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GOVERNMENT IN UPPER ST. CLAIR

EXPLANATION AND PROCEDURES OF THE MEETINGS OF
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

The Agenda

The Agenda will usually consist of the following items:

1. Call to order by the presiding officer
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. Review of minutes of the preceding meeting
5. Unfinished business from previous meetings
6. Comments, suggestions, questions from citizens and taxpayers on matters not included on the Agenda. For matters included on the Agenda, citizens and taxpayers will be recognized during the time the Agenda item is under discussion. A citizen or taxpayer who wishes to be heard will address the chair, state their name and address for the record, and confine their comments to the item under debate
7. New Business, including the introduction of ordinances and resolutions
8. Special reports

Forms of Action Which May Be Taken

1. A Motion is a verbal action
2. A Resolution is a written action of non-legislative nature
3. An Ordinance is a written order of a legislative nature. An ordinance is required by the Home Rule Charter for those actions which:
   • Adopt or amend the Administrative Code or establish, alter or abolish any department, office or agency
   • Adopt or amend a code establishing a personnel policy for the Township
   • Provide for a fine or other penalty or establish a rule or regulation for a violation for which a fine or other penalty is imposed, except for fines of less than One Dollar ($1.00) per violation
   • Levy taxes
   • Grant, renew, or extend a franchise
   • Establish, alter, or abolish rates charged for any utility or other service supplied by the Township
   • Authorize the borrowing of money
   • Convey or lease or authorize the conveyance or lease of any lands of the Township
   • Amend or repeal any ordinance previously adopted
   • Adopt the Township budget
   • Other actions required to be taken by ordinance by any other existing or established law

Public Hearings

1. Rezoning

   A public hearing must be held when an applicant requests a rezoning of the development site. The Board will consider the following points in adopting or rejecting the proposal:

   • Compatibility with adjacent uses and rezoning
   • Compliance with the Comprehensive Plan
   • Ability to meet requirements of classification requested
   • Whether natural barriers (e.g. major roads, differences in elevation, streams) would exist between differing zoning classifications
   • Impact of development on traffic, storm and sanitary sewers, schools, neighborhoods, and municipal services

2. Planned Residential Development

   A planned development which is to be planned as a single entity for a number of dwelling units is considered a Planned Residential Development.

   • Tentative Approval

     A public hearing for tentative approval is required. Discussion is limited to the following:

     • Compliance with zoning requirements
     • The applicant may request zoning requirement modifications. However, the Board may reject modifications if not judged to be in the public interest
     • Traffic is not a valid reason for denial, unless an extreme hazard can be documented
     • The Township cannot require more information than is required by Section 707 of Municipalities Planning Code
   • Final Approval

     Final Approval is granted after Tentative Approval, with conditions, has been granted in writing, and no changes are made by the developer.

     • A public hearing is not required for Final Approval unless the developer proposed changes from the plan which was granted Tentative Approval

3. Conditional Use

   Conditional Use is an authorized use which is granted by the Board of Commissioners pursuant to expressed standards and criteria in the Zoning Ordinance.

   • A public hearing for Conditional Use Approval is required
   • The Board of Commissioners must grant approval of a conditional use if the plan complies with the zoning requirements and criteria in the ordinance
   • The denial of a plan can only be based on non-compliance with ordinance requirements and criteria. Traffic or other natural results of the use are not grounds for denial since the zoning permits the use. However, conditions may be attached to the approval to relieve certain problems (e.g. traffic control)
   • Planned development which is non-residential is a type of conditional use following planned residential development procedures