Zoning Hearing Board

The Harrison Township Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) is an independent quasi-judicial body established Board of Commissioners following the adoption of the Township’s zoning ordinance. When zoning is adopted in a municipality in Pennsylvania, the appointment of a Zoning Officer and the creation of a Zoning Hearing Board is required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247.

The Zoning Hearing Board serves the community as an independent appeals “court” to hear various cases pertaining to the determinations and interpretations of the Township’s zoning ordinance by the Zoning Officer. The ZHB helps to assure fair and equitable application and administration of the Township’s zoning ordinance. The ZHB may hear various appeals matters and has the authority under Pennsylvania law to grant relief to an applicant from the literal enforcement of the zoning ordinance in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Township’s zoning ordinance and PA Act 247. The ZHB may also uphold the uses, interpretations and determinations by the Township Zoning Officer or other officials regarding land use related matters.

The Zoning Hearing Board has jurisdiction in nine areas as prescribed by the PA Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247). These areas are:

Substantive challenges to the validity of any land use ordinance, except curative amendments brought before the Board of Commissioners.

Challenges to the validity of a land use ordinance raising procedural questions or alleged defects in the process of enactment or adoption which challenges shall be raised by an appeal taken within 30 days after the effective date of the ordinance.

• Appeals from the determination of the Zoning Officer, including, but not limited to, the granting or denial of any permit, or failure to act on the application therefor, the issuance of any cease and desist order or the registration or refusal to register any nonconforming use, structure or lot.
• Appeals from a determination by the Township Engineer or the Zoning Officer with reference to the administration of any floodplain or flood hazard ordinance or such provisions within a land use ordinance.
• Applications for variances from the terms of this Chapter and flood hazard ordinance or such provisions within a land use ordinance.
  Applications for uses by special exception under this Chapter or floodplain or flood hazard ordinance or such provisions within a land use ordinance, pursuant to § 303 and Part 4 of this Chapter.
• Appeals from the Zoning Officer’s determination under Section 916.2 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247, as amended).
• Appeals from the determination of the Zoning Officer or Township Engineer in the administration of any land use ordinance or provision thereof with reference to sedimentation and erosion control and stormwater management insofar as the same relate to development not involving subdivision and land development or planned residential development.

The Zoning Hearing Board members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners for terms of five (5) years. All ZHB members are residents of Harrison Township. During their tenure, members of the Zoning Hearing Board are not permitted to hold any other office in the municipality.

Member terms expire on the first Monday in January of the year listed.