[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Hilltown as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I)]
A.
Plans and
specifications. The application for the permit shall be accompanied
by one copy of specifications and of plans, drawn to scale, with sufficient
clarity and detailed dimension to show the nature and character of
the work performed. When quality of materials is essential for conformity
to the codes, specific information shall be given to establish such
quality; and the code shall not be cited, or the term "legal" or its
equivalent be used as a substitute for specific information. The Building
Inspector may waive the requirement for filing plans when the work
involved is of a minor nature. If, in the course of work, it is found
necessary to make any changes from the approved plans and specifications
on which a permit has been issued, amended plans and specifications
shall be submitted and, if approved, a supplementary permit shall
be issued to cover the change after the same conditions required to
secure the original permit have been satisfied.
B.
Site plan.
There shall also be a site plan showing, to scale, the size and location
of all the new construction and all existing structures and the site
distances from lot lines, the established street grades and the proposed
finished grades; and it shall be drawn in accordance with an accurate
boundary line survey. In the case of demolition, the plot plan shall
show all construction to be demolished and the location and size of
all existing structures and the plan shall show the location of water
service and sewer connections with respect to any building in which
a plumbing system is to be installed. Vent stack terminations shall
be shown with respect to building ventilation openings which could
allow introduction of sewer gases into the building or any adjacent
building.
C.
Engineering
details. The Building Inspector may require adequate details of structural,
mechanical, plumbing and electrical work to be filed, including computations,
stress diagrams and other essential technical data. All engineering
plans and computations shall bear the signature of the engineer or
architect responsible for the design. Plans for building more than
two stories in height shall indicate where penetrations will be made
for electrical, mechanical, plumbing and communications conduits,
pipes and systems and the materials and methods for maintaining the
required structural integrity, fire-resistance rating and fire-stopping.
D.
Other permits
required. At the time of filing an application for a permit, the applicant
shall present to the Building Inspector evidence that he has obtained
all necessary permits, licenses, approvals and/or variances as may
be required by the laws of the Township and the commonwealth. Individuals,
agencies, boards and commissions issuing aforesaid permits, licenses,
approvals and/or variances shall include, but not be limited to, the
Zoning Officer or Zoning Hearing Board, County Planning Commission,
Sewage Enforcement Officer, Fire Chief, State Police Fire Marshal,
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and the Pennsylvania
Department of Community Affairs.
Amendments to the BOCA Code, adopted by reference herein, are
as follows:
A.
Section
111.6 is amended to add §§ 111.6.2, 111.6.3 and 111.6.4
as follows:
(1)
Section
111.6.2, Erosion and sedimentation control plan. An erosion and sedimentation
control plan shall be submitted with all applications wherein excavation,
placement of fill, and/or grading activities are proposed. The plan
shall include a construction staging narrative, indicating the sequence
of earthmoving activities, and proposed erosion and sedimentation
control procedures. Measures used to control erosion and reduce sedimentation
during construction activities shall conform to the standards and
specifications of the Bucks County Conservation District. At a minimum,
the following measures shall be included where applicable:
(a)
Stripping
of vegetation, regrading, or other activities shall be done in a way
that will minimize erosion and resulting sedimentation.
(b)
Cut
and fill operations shall be kept to a minimum. Wherever feasible,
natural vegetation shall be retained, protected and supplemented.
(c)
All
erosion and sedimentation control measures shall be installed per
the approved plan prior to any earthmoving activities.
(d)
The
disturbed earthen area and the duration of exposure shall be kept
to a practical minimum, but shall not exceed 20 days. All disturbed
soils and topsoil stockpile areas shall be stabilized as quickly as
possible and, if necessary, seeded with temporary vegetation and mulched.
If stockpile areas are located on sloping ground or near waters of
the commonwealth, same shall be enclosed with silt fencing.
(e)
Permanent
vegetation shall be installed as soon as practical on all sites.
(f)
All
runoff from project areas shall be collected and diverted to facilities
for removal of sediment.
(g)
Runoff
from a project area shall not be discharged into the waters of the
commonwealth without means to prevent sedimentation.
(h)
Sedimentation
in the runoff water shall be trapped and filtered until the disturbed
area is stabilized by the use of debris basins, sediment basins, silt
traps, or similar measures.
(i)
Sediment
barriers shall be properly installed with silt fencing trenched and
hay bales staked.
(j)
Tire
cleaning areas constructed of PennDOT No. 4 stone and at least 50
feet in length shall be provided at each point of access to the lot.
(k)
During
construction activities, necessary measures for dust control must
be exercised.
(l)
It
shall be the responsibility of each person, corporation or other entity
performing grading and/or building activities to install and maintain
erosion and sedimentation controls until the site is stabilized. In
the event any mud and/or debris is transported from the site onto
a public roadway, the debris shall be removed and the roadway swept
and/or washed as deemed necessary by the Township at the owner's expense.
(2)
Section
111.6.3, Grading plans. Applications for building permits wherein
excavation, placement of fill and/or grading activities are proposed
on any residential lot less than 50,000 square feet in area; all nonresidential
applications; and all applications for any residential lot where,
in the opinion of the Building Inspector, lot features such as slope,
soils, or other natural features require special consideration of
on-lot grading, shall be accompanied by a site plan providing the
following information:
(a)
A
plot plan prepared by an engineer or surveyor licensed in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania showing the proposed and existing topography of the
site; all existing improvements to the site; dimensions, first floor
elevations, and setbacks from property lines for all existing and
proposed buildings; and location of all existing and proposed wells,
water lines, utility lines, septic systems, sewer lines, storm sewers,
sump pump drains, easements, trees to be removed, trees to remain,
etc. The plan shall bear the imprint of the responsible licensed engineer
or surveyor.
(b)
Plot
plans shall include sufficient off-site topographic information to
determine the impact of any off-site runoff draining onto or through
the property.
(c)
A
statement signing and sealed by a licensed engineer indicating that,
to the best of his/her knowledge and belief, the proposed grading
activities shall not significantly increase runoff to, and/or otherwise
adversely impact, downstream properties except as may be part of an
approved stormwater runoff collection and management plan.
(3)
Section
111.6.4, Site plan review. The site plan shall Building Inspector
and shall conform the approved subdivision and/or land be reviewed
by the in every respect to development plan for the site. If, in the
opinion of the Building Inspector, the proposed grading activities
do not conform to previously approved plans, the application shall
be referred to the Township Engineer for review. In the event the
Township Engineer determines that the proposed grading activities
do not conform to previously approved drawings, issuance of the building
permit shall not occur unless and until the revised grading plan is
reviewed and approved by the Board of Supervisors.
B.
Exclusions.
Exempted from the provisions of the code shall be accessory prefabricated
buildings or structures which do not house people or animals and which
are erected on site or delivered erected to the site and installed
without masonry or pole type foundation below ground surface and not
exceeding 100 square feet.
[Adopted 5-24-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3]
Hilltown Township hereby elects to administer
and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act,
Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 through 7210.1103,
as amended from time to time, and its regulations.
The Uniform Construction Code, contained in
34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby
adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building
code of Hilltown Township.
Administration and enforcement of the code within
Hilltown Township shall be undertaken in any of the following ways
as determined by the governing body of Hilltown Township from time
to time by resolution:
A.
By the designation of an employee of Hilltown Township
to serve as the municipal code official to act on behalf of Hilltown
Township;
B.
By the retention of one or more construction code
officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of Hilltown Township;
C.
By agreement with one or more other municipalities
for the joint administration and enforcement of this Act through an
intermunicipal agreement;
D.
By entering into a contract with another municipality
for the administration and enforcement of this Act on behalf of Hilltown
Township; and
E.
By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania
Department of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and
enforcement of structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling
units and utility and miscellaneous use structures.
A Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution
of the governing body of Hilltown Township in conformity with the
requirements of the relevant provisions of the code; as amended from
time to time, and for the purposes set forth therein. If at any time
enforcement and administration is undertaken jointly with one or more
other municipalities, said Board of Appeals shall be established by
joint action of the participating municipalities.
A.
All building code ordinances and portions of ordinances
which were adopted by Hilltown Township on or before July 1, 1999,
and which equal or exceed the requirement of the code shall continue
in full force and effect until such time as such provisions fail to
equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the code, as amended from
time to time.
B.
All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances
which are in effect as of the effective date of this chapter and whose
requirements are less than the minimum requirements of the code are
hereby amended to conform with the comparable provisions of the code.
C.
All relevant ordinances, regulations and policies
of Hilltown Township not governed by the code shall remain in full
force and effect.
Fees assessable by Hilltown Township for the
administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter
and the code shall be established by the governing body by resolution
from time to time.
