A.
Anyone proposing a small project, as defined in § 260-202, shall submit an electronic copy of the application or two physical copies of the application to the City of Lancaster. If submitting physical copies only, they must be on eight-and-one-half-inch by eleven-inch sheets. Electronic copies may be submitted at a size appropriate for legibility.
B.
A complete small project application shall include:
(1)
Small project application form.
(2)
Small project sketch plan including the following:
(a)
Name and address of landowner (and/or) applicant.
(b)
Date of small project application submission.
(c)
Name of individual and/or firm that prepared the sketch if different
than the landowner and/or applicant.
(d)
Total lot area in square feet.
(e)
Location and square footage of existing impervious area (buildings,
patios, sidewalks, etc.).
(f)
Location and square footage of proposed impervious area or land
disturbance.
(g)
Approximate footprint and location of all structures on adjacent
properties, and location and canopy coverage of all trees with canopy
that overhangs the site if located within 50 feet of the proposed
impervious area or land disturbance.
(h)
Approximate location of existing stormwater management facilities,
if present.
(i)
Location and description of proposed stormwater management facilities.
(j)
Direction of proposed stormwater discharge (e.g., with arrows).
(k)
Scale and North arrow.
(l)
Such other information as requested by the Director.
(m)
Plan shall show any drainage swale or watercourse.
(3)
Project description. As required in Subsection B(2) above, the description of proposed and existing SWM facilities shall include the BMP type and size (L x W x D), estimated annual capture and design storm depth; and drainage area for all BMPs. All dimensions shall be in inches, feet and square feet, as applicable.
(4)
Filing fee (in accordance with the City of Lancaster's
current fee schedule).
C.
The small project application shall be submitted on the form provided.
A.
The following regulated activities are specifically exempt from the SWM requirements stipulated in §§ 260-301A, 260-302A, 260-303, and 260-304 and Articles IV and V of this chapter. However, the submission of an SWM permit application shall be required for all regulated and exempt activities.
(1)
Agricultural activity (see definitions) provided the activities
are performed according to the requirements of 25 Pa. Code Chapter
102.
(2)
Forest management and timber operations (see definitions) provided
the activities are performed according to the requirements of 25 Pa.
Code Chapter 102.
(3)
Conservation practices being installed as part of the implementation
of a conservation plan written by an NRCS certified planner.
(4)
Repair, reconstruction or restoration of public roadways or
sidewalks, or repair, reconstruction or restoration of rail lines,
or construction, repair, reconstruction, or restoration of utility
infrastructure when the site will be returned to existing condition.
(5)
Very small projects as defined herein, such as pads for trash
receptacles, walkways, small patios, and other nonvegetative landscape
elements with an aggregate area of less than 100 square feet. Fence
posts, tombstones, mailboxes, doghouses, portable outdoor grills,
lawn ornaments or similar minor accessories as determined by the City
generally do not require permits.
(6)
Gardens and vegetative landscaping that do not increase impervious
coverage and meet the following criteria:
(a)
Located on slopes less than 8%.
(b)
Not within 150 feet of any permanent watercourse.
(c)
Less than 1,000 square feet in aggregate area.
(d)
Hardscaped areas within gardens and vegetated landscape areas
such as patios, walls, paved walkways and pools or ponds, shall be
considered impervious areas and are not exempt if the total hardscaped
area exceeds 100 square feet.
B.
The City of Lancaster may deny or revoke any exemption pursuant to
this section at any time for any project that the City of Lancaster
believes may pose a threat to public health, safety, property or the
environment.
Applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-application meeting
to review the overall stormwater management concept with the Department
of Public Works. The pre-application meeting is not mandatory and
shall not constitute formal filing of a plan with the City of Lancaster.
Topics discussed may include the following:
A.
Available geological maps, plans and other available data.
B.
Findings of the site analysis including identification of any environmentally
sensitive areas, wellhead protection areas, riparian corridors, hydrologic
soil groups, existing natural drainageways, karst features, areas
conducive to infiltration to be utilized for volume control, etc.
C.
Results of infiltration tests.
E.
The conceptual project layout, including proposed structural and
nonstructural BMPs.
A.
When a stormwater management site plan is required, the applicant
shall submit the following to the City of Lancaster:
(1)
Two physical copies or one electronic copy of the SWM permit application and two physical copies or one electronic copy of the site plan prepared in accordance with the requirements of Article IV of this chapter.
(2)
Two physical copies or one electronic copy of all supplemental
data.
(3)
Electronic copies must be submitted for large projects; physical
copies can also be submitted if desired.
(4)
Plans shall also be submitted in an electronic AutoCAD format.
(5)
A filing fee (in accordance with the City of Lancaster's
current fee schedule).
B.
The SWM site plan shall be submitted in a format that is clear, concise,
legible, neat and well organized.
C.
The applicant is responsible for submitting plans to any other agencies
such as the Lancaster County Conservation District, PennDOT, DEP,
etc., when permits from these agencies are required. Final approval
shall be conditioned upon the applicant obtaining all necessary permits.
D.
Incomplete submissions as determined by the Planning Commission or per Department of Public Works shall be returned to the applicant within 30 business days unless a land development approval is required, along with a statement that the submission is incomplete, and stating the deficiencies found. Otherwise, the application shall be deemed accepted for filing as of the date of submission. Acceptance of the application shall not, however, constitute an approval of the plan or a waiver of any deficiencies or irregularities. The applicant may appeal the City of Lancaster's decision not to accept a particular application in accordance with § 260-904 of this chapter.
E.
At its sole discretion and in accordance with this article, when
an SWM site plan is found to be deficient, the City of Lancaster may
either disapprove the submission and require a resubmission, or in
the case of minor deficiencies, the City of Lancaster may accept submission
of revisions.
A.
When the regulated activity constitutes a subdivision or land development as defined in the City's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, the SWM site plan and Subdivision/Land Development Plan shall be processed concurrently according to the plan processing procedure outlined in Chapter 265 of the City Code.
B.
When the regulated activity constitutes a small project the City
of Lancaster Department of Public Works shall review and take action
on the small project application within 30 business days of filing.
C.
When the regulated activity does not constitute a subdivision or
land development or small project the Director or the Department of
Public Works shall review the SWM site plan for conformance with the
provisions of this chapter within 30 business days of filing.
D.
If the City disapproves the SWM site plan, the City will state the
reasons for the disapproval in writing. The City also may approve
the SWM site plan with conditions and, if so, shall provide the acceptable
conditions for approval in writing. Such conditional approval shall
be contingent upon the applicant's written acceptance of the
conditions.
Approval of an SWM site plan shall be valid for a period not to exceed five years. This time period shall commence on the date that the City of Lancaster approves the SWM site plan. If a certificate of completion as required by § 260-508 of this chapter has not been submitted within the specified time period, then the City of Lancaster may consider the SWM site plan disapproved and may revoke any and all permits issued by the City of Lancaster. SWM site plans that are considered disapproved by the City of Lancaster may be resubmitted in accordance with § 260-504 of this chapter.
A.
At the completion of the project, and as prerequisite for the release
of the financial security, the applicant shall provide certification
of completion from an engineer, landscape architect, surveyor or other
qualified person verifying that all permanent SWM facilities have
been constructed according to the plans and specifications and approved
revisions thereto. An as-built plan shall also be submitted for review
and approval by the City.
B.
Upon receipt of the certificate of completion, and prior to release
of the remaining financial security, the City of Lancaster may conduct
a final inspection to certify compliance with this chapter. The type
of acceptable financial security should include a cash or escrow deposit
in addition to a bond or letter of credit.
A.
Prior to the issuance of a permit, the applicant shall submit the
approved SWM site plan for recordation in the Office of the Recorder
of Deeds.
B.
Upon completion of the plan improvements the applicant shall submit
the approved as-built plan for recordation in the Office of the Recorder
of Deeds. The as-built plan must show the final design specifications
for all stormwater management facilities and be sealed by a registered
professional engineer. When a digital submission of an as-built plan
is required, all coordinates as depicted on the plan shall be based
on the PA South Zone State Plane Coordinate System (NAD83 for horizontal
and NAVD88 for vertical).
