[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
For any of the regulated activities of this chapter, prior to
the final approval of subdivision and/or land development plans, or
the issuance of any permit, or the commencement of any regulated earth
disturbance activity, the owner, subdivider, developer or his agent
shall submit an SWM site plan and receive municipal approval of the
plan.
1.
Appropriate sections from the municipal subdivision and land development
ordinance, and other applicable local ordinances, shall be followed
in preparing the SWM site plans.
2.
The municipality shall not approve any SWM site plan that is deficient
in meeting the requirements of this chapter. At its sole discretion
and in accordance with this Part, when an SWM site plan is found to
be deficient, the municipality may either disapprove the submission
and require a resubmission, or, in the case of minor deficiencies,
the municipality may accept submission of modifications.
3.
Provisions for permanent access or maintenance easements for all
physical SWM BMPs, such as ponds and infiltration structures, as necessary
to implement the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan discussed
in Subsection 1A(12), below.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
Exemptions from the SWM site plan requirements are as specified in § 23-106.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
1.
The following items shall be included in the SWM site plan:
A.
General.
(1)
General description of project.
(2)
General description of proposed permanent stormwater controls.
(3)
The name and address of the project site, the name and address
of the owner of the property and the name of the individual or firm
preparing the SWM site plan.
(4)
The overall stormwater management concept for the project.
(5)
A determination of site conditions in accordance with the BMP
Manual.3 A detailed site evaluation shall
be completed for projects proposed in areas of carbonate geology or
karst topography, and other environmentally sensitive areas, such
as brownfields.
(6)
Stormwater runoff design computations and documentation as specified in this chapter, or as otherwise necessary to demonstrate that the maximum practicable measures have been taken to meet the requirements of this chapter, including the recommendations and general requirements in § 23-301.
(7)
Expected project time schedule.
(8)
A soil erosion and sediment control plan, where applicable,
as prepared for and submitted to the approval authority.
(9)
The effect of the project (in terms of runoff volumes, water
quality, and peak flows) on surrounding properties and aquatic features
and on any existing stormwater conveyance system that may be affected
by the project.
(10)
Plan and profile drawings of all SWM BMPs, including drainage
structures, pipes, open channels, and swales.
(11)
The SWM site plan shall show the locations of existing and proposed
on-lot wastewater facilities and water supply wells.
(12)
The SWM site plan shall include an O&M Plan for all existing
and proposed physical stormwater management facilities. This plan
shall address long-term ownership and responsibilities for O&M
as well as schedules and costs for O&M activities.
B.
Map(s) of the project area showing:
(1)
The location of the project relative to highways, municipalities
or other identifiable landmarks.
(2)
Existing contours at intervals of two feet. In areas of steep
slopes (greater than 15%), five-foot contour intervals may be used.
Off-site drainage areas impacting the project including topographic
detail.
(3)
Streams, lakes, ponds or other bodies of water within the project
area, including the 100-year floodplain, flood-prone areas and alluvial
soils, as applicable.
(4)
Other physical features including existing drainage swales,
wetlands, closed depressions, sinkholes, rock outcrops, stone fields
and areas of natural vegetation to be preserved.
(5)
Locations of proposed underground utilities, sewers and water
lines. The locations of all physical features, existing and proposed
utilities, sanitary sewers and water lines within 100 feet of property
lines of the project site. The information shall also include invert
elevations, grate elevations, rim elevations, pipe materials and sizes
for the above facilities.
(6)
An overlay showing soil types and boundaries based on the Northampton
County Soil Survey, as applicable, latest edition.
(7)
Proposed changes to land surface and vegetative cover.
(8)
Proposed structures, roads, paved areas and buildings.
(9)
Final contours at intervals of two feet. In areas of steep slopes
(greater than 15%), five-foot contour intervals may be used.
(10)
Stormwater management district boundaries applicable to the
site.
(11)
Clear identification of the location and nature of permanent
stormwater BMPs.
(12)
An adequate access easement around all stormwater BMPs that
would provide municipal ingress to and egress from a public right-of-way.
(13)
A schematic showing all tributaries contributing flow to the
site and all existing man-made features beyond the property boundary
that may be affected by the project.
(14)
The location of all public water supply wells within 400 feet
of the project and all private water supply wells within 100 feet
of the project.
C.
Stormwater Management Controls and BMPs.
(1)
All stormwater management controls and BMPs shall be shown on
a map and described, including:
(a)
Groundwater recharge methods such as seepage pits, beds or trenches.
When these structures are used, the locations of septic tanks, absorption
areas and wells shall be shown.
1)
Designs for seepage pits, beds and drywells that provide storage
and infiltration underground shall include a monitoring manhole or
acceptable port extended to grade at the inlet of the BMP to provide
access for future maintenance and monitoring of sediment levels. This
manhole shall include a catch basin sump below the inlet pipe(s) to
the stone or void area with a "snout" or baffle to allow sediment
and debris to be separated from the runoff.
(b)
Other control devices or methods such as rooftop storage, semipervious
paving materials, grass swales, parking lot ponding, vegetated strips,
detention or retention ponds, storm sewers, etc.
(2)
All calculations, assumptions and criteria used in the design
of the stormwater management controls or BMPs shall be shown.
(3)
All site testing data used to determine the feasibility of infiltration
on a site.
(4)
A statement, signed by the landowner, acknowledging that the
stormwater BMPs are fixtures that cannot be altered or removed without
approval by the municipality.
D.
A description of how each permanent stormwater BMP will be operated
and maintained and the identity of the person(s) responsible for operations,
maintenance and financial requirements.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
1.
For regulated activities specified in § 23-105, Subsection 4A and B:
A.
The SWM site plan shall be submitted by the developer to the municipal
secretary (or other appropriate person) as part of the preliminary
plan submission for the subdivision or land development.
B.
Five copies of the SWM site plan shall be submitted as indicated
below.
C.
Distribution of the SWM site plan will be as follows:
(1)
Two copies to the Board of Supervisors.
(2)
One copy to the Township Engineer.
(3)
Two copies submitted directly to the Lehigh Valley Planning
Commission, except for SWM site plans involving less than 10,000 square
feet of additional impervious cover. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
will conduct an advisory review of the SWM site plan for consistency
with the Bushkill Creek Watershed Stormwater Management Plan or the
Martins/Jacoby Creeks Watershed and Delaware River Sub-Basin 1 Watershed
Stormwater Management Plan. The LVPC will not review details of the
erosion and sedimentation plan or the BMP operations and maintenance
plan. The LVPC will provide written comments to the developer and
the municipality, within a time frame consistent with established
procedures under the Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq., as to whether the SWM site plan has been found to be consistent
with the stormwater management plan.
2.
For regulated activities specified in § 23-105, Subsection 4C and D, the SWM site plan shall be submitted by the developer to the municipal building permit officer as part of the building permit application.
3.
For regulated activities specified in § 23-105, Subsection 4E, F and G:
A.
The SWM site plan shall be submitted by the developer to the Lehigh
Valley Planning Commission for coordination with the DEP permit application
process under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 105, Dam Safety and Water Management,
and Chapter 106, "Floodplain Management," of DEPs rules and regulations
and the NPDES regulations.
B.
One copy of the SWM site plan shall be submitted.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
1.
The Township Engineer shall review the SWM site plan, including the
BMP operations and maintenance plan, for consistency with the adopted
Bushkill Creek Watershed Stormwater Management Plan and/or the Martins/Jacoby
Creeks and Delaware River Sub-Basin 1 Watershed Stormwater Management
Plan as embodied by this chapter and with any permits issued by DEP.
The Township Engineer shall also review the SWM site plan against
any additional storm drainage provisions contained in the municipal
subdivision and land development or zoning ordinances, as applicable.
2.
The municipality shall notify the applicant in writing whether the
BMP operations and maintenance plan is approved.
4.
Plainfield Township will require an as-built survey plan of all stormwater
BMPs and an explanation of any discrepancies with the approved SWM
site plan. The requirements for as-built plans for other BMPs will
be determined by the Township Engineer during the plan review process.
The following items shall be illustrated within the as-built plans
for detention/retention facilities:
A.
As-built contours of the basin at a one-foot interval from field
survey. The contours shall be on the same datum as the approved plan
and the corresponding benchmark shall be included on the as-built
plan.
B.
Spot elevations shall be shown for the extent of the top of berm
and emergency spillway locations from the field survey to determine
conformance with the approved design. In addition, the spot elevations
shall be provided for the inside and outside of the top of berm and
spillway to ensure an adequate berm width is provided.
C.
As-built elevations for the outlet control structure, including the
size and configuration of all openings (orifice, weirs, grates, etc.)
in the structure, as well as the outlet pipe size, type, slope and
inverts.
D.
As-built volumes for the basin to the top of berm elevation; this
information shall include incremental and total volumes (expressed
as cubic feet or acre-feet of storage) at each contour elevation as
well as the area of each closed contour within the basin.
E.
Any fencing or landscaping required by the approved plan, including
the type, size, height, species, etc.
F.
If the basin is intended to retain water, the volume calculations
shall include the volumes inundated by standing water and the limit
of the area for standing water storage.
G.
Any additional information requested by the Township Engineer to
ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the approved
SWM site plan.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
A modification to a submitted SWM site plan that involves a
change in SWM BMPs or techniques, or that involves the relocation
or redesign of SWM BMPs, or that is necessary because soil or other
conditions are not as stated on the SWM site plan (as determined by
the Township Engineer) shall require a resubmission of the modified
SWM site plan in accordance with this Part.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
1.
The Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors may hear requests for
waivers where it is alleged that the provisions of this chapter inflict
unnecessary hardship upon the applicant. The waiver request shall
be on an application form promulgated by the Township and accompanied
by the requisite fee based upon a fee schedule adopted by the Township.
A copy of the waiver request shall be provided to each of the following:
Township, Township Engineer, Township Solicitor and Lehigh Valley
Planning Commission. The request shall fully document the nature of
the alleged hardship.
2.
The municipality may grant a waiver, provided that all of the following
findings are made in a given case:
A.
That there are unique physical circumstances or conditions, including
irregularity of lot size or shape, or exceptional topographical or
other physical conditions peculiar to the particular property, and
that the unnecessary hardship is due to such conditions, and not the
circumstances or conditions generally created by the provisions of
this chapter in the stormwater management district in which the property
is located.
B.
That because of such physical circumstances or conditions, there
is no possibility that the property can be developed in strict conformity
with the provisions of this chapter, including the no-harm provisions,
and that the authorization of a waiver is therefore necessary to enable
the reasonable use of the property.
C.
That such unnecessary hardship has not been created by the applicant.
D.
That the waiver, if authorized, will represent the minimum waiver
that will afford relief and will represent the least modification
possible of the regulation in issue.
E.
That financial hardship is not the criteria for granting of a hardship
waiver.
F.
No waiver of NPDES permit requirements may be granted by the municipality
unless that action is approved in advance by the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) or the delegated county conservation district.
3.
In granting any waiver, the Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors
may attach such conditions and safeguards as it may deem necessary
to implement the purposes of this chapter. If a hardship waiver is
granted, the applicant must still manage the quantity, velocity, direction
and quality of resulting storm runoff as is necessary to prevent injury
to health, safety or other property.
A.
For regulated activities described in § 23-105, Subsection 4A and B, the Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors shall hear requests for and decide on hardship waiver requests on behalf of the municipality.
B.
For regulated activities in § 23-105, Subsection 4C, D, E, and F, the Plainfield Township Zoning Hearing Board shall hear requests for and decide on hardship waiver requests on behalf of the municipality.
C.
The municipality shall not waive the water quality provisions of
this chapter.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
A disapproved SWM site plan may be resubmitted, with the revisions
addressing the municipality's concerns, to the municipality in
accordance with this Part. The applicable review fee must accompany
a resubmission of a disapproved SWM site plan.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
The municipality's approval of an SWM site plan authorizes the regulated activities contained in the SWM site plan for a maximum term of validity of five years following the date of approval. The municipality may specify a term of validity shorter than five years in the approval for any specific SWM site plan. Terms of validity shall commence on the date the municipality signs the approval for an SWM site plan. If an approved SWM site plan is not completed according to § 23-410 within the term of validity, then the municipality may consider the SWM site plan disapproved and may revoke any and all permits. SWM site plans that are considered disapproved by the municipality shall be resubmitted in accordance with § 23-408 of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 416, 9/29/2022]
1.
The developer shall be responsible for providing as-built plans of
all SWM BMPs included in the approved SWM site plan. The as-built
plans and an explanation of any discrepancies with the construction
plans shall be submitted to the municipality.
2.
The as-built submission shall include a certification of completion
signed by a qualified professional verifying that all permanent SWM
BMPs have been constructed according to the approved plans and specifications.
The latitude and longitude coordinates for all permanent SWM BMPs
must also be submitted, at the central location of the BMPs. If any
licensed qualified professionals contributed to the construction plans,
then a licensed qualified professional must sign the completion certificate.
3.
After receipt of the completion certification by the municipality,
the municipality may conduct a final inspection.
