A CITIZEN S GUIDE TO THE ARMSTRONG COUNTY SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Transcription

1 A CITIZEN S GUIDE TO THE ARMSTRONG COUNTY SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE 1

2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION What Is The Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance? Page 1 Who Must Comply? Page 1 What is Involved? Page 1 Who Benefits? Page 1 SUBDIVISION What Is A Subdivision? Page 2 Types of Subdivisions Page 2 LAND DEVELOPMENT What Is A Land Development? Page 3 Types of Land Development Page 3 PROCEDURE Procedure Summary Page 4-5 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Agency Telephone Directory Page 6 Fee Schedule Page 7 Surveyor List Page 8-9 2

3 What Is The Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance? Since 1958, Armstrong County has regulated the subdivision of land. On November 1, 1973, the Armstrong County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance was formally adopted under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as reenacted and amended. Due to changing development patterns within the County, a revised County ordinance was adopted on January 1, Who Must Comply? Subdivisions: All property owners wishing to divide, lease, or transfer portions of their land. Land Developments: All property owners wishing to place more than one residential building, one residential and one commercial building, or one or more non-residential multi-use buildings on their land. Subdivision and Land Development regulations provide that certain minimum design standards are met. These minimum standards historically have greatly improved property values. What Is Involved? Subdivision and Land Development regulations typically call for submission of plans for any proposed subdivision or land development. Approval of any such plan is granted by the Planning Commission based upon compliance with the provisions of the adopted regulations. These provisions include minimum design standards as well as procedure(s) to be followed by the developer. Who Benefits? All parties either directly or indirectly involved in the subdivision process derive certain benefits: The land buyer benefits because they know that the lot and/or development has been acceptably designed and improved, thereby providing substantial security that the property has a clear deed and is approved for such development. The developer benefits by knowing that there are certain minimum standards, which must be addressed in order to acquire the necessary approvals. The community is assured that developing areas are acceptably designed in accordance with the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. By planning in advance for safe and coordinated development through uniform standards and regulations, increased property values and improvements to the quality of life provide benefits for future Armstrong County residents. 3

4 What Is A Subdivision? The Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code defines subdivision as: the division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court, for distribution to heirs of devises, transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than ten acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling, shall be exempted. So, by definition, a subdivision is any time you change a lot line either a few feet or the division of a tract of land into a newly created lot. Types of Subdivisions Single Lot Subdivision Single Lot Subdivision Change in Lot Line Minor Subdivision (1 or 2 Lots) Major Subdivision (3-9) Lots With No New Roads (10 Or More Lots) Or Easements Of Access 4

5 What Is Land Development? The Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Code defines Land Development as: 1) the improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts, or parcels of land for any purpose involving: a) a group of two or more residential or non-residential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single, nonresidential building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants of tenure; or b) the division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas. Leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features; or 2) a subdivision of land. Types of Land Development (1) anytime you have more than one residential building on a tract of land, you are creating a land development (2) it also includes one residential and one commercial building on the same lot (3) and one non-residential multi-use building 5

6 Procedure Summary Step 1 Meet with Planning Department Staff (optional) Step 2 Assure adequate sewage disposal and water supply: Contact local municipal sewage and/or water authorities for approval if applicable Contact Sewage Enforcement Agency for on-lot sewage system testing and approval if applicable Step 3 Determine if zoning approval, a highway occupancy permit, or an erosion and sedimentation control plan is required: Contact municipality for zoning approval if applicable Contact PennDOT for procedures to acquire a highway occupancy permit if applicable (for proposed access from a state road) Contact Conservation District for erosion and sedimentation control plan approval if applicable (normally for major plans only) Step 4 Survey Tract: Contact surveyor to prepare plan for submittal to the Department of Planning and Development Step 5 Submit plan for final approval Step 6 Plan review Step 7 Staff Approval: 1 or 2 lots with no improvements or modification or waiver requests 6

7 Planning Commission Approval: minor plan, 3-9 lots major plan, 10+ lots - Preliminary Plan Approval Step 8 Record Plan in the Register and Recorders Office within 90 days after approval Step 9 Have all permits issued (sewage, building, highway occupancy, etc.) Step 10 * If major plan: Finalize plan Planning Commission review Final plan approval Record Plan Transfer Property 7

8 AGENCY TELEPHONE DIRECTORY Armstrong County Department of Planning and Development 402 Market Street Kittanning, PA (724) Armstrong County Sewage Enforcement Agency 217 Market Street Kittanning, PA (724) Armstrong Conservation District Armsdale Administration Building RD#8 Box 294 Kittanning, PA (724) PENNDOT South Water Street Kittanning, PA (724) Department of Environmental Protection 400 Waterfront Drive Pittsburgh, PA (412)

9 ARMSTRONG COUNTY SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT -FEE SCHEDULE- Subdivisions Single Lot Subdivision (1 or 2 lots) $15.00 Minor Subdivision (3-9 lots) $25.00 Major Subdivision (10+ lots) $50.00 Land Developments 1 or 2 Units $ Units $ Units $50.00 Commercial/Industrial $ $2.00 per 1,000² of all floor space over 5,000² 9

10 SURVEYORS Alpha Engineering Hickman, Jesse Tony Males RR#7 Box Leechburg Road Kittanning, PA Lower Burrell, PA (724) (724) Houllion, Bernard Allison, James 735 Beyer Road Land Surveying Punxsutawney, PA R.D.# Kittanning, PA (724) J&T Surveying, Inc. Mark Orkwis Applegate Services, Inc Creekside Road John Hudak Indiana, PA Box 368 (724) Elderton, PA (724) Jack & Sons Surveying 635 Linden Avenue Bankson Engineers New Kensington, PA Blue Run Road (724) Indianola, PA (412) Jackson, Robert 984 Cherry Lane Road Beale, David Apollo, PA Rt. 422 (724) Elderton, PA (724) Mohney WD Associates RD#6 Breski, Harry Kittanning, PA R.D.#1 Box 48B Worthington, PA (724) Sedwick, Doug 326 Conerty Road Cagle, William Chicora, PA Willow Street (724) Kittanning, PA (724) Senate Engineering 217 Arthur Street Farster, Robert Kittanning, PA Harris Road (724) Kittanning, PA (724) Shaw, James PO Box 262 Fox & Fox, Inc. Kittanning, PA Timber Bridge Rd. Suite 20 (724) Clarion, PA (814)

11 Waugaman, Carl RR#1 Worthington, PA (724) (home) (724) (office) Weibel, Tom PO Box 401 East Brady, PA (724) Widmer Engineering (formerly R.B. Shannon) 314 S. Water Street Kittanning, PA (724)