A.
Preparation of a SWM site plan is required for all regulated activities, unless preparation and submission of the SWM site plan is specifically exempted according to § 113-51B or the activity qualifies as a small project.
B.
No regulated activities shall commence until the Township issues unconditional written approval of a SWM site plan or stormwater permit.
C.
SWM site plans approved by the Township, in accordance with § 113-54, shall be on site throughout the duration of the regulated activity.
D.
The Township may, after consultation with DEP, approve measures for meeting the state water quality requirements other than those in this chapter, provided that they meet the minimum requirements of, and do not conflict with, state law, including, but not limited to, the Clean Streams Law. The Township shall maintain a record of consultations with DEP pursuant to this subsection. Where an NPDES permit for stormwater discharges associated with construction activities is required, issuance of an NPDES permit shall constitute satisfaction of consultation with DEP.
E.
For all regulated activities, erosion and sediment control BMPs shall be designed, implemented, operated, and maintained to meet the purposes and requirements of this chapter and to meet all requirements under Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code and the Clean Streams Law. Various BMPs and their design standards are listed in the E&S Manual and the BMP Manual.
F.
Applicants have the option to propose a regional stormwater management plan or participate in a regional stormwater management plan developed by others. A regional stormwater management plan may include off-site volume and rate control, as appropriate and supported by a detailed design approved by the Township in accordance with § 113-31D. A regional stormwater management plan must meet all of the volume and rate control standards required by this chapter for the area defined by the regional stormwater management plan, but not necessarily for each individual development site. Appropriate agreements must be established to ensure the requirements of this chapter and the requirements of the regional stormwater management plan are met.
G.
Notwithstanding any provisions of Chapter 135, Zoning, Chapter 119, Subdivision and Land Development, any ordinance which regulates construction and development within the areas of Mount Joy Township subject to flooding, and any other applicable requirements of the Flood Plain Management Act, stormwater management facilities located in the floodplain are permitted when designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of the BMP Manual, regulatory requirements and the requirements of this chapter.
H.
Impervious areas:
(1)
The measurement of impervious area shall include all of the impervious areas in the total proposed development even if the development is to take place in stages or phases.
(2)
For development taking place in stages or phases, the entire development plan must be used in determining conformance with this chapter.
(3)
Any areas designed to initially be gravel or crushed stone shall be assumed to be impervious.
(4)
For projects that add impervious area to a parcel, the total impervious area on the parcel is subject to the requirements of this chapter; except that the volume controls in § 113-32 and the peak rate controls of § 113-33 do not need to be retrofitted to existing impervious areas that are not being altered by the proposed regulated activity.
[Added 9-19-2022 by Ord. No. 338-2022]
I.
All regulated activities shall include such measures as necessary to:
(1)
Protect health, safety, and property.
(2)
Meet the water quality goals of this chapter by implementing measures to:
(a)
Protect and/or improve the function of floodplains, wetlands, and wooded areas.
(b)
Protect and/or improve native plan communities including those within the riparian corridor.
(c)
Protect and/or improve natural drainageways from erosion.
(d)
Minimize thermal impacts to waters of this commonwealth.
(e)
Disconnect impervious surfaces by directing runoff to pervious areas, wherever possible.
J.
The design of all stormwater management facilities over karst areas shall include an evaluation of measures to minimize adverse effects and to certify the following:
(2)
Stormwater management basins shall not be located closer than 100 feet from the rim of sinkholes or closed depressions, nor within 100 feet from disappearing streams; nor shall these basins be located closer than 50 feet from lineaments or fracture traces; nor shall these basins be located closer than 25 feet from surface or identified subsurface pinnacles.
(3)
Stormwater resulting from regulated activities shall not be discharged into sinkholes.
(4)
It shall be the applicant 's responsibility to verify if the development site is underlain by carbonate geology. The following certificate shall be included on all SWM site plans and shall be signed and sealed by the developer's qualified professional consultant: "I, _________, certify that the proposed stormwater/BMP facility (circle one) is/is not underlain by carbonate geology."
[Amended 4-17-2017 by Ord. No. 312-2017]
(5)
Whenever a stormwater facility will be located in an area underlain by carbonate geology, a geological evaluation of the proposed location by a registered professional geologist shall be conducted to determine susceptibility to sinkhole formation. The evaluation may include the use of impermeable liners or eliminate the separation distances listed in Subsection J(1) and (2).
K.
Infiltration BMPs shall be spread out, made as shallow as practicable, and located to maximize the use of natural on-site infiltration features while still meeting the other requirements of this chapter. Infiltration BMPs shall include pretreatment BMPs unless shown to be unnecessary.
L.
Infiltration BMPs intended to receive runoff from developed areas shall be selected based on the suitability of soils and the development site conditions and shall be constructed on soils that have the following characteristics:
(1)
A minimum depth of 24 inches between the bottom of the facility and the limiting zone, unless it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Township that the selected BMP has design criteria which allow for a smaller separation.
(2)
A stabilized infiltration rate sufficient to accept the additional stormwater load and drain completely as determined by field tests conducted by the applicant's professional designer.
M.
The calculation methodology to be used in the analysis of volume and peak rates of discharge shall be as required in § 113-35.
N.
A planting plan is required for all vegetated stormwater BMPs.
(1)
Native or naturalized/noninvasive vegetation suitable to the soil and hydrologic conditions of the development site shall be used unless otherwise specified in the BMP Manual.
(2)
Invasive vegetation may not be included in any planting schedule.
(3)
The limit of existing, native vegetation to remain shall be delineated on the plan along with proposed construction protection measures.
(4)
Prior to construction, a tree protection zone shall be delineated at the dripline of the tree canopy. All trees scheduled to remain during construction shall be marked. A forty-eight-inch-high snow fence or forty-eight-inch-high construction fence mounted on steel posts located eight feet on center shall be placed along the tree protection boundary. No construction, storage of material, temporary parking, pollution of soil, or regrading shall occur within the tree-protection zone.
(5)
All planting shall be performed in conformance with good nursery and landscape practice. Plant materials shall conform to the standards recommended by the American Association of Nurseryman, Inc., in the American Standard of Nursery Stock.
O.
To the maximum extent practicable, areas proposed for infiltration BMPs shall be protected from sedimentation and compaction during the construction phase to maintain maximum infiltration capacity. Staging of earthmoving activities and selection of construction equipment shall consider this protection.
[Amended 4-17-2017 by Ord. No. 312-2017]
P.
To the maximum extent practicable, infiltration BMPs shall not be constructed nor receive runoff from disturbed areas until the entire contributory drainage area to the infiltration BMP has achieved final stabilization.
[Amended 4-17-2017 by Ord. No. 312-2017]
Q.
A minimum thirty-foot-wide access easement shall be provided for all stormwater facilities with tributary areas equal or greater than 1,000 square feet and not located within a public right-of-way. Access easements shall provide for ingress and egress to a public right-of-way.
R.
Drainage easements shall be reserved where the conveyance, treatment, or storage of stormwater, either existing or proposed, is identified on the SWM site plan. Drainage easements shall be provided to contain and convey the one-hundred-year frequency flood. The terms of the easement shall prohibit excavation, the placing of fill or structures, and any alterations that may affect adversely the flow of stormwater within any portion of the easement. Maintenance and mowing of vegetation within the easement shall also be required.
S.
The Township may require additional stormwater control measures for stormwater discharges to special management areas including but not limited to:
(1)
Water bodies listed as "impaired" on Pennsylvania's Clean Water Act 303(d)/305(b) Integrated List.
(2)
Any water body or watershed with an approved total maximum daily load (TMDL).
(3)
Critical areas with sensitive resources (e.g., state-designated special protection waters, cold-water fisheries, carbonate or other groundwater recharge areas highly vulnerable to contamination, drainage areas to water supply reservoirs, source water protection zones, etc.).
T.
Roof drains and sump pumps shall be tributary to infiltration or vegetative BMPs. Use of catchment facilities for the purpose of reuse is also permitted.
U.
Nonstructural BMPs shall be utilized for all regulated activities unless proven to be impractical.