Zoning Hearing Board

Overview

The Zoning Hearing Board has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and render final adjudications in the following matters:

• Substantive challenges to the validity of any land use ordinances 
• Procedural challenges to the validity of any land use ordinance taken within 30 days after the date of enactment of said ordinance 
• Appeals from the determination of the Zoning Officer 
• Appeals from the determination of the Township Engineer with reference to Flood Plain issues 
• Applications for variances from the Zoning Code 
• Appeals from the determination of the Zoning Officer or the Township Engineer with reference to erosion and sedimentation regulations 

The Zoning Hearing Board is an interpretive, quasi-judicial panel consisting of five citizens of Upper Providence Township appointed by Township Council, to hear requests for special exceptions and variances from zoning ordinance requirements as well as other types of zoning appeals.

Completed hearing applications must be filed with the Township 30 days prior to the date of the meeting each month for inclusion on that month's hearing list.  At the conclusion of a hearing, the Zoning Hearing Board has, by law, forty-five (45) days in which to render its decision on an application.  Typically, decisions are made at the meeting subsequent to the one at which the hearing was concluded.

The Township is required to provide public notice of each hearing.  This is accomplished by publishing a legal notice in the Delaware County Daily Times on two occasions prior to the hearing.  In addition, a notice is posted on the subject property and nearby residents are notified by mail of the nature of the application and the date and time of the hearing.  Any interested party may appear at the hearing to ask questions of witnesses regarding details of the application and to make any comment appropriate to the matter being heard.