[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Sadsbury 12-30-1981 by Ord. No. 1981-15. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
Definitions and word usage.
(1) 
Word usage. Words in the singular number include the plural, and words in the masculine include the feminine. The word "building" shall be deemed to read "building or other structure."
(2) 
Definitions. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meaning herein stated:
CUT
An excavation; the difference between a point on the original ground and a designated point of lower elevation on the final grade; also, the material removed in excavation.
EROSION
The process by which soils, vegetation and man-made materials on the earth's surface are worn away by action of water, wind, frost or a combination of such action by natural forces.
EXCAVATION
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is dug into, cut, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
FILL
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material is placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to a new location above the natural surface of the ground or on top of the stripped surface and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom; the difference in elevation between a point on the original ground and a designated point of higher elevation on the final grade; the material used to make a fill.
FLOODPLAIN
The area along a watercourse which is periodically overflowed by water therefrom.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
(a) 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
[1] 
A group of two or more buildings; or
[2] 
A division or allocation of land or space between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholders, condominiums, building groups or other features.
(b) 
A subdivision of land.
QUALIFYING TRACT
Any tract where 20 or more cubic yards of earth is moved.
RUNOFF
The surface water discharge or rate of discharge of a given watershed after a fall of rain or snow that does not enter the soil but runs off the surface of the land.
RUNOFF FROM AN AREA UPSTREAM
The surface water runoff that can be reasonably anticipated upon maximum development of that area of the watershed located upstream from the subject tract and as permitted by prevailing zoning or the Township Comprehensive Plan.
SEDIMENTATION
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated or deposited by moving wind, water or gravity. Once this matter is deposited, or remains suspended in water, it is usually referred to as "sediment."
SLOPE
The face of an embankment or cut section; any ground whose surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. Slopes are usually expressed in a percentage based upon vertical difference in feet per 100 feet of horizontal distance.
SOIL STABILIZATION
The chemical or structural treatment of a mass of soil to increase or maintain its stability or otherwise improve its engineering properties.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines, for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that the division of land for agricultural purpose into parcels of more than 10 acres not involving any new street or easement of access shall be exempted.
SWALE
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface water runoff.
TOPSOIL
Surface soils and subsurface soils which presumably are fertile and soil material ordinarily rich in organic matter or humus debris; usually found in the uppermost soil layer called the "A-horizon."
WATERCOURSE and/or DRAINAGEWAY
Any natural or artificial watercourse (including, but not limited to, streams, rivers, creeks, ditches, channels, canals, conduits, culverts, drains, waterways, gullies, ravines and washes) in which water flows in a definite direction or course, either continuously or intermittently, and includes any area adjacent thereto which is subject to inundation by reason of overflow or floodwater.
B. 
No changes shall be made in the contour of the land and no grading, excavating, removal or destruction of the topsoil, trees or other vegetative cover of the land shall be commenced until such time as a plan for minimizing erosion and sedimentation and managing stormwater runoff has been processed, reviewed and approved by the Township Board of Supervisors or there has been a determination by the Board that such plans are not necessary.
C. 
All erosion and sedimentation control and stormwater management plans shall be reviewed by the Township Engineer.
D. 
No subdivision or land development plan shall be approved unless there has been a plan approved by the Board of Supervisors that provides for minimizing erosion and sedimentation and for stormwater management consistent with this chapter and an improvement bond or other acceptable securities are deposited with the Township in the form of an escrow of guaranty which will ensure installation and completion of the required improvements or there has been a determination by the Board of Supervisors that a plan for minimizing erosion and sedimentation and for stormwater management is not necessary.
E. 
Measures used to control erosion and reduce sedimentation shall, as a minimum, meet the more stringent of the standards and specifications of the Chester County Conservation District or of the Department of Environmental Protection, which are adopted this date by Sadsbury Township. The Township Engineer or other officials as designated shall ensure compliance with the appropriate specifications, copies of which are available from the Conservation District or at the Township Building of Sadsbury Township.
F. 
Measures used to manage stormwater runoff shall, as a minimum, assure that the maximum rate of runoff is no greater after development than prior to development activities and that the quantity, velocity and direction of resulting stormwater runoff is managed in a manner that adequately protects health and property from possible injury. The Township Engineer, or other officials as designated, shall ensure compliance with this requirement.
G. 
This chapter shall apply to all grading, paving, construction or improvement of any tract, parcel or lot of land, whether or not the same constitutes land development or subdivision as defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Code,[1] and is intended to apply to any and every activity on land that does or may have the effect of changing the velocity, volume, concentration or direction of flow of stormwater or does or may contribute to an increase in sedimentation or erosion.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
The following measures are effective in minimizing erosion and sedimentation and shall be included where applicable in the control plan:
A. 
Stripping of vegetation, regrading, or other development shall be done in such a way as will minimize erosion.
B. 
Development plans shall preserve salient natural features, keep cut-fill operations to a minimum and ensure conformity with topography so as to create the least erosion potential and adequately handle the volume and velocity of surface water runoff.
C. 
Whenever feasible, natural vegetation shall be retained, protected, and supplemented.
D. 
The land area disturbed and the duration of exposure shall be kept to a practical minimum.
E. 
Disturbed soils shall be protected and stabilized as quickly as practicable.
F. 
Temporary vegetation and/or mulching shall be used to protect exposed critical areas during development.
G. 
The permanent final vegetation and structural erosion control and stormwater management measures shall be installed as soon as practical in the development.
H. 
Provisions shall be made to effectively accommodate the increased runoff caused by changed soil and surface conditions during and after development. Where necessary, the rate of surface water runoff will be structurally retarded.
I. 
Sediment in the runoff water shall be trapped by the use of debris basins, sediment basins, silt traps or similar measures until the disturbed area is stabilized.
In order to provide more suitable sites for building and other uses, improve surface drainage and control erosion, the following requirements shall be met:
A. 
The location, grading and placement of subgrade (base) material of all roads, streets and parking areas shall be the first work done on a subdivision or development. The wearing surface may be placed at the discretion of the subdivider or developer as approved in the final plan.
B. 
All lots, tracts or parcels shall be graded to provide proper drainage away from buildings and to maintain stormwater control without ponding. All land within a development shall also be graded to drain and manage surface water without ponding, except where required and/or approved by the Board of Supervisors.
C. 
All drainage provisions shall be of such design as to adequately handle the surface runoff and carry it to the nearest suitable outlet such as a curbed street, storm drain, control basin or natural watercourse. Where drainage swales are used to divert surface waters away from buildings, they shall be sodded or planted as required and shall be of such slope, shape and size as to conform to the requirements of the Township.
D. 
Concentration of surface water runoff shall only be permitted in swales, watercourses or stormwater control basins.
E. 
Excavations and fills.
(1) 
Cut and fill slopes shall not be steeper than two to one unless stabilized by a retaining wall or cribbing except as approved by the Board of Supervisors when handled under special conditions.
(2) 
Provisions shall be made to prevent surface water from damaging the cut face of excavations or the sloping surfaces of fills, by installation of temporary or permanent drainage across or above these areas.
(3) 
Cut and fills shall not endanger adjoining property.
(4) 
Fill shall be placed and compacted so as to minimize sliding or erosion of the soil.
(5) 
Fills shall not encroach on natural watercourses or constructed channels.
(6) 
Fills placed adjacent to natural watercourses or constructed channels shall have suitable protection against erosion during periods of flooding.
(7) 
Grading shall not be done in such a way that water is diverted onto the property of another landowner.
(8) 
During grading operations, necessary measures for dust control shall be exercised.
(9) 
Grading equipment shall not be allowed to cross live streams. Where stream crossing must be made, provisions shall be made for the installation of temporary or permanent culverts or bridges.
(10) 
Existing watercourses, including roadside ditches, shall be protected at all times during the construction operation. Waste or earth from this operation shall not be stored in watercourses at any time, nor will construction equipment be permitted to cross ditches unless prior approval is received from the Township project inspector.
A. 
Whenever sedimentation is caused by stripping vegetation, regrading or other development, it shall be the responsibility of the person, corporation or other entity causing such sedimentation to remove it from all adjoining surfaces, drainage systems and watercourses and to repair any damage at his expense as quickly as possible.
B. 
Maintenance of all roads, streets, parking areas, drainage facilities and watercourses within any subdivision or land development is the responsibility of the developer until they are accepted by the Township or some other official agency, after which they become the responsibility of the accepting agency.
C. 
It is the responsibility of any person, corporation or other entity doing any act on or across a communal stream, watercourse or swale or upon the floodplain or right-of-way thereof to maintain as nearly as possible in its present state the stream, watercourse, swale, floodplain or right-of-way during the pendency of the activity and to return it to its original or equal condition after such activity is completed.
D. 
Maintenance of drainage facilities or watercourses originating and completely on private property is the responsibility of the owner to their point of open discharge at the property line or at a communal watercourse within the property.
E. 
No person, corporation or other entity shall block, impede the flow of, alter, construct any structure, deposit any material or thing or commit any act which will affect normal or flood flow in any communal stream or watercourse without having obtained prior approval from the Township and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Dams and Encroachment.
F. 
Where a watercourse traverses a subdivision, there shall be provided a drainage easement or right-of-way conforming substantially with the line of such watercourse and of such width as will be adequate to preserve natural drainage.
G. 
Each person, corporation or other entity which makes any surface changes which will affect or be affected by a natural watercourse shall:
(1) 
Manage on-site surface runoff in such a manner as to dispose of it into the common natural watercourse in accordance with this chapter.
(2) 
Use total existing and potential off-site runoff flow contribution in the design of any stormwater management improvement affecting the communal watercourse. Off-site runoff shall be based on an upstream area fully developed.
(3) 
Pay proportionate share of the total cost of improvement to the common natural watercourse based on the volume of surface runoff from the development upstream from the improvement divided by the total surface runoff contribution to the improvement.
(4) 
Provide and install, at his expense and in accordance with Township requirements, all drainage and erosion control improvements (temporary and permanent) exclusively serving the development as required by this chapter.
H. 
It is the responsibility of the Township to keep all major streams, not under the jurisdiction of other official agency, open and free-flowing.
I. 
The Township will assume the responsibility for maintaining an open and free-flowing condition in all minor streams, watercourses and drainage systems constructed or improved in accordance with Township design criteria and which are necessary for proper drainage in the discretion of the Township, provided that adequate right-of-way exists or can be acquired.
J. 
The Township shall be required to:
(1) 
Assess and collect the cost of off-site improvements to the common natural watercourses, except those required for existing state roads. Collection may be delayed until the assessed land is approved for development.
(2) 
Acquire easements for such common natural watercourse improvements.
(3) 
Supervise such improvements until completed.
A. 
The Board of Supervisors, in its consideration of all preliminary plans of subdivision and land development, shall condition its approval upon the execution of erosion and sediment control measures and storm management improvements as contained in §§ 102-2, 102-3 and 102-4.
B. 
The installation and design of the required erosion and sediment control measures and stormwater management improvements shall be in accordance with standards and specifications in the Environmental Protection Handbook of the Chester County Conservation District or the Directory of Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Practices of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.