The Board of Supervisors finds that:
A. Inadequate management of excess stormwater runoff resulting from
development throughout a watershed increases flood flows and velocities;
contributes to erosion and sedimentation; overtaxes the carrying capacity
of streams and storm sewers; greatly increases the cost of public
facilities to carry and control stormwater; undermines floodplain
management and flood control efforts in downstream communities; reduces
groundwater recharge; and threatens public health and safety.
B. Inadequate maintenance of stormwater best management practices (BMPs)
causes loss of water quality, flooding and other problems.
C. A comprehensive program of stormwater management, including reasonable
regulation of development and activities causing accelerated erosion,
is fundamental to the public health, safety and welfare and the protection
of the people of the Township and all the people of the commonwealth,
their resources and the environment.
D. Stormwater is an important water resource, which provides groundwater
recharge for water supplies and base flow of streams, which also protects
and maintains surface water quality.
E. The use of green infrastructure and low-impact development (LID)
are intended to address the root cause of water quality impairment
by using systems and practices which use or mimic natural processes
to 1) infiltrate and recharge, 2) evapotranspire, and/or 3) harvest
and use precipitation near where it falls to earth. Green infrastructure
practices and LID contribute to the restoration or maintenance of
predevelopment hydrology.
F. Federal and state regulations require certain municipalities to implement
a program of stormwater controls. These municipalities are required
to obtain a permit for stormwater discharges from their municipal
separate storm sewer systems (MS4) under the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES).
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare by minimizing the damages described in §
199-1 of this chapter by provisions designed to:
A. Control accelerated erosion and sedimentation problems at their source
by regulating activities which cause such problems.
B. Utilize and preserve the desirable existing natural drainage systems.
C. Encourage groundwater recharge and prevent degradation of groundwater
quality.
D. Maintain the existing flows and quality of streams and watercourses
in the Township and the commonwealth.
E. Preserve and restore the flood-carrying capacity of streams.
F. Provide for proper operation and maintenance of all permanent stormwater
management facilities which are constructed in the Township.
G. Provide performance standards and design criteria for watershed-wide
stormwater management and planning.
H. Meet NPDES MS4 permit requirements and state water quality requirements.
I. Manage stormwater runoff close to the source, reduce runoff volumes
and mimic predevelopment hydrology.
The Board of Supervisors, pursuant to authority granted by the
Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act, Act of October 4, 1978, P.L.
864, No. 167, 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq., as amended ("Act
167"), the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act of July
31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, reenacted and amended by Act 170 of 1988,
53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as amended ("MPC"), and the Second
Class Township Code, Act of May 1, 1933, P.L. 103, No. 69, reenacted
and amended July 10, 1947, P.L. 1481, No. 567, 53 P.S. § 65101
et seq., as subsequently amended ("Second Class Township Code"), hereby
enacts and ordains this chapter as the East Manchester Township Stormwater
Management Ordinance.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as Ordinance No.
2011-5, the "East Manchester Township Stormwater Management Ordinance."