This chapter shall be known as the "Borough of Norristown Stormwater
Management Ordinance."
The governing body of the Borough finds that:
A. Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff
resulting from development throughout a watershed increases flood flows and
velocities, contributes to erosion and sedimentation, overtaxes the carrying
capacity of existing streams and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost
of public facilities to convey and manage stormwater, undermines floodplain
management and flood reduction efforts in upstream and downstream communities,
reduces groundwater recharge, and threatens public health and safety.
B. Inadequate planning and management of stormwater runoff
resulting from land development throughout a watershed can also harm surface
water resources by changing the natural hydrologic patterns, accelerating
stream flows (which increase scour and erosion of stream beds and stream banks,
thereby elevating sedimentation), destroying aquatic habitat, and elevating
aquatic pollutant concentrations and loadings such as sediments, nutrients,
heavy metals, and pathogens. Groundwater resources are also impacted through
loss of recharge.
C. A comprehensive program of stormwater management, including
minimization of impacts of development, redevelopment, and activities causing
accelerated erosion and loss of natural infiltration, is fundamental to the
public health, safety, welfare, and the protection of the people of the Borough
and all of the people of the commonwealth, their resources, and the environment.
D. Stormwater can be an important water resource by providing
groundwater recharge for water supplies and baseflow of streams, which also
protects and maintains surface water quality.
E. Impacts from stormwater runoff can be minimized by using
project designs that maintain the natural hydrologic regime and sustain high
water quality, groundwater recharge, stream baseflow, and aquatic ecosystems.
The most cost-effective and environmentally advantageous way to manage stormwater
runoff is through nonstructural project design that minimizes impervious surfaces
and sprawl, avoids sensitive areas (i.e., stream buffers, floodplains, steep
slopes), and considers topography and soils to maintain the natural hydrologic
regime.
F. Public education on the control of pollution from stormwater
is an essential component in successfully addressing stormwater.
G. Federal and state regulations require certain municipalities
to implement a program of stormwater controls. These municipalities are required
to obtain a permit for stormwater discharges from their separate storm sewer
systems under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
H. Nonstormwater discharges to municipal separate storm
sewer systems can contribute to pollution of waters of the commonwealth by
the Municipality.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety, and welfare within the Municipality by maintaining the natural hydrologic regime and minimizing the impacts described in §
276-2 of this chapter through provisions designed to:
A. Promote alternative project designs and layouts that
minimize the impacts on surface water and groundwater.
B. Promote nonstructural best management practices (BMPs).
C. Minimize increases in runoff stormwater volume.
D. Minimize impervious surfaces.
E. Manage accelerated stormwater runoff and erosion and
sedimentation problems and stormwater runoff impacts at their source by regulating
activities that cause these problems.
F. Provide review procedures and performance standards for
stormwater planning and management.
G. Utilize and preserve existing natural drainage systems
as much as possible.
H. Manage stormwater impacts close to the runoff source,
requiring a minimum of structures and relying on natural processes.
I. Focus on infiltration of stormwater to maintain groundwater
recharge, to prevent degradation of surface water and groundwater quality,
and to otherwise protect water resources.
J. Maintain existing baseflows and quality of streams and
watercourses, where possible.
K. Meet legal water quality requirements under state law,
including regulations at 25 Pennsylvania Code Chapter 93.4.a requiring protection
and maintenance of existing uses and maintenance of the level of water quality
to support those uses in all streams, and the protection and maintenance of
water quality in special protection streams.
L. Address the quality and quantity of stormwater discharges
from the development site.
M. Provide a mechanism to identify stormwater controls necessary
to meet NPDES permit requirements.
N. Implement an illegal discharge detection and elimination
program that addresses nonstormwater discharges into the Municipality's
separate storm sewer system.
O. Preserve the flood-carrying capacity of streams.
P. Prevent scour and erosion of stream banks and stream
beds.
Q. Provide performance standards and design criteria for
watershed-wide stormwater management and planning.
R. Provide proper operation and maintenance of all permanent
stormwater management facilities and BMPs that are implemented in the Borough.
The Borough is empowered to regulate land use activities that affect
runoff and surface water and groundwater quality and quantity by the authority
of:
A. Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864 (Act 167) 32 P.S. § 680.1
et seq., as amended, the "Stormwater Management Act" (hereinafter referred
to as "the Act");
B. Water Resources Management Act of 2002, as amended;
C. Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as
amended.