[Ord. No. 3-2023, 7/18/2023]
1.
For all regulated activities, unless preparation of an SWM site plan is specifically exempted in § 23-302:
2.
The SWM site plans approved by the Township, in accordance with § 23-406, shall be on the project site throughout the duration of the regulated activity.
3.
The Township may approve measures for substantially meeting the state water quality requirements other than those in this chapter, provided that they meet the minimum requirements of, and do not conflict with, state law, including, but not limited to, the Clean Streams Law.[1]
4.
Where a development site is traversed by an existing watercourse (natural and artificial), a drainage easement shall be provided conforming to the line of such watercourse. Where a riparian buffer is required pursuant to § 23-303, the drainage easement shall conform to the line of the riparian buffer. The terms of the easement shall conform to the riparian buffer requirements contained in § 27-303 of this chapter.
5.
Any stormwater management facility regulated by this chapter that would be located in or adjacent to waters of the commonwealth or wetlands shall be subject to approval by DEP through the joint permit application process, or, where deemed appropriate by DEP, the general permit process. When there is a question whether wetlands may be involved, it is the responsibility of the applicant to show that the land in question cannot be classified as wetlands; otherwise approval to work in the area must be obtained from DEP.
6.
Any stormwater management facility regulated by this chapter that would be located on state highway rights-of-way shall be subject to approval by PennDOT.
7.
All stormwater runoff, other than rooftop runoff, shall be treated for water quality prior to discharge to surface or groundwater.
8.
For all regulated earth disturbance activities, erosion and sediment control BMPs shall be designed, implemented, operated and maintained during the regulated earth disturbance activities (e.g., during construction) to meet the purposes and requirements of this chapter and to meet all requirements under Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code and Clean Streams Law. Various BMPs and their design standards are listed in the Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Manual (E&S Manual), No. 363-2134-008, as amended and updated.
9.
Impervious areas:
A.
The measurement of impervious areas shall include all of the impervious areas in the total proposed development even if development is to take place in stages.
B.
For development taking place in stages, the entire development plan must be used in determining conformance with this chapter.
C.
For projects that add impervious area to the parcel, the total impervious area on the parcel is subject to the requirements of this chapter; except that the volume controls in § 23-304 and the peak rate controls of § 23-305 do not need to be retrofitted to existing impervious areas that are not being altered by the proposed regulated activity.
10.
Stormwater flows onto adjacent property shall not be created, increased, decreased, relocated, or otherwise altered without written notification and authorization by the affected property owner(s). Such stormwater flows shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter.
11.
All regulated activities shall include such measures as necessary to:
A.
Protect health, safety, and property.
B.
Meet the water quality goals of this chapter by implementing measures to:
(1)
Minimize disturbance to floodplains, wetlands, and wooded areas.
(2)
Maintain or extend riparian buffers.
(3)
Avoid erosive flow conditions in natural flow pathways.
(4)
Minimize thermal impacts to waters of the commonwealth.
(5)
Disconnect impervious surfaces by directing runoff to pervious areas, wherever possible.
C.
Incorporate methods described in the BMP Manual. If methods other than green infrastructure and low impact development (LID) methods are proposed to achieve the volume and rate controls required under this chapter, the SWM site plan must include a detailed justification demonstrating that the use of LID and green infrastructure is not practicable.
12.
The design of all facilities over karst shall include an evaluation of measures to minimize adverse effects.
13.
Infiltration BMPs should be spread out, made as shallow as practicable, and located to maximize use of natural on-site infiltration features while still meeting the other requirements of this chapter.
14.
Normally dry, open-top, storage facilities should completely drain both the volume control and rate control capacities over a period of time not less than 24 hours and not more than 72 hours from the end of the design storm.
15.
The design storm rainfall amounts to be used in the analysis of peak rates of discharge should be obtained from the latest version of the Precipitation-Frequency Atlas of the United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.
16.
For all regulated activities, stormwater management BMPs shall be designed, implemented, operated, and maintained to meet the purposes and requirements of this chapter and to meet all water quality requirements under Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code, the Clean Streams Law[2] and the Storm Water Management Act.[3]
17.
Various BMPs and their design standards are listed in the BMP Manual.
18.
Stormwater conveyance facilities must be able to convey, at a minimum, without damage to the drainage structure, adjacent properties or roadway, runoff from the twenty-five-year design storm. Stormwater conveyance facilities may be required to convey larger design storms based on individual drainage/sub-drainage area characteristics as recommended by the Township Engineer and approved at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. Stormwater conveyance facilities to or exiting from stormwater management facilities (i.e., detention basins) shall be designed to convey the design flow to or from that structure. Open channels must be able to convey at a minimum, without damage to the drainage structure or roadway, runoff from the twenty-five-year design storm with a minimum 1.0 foot of freeboard measured below the lowest point along the top of the roadway.
19.
The design of all stormwater management facilities shall incorporate sound engineering principles and practices. The Township reserves the right to disapprove any design that would result in the construction of or continuation of a stormwater problem area.
20.
All wet basin designs shall incorporate biologic controls consistent with the West Nile Guidance found in Appendix E of the Act 167 Plan.