[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Radnor 10-14-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-15. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Radnor
Township Stormwater Management Fee Ordinance."
Radnor Township makes the following findings:
A.
The stormwater management needs of Radnor have been identified through
citizen notifications, field investigations and in studies conducted
by AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc., Chagrin Valley Engineering
and many other engineering studies and findings, indicating more comprehensive
and effective stormwater management in Radnor would contribute to
the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the residents,
and that stormwater facilities, infrastructure and activities associated
with stormwater management provide services and benefits to all properties,
property owners, residents and citizens of Radnor.
B.
Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff throughout
a watershed:
(1)
Can increase flood flows and velocities;
(2)
Contribute to erosion and sedimentation;
(3)
Overtax the carrying capacity of existing streams and storm sewers;
(4)
Greatly increase the cost of public facilities to convey and manage
stormwater;
(5)
Undermine floodplain management and flood reduction efforts in upstream
and downstream communities;
(6)
Reduce groundwater recharge;
(7)
Impact other related water resource needs; and
(8)
Threaten public health and safety.
C.
Inadequate planning and management of stormwater runoff throughout
a watershed can harm surface water resources by changing the natural
hydrologic patterns, accelerating stream flows (which increase scour
and erosion of streambeds 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 can also be impacted through loss of recharge.
Stormwater is an important water resource which supports groundwater
recharge for water supplies and base-flow of streams.
D.
A comprehensive program of public stormwater management services
which seeks to avoid and minimize flooding, erosion, and water quality
degradation is fundamental to the public health, safety and welfare
of the residents of Radnor, local property and the environment.
E.
In order to establish, operate, enhance and maintain the stormwater
infrastructure of Radnor; insure the continued effective operation
of the system through installation and management of best practices;
and to provide other services such as appropriate inspections, asset
management, and regulatory oversight associated with stormwater and
watershed management, sufficient and stable funding is required to
fund these public services.
F.
Federal regulations, including those found at 40 CFR Part 122, and
Pennsylvania state regulations require Radnor to implement a program
of stormwater controls that regulates the discharge from the Township's
regulated stormwater outfalls to local water bodies. In accordance
with those regulations, Radnor is required to obtain a permit that
allows stormwater discharges from its municipal separate storm sewer
system ("MS4") under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System regulations.
G.
Radnor intends to establish fair and equitable user fees to assure
that each developed property within Radnor will pay its proportionate
share of the costs of operation, maintenance, repair, administration,
replacement and improvement of all stormwater services provided or
paid for by Radnor based on an impervious surface rate methodology.
H.
A proposed program for imposing user fees has received input and
comment by the public through the Radnor Township stormwater Stakeholder
Advisory Committee.
I.
A user fee schedule based on land area and impervious surface area
documented by aerial imagery from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning
Commission has been determined to be an appropriate method to raise
revenue that will be dedicated to supporting a more effective stormwater
management program, in accordance with the following determinations:
(1)
A minimum fee per residential unit is reasonable.
(2)
Subject to such minimum level, basing the fee upon lot area square footage tiers, as described in § 246-4 below, was derived from a statistical sampling of impervious surfaces on single-family residential properties ("SFR") in Radnor.
(3)
Under the tiered approach, SFR parcels would be covered by the square
footage tiers.
(4)
All other properties would be classified as "other developed properties."
(5)
The operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and improvement of
the Radnor stormwater management system has been and will be of substantial
and direct benefit to users.
A.
Words and terms used in this chapter, and not given specific definition,
shall be defined as set forth in the applicable statutes of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or ordinance of Radnor, if any, and shall otherwise
be given their ordinary and common meanings.
B.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
OTHER DEVELOPED PROPERTIES (ODP)
OWNER
PROPERTY
RADNOR
REPLACEMENT
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (SFR)
STORMWATER
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COSTS
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
USER
USER FEES
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms shall
be defined, as set forth below:
Methods, procedures and analyses specified in the Pennsylvania
Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual to reduce flooding potential
and control the volume, flow rate and water quality of stormwater.
A surface that prevents or impedes the infiltration of water
into the ground. Impervious surfaces include, but are not limited
to, streets, sidewalks, pavements, driveway areas and roofs. Any surface
areas designed to be gravel or crushed stone shall be regarded as
impervious surfaces.
All developed properties other than single-family residential
properties, including multifamily properties such as apartment or
condominium complexes and common areas associated with such uses,
and commercial, institutional, governmental and industrial parcels.
Any person, firm, corporation, individual, partnership, company,
association, organization, society or group owning real property in
Radnor.
Each lot, parcel, building or portion thereof, separately
established by folio number on the tax rolls of Radnor Township or
Delaware County.
Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a home rule
municipality.
The associated costs of obtaining and installing equipment,
accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the service
life of the Radnor stormwater management system so as to maintain
the capacity and performance for which said system was designed and
constructed, and shall include costs associated with improvements,
including addition of best management practices to the stormwater
management system.
Single-family detached homes, attached homes, townhouses,
duplexes and row homes.
Includes runoff water from all precipitation events, snowmelts
and springs.
The associated public costs of equipment and facilities,
energy, manpower, materials, property acquisition, transportation
and services required to:
Avoid reduce, manage, treat, collect, convey, detain, infiltrate,
pump and transport stormwater;
Provide flood protection;
Keep equipment and facilities including best management practices
functioning satisfactorily and economically;
Administer the stormwater management program, including regulatory
compliance; and
Improve Radnor's stormwater management system.
The system of runoff avoidance, infiltration, collection
and conveyance, including storm sewers, pipes, conduits, mains, inlets,
culverts, catch basins, gutters, ditches, channels, detention ponds,
streets, curbs, drains and all devices/appliances and stormwater best
management practices and facilities appurtenant thereto used for collecting,
conducting, pumping, conveying, detaining, infiltrating, reducing,
managing, avoiding the generation of, and treating stormwater.
Any person, firm, corporation, individual, partnership, company,
association, society or group using, benefiting from or being served
by the Radnor stormwater management system.
Sums assessed, imposed and to be collected from each developed
property by Delaware County folio number which uses, benefits from,
or is serviced by the Radnor stormwater management system, or discharges
stormwater, directly or indirectly, into the Radnor stormwater management
system for the use of such system and the service rendered by, and
improvement of, such system.
It is hereby imposed upon each and every developed property
that is connected with, uses, or is benefited by Radnor's stormwater
management system, either directly or indirectly, a user fee for the
use, benefit, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and improvement
of the Radnor Township stormwater management system. Such user fees
are to be imposed on an annual basis.
A.
Each single-family residential parcel shall be charged based upon
lot square footage at an annual rate of $29 per billing unit in accordance
with the following tiers:
|
Tier Lot Square Footage
|
Billing Units
|
Acreage
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
0 to 7,000
|
1
|
0 to 0.16
| |
|
7,001 to 20,000
|
2
|
0.16 to 0.46
| |
|
20,001 to 43,560
|
3
|
0.46 to one acre
| |
|
Greater than 43,560
|
4
|
Greater than one acre
|
B.
All other developed properties shall be billed at the annual rate
of $29 per billing unit, with one billing unit equaling 1,500 square
feet of impervious area.
User fees shall be assessed, liened and collected by folio number
as to all property, owners, lots, parcels, building units and users,
unless exempted.
Reference in this chapter to "use," "user," or portion of a
property, lot, parcel or building with respect to the calculation
and assessment of user fees shall not be construed to modify or alter
the fact that user fees shall be assessed and imposed upon the property
pursuant to 53 P.S. § 7106 et seq., as amended, and the
owner of each property against which user fees are imposed and assessed
under this chapter shall remain liable for payment whether or not
such owner occupies the property. Nothing in this chapter shall be
construed to prohibit or limit an owner's ability to collect
by lease or contract sums due by a tenant or other occupier of the
owner's property, but such lease or contract shall not bind Radnor
or limit in any way Radnor's authority to impose, assess, lien
and collect user fees.
A.
The user fees fixed and established by this chapter shall be effective
as to all properties that use, are served, or are benefited by the
Radnor stormwater management system existing as of the effective date
of this chapter, and shall be effective to all other properties thereof
that use, are served or benefited by the stormwater management system
subsequent to the effective date of this chapter. User fees imposed
by this chapter shall be assessed and billed by Radnor on an annual
basis. Such assessments shall be payable at their face amount on or
before May 31 next following the date on which said assessment bill
was mailed. The annual billing date shall be on or about April 1.
The user fees assessed and collected will not be subject to proration
or refund by Radnor in the event a property is sold; provided, however,
that this sentence shall not bind a buyer and seller from making their
own proration of any user fees assessed hereunder.
[Amended 10-8-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-11]
B.
The Board of Commissioners will review and update the user fees fixed
and established by this chapter by resolution every five years or
sooner as deemed necessary.
[Amended 10-8-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-11]
The face amount of all user fee charges shall be payable on
or before May 31 of each year, with a penalty of 10% assessed on June
1. On the first day of each subsequent month in which the account
remains unpaid, an interest charge of 0.5% of the unpaid user fee
shall be added to the account. All unpaid user fees, penalties, and
interest shall be a lien against the property using, being served
by, or benefiting from the stormwater management system, and the Township
Solicitor shall file such liens on or after January 31 of the following
year in which the account remains unpaid. Any collection, legal, and
filing fees shall be borne by the user.
In accordance with the Municipal Claims Act, 53 P.S. § 7101,
et seq., as amended, all user fees, penalties, interest, collection
fees, lien filing and satisfaction fees and other charges imposed
for failure to pay promptly shall constitute a lien upon and against
the subject property and its owner from the date of their imposition
and assessment.
A.
Within six months of the effective date of this chapter, Radnor shall
develop and implement procedures by action of the Board of Commissioners
whereby users of the stormwater management system may receive credit
for on-site activities which reduce and manage stormwater runoff through
detention, retention, infiltration of water and recharge of the aquifer
and thereby avoid or minimize public construction, operation, repair
and maintenance of facilities and services.
B.
No credit in user fees shall be granted based on age, race, tax status,
gender, sexual preference, economic status or religion of the property
owner, or any other conditions unrelated to the demand for and cost
of services provided by Radnor.
Any owner who believes the provisions of this chapter have been
applied in error may appeal in the following manner and sequence:
A.
An appeal of user fees must be filed in writing with the Public Works
Director, or his/her designee, within 30 days of the charge being
mailed or delivered to the property owner ("appeal date"). The appeal
date may be extended up to an additional 30 days within the sole discretion
of the Township. Any appeal must state the reasons for the appeal.
B.
Using information provided by the appellant, the Public Works Director,
or his/her designee, shall conduct a technical review of the conditions
on the property and respond to the appeal in writing within 30 days
of the appeal date. In response to an appeal, the Public Works Director
may adjust the user fees applicable to the property in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter.
C.
A decision of the Public Works Director that is adverse to an appellant
may be further appealed to the Township Manager, or his/her designee,
within 30 days of the adverse decision. The appellant, stating the
grounds for further appeal, shall deliver notice of the appeal to
the Radnor Manager, or his/her designee. The Township Manager, or
his/her designee, shall issue a written decision on the appeal within
30 days. All decisions by the Township Manager, or his/her designee,
shall be personally delivered to the owner or sent to the billing
address of the customer by registered or certified mail.
D.
If payment is not made within 30 days of receipt of an adverse decision
by the Township Manager, the appellant's property shall be liened
for all past-due amounts in accordance with the Municipal Claims Act,
53 P.S. 7101 et seq., as amended.
A.
The Board of Commissioners may by resolution adopt such policies
and procedures as it deems appropriate to ensure collection of user
fees assessed and imposed pursuant to this chapter. Without limitation,
collection procedures may include referral of delinquent accounts
to a collection agency, filing of liens, scire facias sur municipal
lien proceedings to collect filed liens, and all other measures or
combination thereof which the Board may deem appropriate.
B.
All costs of such collection procedures, including, but not limited to, fees for filing, perpetuation and satisfaction of liens, collection fees, attorneys' fees, court costs, litigation expenses, and charges for service of documents shall, upon being incurred by Radnor, be imposed as a charge for nonpayment and added to the balance due on said owner's account. Chapter 162 of the Radnor Code of Ordinances contains a listing of such charges.[1]
C.
No lien shall be satisfied nor shall any collection proceeding be
discontinued until all amounts due on an account, including user fees,
interest, collection fees, attorneys' fees, court costs and other
charges are first paid in full to Radnor.
D.
The Township Manager may implement such administrative procedures
necessary to implement the policies and requirements set forth in
this chapter.
All user fees and other stormwater-related funds, such as interest
or grant monies, shall be deposited in the Stormwater Management Fund
of the Township. This fund will be a separate enterprise fund dedicated
to the operation, administration, maintenance, repair and improvement
of the stormwater management system, and all related capital costs.
Prioritization and selection of capital projects shall be established
by separate resolution of the Board of Commissioners, and the Board
shall establish a citizen advisory committee to assist in implementation
of the program and education of Township residents.
Floods from stormwater may occur occasionally that exceed the
capacity of the stormwater system maintained and financed with user
fees. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to imply that properties
subject to charges shall always be free from flooding or flood damage,
or that all flood control projects to control stormwater can provide
complete protection from all flood and storm events. Nothing whatsoever
in this chapter shall deem Radnor liable for any damages incurred
from stormwater or from adverse water quality. Nothing in this chapter
purports to reduce the need or necessity for flood insurance, and
Radnor expressly reserves the right to assert all available immunities
and defenses in any action seeking to impose monetary damages upon
Radnor, its officers, employees and agents arising out of any alleged
failure or breach of duty with respect to Radnor's stormwater
management system.
