For any regulated activities of this chapter, prior to final
approval of subdivision and/or land development plans, or the issuance
of any permit, or the commencement of any regulated earth disturbance
activity, the owner, subdivider, developer, or his agent shall submit
a drainage plan and receive Township approval of the plan. The plan
shall be prepared by an engineer registered in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, except such plan may be prepared by a surveyor registered
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (if permitted by law).
Exemptions from the drainage plan requirements are as specified in § 152-4.1 of this chapter.
The following items shall be included in the drainage plan:
B.
Map(s) of the project area showing:
(1)
The location of the project relative to highways, municipalities
or other identifiable landmarks.
(2)
Existing contours at intervals of two feet. In areas of steep slopes
(greater than 15%), five-foot contour intervals may be used. Off-site
drainage areas impacting the project including topographic detail.
(3)
Streams, lakes, ponds or other bodies of water within the project
area.
(4)
Other features including flood hazard boundaries, existing drainage
swales, wetlands, closed depressions, sinkholes and areas of natural
vegetation to be preserved.
(5)
Locations of proposed underground utilities, sewers and water lines.
The locations of all existing and proposed utilities, sanitary sewers
and water lines within 50 feet of property lines of the project site.
(6)
An overlay showing soil types and boundaries based on the Northampton
County Soil Survey latest edition. Any hydric soils present on the
site should be identified as such.
(7)
An overlay showing geologic types, boundaries and any special geologic
features present on the site.
(8)
Proposed changes to land surface and vegetative cover.
(9)
Proposed structures, roads, paved areas and buildings.
(10)
Final contours at intervals of two feet. In areas of steep slopes
(greater than 15%), five-foot contour intervals may be used.
(11)
Stormwater management district boundaries applicable to the
site.
(12)
Clear identification of the location and nature of permanent
stormwater BMPs.
(13)
An adequate access easement around all stormwater BMPs that
would provide Township ingress to an egress from a public right-of-way.
(14)
A schematic showing all tributaries contributing flow to the
site and all existing man-made features beyond the property boundary
that would be affected by the project.
(15)
The location of all public water supply wells within 400 feet
of the project and all private water supply wells within 100 feet
of the project.
(16)
Fencing (if required) and landscaping screens.
C.
Stormwater management controls and BMPs.
(1)
All stormwater management controls and BMPs shall be shown on a map
and described, including:
(a)
Groundwater recharge methods, such as seepage pits, beds or
trenches. When these structures are used, the locations of septic
tank infiltration areas and wells shall be shown.
(b)
Other control devices or methods such as rooftop storage, semipervious
paving materials, grass swales, parking lot ponding, vegetated strips,
detention or retention ponds, storm sewers, etc.
(2)
All calculations, assumptions and criteria used in the design of
the BMPs shall be shown.
(3)
All site testing data used to determine the feasibility of infiltration
on a site.
(4)
All details and specifications for the construction of the stormwater
management controls and BMPs.
D.
The BMP operations and management plan, as required in § 152-24.1 of this chapter, describing how each permanent stormwater BMP will be operated and maintained and the identity of the person(s) responsible for operations and maintenance. A statement must be included, signed by the landowner, acknowledging that the stormwater BMPs are fixtures that cannot be altered or removed without approval by the Township.
E.
Environmental resources site design assessment.
(1)
An environmental resources site design assessment that describes
the following:
(a)
The extent to which the proposed grading and impervious cover
avoid disturbance of significant environmental resources and preserve
existing site hydrology.
(b)
An assessment of whether alternative grading and impervious
cover site design could lessen the disturbance of significant environmental
resources and/or make better use of the site hydrologic resources.
(c)
A description of how the proposed stormwater management controls
and BMPs serve to mitigate any adverse impacts on environmental resources
on the site.
(2)
Significant environmental resources considered in the site design
assessment include, but are not limited to steep slopes, ponds, lakes,
streams, wetlands, hydric soils, floodplains, riparian vegetation,
native vegetation and special geologic features.
A.
(1)
The drainage plan shall be submitted by the developer to the Township
Secretary-Treasurer as part of the preliminary plan application (or
final plan application or earth-moving permit application if no preliminary
plan submission is made) submission for the subdivision or land development.
(2)
Seven copies of the drainage plan and supporting documents shall
be submitted. All copies shall be signed and sealed by the registered
engineer and/or surveyor that prepared the plan and calculations.
(3)
Distribution of the drainage plan will be as per the requirements of Chapter 159, Subdivision and Land Development.
(4)
Drainage plans involving more than 10,000 square feet of additional
impervious cover shall be submitted by the developer to the Township
and to the LVPC as part of the preliminary plan submission. The LVPC
will conduct an advisory review of the drainage plan for consistency
with the Monocacy Creek Watershed Stormwater Management Plan. The
LVPC will not review details of the erosion and sedimentation plan
or the BMP operations and maintenance plan;
(a)
Two copies of the drainage plan shall be submitted and
(b)
The LVPC will provide written comments to the developer and
the Township, within a time frame consistent with established procedures
under the Municipalities Planning Code, as to whether the drainage
plan has been found to be consistent with the stormwater management
plan.
B.
For regulated activities specified in § 152-4B(3) and (4), the drainage plan shall be submitted by the developer to the Township Zoning Administrator as part of the building permit application or to the Township Secretary-Treasurer as part of the required site plan (§ 185-22C of Chapter 185, Zoning) as appropriate.
C.
For regulated activities specified in § 152-B(5), (6),
(7) and (8) of this chapter:
(1)
The drainage plan shall be submitted by the developer to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for coordination with the DEP permit application process, as needed, under Chapter 105 (Dam Safety and Waterway Management), Chapter 106 (Flood Plain Management) of DEP's Rules and Regulations and the NPDES regulations and
(2)
One copy of the drainage plan shall be submitted.
A.
The Township shall review the drainage plan, including the BMP operations
and maintenance plan, for consistency with this chapter. The Township
shall also review the drainage plan against any additional storm drainage
provisions contained in the Township subdivision and land development
and/or zoning ordinance, as applicable;
B.
The Township shall notify the applicant in writing whether the drainage
plan, including the BMP operations and maintenance plan, is approved,
consistent with time frames as established by the current Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code;
C.
The Township shall not approve any subdivision or land development (regulated activities § 152-4B(1) and § 152-4B(2), of this chapter) or building permit application (regulated activities § 152-4B(3) and § 152-4B(4) of this chapter) if the drainage plan has been found to be inconsistent with this chapter; and
D.
The Township shall require an as-built survey of all stormwater BMPs
and an explanation of any discrepancies with the drainage plan prior
to issuance of a certificate of occupancy or prior to release of developer
improvement security, if applicable.
[Amended 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 22-5]
A modification to a submitted drainage plan for a proposed development site which involves a change in control methods or techniques, or which involves the relocation or redesign of control measures, or which is necessary because soil or other conditions are not as stated on the drainage plan (as determined by the Township Engineer) shall require a resubmission of the modified drainage plan consistent with § 152-16 subject to review per § 152-17 of this chapter.
A.
The Board of Supervisors may hear requests for waivers where it is
alleged that the provisions of this chapter inflict unnecessary hardship
upon the applicant. The waiver request shall be in writing. A copy
of the request shall be provided to each of the following: the Township,
Township Engineer, Township Solicitor and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
The request shall fully document the nature of the alleged hardship
and address, at a minimum, the five requirements listed below. The
Township may grant a waiver provided that all of the following findings
are made in a given case:
(1)
That there are unique physical circumstances or conditions, including
irregularity of lot size or shape, or exceptional topographical or
other physical conditions peculiar to the particular property, and
that the unnecessary hardship is due to such conditions, and not the
circumstances or conditions generally created by the provisions of
this chapter in the stormwater management district in which the property
is located;
(2)
That, because of such physical circumstances or conditions, there
is no possibility that the property can be developed in strict conformity
with the provisions of this chapter, including the "no harm" provision,
and that the authorization of a waiver is therefore necessary to enable
the reasonable use of the property;
(3)
That such unnecessary hardship has not been created by the applicant;
(4)
That the waiver, if authorized, will represent the minimum waiver
that will afford relief and will represent the least modification
possible of the regulation in issue; and
(5)
That financial hardship is not the criteria for granting of a hardship
waiver.
B.
In processing any waiver request, the Township may attach such conditions
and safeguards as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes
of this chapter. If a hardship waiver is granted, the applicant must
still manage the quantity, velocity, direction and quality of resulting
storm runoff as is necessary to prevent injury to health, safety or
other property.
E.
The Township will process all eligible waiver requests in accordance with the provisions of § 152-9.1O of this chapter.
F.
No waivers
may be granted by the Township for any provisions of this chapter
which may be covered under any required NPDES permit without prior
approval from DEP.
[Added 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 22-5]
