The governing body of the New Hope 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. A comprehensive program of stormwater management,
including reasonable regulation of development and activities causing
accelerated erosion, is fundamental to the public health, safety,
welfare, and the protection of the people of the municipality and
all the people of the commonwealth, their resources, and the environment.
C. Through project design, impacts from stormwater runoff
can be minimized to maintain the natural hydrologic regime, and sustain
high water quality, groundwater recharge, stream base flow, and aquatic
ecosystems. The most cost effective and environmentally advantageous
way to manage stormwater runoff is through nonstructural project design,
minimizing impervious surfaces and sprawl, avoiding sensitive areas
(i.e., stream buffers, floodplains, steep slopes), and designing to
topography and soils to maintain the natural hydrologic regime.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote health, safety, and welfare within the Delaware River South watershed by minimizing the damages described in §
228-1A of this chapter through provisions designed to accomplish the following:
A. Promote alternative project designs and layout that
minimizes impacts to surface and ground water.
B. Promote nonstructural best management practices.
C. Minimize increases in stormwater volume.
D. Minimize impervious surfaces.
E. Manage accelerated runoff and erosion and sedimentation
problems at their source by regulating activities that cause these
problems.
F. Utilize and preserve the existing natural drainage
systems.
G. Encourage recharge of groundwater where appropriate
and prevent degradation of groundwater quality.
H. Address the quality and quantity of stormwater discharges
from the development site.
I. Maintain existing flows and quality of streams and
watercourses in New Hope Borough and the commonwealth.
J. Preserve and restore the flood-carrying capacity of
streams.
K. Provide proper maintenance of all permanent stormwater
management facilities that are constructed in New Hope Borough.
L. Provide performance standards and design criteria
for watershed-wide stormwater management and planning.
New Hope Borough is empowered to regulate land
use activities that affect runoff by the authority of the Act of October
4, 1978, P.L. 864 (Act 167), 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq., as
amended, the Stormwater Management Act; and Section 2 of Act 1990,
Dec. 19, P.L. 1343, No. 209 which repealed the Act of February 1,
1966 (1965 P.L. 1656, No. 581), insofar as it is inconsistent with
said act, the Borough Code. T. 53, Pt. VI, Ch. 91.
Approvals issued pursuant to this chapter do
not relieve the applicant of the responsibility to secure required
permits or approvals for activities regulated by any other applicable
code, rule, act, or ordinance.
[Added 9-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04]
Any permit or authorization issued or approved based on false,
misleading or erroneous information provided by an applicant is void
without the necessity of any proceedings for revocation. Any work
undertaken or use established pursuant to such permit or other authorization
is unlawful. No action may be taken by a board, agency or employee
of the municipality purporting to validate such a violation.