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House Bill 209 would align ordinance effective dates across municipal codes
Summary
House Bill 209, sponsored by Representative Dabrowski, would change the treatment of ordinance effective dates so they are consistent across different municipal classes; proponents said the change would reduce opportunities for immediate post‑enactment "vesting" applications following ordinance adoption.
House Bill 209, introduced by Representative Dabrowski and discussed in the House Local Government Committee, would adjust how ordinance effective dates operate across different classes of municipalities so the effective‑date provisions are consistent.
Leonard Altieri, chairman of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors, described why his township supported the change. "We adopted a new stormwater ordinance in Newtown Township which increased our riparian buffers from 50 to 100 feet," Altieri said. He said the ordinance was enacted during a Monday meeting and that by Friday "we had 2 applications come in to vest under that existing thing," illustrating the concern the bill seeks to address.
Altieri told the committee the bill would not change notice requirements; it would make effective‑date rules consistent with those used by other municipal codes. Committee members discussed the balance between allowing immediate effect and giving residents time to adjust. Chairman Miller said he would support the bill but encouraged municipalities to allow additional time when measures are likely to be controversial.
Committee members voted to report the bill out unanimously by voice vote; no opposition was recorded.
Action details
- Motion to bring the bill forward: moved by Representative Probst; seconded by Representative Freeman. - Final committee action: bill reported out unanimously (voice vote; no opposition recorded).
What it would change
- Seeks to make ordinance effective‑date provisions consistent across municipal codes (first‑class, second‑class, boroughs) so that enacted ordinances follow a uniform rule; specific statutory text changes were discussed by committee staff.
Background and local example
Newtown Township (Delaware County) was cited as the impetus for the legislation; Altieri said the township population is about 15,000 and described the stormwater ordinance and subsequent vesting applications as the motivating example.
Next steps
The committee reported the bill out to the next stage for further consideration.
