[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Cheltenham 12-15-2021 by Ord. No. 2434-21. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Cheltenham Township Stormwater Management Ordinance and Fee Structure."
The Township makes the following findings:
A. 
The stormwater management needs of Cheltenham have been identified through citizen notifications, field investigations and engineering studies, indicating more comprehensive and effective stormwater management in Cheltenham would contribute to the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the residents and property owners, and that additional stormwater facilities, infrastructure and activities associated with stormwater management would provide services and benefits to all properties, property owners, residents, businesses, and citizens of Cheltenham.
B. 
Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff throughout a watershed can increase flood flows and velocities, contribute to erosion and sedimentation, overtax the carrying capacity of existing streams and stormwater management facilities, greatly increase the cost of public facilities to convey and manage stormwater, undermine floodplain management and flood reduction efforts in upstream and downstream communities, reduce groundwater recharge, impact other related water resource needs and threaten public health and safety.
C. 
Inadequate planning and management of stormwater runoff throughout a watershed can harm surface water resources by changing the natural hydrologic patterns, accelerating stream flows (which increase scour and erosion of stream beds and stream banks, thereby elevating sedimentation), destroying aquatic habitat, and elevating aquatic pollutant concentrations and loadings such as sediments, nutrients, heavy metals and pathogens. Groundwater resources can also be impacted through loss of recharge. Stormwater is an important water resource which supports groundwater recharge for water supplies and base-flow of streams.
D. 
A comprehensive program of public stormwater management services which seeks to avoid and minimize flooding, erosion, and water quality degradation is fundamental to the public health, safety, welfare of the residents of Cheltenham Township, local property and the environment.
E. 
In order to establish, operate, enhance and maintain the stormwater infrastructure of the Township, ensure the continued effective operation of the stormwater system through installation and management of best practices, and to provide other services such as appropriate inspections, asset management, and regulatory oversight associated with stormwater and watershed management, sufficient and stable funding is required to fund these public services.
F. 
Federal regulations, including those found at 40 CFR Part 122, and Pennsylvania state regulations require the Township to implement a program of stormwater controls that regulates the discharge from the Township's regulated stormwater outfalls to local water bodies. In accordance with those regulations the Township is required to obtain a permit that allows stormwater discharges from its municipal separate storm sewer system ("MS4") under the national pollutant discharge elimination system regulations. Under the MS4 permit, the Township is also required to develop and implement a pollution reduction plan, which requires the implementation of projects that demonstrably reduce pollutant loads in waterways. In addition, municipalities within the Wissahickon Creek Watershed are required by federal and state environmental agencies to reduce the total maximum daily load ("TMDL") of pollutants like phosphorus and sediment and it is likely that TMDL requirements will be placed on the Tookany Creek Watershed.
G. 
The Township intends to establish fair and equitable user fees to assure that each developed property within the Township will pay a proportionate share of the costs of operation, maintenance, repair, administration, replacement and improvement of all stormwater services provided or paid for by Cheltenham Township based on lot size for single-family residential ("SFR") properties and based on an impervious surface rate methodology for other developed properties. Based on a sample of properties throughout the Township, the Township has determined that on average SFR properties less than or equal to 0.1 acre (4,356 square feet) in size have approximately half as much impervious surface as a typical SFR property and SFR properties greater than 0.5 acre (21,780 square feet) in size have approximately twice as much impervious surface as a typical SFR property.
H. 
A proposed program for imposing user fees has received input and comment by the public through multiple public meetings throughout the stormwater fee development process, including an advertised, public webinar meeting held on August 25, 2021 to identify and receive input on prioritizing areas with the highest risk of flooding and uncontrolled stormwater flow as well as comment and input from the Stormwater Advisory Committee.
I. 
A user fee schedule based on land area and impervious surface area documented by 2018 aerial imagery from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and other information sources available to the Township has been determined to be an appropriate method to raise revenue that will be dedicated exclusively to supporting a more effective stormwater management program, in accordance with the following determinations:
(1) 
A minimum fee per developed property is reasonable.
(2) 
Subject to such minimum level, basing the fee upon lot area acreage tiers, as described in § 292-4 below, was derived from a statistical sampling of impervious surfaces on SFR properties in the Township.
(3) 
Under the tiered approach, SFR properties would be covered by the acreage tiers.
(4) 
All other developed properties would be classified as "other developed properties" and shall be charged a user fee based on actual measured impervious surface using the 2018 aerial imagery from PEMA and other information sources available to the Township.
(5) 
The operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and improvement of the Township stormwater management system has been and will be of substantial and direct benefit to users. The operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and improvement of the Township stormwater management system will also benefit downstream owners and occupants.
A. 
Words and terms used in this chapter, and not given specific definition, shall be defined as set forth in the applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or ordinances of the Township, if any, and shall otherwise be given their ordinary and common meaning.
B. 
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms shall be defined, as set forth below (the terms appear below in bold for convenience but do not appear in bold throughout the remainder of the chapter):
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Methods, procedures and analyses specified in the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual to reduce flooding potential and control the volume, flow rate and water quality of stormwater.
CHELTENHAM
Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a home rule municipality.
DEVELOPED PROPERTY
A parcel in the Township altered from a natural state that contains impervious surface equal to or greater than 250 square feet. Developed parcels do not include property defined as "public street" with the Cheltenham Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 260 of the Township Code, common area parcels (i.e., parcels without dwelling units) owned by homeowner associations of townhouse condos, parcels owned by the Township, parcels owned by the Cheltenham School District, properties owned by a fire company officially sanctioned by Cheltenham Township, and land under initial development prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy; however, a parcel formally approved for land development or subdivision that does not receive a certificate of occupancy within three years from start of construction will be considered a developed property.
[Amended 4-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2439-22]
EQUIVALENT RESIDENTIAL UNIT (ERU)
The measure of impervious ground cover for a typical SFR property used in assessing the fees for each developed property, and which has been determined to be 3,593 square feet.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that prevents or impedes the infiltration of water into the ground. Impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, sidewalks, packed dirt or stone paths, parking areas, driveways and private roads, pavements, driveway areas and roofs. Any surface areas designed to be gravel or crushed stone shall be regarded as impervious surfaces. Railroad track ballast is not included as impervious surface. The water surface area of a swimming pool is included as impervious surface.
OTHER DEVELOPED PROPERTIES (ODP)
All developed properties other than single-family residential properties, including multifamily properties such as apartments, apartment-style and/or condominium buildings or complexes, common areas associated with such uses, and commercial, institutional, and industrial property.
OWNER
Any person, firm, corporation, individual, partnership, company, association, organization, society or group owning real property in the Township.
PENNSYLVANIA STORMWATER BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MANUAL
The most up-to-date version of the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual.
PROPERTY
Each lot, parcel, building or portion thereof, separately established by tax parcel number on the tax rolls of Cheltenham Township or Montgomery County.
REPLACEMENT
The associated costs of obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the service life of the Cheltenham stormwater management system so as to maintain the capacity and performance for which said system was designed and constructed, and shall include costs associated with improvements, including addition of best management practices to the stormwater management system.
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (SFR) PROPERTIES
All developed properties containing single-family detached homes, attached homes, townhouses (including townhouse condominiums), duplexes and row homes. Residential properties shall not include developed parcels containing structures used primarily for nonresidential purposes, mobile homes located within mobile home parks, apartment buildings, or apartment-style condominiums. A developed parcel which does not contain a dwelling unit but contains a garage, shed, driveway, parking area or other impervious surface will be classified as a SFR property if the parcel is zoned as a residential parcel.
STORMWATER
Rain and other precipitation including runoff water from all precipitation events, snowmelts and springs, which flows over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, before eventually either infiltrating into soil or coursing to streams, rivers and other bodies of water.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The system of runoff avoidance, infiltration, collection and conveyance, including storm sewers, pipes, conduits, mains, inlets, culverts, catch basins, gutters, ditches, channels, detention ponds, streets, curbs, drains and all conveyances and devices, appliances and stormwater best management practices and facilities appurtenant thereto used for collecting, conducting, pumping, conveying, detaining, infiltrating, reducing, managing, avoiding the generation of, and treating stormwater, which is owned by the Township.
TOWNSHIP
Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a home rule municipality.
USER
Any person, firm, corporation, individual, partnership, company, association, society or group using, benefiting from or being served by the Cheltenham stormwater management system.
USER FEE(S)
A sum(s) assessed, imposed and to be collected from each developed property by Montgomery County tax parcel number which uses, benefits from, or is serviced by the Cheltenham stormwater management system, or discharges stormwater, directly or indirectly, into the Cheltenham stormwater management system for the use of such system and the service rendered by, and improvement of, such system.
It is hereby imposed upon each and every developed property that is connected with, uses, or is benefited by Cheltenham's stormwater management system, either directly or indirectly, a user fee for the use, benefit, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and improvement of the Cheltenham Township stormwater management system. Such user fees are imposed on an annual basis.
A. 
The annual charge per ERU shall be $80 per ERU in 2022, $160 per ERU in 2023, $220 per ERU in 2024 and thereafter until such time the annual charge is changed by Township resolution.
B. 
Each SFR property shall be charged based upon lot size in accordance with the following tiers:
Tier
Billing Units
Parcel Size in Acres
A
0.5 ERUs
<0.1
B
1 ERU
0.1-0.51
C
2 ERUs
>0.5
NOTES:
1
Includes townhouse condominium units in order to account for common area impervious surfaces (e.g., private roads, driveways and parking areas, etc.). Common areas managed by a homeowners' association for townhouse condominiums shall be exempt because the impervious area (e.g., private roads, driveways, parking areas, etc.) is accounted for by placing townhouse condominium units into the 1 ERU tier.
(1) 
By way of example only, the charge for a SFR property which qualifies for Tier A, would be charged 0.5 of an ERU for 2022, which equals $40.
C. 
All other developed properties, including but not limited to, nonresidential/multifamily (including apartment buildings) shall be based on actual impervious surface area divided by 3,593 square feet to calculate the quantity of ERUs for the user fee charge. The calculation shall be rounded to the nearest half of an ERU and shall be no less than 0.5 ERUs.
D. 
The user fee for an apartment-style condominium building (i.e., a condominium consisting of dwelling units above others) shall be charged in the same manner as an apartment building (i.e., accounting for all impervious surfaces of dwelling units and other common areas within the condominium) with the bill addressed to the homeowners' association or condominium association ("HOA"), as applicable. Bills in such instances shall not be addressed to individual unit owners of condominiums. In the event that an HOA is dissolved, extinguished or insolvent, or delinquent in payment of its user fee for over 90 days, the individual unit owners shall be billed a prorated share of the user fee charged to the HOA.
E. 
The number of ERUs billed to a developed property or an HOA may be reduced by credits which are awarded in accordance with a credit policy approved by the Board of Commissioners. No credit shall be applied for the first year after this chapter becomes effective.
User fees shall be assessed, liened and collected by tax parcel numbers for all developed properties.
Reference in this chapter to "use," "user," or portion of a property, lot, parcel or building with respect to the calculation and assessment of user fees shall not be construed to modify or alter the fact that user fees shall be assessed and imposed upon the property pursuant to 53 P.S. § 7106 et seq., as amended, and the owner of each property against which user fees are imposed and assessed under this chapter shall remain liable for payment whether or not such owner occupies the property. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or limit an owner's ability to collect by lease or contract sums due by a tenant or other occupier of the owner's property, but such lease or contract shall not bind Cheltenham or limit in any way Cheltenham's authority to impose, assess, lien and collect user fees or other related charges.
A. 
The user fees fixed and established by this chapter shall be effective as to all developed properties that use, are served, or are benefited by the Cheltenham stormwater management system existing as of the effective date of this chapter and shall be effective to all other developed properties thereof that use, are served or benefitted by the stormwater management system subsequent to the effective date of this chapter. User fees imposed by this chapter shall be assessed and billed by Cheltenham on an annual basis. Such assessments shall be payable at their face amount in accordance with the terms on the bill mailed. The annual billing date shall be on or about February 1. The user fees assessed, and their collection will not be subject to proration or refund by Cheltenham for the reason that a property is sold; provided, however, that this sentence shall not bind a buyer and seller from making their own proration of any user fees assessed hereunder. The user fees fixed and established by this chapter may be amended or replaced at any time by ordinance or as provided below in § 292-7B.
B. 
The Board of Commissioners will annually review and update the user fees fixed and established by this chapter, by resolution amending Chapter A300, as deemed necessary.
The face amount of all user fee charges shall be payable in accordance with the terms on the bill mailed, with a penalty of 10% assessed after the due date. On the first day of each subsequent month in which the account remains unpaid, an interest charge of 0.5% per month shall be added to the account. All unpaid user fee charges shall be a lien against the property and the Township Solicitor shall file such lien. Any collection, attorney's fees and/or filing fees incurred by the Township in the collection of user fee charges, as set forth in Chapter A300 of the Cheltenham Code of Ordinances or by statute, shall be borne by the user.
In accordance with the Municipal Claims Act, 53 P.S. § 7101, et seq., as amended, all user fees, penalties, interest, collection fees, attorneys' fees, lien filing and satisfaction fees and other charges imposed for failure to pay promptly shall constitute a lien upon and against the subject property and its owner from the date of their imposition and assessment.
A. 
Within one year of the effective date of this chapter, Cheltenham shall develop and implement procedures by action of the Board of Commissioners whereby users of the stormwater management system may receive credit for onsite activities which reduce and manage stormwater runoff through detention, retention, infiltration of water and recharge of the aquifer and thereby avoid or minimize public construction, operation, repair and maintenance of facilities and services.
B. 
No credit in user fees shall be granted based on age, race, tax status, gender, sexual preference, economic status or religion of the property owner, or any other conditions unrelated to the demand for and cost of services provided by Cheltenham.
Any owner who believes the provisions of this chapter have been applied in error may appeal in the following manner and sequence:
A. 
An appeal of user fees must be filed in writing with the Township Engineer, or his/her designee, within 30 days of the charge being mailed or delivered to the property owner ("appeal date"). The appeal date may be extended up to an additional 30 days within the sole discretion of the Township. Any appeal must state the reasons for the appeal.
B. 
Using information provided by the appellant, the Township Engineer, or his/her designee, shall conduct a technical review of the conditions on the property and respond to the appeal in writing within 30 days of the appeal date. In response to an appeal, the Township Engineer may adjust the user fees applicable to the property in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
A decision of the Township Engineer that is averse to an appellant may be further appealed to the Township Manager, or his/her designee, within 30 days of such adverse decision. The appellant, stating the grounds for further appeal, shall deliver notice of the appeal to the Township Manager, or his/her designee. The Township Manager, or his/her designee, shall issue a written decision on the appeal within 30 days. All decisions by the Township Manager, or his/her designee, shall be personally delivered to the owner or sent to the billing address of the customer by registered or certified mail.
D. 
If payment is not made within 30 days of receipt of an adverse decision by the Township Manager, appellant's property shall be liened for all past-due amounts in accordance with the Municipal Claims Act, 53 P.S. 7101, et seq., as amended.
E. 
When credit policy/procedures is/are subsequently promulgated by the Board of Commissioners, users shall exhaust any available, potential remedies under the credit policy/procedures first, prior to filing an appeal pursuant to this section.
A. 
The Board of Commissioners may by resolution adopt such policies and procedures as it deems appropriate to ensure collection of user fees assessed and imposed pursuant to this chapter. Without limitation, collection procedures may include referral of delinquent accounts to a collection agency, filing of liens, scire facias sur municipal lien proceedings to collect filed liens, and all other measures or combination thereof which the Board may deem appropriate.
B. 
All costs of such collection procedures, including, but not limited to, fees for filing, perpetuation and satisfaction of liens, collection fees, attorneys' fees, court costs, litigation expenses, and charges for service of documents shall, upon being incurred by Cheltenham, be imposed as a charge for nonpayment and added to the balance due on said owner's account. Chapter A300 of the Cheltenham Code of Ordinances may be amended to set forth a listing of such charges.
C. 
No lien shall be satisfied, nor shall any collection proceeding be discontinued until all amounts due on an account, including user fees, interest, collection fees, attorneys' fees, court costs and other charges are first paid in full to Cheltenham.
D. 
The Township Manager may implement such administrative procedures necessary to implement the policies and requirements set forth in this chapter.
All user fees and other stormwater-related funds, such as interest or grant monies, shall be deposited in the Stormwater Management Fund of the Township. This fund will be a separate enterprise fund dedicated to the operation, administration, maintenance, repair and improvement of the stormwater management system, and all related capital costs. Prioritization and selection of capital projects shall be established by separate resolution of the Board of Commissioners and the Board shall continue the Stormwater Advisory Committee whose duties shall be to assist in implementation of the user fee program and education of Township residents and property owners.
Floods from stormwater may occur occasionally that exceed the capacity of the stormwater management system maintained and financed with user fees. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to imply that properties subject to charges shall always be free from flooding or flood damage, or that all flood control projects to control stormwater can provide complete protection from all flood and storm events. Nothing whatsoever in this chapter shall deem Cheltenham liable for any damages incurred from stormwater or from adverse water quality. Nothing in this chapter purports to reduce the need or necessity for flood insurance and Cheltenham expressly reserves the right to assert all available immunities and defenses in any action seeking to impose monetary damages upon Cheltenham, its officers, employees and agents arising out of any alleged failure or breach of duty with respect to Cheltenham's stormwater management system.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
If any section, paragraph, subsection, clause or provision of this chapter shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or any part thereof other than that portion specifically declared invalid.
This chapter shall become effective as soon as permitted by law.