[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 701]
1. Maintenance of stormwater management facilities is essential for
the proper functioning of the stormwater management facilities and
for their proper operation. It is the intention of the Board of Supervisors
to impose regulations to require the permanent maintenance of stormwater
management facilities which exist on the effective date of this chapter
and which are installed in the future.
2. Alterations to stormwater management facilities which are not performed
in accordance with a revised drainage plan may create unforeseen consequences
to downstream property owners. No alterations to stormwater management
facilities will be permitted unless the applicant submits a drainage
plan as required by this chapter and meets all of the standards and
criteria of this chapter.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 702]
1. Maintenance of stormwater management facilities during development
of a development site shall be the responsibility of the developer
and the landowner.
2. The developer and the landowner shall maintain stormwater management
facilities during development of a development site which shall include
but not be limited to:
A. Removal of silt from all stormwater management facilities not utilized
for sediment and erosion control measures when 20% of capacity is
filled with silt; provided, however, that in no case shall the sediment
level be permitted to build up higher than one foot below the principal
outlet crest. At this elevation, clean out shall be performed to restore
the original design volume to the basin or other structure. The elevation
corresponding to the maximum allowable sediment level shall be determined
and stated in the design data as a distance below the top of the riser.
The elevation shall be clearly marked on the riser to enable proper
maintenance. Sediment basins must be maintained in conformance with
Chapter 102.
B. Periodic maintenance of temporary control stormwater management facilities
such as replacement of straw bale dikes, straw filters or similar
measures.
C. Establishment or reestablishment of vegetation by seeding and mulching
or sodding of scoured areas or areas where vegetation has not successfully
been established.
D. Flush all storm sewers and structures which received sediment laden
waters.
E. Installation of necessary controls to correct unforeseen problems
caused by storm events within design frequencies.
F. Removal of all temporary stormwater management facilities upon installation
of permanent stormwater management facilities at completion of the
development.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 703]
Where the Board of Supervisors accepts dedication of all or
some of the stormwater management facilities following completion,
the Board of Supervisors shall require the posting of financial security
to secure the structural integrity of said facilities as well as the
functioning of said facilities in accordance with the design and specifications
as depicted on the approved stormwater management plan. The term of
the financial security shall be 18 months from the date of acceptance
of dedication, and the amount of financial security shall be 15% of
the actual cost of installation of said improvements. The financial
security shall be of the same type required in Part 5 with regard
to installation of stormwater management facilities.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 704]
1. It is the purpose and intent of this chapter that the Township shall
not become responsible for maintenance and supervision of stormwater
management facilities unless such facilities are within rights-of-way
dedicated to and accepted by the Township or unless such facilities
are specifically accepted by the Township. The responsibility for
stormwater management facility maintenance falls upon the developer
of the development site who shall remain responsible for those areas
of the development site which are subject to the requirements of this
chapter. This responsibility may be retained or assigned to third
persons approved by the Township as is deemed most acceptable to the
developer.
2. It is the intent of this chapter that the purposes of this chapter
shall be carried out through the exercise of responsibility of private
parties and, therefore, it is anticipated that drainage plans shall
be designed with a view towards facilities which can effectively be
contained within the lots to be owned and maintained by private parties.
To foster this purpose, stormwater management facilities which will
not otherwise become part of Township property shall become the responsibility
of the individual property owners on whose properties such stormwater
management facilities lie, including, but not limited to, retention
basins, detention basins, sediment basins, energy dissipators, or
grassed waterways, and the Township and the applicant shall enter
into an agreement, which shall be recorded, setting forth such maintenance
responsibilities. Persons, including applicants, conveying property
within a development site to another party which contains any stormwater
management facilities shall include a specific deed reference to such
grantee's responsibility for the maintenance and care of the
stormwater management facilities as are included within such grantee's
property. The deed reference to such stormwater management facilities
shall be in the form of a deed restriction imposing responsibilities
upon said property owner for the maintenance of the portions of the
stormwater management facilities within the boundary lines of said
property as may be necessary for proper maintenance of the stormwater
management facilities in accordance with the terms of this chapter
or may be by reference to the recorded agreement with the Township.
3. Required maintenance of stormwater management facilities shall include
at a minimum the following:
A. Liming and fertilizing vegetated channels and other areas according
to specifications in the DEP Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control
Manual.
B. Reestablishment of vegetation by seeding and mulching or sodding
of scoured areas or areas where vegetation has not been successfully
established.
C. Mowing as necessary to maintain adequate stands of grass and to control
weeds. Chemical weed control may be used if state and local regulations
are met.
D. Removal of silt from all permanent structures which trap silt or
sediment in order to keep the material from building up in the grass
waterways thus reducing their capacity.
E. Removal of silt from all permanent drainage conveyance facilities
in order to maintain the design storage volumes. Regular maintenance
programs shall be established and maintained.
F. Regular inspection of the areas in question to assure proper maintenance
and care, including but not limited to proper implementation of BMPs
and removal of debris and obstructions.
4. The stormwater management agreement and deed restrictions identified
above shall also include notice that in the event the individual property
owner should fail to comply with the terms of this chapter for the
maintenance and care of the land in question, the Township shall have
the authority to carry out those duties hereby imposed upon individual
property owners. The Township may, after giving notice to an individual
property owner that he is not properly maintaining the areas subject
to this chapter, and by making demand that such compliance shall be
made within the time period set forth in the notification, enter upon
said property and take such actions as may be required to bring the
area into compliance with this chapter. The Township shall further
have the right to file a municipal lien against such property for
the cost of maintenance work carried out under this section, plus
a penalty of 10% of the costs of such work. The Township shall in
addition to the filing of a municipal lien have any other remedies
provided by law against any property owner who should fail to comply
with the terms of this chapter.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 705]
In cases where permanent maintenance of stormwater management
facilities is to be performed by a private entity, such as a homeowners'
association or a condominium unit owners association, such entity
shall be responsible for the maintenance of such facilities and shall
enter into a legally binding agreement with the Township. Such agreement
shall provide the Township rights in accordance with § 705
of the MPC, 53 P.S. § 10705, relating to the maintenance
of common open space should the private entity fail to adequately
maintain the stormwater management facilities.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 706]
Stormwater management facilities existing on the effective date of this chapter on individual lots which have not been accepted by the Township or for which maintenance responsibility has not been assumed by private entity such as a homeowners' association shall be maintained by the individual property owners. Such maintenance shall include at a minimum those items set forth in §
23-704 above. If the Township determines at any time that any permanent stormwater management facility has been eliminated, altered, blocked through the erection of structures or the deposit of materials, or improperly maintained, the Township may determine that such condition constitutes a nuisance and shall notify the property owner of corrective measures which are required, and provide for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 30 days, within which the property owner shall take such corrective action. If the property owner does not take the required corrective action, the Township may either perform the work or contract for the performance of the work and bill the property owner for the cost of the work plus a penalty of 10% of the cost of the work. If such bill is not paid by the property owner within 30 days, the Township may file a municipal claim against the property upon which the work was performed in accordance with applicable laws.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 707]
No person shall modify, remove, fill, landscape or alter stormwater
management facilities which may have been installed on a property
unless a drainage plan has been approved which authorizes such modification,
removal, filling, landscaping or alteration. No person shall place
any structure, fill, landscaping or vegetation into a stormwater management
facility or within a drainage easement which will limit or alter the
functioning of the facility or easement in any manner.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 708]
Upon presentation of proper credentials, duly authorized representatives
of the Township may enter, at reasonable times, upon any property,
within the Township, to investigate or ascertain the condition of
the subject property in regard to any aspect regulated by this chapter.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 709]
All land disturbance work shall be performed in accordance with
an inspection and construction control schedule approved by the Township
Engineer as part of the drainage plan. The Township Engineer should
be consulted for guidance regarding the timing and other details of
necessary inspections. No work shall proceed to a subsequent phase,
including the issuance of the certificate of occupancy, until inspected
and approved by the Township Engineer or his designee, who shall then
file a report thereon with the Township. At a minimum, the following
construction inspection schedule shall apply: (A) inspection of stormwater
facilities prior to backfill and final stabilization, (B) inspection
after backfill and stabilization, and (C) inspection after completion
and prior to release of security.
[Ord. 2010-10, 10/4/2010, § 710]
The timing and frequency of inspections of land disturbance
activities not related to the subdivision/land development process
shall be determined by the Township Engineer prior to final approval
of the drainage plan. Adherence to that schedule shall be a condition
of plan approval.