Your Cooperation is Needed

Transcription

1 The Benefits of an Effective Planning Commission May 21, 2015 Your Cooperation is Needed Please mute your phone *6 To ask questions and open your line *6 This will help all of our friends! 1

2 PSAB s Blended Training Webinars Traditional Classroom Sessions One One-on on-one Assistance Upcoming Training Webinars Sign Management May 27 Working with District Judges May 28 Developing a Community Succession Strategy June 3 Municipal Administrators: Reporting & Records June 10 *For a complete list of our upcoming training offerings, visit 4 and click on the training tab 2

3 Upcoming Classroom Training Your Role as a Municipal Secretary/Administrator Police Civil Service Training Establishing a Rental Property Inspection Program The Course in Community Planning The Course in Zoning The Course in Subdivision & Land Development Review The Course in Zoning Administration Reserve Your Seat for 2015! Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs 2015 Legal Update August 26-27, 2015 Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey PMPEI Webinar Program with PSAB 3

4 The Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute THEBENEFITS OF A PLANNING COMMISSION STANFORD M. LEMBECK, AICP MAY 21, PA MUNICIPAL PLANNING EDUCATION INSTITUTE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute An educational collaboration of THE PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION and PENN STATE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION in association with THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF BOROUGHS 4

5 Pennsylvania s Municipal Governments 2,550± Pennsylvania s Municipal Governments 2,550 small, medium and large local businesses 5

6 Pennsylvania s Municipal Governments 2,550 The Governing Body is elected to run these local businesses Pennsylvania s Municipal Governments These 2550 local businesses have to do 3 things: 1. Give residents what they want 2. Have the resources to pay the bills 3. Be ready for changes 6

7 Local Government as a Business & how the planning commission fits in Pennsylvania Local Government Planning Comm. 7

8 The Planning Commission PLANNING COMMISSIONS About 1800 municipalities and counties have a planning commission 8

9 There are about 12,000 planning commissioners in Pennsylvania PLANNING COMMISSIONS The citizen planning commission is a unique feature of American planning going back over 100 years. Today s planning commission Is not a separate agency: it s part of the local government Works for the governing body Only has the duties assigned to it 9

10 Basic Structure of PC Feature Planning Commission # Members 3 to 9 (some may be mun. officials) Term of Office Officers Quorum Qualifications 4 years Chosen by PC members Set by Bylaws Resident of the municipality PLANNING COMMISSIONS Planning commissions are different from other boards and commissions because they are a multi-purpose group. They do many things. 10

11 PLANNING COMMISSIONS Prepare plans Fact finders Information providers Service providers Municipalities Planning Code Enabling legislation for all municipalities* Municipalities choose what they want to use Sets uniform requirements across the state Municipalities must follow the standards in the Code * MPC does not include Philadelphia or Pittsburgh 11

12 The MPC: Articles 1 General Provisions 2 Planning Agencies 3 Comprehensive Plan 4 Official Map 5 Subdivision & Land Development 5A Municipal Capital Improvement (trans Impact fee) 6 Zoning 7 Planned Residential Development (PRD) 7A Traditional Nbhd Dev (TND) 8A Joint Municipal Zoning 9 Zoning Hearing Board & Other Admin Procedures 10 Appeals to Court 11 Intergovernmental Cooperative Planning & Implementation Agreements 11A Wastewater Processing Cooperative Planning The MPC s Purposes for Planning Coordinate community development Provide/protect amenities and facilities Correct current problems Minimize future problems Improve governmental processes and functions 12

13 The Planning Commission s TOOLS Comprehensive Plan: overview of local government services Subdivision Regulations: standards for creating community assets Zoning Ordinance: matching development with service capacity Capital Improvements Budget: long-range view for paying the bills Comprehensive Plan 13

14 REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN What the Comprehensive Plan looks at (MPC Surveys by planning agency) Housing Economic Demographic characteristics and trends General location & extent of Transportation Community Facilities Amount-Type-Location- Interrelationships of Land Uses Natural Features affecting development Prospects for future growth Natural Historic Cultural resources 14

15 Current Demographic Trends CHARACTERISTIC 1 & 2 person households PA Households: with children without children TREND Fastest growing household type - Down - Up a little PA Average Household Size Down from 2.87 to 2.44 (15%) What impacts could these trends have on: + Residential land use needs + SALDO requirements + Lot size, density, zoning standards + Home ownership rates, sales The Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Directs and manages the planning staff or consultants; works on plans with them Sets the long-range community goals Involves the public in the process Keeps the governing body informed Makes sure the right questions are asked 15

16 What s a Comprehensive Plan? An official statement of the governing body s future planning goals Shows how all the pieces of the community should work together Comprehensive Plan A tool for evaluating proposed projects (does it move the plan forward?) A guide for the future development of the municipality Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance 16

17 Subdivision/Land Development Lots are permanent- it s unlikely they will ever be changed Each lot is related to other lots: those that came before those that will come after Communities grow one-lot-at- a- time One-at-a-time those lots add up and the community changes Each lot & building should be an asset to the community 17

18 MPC A Planning Commission at the request of the Governing Body: (3) May prepare, recommend, and administer subdivision and land development and planned residential regulations as set forth in this act. P.C. may be delegated approval authority: MPC 501 Subdivision & Land Development Lots Blocks Streets Open spaces 18

19 SALDO Regulations- Assure standard lots that will be long-term community assets: *water supply * waste disposal * accessibility Require improvements to offset increased costs to the general public from development Assure that streets and other dedicated facilities will be structurally sound Produce high-quality development sound if based on community plans & reasonable rules Provide basic consumer protection to citizens Officials Roles in Project Review Planning Commission Governing Body Engineer Zoning Administrator Municipal Solicitor Administers the process: maintains clock; reviews plans (may approve if delegated); sends plans for outside review; keeps track Approves/Denies plans & modifications Approves (& releases) financial guarantees Accepts dedication of facilities Reviews engineering components of plans: streets, storm water mgt., etc. Inspects construction of facilities Reviews use, calculates number of lots, density of development, lot sizes; advises if other approvals are needed Prepares financial agreements and other legal documents 19

20 Planning Commission Administers the Plan Review Process 0-30 days* 90 days P R E S U B M I S S I O N Plan Submitted Check applicationfor completeness Site visit(s) Preliminary exam of plans and data Distribute copies P L A N C O M M M E E T I N G Planning Agency Plan officially Filed review clock starts Plan review Reviews by county plan agency & others Public meetings Recommendation to the Governing Body Governing Body Review commission s recommendation Additional review Public Hearing (optional) Decision- Approve Approve with conditions Deny * Number of days before next regular planning agency meeting as required in SALDO 20

21 Zoning Ordinance Zoning by Municipality-2014 MUNICIPALITY WITH ZONING MUNICIPALITY WITHOUT ZONING 21

22 a sim ple definition of ZONING Zoning is the division of a municipality into districts or zones in which certain activities are permitted and others are prohibited 22

23 What Zoning Regulates Use of land Size, height, location of structures Areas on lots to be occupied / left open Density and intensity of use Natural, historic and agricultural uses and activities Zoning Administration Team GOVERNING BODY Conditional Use / Curative Amendment PLAN COMM ZONING OFFICER Process applications Issue zoning permits Maintain records of actions Administration/enforcement Register nonconformities Give Preliminary Opinion ZONING HEARING BD Special exceptions Variances Appeals from Zoning Officer Substantive challenges Floodplain /TDR/ Erosion & Sedimentation decisions 23

24 Characteristics of SALDO & ZONING SALDO ZONING Lot layout & design Street layout, construct. Water/sewer provision Required improvements Financial guarantees for completion Option: recreation Location of uses Density of use Open space-yards Building coverage Dimensions-lot size, height, parking, etc. Capital Improvements Budget 24

25 Capital Improvements Budget CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS EST. $ COST* 6 YEAR BUDGET RANK Storm Sewers Sanitary Sewers Well site acquisition Fire Equipment Parkland purchase Bridge repairs Road improvements 2, Municipal building total 6, ,150. * Est. costs in 000 s of dollars. Funding sources TBD: taxes, borrowing, grants impact fees Checklist of PC Services ZONING REVIEWS Curative Amendments Conditional Use apps Other amendments ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES SALDO review / approval Maintain SALDO review clock COORDINATION County PC reviews of SALD applications; zoning amendments Other agencies, such as: recreation committee historic preservation sewer/water authority INFORMATION Notice to school district (Act 97 of 2012) Adjacent municipalities of plans and regulations Residents; businesses OTHER Testify at ZHB 25

26 Getting the Benefits from your Planning Commission The Planning Commission Streamline for success Have an agendafor its meetings Structure its work groups Mentor its new members Have bylaws for consistency Prepare an annual report: achievements and plan of work 26

27 Commission Meetings AGENDA (Plan for the meeting-sent out before meeting) Set time limits for agenda items (don t waste peoples time) Prioritize agenda items: Decision Information Discussion PREPARES members for the meeting To Get the Benefits- the Governing Body must Get the best peopleto serve Require a planning commissionerat every governing body meeting Give the Commission clear direction; let them know what is expected from them Expect the commission will work with others in the municipality & beyond Demand it treats residents & others fairly and courteously Provide for theireducation and continuing learning 27

28 Pennsylvania Local Government County Plan Comm PLAN COMM Planning Commission Organization Committee of the Whole Commission +Work Groups Work groups as subcommittees of the Commission: Comprehensive Plan; Marcellus Shale; transportation; economic development; water supply & protection, S&LD review...others example: S&LD Work Group meet with developers; work with zoning officer, twp engineer; visit the site; maintain timeline; review & compile county & others reviews; lead discussion at PC meeting 28

29 PA Municipal Planning Education Institute A statewide program providing education in planning & land use regulations for local elected & appointed officials since Four in-depth10-hour courses The Course in Community Planning The Course in Zoning The Course in Zoning Administration The Course in Subdivision & Land Development Review PMPEI Courses Coming Up January June 2015 Community Planning Lycoming Co.- Feb. 3, 10, 17 Bucks Co.- March 12, 19, 26 Montgomery Co.- March 3, 10, 17 Lancaster Co.-Apr. 29; May 6, 13 Zoning Lycoming Co.- March 3, 10, 17 Chester Co.- March 4, 11, 18 Dauphin Co.- March 10, 17, 24 Berks Co.- April 9, 16, 23 Subdivision & Land Development Review Lycoming Co.- Mar. 31; Apr. 7, 14 Montgomery Co.- April 15, 22, 29 Cambria Co.-May 14, 21, 28 Chester Co. -May 28; June 4, 11 Mifflin Co.-June 1, 8, 15 Bucks Co.- June 11, 18, 25 Webinars Running Effective Meetings January 14 6:00 pm Local Officials Role in Subdivision Review January noon Benefits of a Planning Commission May noon Duties of the Zoning Hearing Board June noon 29

30 Course & Webinar Registration Information Ms. Terri Dickow (800) ext PMPEI Webinar Program with PSAB 30