East Hanover Township

ZONING HEARING BOARD
Each municipality that has enacted a zoning ordinance is required by the
Municipalities Planning Code to establish a Zoning Hearing Board
(ZHB). Three residents are appointed to the ZHB by the Supervisors for
three year terms. One additional resident is appointed by the Supervisors
to serve as an alternate. The two main functions of the board are to hear
requests for variances and special exceptions. A variance is permission
granted by the ZHB for a waiver or modification of some regulation
which, if strictly adhered to, would result in unnecessary hardship to the
applicant. Unique physical circumstances that do not allow the property
to be developed in conformity with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance
must be present. It must also be determined that the applicant did
not create the situation and that the variance, if granted, would not alter
the character of the surrounding properties or be detrimental to public
welfare. In the granting of any variance, the ZHB may attach reasonable
conditions as it deems necessary to implement the intent of the act. A
special exception allows a certain use in a particular zoning district. As in
the granting of any variance, the ZHB may attach to the granting of a special
exception, reasonable conditions as it deems necessary to implement
the intent of the act.
PLANNING COMMISSION
All subdivision and land development plans must be submitted to the
Planning Commission for review and recommendation prior to review
and action by the Board of Supervisors. The primary purpose of the review
is to ascertain that all requirements of the zoning and subdivision/
land development ordinances have been met. The Planning Commission
considers the reviews and recommendations of the Township Consulting
Engineer, Township Consulting Zoning Officer, Tri-County Planning
Commission and Dauphin County Conservation District. The Commission
will also determine that the subdivision or land development plan is
in conformance with the goals and objectives stated in the Comprehensive
Plan. After review, the Commission will recommend an action to the
Board of Supervisors. All plans need approval from the Supervisors prior
to being recorded at the Dauphin County Courthouse. Five residents are
appointed to the Planning Commission by the Supervisors for four year
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For those persons living in dwelling units which are excluded from participation
in the Township’s curbside recycling program, in addition to
the above items, aluminum/bi-metal cans, glass, newspaper and plastics
#1 and #2 can be recycled at the drop-off depots.
Containers should be rinsed. Plastic caps or metal rings should be removed.
Scrap metal, coat hangers, pie plates, aluminum foil, metal
cookware, utensils, broken glass, light bulbs, etc. are not acceptable
items.
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
Effective April 17, 2009, Dauphin County officially opened a Recycling
Center. The regular hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday hours are
8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A
listing of acceptable recyclable items and fee schedule can be found on
their website at www.dauphincounty.org. For further information, you
may call Matt Davies, Recycling Supervisors, at 982-6772.
TIRE DISPOSAL
In the Fall of 2001, Glenn Moyer of Glenn’s Auto Service agreed to
collect used tires from Township residents. If you have tires to get rid
of, please call 469-0167 to make arrangements for drop-off and payment.
AGRICULTURAL SECURITY AREA (ASA)
On May 7, 1991, East Hanover Township created an Agriculture Security
Area in response to petition by farms and other large parcel (10
acres or more) landowners in the Township. At present more than 2000
acres of land have been enrolled. Enrollment places no restrictions on
the land but does offer the following benefits:
1. It is harder to condemn land that is in an Agricultural Security Area
for public purposes.
2. Owners are more protected against nuisance complaints from
neighbors relating to farm practices, and
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