The following shall apply to all regulated activities in accordance with the requirements of the subsequent sections of this Article VII.
A. 
Continuing operations and maintenance responsibilities of all permanent BMPs, conveyances, or other stormwater management facilities shall be reviewed and approved by the Municipality along with the SWM site plan. The Municipality may require an offer of a dedication of such facilities as part of the requirements for approval of the SWM site plan. Such a requirement is not an indication that the Municipality will accept the facilities. The Municipality reserves the right to accept or reject the operations and maintenance responsibility for any portion of or all of the BMPs, conveyances or other stormwater controls and facilities.
B. 
An operation and maintenance (O&M) plan shall be submitted to the Municipality for review and approval for all existing and proposed permanent BMPs and man-made conveyances or other stormwater facilities identified in the SWM site plan. Multiple BMPs or conveyances may be addressed by a combined O&M plan where all such facilities are similar in O&M requirements and ownership.
C. 
The O&M plan(s) and O&M agreement(s) shall name the person identified in the SWM site plan who shall be the owner of and be responsible for ongoing inspections, operation, repair, and maintenance of each BMP or conveyance following completion of construction.
D. 
For any BMP or man-made conveyance (including any to be located on any property other than the property being developed by the applicant) to be owned by a person other than the Municipality:
(1) 
An O&M agreement shall be submitted to the Municipality for review and approval; and
(2) 
The O&M plan shall be attached to, incorporated within, and recorded as a public record along with a fully executed O&M agreement, all of which shall be recorded as a restrictive covenant that runs with the land and shall be binding upon the landowner and any heirs, administrators, successors in interest or assigns of the landowner.
E. 
The following shall be provided for all BMPs and conveyances (including any to be located on any property other than the property being developed by the applicant) by an O&M or other agreement or by otherwise establishing covenants, easements, deed restrictions, or by dedication to the Municipality:
(1) 
Permanent protection of the BMP or conveyance from disturbance or alteration;
(2) 
Right of entry and access for the Municipality for inspection and enforcement of this chapter (including § 294-903G) and any applicable O&M plan or O&M agreement; and
(3) 
Right of entry and access for the person owning the BMP or conveyance and responsible for fulfilling the O&M requirements when that person is not the Municipality and is different from the owner of the property on which the BMP or conveyance is located (such as may be applicable for § 294-301G of this chapter).
F. 
All O&M and other agreements, covenants, easements, and deed restrictions shall:
(1) 
Be submitted to the Municipality for review and approval;
(2) 
Be recorded as a public record, upon approval, against each parcel(s) which is part of the SWM site plan or otherwise contains any BMP or conveyance comprising part of the regulated activity which is the subject of an O&M agreement; and
(3) 
Run with the land and be binding upon the landowner, its heirs, administrators, successors in interest, and assigns.
G. 
The materials, documents and content required by this Article VII may be prepared in conjunction with and incorporated with similar materials, documents and content required for other permit or approval applications, such as those required by PA DEP for the Post Construction Stormwater Management Plan.
H. 
At the discretion of the Municipality, the content requirements of the operation and maintenance (O&M) plan and O&M agreement for regulated activities with 10,000 square feet or less of proposed earth disturbance and 2,000 square feet or less of regulated impervious surfaces may be reduced. At a minimum, the reduced requirements for the SWM site plan maps/plan sheets (§ 294-402,B) must include all items required by the Municipality for the reduced operation and maintenance plan map/plan sheet (§ 294-702A).
I. 
The O&M agreement and other agreements, covenants, easements and deed restrictions shall be recorded no later than the recording of the associated land development or subdivision plan, or if not a land development or a subdivision, then not later than 15 days after the approval of the O&M agreement and, after recordation, a time-stamped copy shall be delivered to the Municipality.
The following items shall be included in the O&M plan, unless otherwise approved by the Municipal Engineer:
A. 
A plan sheet(s) or map(s) showing each BMP and man-made conveyance and which shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) 
Property(ies) identification (owner name and address; and property address and/or lot and/or tax parcel number, etc.), property boundaries and tax parcel number of the land parcel on which the BMP or conveyance is located.
(2) 
Name, address, phone number, date prepared, signature and seal of the licensed professional responsible for preparation of the plan sheet or map.
(3) 
Clear identification of the location, dimensions, and function of each BMP or conveyance covered by the O&M plan.
(4) 
The location of each BMP and conveyance relative to roadways, property boundaries, or other identifiable landmarks and existing natural drainage features such as streams, lakes, ponds, or other bodies of water within the immediate vicinity of, or receiving discharge from, the BMP or conveyance.
(5) 
Delineation of the land area, structures, impervious surfaces and conveyances draining to and from the BMP.
(6) 
Representative elevations and/or topographic contours at intervals of two feet, or other as acceptable to the Municipal Engineer.
(7) 
Other features including FEMA floodplain and floodway boundaries, sinkholes, etc. located within the immediate proximity of each BMP and conveyance.
(8) 
Locations of areas of vegetation to be managed or preserved that function as a BMP or conveyance.
(9) 
The locations of all surface and subsurface utilities, on-lot wastewater facilities, sanitary sewers, and water lines within 20 feet of each BMP or conveyance.
(10) 
The following as it pertains to any easements, covenants and deed restrictions established for each applicable BMP or conveyance:
(a) 
Boundaries delineated with bearings and distances shown that encompass the BMP or conveyance and that includes a ten-foot perimeter area surrounding these features and sufficient vehicular ingress to and egress from a public right-of-way and roadway. At its discretion the Municipality may accept, in lieu of said boundaries described by feet and bearings, a blanket easement that encompasses the entire subject property;
(b) 
Labels specifying the type and purpose of the easement, covenant, or deed restriction and who it benefits; and
(c) 
Labels with reference to any corresponding easement agreement, covenant, deed restriction or other document to be recorded.
(11) 
The plan sheet or map shall be prepared at sufficient scale for municipal review, and ultimately for the use by the person responsible for operation and maintenance, and shall also be prepared at a legible scale that meets the requirements for recordation along with (and as an attachment to) the O&M agreement and O&M plan at the Chester County Office of the Recorder of Deeds.
B. 
The following information shall be included in the O&M plan and written in a manner consistent with the knowledge and understanding of the person who will be responsible for the maintenance activities:
(1) 
The name and address of the following:
(a) 
Property(ies) on which each BMP or conveyance is located;
(b) 
Owner of the property;
(c) 
Owner of each stormwater BMP or conveyance who is responsible for implementation of the O&M plan;
(d) 
Person responsible for maintaining adequate liability insurance and payment of taxes; and
(e) 
Person preparing the O&M plan.
(2) 
A description of each BMP and conveyance and how the BMPs and conveyances are intended to function.
(3) 
A description of actions necessary to operate, inspect, and maintain each BMP or conveyance, including but not limited to:
(a) 
Lawn care, vegetation maintenance, landscaping, and planting;
(b) 
Clean out of accumulated debris and sediment (including from grates, trash racks, inlets, etc.); and
(c) 
Other anticipated periodic maintenance and repair.
(4) 
The following statement shall be included:
"The landowner acknowledges that, per the provisions of the Municipality's Stormwater Management Ordinance, it is unlawful to modify, remove, fill, landscape, alter or impair the effectiveness of, or place any structure, other vegetation, yard waste, brush cuttings, or other waste or debris into any permanent stormwater management BMP or conveyance described in this O&M plan or to allow the BMP or conveyance to exist in a condition which does not conform to this O&M plan, without written approval from the Municipality."
(5) 
Inspection and maintenance schedules.
(6) 
Explanation of the purpose and limitations of any easements, covenants, or deed restrictions associated with any BMP or conveyance that are to be recorded against the property.
C. 
A statement that no BMP or man-made conveyance may be used by the owner or others for any purpose other than its intended stormwater control function, or, if approved by the Municipal Engineer, a statement of specific allowable uses of the BMP (i.e., recreational benefits that maybe associated with certain BMPs owned by a homeowner's association, or allowable uses by an individual residential landowner).
D. 
A statement that establishes a reasonable time frame for remedy of deficiencies found by the owner during their inspections.
E. 
Language needed to fulfill the requirements of § 294-705B, C, and D of this chapter.
A. 
An O&M agreement shall be required for any BMP or man-made conveyance to be owned by a person other than the Municipality, and the agreement shall:
(1) 
Be between the owner of the BMP or conveyance and the Municipality, and shall be substantially the same as the O&M agreement in Appendix E;[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said appendix is on file in the Township offices.
(2) 
Incorporate the approved O&M plan(s) for all BMPs or conveyances to be covered by the O&M agreement;
(3) 
Set forth the rights, duties, and obligations of the owner of the BMP or conveyance and the Municipality, and be consistent with the approved O&M plan(s);
(4) 
Be recorded as a deed restriction or restrictive covenant that runs with the land and shall be binding upon the landowner, its heirs, administrators, successors in interest, and assigns;
(5) 
Be submitted to the Municipality for review prior to approval of the SWM site plan;
(6) 
Upon approval by the Municipality, be signed by the designated owner of the BMP or conveyance and submitted for signature by the Municipality; and
(7) 
When fully executed, be recorded by the landowner at the Chester County Office of the Recorder of Deeds following municipal approval of the O&M plan and prior to the start of construction.
B. 
Other items or conditions may be required by the Municipality to be included in the O&M agreement where determined necessary by the Municipality to guarantee the satisfactory operation and maintenance of all permanent BMPs and conveyances.
C. 
After approval of the final as-built plans per the requirements of Article V, the applicant shall review and, if necessary and if required by the Municipality, revise and re-record the O&M plan and O&M agreement to reflect the final as-built conditions of each BMP and conveyance if different from the information included in the original recorded documents.
A. 
Easements shall be established in connection with any regulated activity for all permanent BMPs and conveyances that will not be dedicated to or otherwise owned by the Municipality, (including any to be located on any property other than the property being developed by the applicant), and shall:
(1) 
Include all land area occupied by each BMP or conveyance;
(2) 
Include a ten-foot-wide perimeter (or other width as determined in consultation with the Municipal Engineer) surrounding the feature(s);
(3) 
Provide sufficient vehicular ingress and egress from a public right-of-way and roadway;
(4) 
Permanently protect every BMP and conveyance from disturbance or alteration where not otherwise protected by a recorded O&M agreement, covenant, deed restriction or other means;
(5) 
Grant the Municipality the right, but not the duty, to access every BMP and conveyance from a public right-of-way or public roadway to conduct periodic inspections and to undertake other actions that may be necessary to enforce the requirements of this chapter, or of any applicable O&M plan or O&M agreement; where roadways will not be dedicated to the Municipality, the Municipality shall be granted access to the private roadways as necessary to access every BMP and conveyance;
(6) 
Grant the owner of each BMP and conveyance the right to access, inspect, operate, maintain, and repair the BMP or conveyance when the feature is to be owned, operated, and maintained by a person other than the Municipality and other than the owner of the parcel on which it is located;
(7) 
Be shown, with bearings and distances noted, on the SWM site plan map/plan sheets, O&M plan map/plan sheets, final as-built plans, and be signed and sealed by a qualified licensed professional;
(8) 
Include language legally sufficient to ensure that the easement shall run with the land and bind the landowner granting the easement, its heirs, administrators, successors in interest and assigns, into perpetuity; and
(9) 
Be recorded at the Chester County Office of the Recorder of Deeds following municipal approval and prior to the start of construction.
B. 
For any BMP or conveyance to be owned by a person other than the Municipality or the landowner owning the parcel upon which a BMP or conveyance is located, an easement agreement shall be prepared and executed between the landowner and the owner of the BMP or conveyance which shall:
(1) 
Describe the ownership interests of all parties to the easement agreement, including the ownership of the BMP or conveyance;
(2) 
Include a written legal (metes and bounds) description of the easement area, with reference to a recorded plan sheet showing the legal boundaries of the easement area (or an accompanying plan sheet/map), signed, and sealed by a qualified licensed professional;
(3) 
Grant an easement from the landowner to the owner of each BMP and conveyance, establishing the right and obligation to occupy, access, inspect, operate, maintain, and repair the BMP or conveyance;
(4) 
Include a description of the purpose of the easement and the responsibilities of the parties involved;
(5) 
Incorporate by reference or be recorded with, the corresponding O&M plan and O&M agreement;
(6) 
Restrict the landowner's use of the easement area of the parcel on which the BMP or conveyance is located, consistent with the rights granted to the owner of the BMP or conveyance;
(7) 
Be submitted to the Municipality for review and approval prior to approval of the SWM site plan;
(8) 
Upon approval by the Municipality, be signed by the owner of the BMP(s) or conveyance(s) and the landowner and submitted for signature by the Municipality;
(9) 
Include language legally sufficient to ensure that the easement will run with the land affected by the easement and that the easement agreement is binding upon the parties to the easement agreement, their heirs, administrators, successors in interest and assigns, into perpetuity;
(10) 
Contain additional provisions or information as required by the Municipality; and
(11) 
When fully executed, be recorded by the landowner at the Chester County Office of the Recorder of Deeds against all parcels affected by the terms of the easement agreement, following municipal approval of the O&M plan and prior to the start of construction.
C. 
For any BMP or conveyance which is designed to receive runoff from another parcel or parcels and which is owned by the landowner of the parcel upon which the BMP or conveyance is located, in addition to any easement or easement agreement required pursuant to § 294-704A or B, an easement agreement shall be prepared and executed between the landowner of the parcel or parcels draining to the BMP or conveyance and the owner of the BMP or conveyance. This easement agreement shall:
(1) 
Describe the ownership interests of all parties to the easement agreement, including the ownership of all affected parcels and of the BMP or conveyance;
(2) 
Provide for the grant of a drainage easement from the owner of the BMP or conveyance to the landowner of the parcel(s) draining to the BMP, which shall extend from the shared parcel boundary(ies) to the receiving BMP and shall include the connecting flow path(s) or conveyance;
(3) 
Include a written legal (metes and bounds) description of the easement area, with reference to a recorded plan sheet showing the legal boundaries of the easement area (or an accompanying plan sheet/map), signed, and sealed by a licensed professional.
(4) 
Incorporate by reference or be recorded with the corresponding O&M plan and O&M agreement;
(5) 
State that the purpose of the easement agreement is to ensure the continuous right of the discharging parcel to discharge onto the parcel containing the BMP and into the BMP or conveyance;
(6) 
Restrict the BMP or conveyance owner's use of the easement area of the parcel upon which the BMP or conveyance is located, consistent with the purpose of the easement granted;
(7) 
Establish the duty and responsibility of the landowner of the parcel or parcels draining to the BMP or conveyance to maintain the existing drainages on the discharging parcel or parcels as designed and constructed to discharge to the receiving BMP;
(8) 
Include language legally sufficient to ensure that the easement will run with the land and will bind all parties to the easement agreement, their heirs, administrators, successors in interest and assigns, into perpetuity;
(9) 
Be submitted to the Municipality for review and approval prior to approval of the SWM site plan;
(10) 
Contain all additional provisions or information as the Municipality may require upon review; and
(11) 
Be executed by the parties to the easement agreement and recorded at the Chester County Recorder of Deeds Office against the draining parcel(s) and the parcel upon which the BMP or conveyance is located, following municipal approval and prior to the start of construction.
D. 
For any area(s) shown on the SWM site plan maps/plan sheets or as-built plan sheets as requiring, or area(s) that is otherwise determined to require, deed restriction(s) for the purpose of protecting and prohibiting disturbance to a BMP or conveyance, such deed restrictions will be incorporated into a written deed, restrictive covenant, or equivalent document. The deed or other document shall:
(1) 
Include a clear and understandable description of the purpose, terms and conditions of the restricted use;
(2) 
Include the written legal description (metes and bounds description) of the area to which the restrictions apply that is consistent with the boundary shown on the O&M plan sheets and SWM site plan maps/plan sheets;
(3) 
Make reference to any corresponding O&M plan(s) and O&M agreement(s);
(4) 
Include language legally sufficient to ensure that the terms of the restriction run with the land and shall be binding upon the landowner, its heirs, administrators, successors in interest, and assigns;
(5) 
Be submitted to the Municipality for review and approval prior to approval of the SWM site plan;
(6) 
Upon approval by the Municipality, be signed by the landowner and owner of the BMP or conveyance and submitted to the Municipality; and
(7) 
Be fully executed and recorded at the Chester County Office of the Recorder of Deeds within 20 days of the Municipality's approval of the O&M plan.
A. 
The provisions of § 294-804 of this chapter shall apply to any permanent BMP or conveyance that is constructed as part of an approved SWM site plan or covered by an approved O&M plan.
B. 
The person responsible for the operation and maintenance of a BMP or conveyance shall make records of the installation and of all maintenance and repairs, and shall retain the records for at least 15 years. These records shall be submitted to the Municipality, if requested.
C. 
Upon final inspection, the Municipality shall inform the person responsible for the operation and maintenance whether the submission of periodic (annual or other frequency) inspection and maintenance reports will be required.
D. 
The owner of each BMP and conveyance shall keep on file with the Municipality the name, address, and telephone number of the person responsible for maintenance activities and implementation of the O&M plan. In the event of a change, new information shall be submitted by the BMP or conveyance owner to the Municipality within 30 working days of the change.
A. 
The landowner shall be responsible to ensure all SWM BMPs, facilities and/or structures installed under this chapter are inspected according to the following frequencies, at a minimum, to ensure the BMPs, facilities and/or structures continue to function as intended:
(1) 
Annually for the first five years.
(2) 
Once every three years thereafter.
(3) 
During or immediately after the cessation of a ten-year or greater storm, as determined by the Municipal Engineer. Inspection reports for inspections during or after the cessation of a ten-year or greater storm event are only required to be submitted to the Municipality if requested by the Municipality or Municipal Engineer.
B. 
Inspections should be conducted during or immediately following precipitation events or in dry weather conditions if the BMP design parameters include dewatering within a specified period of time. A written inspection report shall be created to document each inspection. The inspection report shall contain the date and time of the inspection, the individual(s) who completed the inspection, the location of the BMP, stormwater management facility, or structure inspection, observations on performance, and recommendations for improving performance, if applicable. Inspection reports for annual and triennial inspections shall be submitted to the Municipality within 30 days following completion of the inspection.
C. 
The landowner shall be responsible to ensure the inspections are completed as noted below:
(1) 
The annual and triennial inspections shall be completed by the as detailed below:
(a) 
Residential properties: The landowner or the owner's designee shall be responsible to complete the inspections.
(b) 
Residential properties with a homeowner's association: A professional engineer licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as hired by the homeowner's association, shall be responsible to complete the inspections for all stormwater management facilities, that are the responsibility of the homeowner's association and all stormwater facilities constructed as part of the original development plans.
(c) 
Nonresidential properties: A professional engineer licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as hired by the landowner, shall be responsible to complete the inspections for all stormwater management facilities.
(2) 
The landowner or the owner's designee shall be responsible to complete the inspections for all ten-year storms or greater for all properties (residential and non-residential).
If the inspection reports are not provided to the Municipality as required above, the Township shall have the right, but not the obligation, to authorize the Municipal Engineer to complete the inspection and prepare the report. The landowner will be responsible to reimburse the Township for the cost of the inspection.