[Ord. 2005-9, 6/2/2005, § 101]
This Chapter 23A shall be known and may be cited as the "Little Lehigh Basin Stormwater Management Ordinance of Lower Macungie Township."
[Ord. 2005-9, 6/2/2005, § 102; as amended by Ord. 2011-12, 10/6/2011]
1.
The Township Commissioners find that:
A.
Inadequate management of accelerated runoff of stormwater resulting from development throughout a watershed increases flood flows and velocities, contributes to erosion and sedimentation, changes the natural hydrologic patterns, destroys aquatic habitat, elevates aquatic pollutant concentrations and loadings, overtaxes the carrying capacity of streams and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost of public facilities to carry and control stormwater, undermines floodplain management and flood control efforts in 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 and loss of natural infiltration, is fundamental to the public health, safety and welfare and the protection of the people of the municipality and all of the people of the commonwealth, their resources and the environment.
C.
Stormwater can be an important resource by providing groundwater recharge for water supplies and base flow of streams, which also protects and maintains surface water quality.
D.
Public education on the control of pollution from stormwater is an essential component in successfully addressing stormwater.
E.
Federal and state regulations require certain municipalities to implement a program of stormwater controls. These municipalities are required to obtain a permit for stormwater discharges from their separate storm sewer systems under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
F.
Non-stormwater discharges to municipal separate storm sewer systems can contribute to pollution of waters of the commonwealth by the Township.
[Ord. 2005-9, 6/2/2005, § 103]
1.
The purpose of this Chapter 23A is to promote the public health, safety and welfare within the watersheds by minimizing the damages and maximizing the benefits described in § 23A-102 of this Chapter 23A by provisions designed to:
A.
Manage stormwater runoff impacts at their source by regulating activities which cause such problems.
B.
Utilize and preserve the desirable existing natural drainage systems.
C.
Encourage infiltration of stormwater, where appropriate, to maintain groundwater recharge, to prevent degradation of surface and groundwater quality and to otherwise protect water resources.
D.
Maintain the existing flows and quality of streams and watercourses in the municipality and the commonwealth.
E.
Preserve and restore the flood carrying capacity of streams.
F.
Provide for proper maintenance of all permanent stormwater management BMPs that are implemented in the Township.
G.
Provide review procedures and performance standards for stormwater planning, design and management.
H.
Manage stormwater impacts close to the runoff source which requires a minimum of structures and relies on natural processes.
I.
Meet legal water quality requirements under state law, including regulations at 25 Pa.Code § 93.4a, to protect and maintain "existing uses" and maintain the level of water quality to support those uses in all streams and to protect and maintain water quality in "special protection" streams.
J.
Prevent scour and erosion of streambanks and streambeds.
K.
Provide standards to meet the NPDES permit requirements.
[Ord. 2005-9, 6/2/2005, § 104; as amended by Ord. 2011-12, 10/6/2011]
The Township is empowered to regulate these activities 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," the First Class Township Code, 53 P.S. § 55101 et seq., the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., and the Township of Lower Macungie Subdivision and Land Development and Zoning Ordinances [Chapters 22 and 27].
[Ord. 2005-9, 6/2/2005, § 105]
1.
Although generally applicable to all drainage areas in the Township, the provisions of this Chapter 23A which make specific reference to the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed or to the Release Rate Map contained in the plan, shall only apply to those areas of the Township which are located within the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed as delineated on an official map available for inspection at the Township office. A map of the Little Lehigh Creek Watershed at a reduced scale is included in Appendix 23A-A for general reference.
2.
The following activities are defined as regulated activities and shall be governed by this Chapter 23A:
A.
Land development.
B.
Subdivision.
C.
Construction of new or additional impervious surfaces (driveways, parking lots, etc.).
D.
Construction of new buildings or additions to existing buildings.
E.
Diversion or piping of any natural or man-made stream channel.
F.
Installation of stormwater systems or appurtenances thereto.
G.
Regulated earth disturbance activities.
[Ord. 2005-9, 6/2/2005, § 106]
1.
Impervious Cover. Any proposed regulated activity, except those defined in § 23A-105, Subsection 2E and F, which would create 10,000 square feet or less of additional impervious cover is exempt from the drainage plan preparation provisions of this Chapter 23A. The date of the Township Ordinance adoption of the original Stormwater Management Ordinance of Lower Macungie Township (duly adopted on February 16, 1989, as Ord. 1989-2) shall be the starting point from which to consider tracts as "parent tracts" in which future subdivisions and respective impervious area computations shall be cumulatively considered. For development taking place in stages, the entire development plan must be used in determining conformance with these criteria. Additional impervious cover shall include, but not be limited to, additional indoor living spaces, decks, patios, garages, driveways, storage sheds and similar structures, any roof, parking or driveway areas and any new streets and sidewalks constructed as part of or for the proposed regulated activity. Any additional areas proposed to initially be gravel, crushed stone, porous pavement, etc., shall be assumed to be impervious for the purposes of comparison to the exemption criteria. Any existing gravel, crushed stone or hard packed soil areas on a site shall be considered as pervious cover for the purpose of exemption evaluation. All of the impervious cover added incrementally to a site above the initial 10,000 square feet shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter 23A. If a site has previously received an exemption and is proposing additional development such that the total impervious cover on the site exceeds 10,000 square feet, the total impervious cover on the site proposed since the original ordinance date must meet the provisions of this Chapter 23A.
2.
Prior Drainage Plan Approval. Any regulated activity for which a drainage plan was previously prepared as part of a subdivision or land development proposal that received preliminary plan approval from the Township prior to the effective date of this Chapter 23A is exempt from the drainage plan preparation provisions of this Chapter 23A, except as cited in Subsection 3, provided that the approved drainage plan included design of stormwater facilities to control runoff from the site currently proposed for regulated activities consistent with ordinance provisions in effect at the time of approval and the approval has not lapsed under the Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq. If significant revisions are made to the drainage plan after both the preliminary plan approval and the effective date of this Chapter 23A, preparation of a new drainage plan, subject to the provisions of this Chapter 23A, shall be required. Significant revisions would include a change in control methods or techniques, relocation or redesign of control measures or changes necessary because soil or other conditions are not as stated on the original drainage plan.
3.
These exemptions shall not relieve the applicant from implementing such measures as are necessary to protect health, safety, property, and state water quality requirements. These measures include adequate and safe conveyance of stormwater on the site and as it leaves the site. These exemptions do not relieve the applicant from the responsibility to secure required permits or approvals for activities regulated by any other applicable code, rule, act or ordinance.
4.
No exemptions shall be provided for regulated activities as defined in § 23A-105, Subsection 2E and F.
5.
The Township may deny or revoke any exemption pursuant to this section at any time for any project that the Township believes may pose a threat to public health, safety or the environment.
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-04, 10/6/2022]
[Ord. 2005-9, 6/2/2005, § 109]
Approvals issued pursuant to this Chapter 23A do not relieve the applicant of the responsibility to secure required permits or approvals for activities regulated by and other applicable code, rule, act or ordinance.
[Ord. 2005-9, 6/2/2005, § 110]
Notwithstanding any provisions of this Chapter 23A, including exemption and waiver provisions, any landowner and any person engaged in the altercation or development of land which may affect stormwater runoff characteristics shall implement such measures as are reasonably necessary to prevent injury to health, safety or other property. Such measures shall include such actions as are required to manage the rate, volume, direction and quality of resulting stormwater runoff in a manner which otherwise adequately protects health and property from possible injury.
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-04, 10/6/2022]
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 Township purporting to validate such a violation.
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-04, 10/6/2022]
In the event of any inconsistency between the requirements of this Chapter 23A and any other chapter, ordinance or regulation, the strictest chapter, ordinance or regulation shall control.