

Amend SECTION 402.1, 402.2, 402.3, by deleting it in its’ entirety and replacing with the   following:

 

SECTION 402 SKETCH PLAN

 

402.1 The Sketch Plan may be submitted by the Applicant as a basis for informal discussion with the Planning Commission and the Board as the intended use and arrangement of a proposed subdivision or land development.  A Sketch Plan need not be an accurate scaled drawing on standard size drawing paper.

 

402.2 Data furnished in a Sketch Plan shall be at the discretion of the Applicant; however, to obtain maximum benefit, it is suggested that a Sketch Plan include the following information:

 

 

 

Ordinance 141

Page 4

 

A.      Approximate tract boundaries.

 

B.      Location of tract by indicating nearest roadway intersection and zoning district.

 

C.      North point, scale (or indication that plan is not drawn to scale), and date of plan preparation. If drawn to scale, it is suggested that the scale be consistent with those listed in Section 401.1 to facilitate preliminary and final plan preparation.

 

D.      Existing and proposed streets on and adjacent to the tract, properly identified.

 

E.      Significant existing topographical and physical features such as structures, easements, soils, floodplains, known wetlands, watercourses, and woodlands.

 

F.      Proposed general lot layout.

 

G.      In the case of land development plans, proposed general layout, including locations, parking lots, and open spaces.

 

H.      Proposed method of water supply and sewage treatment.

 

I.       Name and address of the Applicant and the Applicant’s engineer, surveyor, planner, architect, or landscape architect, as applicable.

 

J.       The plan should be clearly labeled “Sketch Plan.”

 

402.3  In order to expedite approval of the plans, the Applicant may submit with the Sketch Plan, Planning Modules for Land Development required for Township action in supplementing or revising the Sewage Facilities Plan as provided in Section 403.10 hereof.

 

ENACTED AND ORDAINED this 15th day of APRIL 2002.

 

KENNETT TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

ATTEST:                                                        ____________________________________               

Thomas W. Nale, III

 

______________________   

Secretary-Treasurer                                      ____________________________________           

Michael E. Elling

 

 

____________________________________       

Charles G. Shoemaker