The purpose of this district is to expand upon the community development objectives associated with environmental protection and preservation of natural resources expressed in Chapter
135 by:
A. Conserving and protecting those areas having steep slopes from excessive
and inappropriate development.
B. Preventing development that would cause excessive erosion and consequently
promote increased flood crests and associated hazards both upstream
and downstream.
C. Protecting the quality of stream water that would be threatened by
excessive grading and development in the Steep Slope Conservation
District.
D. Protecting the natural vegetative cover in the Steep Slope Conservation
District, thereby reducing runoff and flooding potential.
The Township is directed to develop a map of the areas of steep slope and very steep slope within the Township based on the analysis of the contours displayed on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Quadrangles for Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania. Such map shall be for the purpose of ease of administration only and shall be subject to the actual field topographic study required by §
135-144.4B above.
All applications for any use of land in the Steep Slope Conservation
District shall be submitted to the Township Supervisors and the Township
Engineer and shall include the following materials and information:
A. Site survey of the tract in question, leading to the submittal of
a site plan of the property indicating existing grades with contour
lines at two-foot intervals based on the United States geodetic datum.
B. Proposed grades within the area proposed for development or use.
C. Landscape plan indicating proposed paved areas, storm drainage facilities,
retaining walls, tree removal and proposed tree replacement, ground
cover, and shrubbery location. The modifications proposed to the existing
land cover shall also be indicated.
D. Architectural plans of the exterior and foundation of the proposed
structure.
E. Plan, profile and typical cross sections of the entrance drive and
street providing public access, with the seal of a registered professional
engineer thereon.
F. A statement indicating all methods to be used in overcoming any structural
or physical problems created by steep slopes, how the existing environment
will be protected and how materials will be delivered to the site
without disrupting the environment, signed and sealed by a registered
architect or engineer.
G. A statement, signed by the applicant at the time of subdivision,
land development, or building permit application, stating that there
is a full understanding of all difficulties associated with access
to sites containing or being near steep or very steep slopes.
H. A waiver of municipal or other liability for failure to provide, or difficulty in providing, emergency vehicle access to the subject site, granted by the applicant. This waiver shall be in accordance with §
135-144.2C above and shall be approved by the Township Solicitor prior to any grant of a conditional use under this chapter.