General Information About Doylestown Borough Council And Its' Boards And Commissions

Borough Council

Boroughs are governed by an elected Council. In Doylestown Borough, this Council consists of nine members serving four (4) year terms. The Borough is divided into three Geographic Wards, each with three (3) Council Representatives.

Council's major duties include the enactment of legislation, the raising and spending of public money, land use regulation, and the provision of public services.

By law, Council must meet at least once a month to conduct its business. Pennsylvania's "Sunshine Act" requires that Council take all official actions in public at such a meeting and that the public be notified and provided an opportunity to comment at these meetings.

This "Sunshine Act" also applies to the various subcommittees of Council. These committees each deal with a substantive area of Borough Government and also hold monthly public meetings to deliberate about issues within their respective spheres and to made recommendations for action to the full Council.

Doylestown Borough Council works through seven major subcommittees: Streets, Water, Zoning and Planning, Police and Parking, Community and Governmental Affairs, Recreation, Shade Tree and Property and Finance and Administration.

Historic and Architectural Review Board

The Borough has an appointed Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) in accordance with the State Act which enables the designation of Historic Districts in Pennsylvania. The Borough has an official Historic District which is "overlayed" on the Zoning District map. The HARB reviews all exterior building changes, additions, new construction, demolition, and signs, within nthe designated Historic District. The Board does not regulate the repainting or color of buildings as long as no other construction is planned.

Shade Tree Commission

A Borough may appoint a Shade Tree Commission and give it exclusive custody and control of the shade trees in the Borough. The Doylestown Borough Shade Tree Commission has the authority to plant, remove, maintain and protect shade trees on public streets and highways of the Borough. In addition, the commission reviews applications for the removal of significant shade trees on private properties to assure that such removals are justified and, if so, to mitigate the impact of the removal on the community.

Park and Recreation Board

Boroughs have the power to provide, improve, maintain and regulate public parks, playgrounds, playing fields and recreation centers. In Doylestown Borough a Park and Recreation Board was formed to function in an advisory capacity to Borough Council in determining the amounts and kinds of recreation most needed by its citizens. The Board also has the responsibility to equip, operate and maintain recreation facilities.

Planning Commission

The Doylestown Borough Planning Commission was created by Borough Council to act as an advisor to Council on matters of community growth and development. At the direction of Council, the Planning Commission may be required to prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the Borough, to prepare and make recommendations on an official map and/or to prepare Land Use Control Ordinances including Zoning Ordinances and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances.

Planning Commissions can also serve as a way for citizens to make their views known on growth, planning and the direction the Borough is taking.

Zoning Hearing Board

As required by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), any community enacting a Zoning Ordinance must also create a Zoning Hearing Board. The primary purpose of such a board is to help assure fair and equitable application and administration of the Zoning Ordinance by hearing appeals on the Zoning Officer's determinations and by granting relief from the literal enforcement of the ordinance in certain hardship situations. Since the board has no legislative power, it can neither make nor modify zoning policy. Neither does the Zoning Hearing Board have enforcement powers. It is a quasi-judicial body; that is, its powers are to some extent judicial in nature. The board schedules hearings on applications and appeals that come before it, takes evidence, and issues written decisions with findings of fact and conclusions of law. It must limit its scope of activities to those permitted by the MPC and by the local Zoning Ordinance.

Doylestown Borough Revitalization Board

The Doylestown Revitalization Board was established in 1994 for the purpose of preserving and enhancing the cultural, residential and commercial attributes of Doylestown for the benefit of those who live in, visit and work in the community. Working in close cooperation with Borough Council, the Board has presided over the recent renaissance of the Borough's Central Business District and Gateway Corridors. Working through its Design, Economic Development and Communications Committee, the Board continues to work to improve the aesthetic appearance, economic viability and spirit of the community of the Borough.

BOCA Board of Appeals

In accordance with the BOCA National Building Code, the Borough has an Appeals Board to hear appeals from the decision of the Building Inspector as well as to consider requests for variances from the Building Code. They meet on an as-needed basis.

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