The low-impact development practices provided in the BMP Manual shall be utilized for all regulated activities to the
maximum extent practicable. Water volume controls shall be implemented
using the Design Storm Method in Subsection A or the Simplified Method
in Subsection B below. For all regulated activities that require submission
of a formal SWM site plan, both the Design Storm Method and the Simplified
Method shall be calculated; the larger control volume based on the
two calculations shall be controlled. Subsection C below provides
requirements for mined, karst or other geologically limiting areas
where infiltration shall not occur.
A. The Design Storm Method (CG-1 in the BMP Manual) is applicable to any size of regulated activity. This
method requires detailed modeling based on site conditions.
(1) Do not increase the post-development total runoff volume for all
storms equal to or less than the two-year twenty-four-hour duration
precipitation.
(2) For modeling purposes:
(a)
Existing (predevelopment) nonforested pervious areas must be
considered meadow or its equivalent.
(b)
Twenty percent of existing impervious area, when present, shall
be considered meadow in the model for existing conditions.
B. When Design Storm Method CG-1 guidelines are not used, the Simplified
Method (CG-2 in the BMP Manual) has been modified to accommodate two inches of permanently
removed runoff volume. This method (provided below) is independent
of site conditions and should be used if the Design Storm Method is
not followed. For new impervious surfaces:
(1) The first two inches of runoff from new impervious surfaces shall
be permanently removed from the runoff flow (i.e., it shall not be
released into the surface waters of this commonwealth). Removal options
include reuse, evaporation, transpiration and infiltration.
(2) Wherever possible, infiltration facilities should be designed to
accommodate infiltration of the entire permanently removed runoff;
however, in all cases at least the first 0.5 inch of the permanently
removed runoff should be infiltrated.
(3) Facilities, to the greatest extent possible and subject to the Municipal
Engineer's discretion, shall be designed to drain the permanently
removed runoff volume in a period no less than 24 hours and no greater
than 72 hours.
(4) Runoff volume in excess of two inches shall be safely conveyed to
existing stormwater collection systems or streams, in the direction
of the existing drainagecourse.
(5) This method is exempt from the requirements of §
446-12, Rate controls.
C. Before infiltration is proposed on a site, site conditions shall
be evaluated by a qualified design professional through subsurface
investigation and testing to determine if site conditions are suitable
to support proposed infiltration facilities to manage runoff. If it
is determined that infiltration is not feasible due to physical constraints
of the site, or will adversely impact the environment as demonstrated
by the presence of acid mine drainage, sinkhole formation, or other
serious environmental issues, then the above volume controls must
be achieved through surface BMP mitigation. Reference the BMP Manual for alternative mitigation measures that do not require
infiltration.
[Added 6-15-2022 by Ord. No. 4-2022]
A. In order
to protect and improve water quality, a riparian buffer easement shall
be created and recorded as part of any subdivision or land development
that encompasses a riparian buffer.
B. Except
as may otherwise be required, the riparian buffer easement shall be
measured to be the greater of the limit of the 100-year floodplain
or a minimum of 35 feet from the top of the streambank (on each side).
C. Minimum
management requirements for riparian buffers.
(1) Existing native vegetation shall be protected and maintained within
the riparian buffer easement.
(2) Whenever practicable, invasive vegetation shall be actively removed
and the riparian buffer easement shall be planted with native trees,
shrubs and other vegetation to create a diverse native plant community
appropriate to the intended ecological context of the site.
D. The
riparian buffer easement shall be enforceable by the municipality
and shall be recorded in the appropriate County Recorder of Deeds
office so that it shall run with the land and shall limit the use
of the property located therein. The easement shall allow for the
continued private ownership and shall count toward the minimum lot
area a required by zoning, unless otherwise specified in the municipal
Zoning Ordinance.
E. Any
permitted use within the riparian buffer easement shall be conducted
in a manner that will maintain the extent of the existing 100-year
floodplain, improve or maintain the stream stability, and preserve
and protect the ecological function of the floodplain.
F. The
following conditions shall apply when public and/or private recreation
trails are permitted within riparian buffers:
(1) Trails shall be for nonmotorized use only.
(2) Trails shall be designed to have the least impact on native plant
species and other sensitive environmental features.
G. Septic
drainfields and sewage disposal systems shall not be permitted within
the riparian buffer easement and shall comply with setback requirements
established under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 73.