A. In interpreting and applying provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of health, public safety, convenience, prosperity and general welfare

B. The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer The Zoning Officer shall be a member of the Planning Department. The Zoning Officer shall keep a record of all applications for permits and a record of all permits issued, with a notation of all special conditions involved He shall file and safely keep copies of all plans submitted, which shall form a part of the records of his office and shall be available for the use of the Municipal Council and other township officials [Amended 7-5-72 by Ord. No. 80-1972]

A. A zoning permit shall be secured from the Zoning Officer prior to construction, erection or alteration of any building or part of building or structure having a cost or valuation of one hundred dollars ($100 ) or more and of all stationary signs and billboards larger than forty (40) square feet

B. A request for a zoning permit shall be made in writing by the owner or his authorized agent. It shall include a statement of the use or intended use of the building or structure and shall be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale and dimensioned, showing the proposed building in its exact relation to lot and street lines, and by a written statement from the Township Engineer or other satisfactory evidence that the line of the bounding street or streets has been accurately located and staked on the ground A building permit issued in accordance with the Building Code of the township' shall satisfy the purpose of a zoning permit upon compliance with the conditions and requirements of this chapter

A. No land may be used or occupied in whole or in any part for parking of commercial vehicles or any use whatsoever, and no change of use shall hereafter be made, until a use permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer, certifying that the use complies with the provisions of this chapter Such use permits shall be granted or denied with-in ten (10) days from date of written application therefor.

B. No building may be constructed, used or occupied in whole or in any part by the township for any capital improvement unless at least ten (10) days prior to the public hearing on any ordinance which proposes to construct, use or occupy such building, the Township Clerk shall mail a copy of the ordinance to all owners of property which is the subject of the proposed construction, use or occupancy and to oil property owners within two hundred (200) feet of such property Such mailing shall be directed to the last known post office addresses of such owners as shown by the most recent tax lists of the township

No building constructed, erected or altered after July 12, 1949, shall be occupied or used in whole or in part for any use whatsoever, and no change of use of any building or part thereof shall hereafter be made, until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer, certifying that the building or use complies with the provisions of this chapter An occupancy permit shall be granted or denied within ten (10) days from data of written application therefor

The Zoning Officer may issue a special permit to any bona fide nonprofit organization for the following uses and activities, subject to the following conditions;

A. Sale of Christmas trees and/or wreaths

1. The sale of Christmas trees and/or wreaths shall take place only upon the property of the nonprofit organization.

2. The sale of Christmas trees and/or wreaths shall only be conducted by members of the nonprofit organization.

3. The sale of Christmas trees and/or wreaths by the nonprofit organization shall be without the assistance or involvement of third parties.

4. A nonprofit organization shall not lease or make available its property to third parties for the sale of Christmas trees and/or wreaths.

5. The nonprofit organization shall provide the Zoning Officer with a sketch indicating the location on the property where the sale is to be conducted and must show any other ancillary outdoor activity on the property that will be held in conjunction with the sale. In the event electricity or some other power source is needed in conjunction with the sale, the Zoning Officer shall be informed of this fact, and the nonprofit organization must apply to the Construction Code Official for an appropriate permit prior to the installation of an electrical supply or other power source.

6. The Zoning Officer is empowered to impose any reasonable conditions on the issuance of the permit that are consistent with protecting the public health, safety and welfare, including but not limited to restricting the location, duration of the sale, ingress and egress to the premises, traffic patterns and flow on the property.

B. Clothing Receptacles

1. An application for a special permit to allow the placement of a clothing receptacle shall be made to the Zoning Officer on forms provided by the Zoning Officer, setting forth the following:

a. The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.

b. The location where the clothing receptacle is to be placed.

c. The name, address and telephone number of the owner of the property where the clothing receptacle is to be placed, with a written authorization from the owner for the placement of the clothing receptacle.

2. No more than three receptacles shall be located within any commercial complex.

3. Each receptacle shall not exceed five feet in depth, eight feet in width and six feet in height.

4. Each receptacle shall prominently display a complete name, address and telephone number of the owner of the receptacle on the face of the receptacle.

5. Each receptacle shall have the label clothing only clearly printed on the front of the receptacle.

6. The receptacle shall be located in such a manner that it will not interfere with traffic circulation or otherwise pose a traffic hazard by virtue of any obstruction that it may create by its placement.

7. The receptacle shall be located in a clearly visible and well lighted area to permit inspection and enforcement.

8. The receptacle may be placed in a parking stall provided that there is sufficient parking on-site to accommodate all uses of the property in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Township Code. Absent a determination that there is sufficient parking to comply with code requirements no receptacle may be placed within a parking stall so as to violate code requirements and create a nonconforming condition.

9. Receptacles shall not be placed within any sidewalk area so as to obstruct pedestrian circulation.

10. No receptacle shall be placed within a required buffer area or within three (3) feet of a property line.

11. The receptacle shall be emptied no less than once a week and the area immediately surrounding it shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition and the receptacle shall be maintained in good working order and painted.

12. a. The owner of the clothing receptacle shall be liable for violating any of the foregoing conditions.

b. No summons for a violation of this section shall issue unless the owner of the clothing bin has been given 48 hours to correct the violation, and has failed to correct the violation within that 48 hour time period. The 48 hour time period shall be exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. For the purposes of this section, every 48 hour period, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays is a separate offense for which an additional summons shall be issued.

c. The issuance of three (3) summonses within a twelve (12) month period shall result in a revocation of the special permit for a period of twelve (12) months commencing on the date of the issuance of the summons for the third offense. Notice of the revocation of the special permit shall be sent to the owner of the clothing receptacle and the property owner, notifying them that the clothing receptacle must be removed within five (5) days of the notice of the revocation. In the event the clothing receptacle is not removed within five (5) days of the date of notice of revocation, a summons shall be issued to the property owner for violation of this section. The penalty for a violation of this section shall be as set forth in Chapter 1, Section 1-15 of this Code.

13. No clothing receptacle shall be placed on vacant land or on a vacant commercial site. In the event a commercial site becomes vacant during the term of the special permit, the clothing receptacle shall be removed within thirty (30) days of the vacancy.

**Webmasters Note: The previous section has been amended as per Ordinance No. 34-2006.

The Council may, from time to tune, on its own motion or on petition, after public notice and hearing, amend, supplement or change the regulations find districts herein established and adopt rules and regulations for the purpose of interpreting and carrying this chapter into effect. When owners of more than fifty percent (50%) of the frontage within a district or part of district comprising not less than one (1) block shall present to the Council a duly signed petition for the change, relocation or revision of said district or part of district, the Council shall act upon said petition within sixty (60) days after the filing of the petition with the Township Clerk. Said petition shall be accompanied by a map showing the area for which the change of district is asked and all immediately abutting property and uses thereof and shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the grounds or reasons for the proposed change. In case of protest against such proposed change, signed by owners of twenty percent (20%) or more of the area of the lots included in such proposed change or of those immediately adjacent in the rear thereof extending one hundred (100) feet therefrom or of those directly opposite thereto extending one hundred (100) feet from the street frontage of such opposite lots, such amendment shall not become effective except by the favorable vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all members of the Municipal Council.

Due public notice and hearing as required by this chapter shall be interpreted as being the same as applies to all other ordinances of the township

See § 1-15, Violations and penalties