For any of the activities regulated by this
chapter, the preliminary or final approval of subdivision and/or land
development plans, the issuance of any building or occupancy permit,
or the commencement of any earth-disturbance activity may not proceed
until the property owner or applicant or his/her agent has received
written approval of a drainage plan from Union Township, unless the
project qualifies for an exemption from the requirements to submit
a drainage plan.
A.
General exemptions. The following land use activities
are exempt from the drainage plan submission requirements of this
chapter:
(1)
Use of land for gardening for home consumption.
The drainage plan shall consist of a general description of the project, including sequencing items described in either Article III or IV, as appropriate, calculations, maps and plans. A note on the maps shall refer to the associated computations and erosion and sediment control plan by title and date. The cover sheet of the computations and erosion and sediment control plan shall refer to the associated maps by title and date. All drainage plan materials shall be submitted to Union Township in a format that is clear, concise, legible, neat, and well organized; otherwise, the drainage plan shall not be accepted for review and shall be returned to the applicant. The following items shall be included in the drainage plan:
A.
General.
(1)
A general description of the project.
(2)
A general description of permanent stormwater management
techniques, including construction specifications of the materials
to be used for stormwater management facilities.
(3)
Complete hydrologic, hydraulic, and structural computations
for all stormwater management facilities.
(4)
An erosion and sediment control plan, including all
reviews and approvals by the Berks County Conservation District.
(5)
A general description of nonpoint-source pollution
controls.
B.
Maps. Map(s) of the project area shall be submitted on 24 x 36 inch sheets and/or shall be prepared in a form that meets the requirements for recording at the offices of the Recorder of Deeds of Berks County. If Chapter 172, Subdivision and Land Development (SALDO), has more stringent criteria, then the more stringent criteria shall apply. The contents of the map(s) shall include but not be limited to:
(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.
(3)
Existing streams, lakes, ponds or other waters of
the commonwealth within the project area.
(4)
Other physical features, including flood hazard boundaries,
stream buffers, existing drainagecourses, areas of natural vegetation
to be preserved, and the total extent of the upstream area draining
through the site.
(5)
The locations of all existing and proposed utilities,
sanitary sewers, and waterlines within 50 feet of property lines.
(6)
An overlay showing soil names and boundaries.
(7)
Limits of earth disturbance, including the type and
amount of impervious area that would be added.
(8)
Proposed structures, roads, paved areas, and buildings.
(9)
Final contours at intervals of two feet. In areas
of steep slopes (greater than 15%), five-foot contour intervals may
be used.
(10)
The name of the development, the name and address
of the owner of the property, and the name of the individual or firm
preparing the plan.
(11)
The date of submission.
(12)
A graphic and written scale of one inch equals
no more than 50 feet; for tracts of 20 acres or more, the scale shall
be one inch equals no more than 100 feet.
(13)
A North arrow.
(14)
The total tract boundary and size, with distances
marked to the nearest foot and bearings to the nearest degree.
(15)
Existing and proposed land use(s).
(16)
A key map showing all off-site existing man-made
features which may be affected by stormwater runoff or stormwater
management controls for the project.
(17)
The location of all open channels.
(18)
Overland drainage patterns and swales.
(19)
A twenty-foot-wide access easement around all
stormwater management facilities that would provide ingress to and
egress from a public right-of-way.
(20)
The location of all erosion and sediment control
facilities.
(21)
A note on the plan indicating the location and
responsibility for maintenance of stormwater management facilities
that would be located on-/off-site. All on-/off-site facilities shall
meet the performance standards and design criteria specified in this
chapter.
(22)
A statement, signed by the landowner, acknowledging
that any revision to the approved drainage plan must be approved by
Union Township and the Berks County Conservation District.
(23)
The following signature block for the design
engineer:
"I, (design engineer), on this date (date of
signature), hereby certify that the drainage plan meets all design
standards and criteria of the Tributaries to the Schuylkill River
in Berks County Act 167 Stormwater Management Ordinance."
C.
Supplemental information.
(1)
A written description of the following information
shall be submitted:
(2)
An erosion and sediment control plan.
(3)
The effect of the project (in terms of runoff volumes
and peak flows) on adjacent properties and on any existing municipal
stormwater collection system that may receive runoff from the project
site.
D.
Stormwater management facilities.
(1)
All stormwater management facilities must be located
on a plan and described in detail.
(2)
When infiltration facilities, such as seepage pits,
beds or trenches, are used, the locations of existing and proposed
septic tank infiltration areas and wells must be shown.
(3)
All calculations, assumptions, and criteria used in
the design of the stormwater management facilities must be shown.
E.
Responsibilities for operations and maintenance of
stormwater controls and BMPs.
(1)
No regulated earth-disturbance activities within Union
Township shall commence until approval by Union Township of a stormwater
control and BMP operations and maintenance plan which describes how
the permanent (e.g., postconstruction) stormwater controls and BMPs
will be properly operated and maintained.
(2)
The following items shall be included in the stormwater
control and BMP operations and maintenance plan:
(a)
Map(s) of the project area, in a form that meets
the requirements for recording at the offices of the Recorder of Deeds
of Berks County, which shall be submitted on twenty-four-inch-by-thirty-six-inch
sheets. The contents of the maps(s) shall include but not be limited
to:
[1]
A clear identification of the location and nature
of permanent stormwater controls and BMPs.
[2]
The location of the project site relative to
highways, municipal boundaries or other identifiable landmarks.
[3]
Existing and final contours at intervals of
two feet, or others as appropriate.
[4]
Existing streams, lakes, ponds, or other bodies
of water within the project site area.
[5]
Other physical features, including flood hazard
boundaries, sinkholes, streams, existing drainagecourses, and areas
of natural vegetation to be preserved.
[6]
The locations of all existing and proposed utilities,
sanitary sewers, and waterlines within 50 feet of property lines of
the project site.
[7]
Proposed final changes to the land surface and
vegetative cover, including the type and amount of impervious area
that would be added.
[8]
Proposed final structures, roads, paved areas,
and buildings.
[9]
A twenty-foot-wide access easement around all
stormwater controls and BMPs that would provide ingress to and egress
from a public right-of-way.
(b)
A description of how each permanent stormwater
control and BMP will be operated and maintained and the identity of
the person(s) responsible for operations and maintenance.
(c)
The name of the project site, the name and address
of the owner of the property, and the name of the individual or firm
preparing the plan.
(d)
A statement, signed by the landowner, acknowledging
that the stormwater controls and BMPs are fixtures that can be altered
or removed only after approval by Union Township.
(3)
The stormwater control and BMP operations and maintenance
plan for the project site shall establish responsibilities for the
continuing operation and maintenance of all permanent stormwater controls
and BMPs, as follows:
(a)
If a plan includes structures or lots which
are to be separately owned and in which streets, sewers and other
public improvements are to be dedicated to Union Township, stormwater
controls and BMPs may also be dedicated to and maintained by Union
Township.
(b)
If a plan includes operations and maintenance
by a single ownership, or if sewers and other public improvements
are to be privately owned and maintained, then the operation and maintenance
of stormwater controls and BMPs shall be the responsibility of the
owner or private management entity.
(4)
Union Township shall make the final determination
on the continuing operations and maintenance responsibilities. Union
Township reserves the right to accept or reject the operations and
maintenance responsibility for any or all of the stormwater controls
and BMPs.
F.
Municipality review of stormwater control and BMP
operations and maintenance plan.
(1)
Union Township shall review the stormwater control
and BMP operations and maintenance plan for consistency with the purposes
and requirements of this chapter and any permits issued by DEP.
(2)
Union Township shall notify the applicant, in writing,
whether the stormwater control and BMP operations and maintenance
plan is approved.
(3)
Union Township may require a record drawing of all
stormwater controls and BMPs and an explanation of any discrepancies
with the operations and maintenance plan.
A.
Union Township shall require receipt of a complete
plan, as specified in this chapter.
B.
For any activities that require an NPDES permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities, a PADEP joint permit application, a PennDOT highway occupancy permit, or any other permit under applicable state or federal regulations or are regulated under Chapter 105 (Dam Safety and Waterway Management) or Chapter 106 (Floodplain Management) of PADEP's Rules and Regulations, the proof of application for said permit(s) or approvals shall be part of the plan. The plan shall be coordinated with the state and federal permit process and the municipal SALDO review process.
(1)
For projects which require SALDO approval, the drainage
plan shall be submitted by the applicant as part of the preliminary
plan submission where applicable for the regulated activity.
(2)
For these regulated activities that do not require SALDO approval, see § 165-27, General requirements.
(3)
Six copies of the drainage plan shall be submitted
and distributed as follows:
A.
Union Township shall review the drainage plan with
the standards set forth in this chapter for consistency with the adopted
Tributaries to the Schuylkill River in Berks County Act 167 Stormwater
Management Plan. Any found incomplete shall not be accepted for review
and shall be returned to the applicant.
B.
For activities regulated by this chapter, Union Township
shall notify the applicant, in writing, within 90 calendar days, whether
the drainage plan is consistent with the stormwater management plan.
(1)
Should the drainage plan be determined to be consistent
with the stormwater management plan, the Municipal Engineer shall
forward an approval letter to the Municipal Secretary, who will then
forward a copy to the applicant.
(2)
Should the drainage plan be determined to be inconsistent
with the stormwater management plan, the Municipal Engineer shall
forward a disapproval letter to the Municipal Secretary, who will
then forward a copy to the applicant. The disapproval letter shall
cite the reason(s) and specific ordinance sections for the disapproval.
Disapproval may be due to inadequate information to make a reasonable
judgment as to compliance with the stormwater management plan. Any
disapproved drainage plans may be revised by the applicant and resubmitted
consistent with this chapter.
C.
For regulated activities, specified in § 165-4 of this chapter, which require a building permit, the Municipal Engineer shall notify the Municipal Building Permit Officer, in writing, within a time frame consistent with the Municipal Building Code and/or Chapter 172, Subdivision and Land Development, whether the drainage plan is consistent with the stormwater management plan and forward a copy of the approval/disapproval letter to the applicant. Any disapproved drainage plan may be revised by the applicant and resubmitted consistent with this chapter.
D.
For regulated activities under this chapter that require
an NPDES permit application, the applicant shall forward a copy of
the Municipal Engineer's letter stating that the drainage plan is
consistent with the stormwater management plan to the Berks County
Conservation District. PADEP and the Conservation District may consider
the Municipal Engineer's review comments in determining whether to
issue a permit.
E.
Union Township shall not grant approval or grant preliminary approval to any subdivision or land development for regulated activities specified in § 165-5 of this chapter if the drainage plan has been found to be inconsistent with the stormwater management plan, as determined by Union Township. All required permits from PADEP must be obtained prior to approval of any subdivision or land development.
F.
The applicant shall be responsible for completing
record drawings of all stormwater management facilities included in
the approved drainage plan. The record drawings and an explanation
of any discrepancies with the design plans shall be submitted to Union
Township for final approval. Union Township may withhold approval
of the record drawings until Union Township receives a copy of an
approved highway occupancy permit from the PennDOT District Office,
NPDES permit, and any other applicable permits or approvals from PADEP
or the Berks County Conservation District. The above permits and approvals
must be based on the record drawings.
G.
Union Township's approval of a drainage plan shall be valid for a period not to exceed five years, commencing on the date that Union Township signs the approved drainage plan. If stormwater management facilities included in the approved drainage plan have not been constructed, or if constructed and record drawings of these facilities have not been approved within this five-year time period, then Union Township may consider the drainage plan disapproved and may revoke any and all permits. Drainage plans that are considered disapproved by Union Township shall be resubmitted in accordance with § 165-33 of this chapter.
A.
A modification to a drainage plan under review by Union Township for a development site that involves a change in stormwater management facilities or techniques, or that involves the relocation or redesign of stormwater management facilities, or that is necessary because soil or other conditions are not as stated on the drainage plan as determined by Union Township, shall require a resubmission of the modified drainage plan consistent with § 165-30 of this chapter and be subject to review as specified in § 165-31 of this chapter.
B.
A modification to an already approved or disapproved
drainage plan shall be submitted to Union Township, accompanied by
the applicable municipal review and inspection fee. A modification
to a drainage plan for which a formal action has not been taken by
Union Township shall be submitted to Union Township, accompanied by
the applicable municipal review and inspection fee.
A disapproved drainage plan may be resubmitted, with the revisions addressing Union Township's concerns documented in writing and addressed to the Municipal Secretary in accordance with § 165-30 of this chapter and distributed accordingly and be subject to review as specified in § 165-31 of this chapter. The applicable municipal review and inspection fee must accompany a resubmission of a disapproved drainage plan.
