Since the mid 1960's, West Hanover Township has had some form of part-time or full-time departmental staff for the support of local planning and zoning enforcement.  Over the decades, development activity in the community has increased and the technical and legal requirements of land development and land use management in Pennsylvania and the Township have become more complex.  Also, West Hanover Township is an actively growing community and the citizenry has required more active oversight of local planning activities and zoning code enforcement in the community.  Today, the Township is directly supported by a professional planning staff that serves the day-to-day community planning and zoning enforcement functions of the Township as required by the PA Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247 and other laws.  The professional staff are very important in providing cost-efficient and quality oversight and enforcement services related to land use management, zoning, environmental protection and similar building issues through the fair and consistent application of Township rules and regulations.  The Planning and Zoning department also plays an important role in the support and facilitation of public participation in land use decisions and access to land use data, and by providing forward-thinking, innovative and solution-oriented advice on community planning, building and resource management issues.

 
Zoning Enforcement - Zoning Officer

The primary means of managing land use activities is municipal zoning.  The public involvement in private land use and business activities begins with an application to the municipal zoning office for a permit.  In West Hanover there are generally two types of permits: (1) a permit approving start of construction and (2) a use permit, which acknowledges that under the municipal zoning ordinance that the use or activity is a permitted activity on the property.  The Township uses use zoning permits as a method of policing and enforcing the Township land use regulations.  Since not all land use applications involve construction, use permits can take two forms: (1) authorize or legalize use of the property, and (2) use occupancy permit after construction is completed as a means of insuring that the construction and the occupying use conforms to the application as filed and that all municipal requirements are met.

The Township Zoning Ordinance is enforced by the Township Zoning Officer.  If the applicant's (a developer or builder) project specifications meet the requirements of the zoning ordinance, as the zoning officer understands them, the application is normally approved.  If the zoning provisions are not met, the application is denied.  A zoning officer is not vested with a wide range of discretionary power to waive requirements or to tighten the ordinance to protect some perceived public need.  The PA Municipalities Planning Code, Section 614 states that "The zoning officer shall administer the zoning ordinance in accordance with its literal terms, and shall not have the power to permit any construction or any use or change of use which does not conform to the zoning ordinance.”  If the applicant or a concerned property owner disagrees with the zoning officer’s determination, the remedy exists to appeal the determination to the Township's Zoning Hearing Board.  The Township Zoning Officer oversees and administers and makes determinations on all zoning permits on behalf of West Hanover Township.  

Robert T. Leonard - Zoning Officer
zoning@westhanover.com

Administrative Assistance

The Township currently has one Administrative Assistance working directly within the Planning and Zoning Department.  The primary jobs of the Administrative Assistant is to meet the public and assist them in handling their planning applications, zoning permit, building permit information and similar support services to the public and the department.  The Planning and Zoning Department Administrative Assistant  answers telephone calls, greets the walk-in traffic, and directs the contacts to the zoning officer, Township Manager or other staff with whom they need to discuss their planning and zoning related issues.  Among the various day-to-day duties, the Administrative Assistant handles certain permits (typing and notifying residents of costs, when to pick up, etc.), some correspondence for various staff, registrations, filing, and various additional administrative support duties as requested of them.  The Planning and Zoning Department Administrative Assistant also supports the Planning Commission by keeping meeting minutes and the record of business for the Commission, as well as any coordination with the Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor and Board of Supervisors as necessary.

Julie Hoepfer - Administrative Assistant
jhoepfer@westhanover.com

Planning and Zoning Reference Information

The following table provides links to a variety of information and materials related to planning and zoning in West Hanover Township.