For any of the activities regulated by this
chapter, the final approval of subdivision and land development plans,
the issuance of any building permit or the commencement of any land
disturbance activity may not proceed until the applicant/owner or
his/her agent has received approval of a drainage plan from the Township
designee in writing.
A.
Any regulated activity that meets the following exception criteria is exempt from the provisions of this chapter. These criteria shall apply to the total development even if development is to take place in phases. The date of the Township ordinance adoption shall be the starting point from which to consider tracts as "parent tracts" in which future subdivisions and respective impervious area computations shall be cumulatively considered. Exemption shall not relieve the applicant/owner from implementing such measures as are necessary to protect health, safety and property. This exemption is cumulative such that it applies only once to a tract, and if the exemption amount is exceeded, it is not applicable and all previously exempted impervious areas must be managed. This exemption shall not relieve the applicant from meeting the special requirements for watersheds draining to high quality (HQ) or exceptional value (EV) waters and requirements for groundwater recharge (§ 187-16), water quality (§ 187-17) and streambank erosion (§ 187-17B).
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Stormwater Management Exemption Criteria
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|---|---|
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Area
Total Parcel Size
(acre)
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Impervious Exemption
(square feet)
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Less than or equal to 1/4
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1,000
|
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Greater than 1/4 to 1
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2,500
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Greater than 1
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5,000
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Exemptions shall be at the discretion of the
Township upon review of site conditions, topography, soils, and other
factors as desired appropriate.
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B.
Prior to the granting of an exemption by the Township,
the applicant/owner must provide documentation from a registered professional
engineer in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania that the increased flows
from the site leave the site in the same manner as the predevelopment
condition, and that there will be no adverse effects to properties
along the path of flow(s), or that the increased flow(s) will reach
a natural watercourse or an existing stormwater management facility
before adversely affecting any property along the path of the flow(s).
A.
The drainage plan shall consist of all applicable
calculations, maps and plans. A note on the maps shall refer to the
associated computations and erosion and sediment control plan by title
and date. The cover sheet of the computations and erosion and sediment
control plan shall refer to the associated maps by title and date.
All drainage plan materials shall be submitted to the Township of
Falls in a format that is clear, concise, legible, neat and well organized;
otherwise, the drainage plan shall be returned to the applicant/owner.
B.
The following items shall be included in the drainage
plan:
(1)
General.
(a)
General description of project.
(b)
General description of permanent stormwater
management techniques, including construction specifications of the
materials to be used for stormwater management facilities.
(c)
Complete hydrologic, hydraulic and structural
computations for all stormwater management facilities.
(d)
A general description of nonpoint source pollution
controls.
(2)
Plan(s) of the project area shall be submitted on
twenty-four-inch by thirty-six-inch or thirty-inch by forty-two-inch
sheets and shall be prepared in a form that meets the requirements
for recording in the offices of the Recorder of Deeds of Bucks County.
The contents of the maps(s) shall include, but not be limited to:
[Amended 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-11]
(a)
The location of the project relative to highways,
municipalities or other identifiable landmarks.
(b)
Existing contours at intervals of one foot.
In areas of steep slopes (greater than 15%), five-foot contour intervals
may be used.
(c)
Existing streams, lakes, ponds or other bodies
of water within the project area.
(d)
Existing conditions, time of concentration flow paths, which
correlate to the calculations used in the stormwater management design
calculations.
(e)
Other physical features, including flood hazard
boundaries, sinkholes, streams, existing drainage courses, areas of
natural vegetation to be preserved and the total extent of the upstream
area draining through the site.
(f)
The locations of all existing and proposed utilities,
sanitary and storm sewers and waterlines within 50 feet of property
lines.
(g)
An overlay showing soil names and boundaries, including hydro-soil
group classifications.
(h)
Proposed changes to the land surface and vegetative
cover, including the type and amount of impervious area that would
be added.
(i)
Proposed structures, roads, paved areas and
buildings.
(j)
Final contours at intervals at one foot or two
feet. In areas of steep slopes (greater than 15%), five-foot contour
intervals may be used
(k)
The name of the development, the name and address
of the applicant/owner of the property and the name of the engineer,
individual or firm preparing the plan.
(l)
The date of submission.
(m)
A graphic and written scale of one inch equals
no more than 50 feet; for tracts of 20 acres or more, the scale shall
be one inch equals no more than 100 feet.
(n)
A North arrow.
(o)
The total tract boundary and size, with distances
marked to the nearest foot and bearings to the nearest degree.
(p)
Existing and proposed land use(s).
(q)
Overall limit of disturbance with the area noted.
(r)
A key map showing all existing man-made features
beyond the property boundary that would be affected by the project.
(s)
A plan of the proposed stormwater drainage systems
including storm pipes, inlets, runoff control devices, drainage channels
and storage facilities. All existing features which are to be incorporated
in the design shall be so identified.
(t)
Continuous profiles for each reach of pipe shall
be plotted along with the hydraulic information pertinent to each
reach within the system. This information shall include the pipe size
and type, the "n" factor, slope of the pipe, the design capacity,
and the velocity at the design capacity.
(u)
Horizontal and vertical profiles of all open
channels, including hydraulic capacity.
(v)
Proposed conditions: time-of-concentration flow methods used
in the stormwater management design calculations.
(w)
A fifteen-foot-wide access easement around all
stormwater management facilities that would provide ingress to and
egress from a public right-of-way.
(x)
A note on the plan indicating the location and
responsibility for maintenance of stormwater management facilities
that would be located off site. All off-site facilities shall meet
the performance standards and design criteria specified in this chapter.
(y)
A construction detail of any improvements made
to sinkholes and the location of all notes to be posted on the plans,
as specified in this chapter.
(z)
A table showing all existing and proposed impervious surfaces
by category.
(aa)
A statement signed by the applicant/owner, acknowledging
the stormwater management facility to be a permanent fixture that
can be altered or removed only after approval of a revised plan by
the Township of Falls.
(bb)
The following signature block for the Township
Engineer:
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"______________________________,on this date
(date of signature), have reviewed and hereby certify that the drainage
plan meets all design standards and criteria of Falls Township Stormwater
Management Ordinance."
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(cc)
The location of all erosion and sediment control
facilities.
(dd)
The location of all soil borings or test areas from the infiltration
testing that correlates to the soil report.
(ee)
All plans shall include a plan note stating
that the Township shall have the right to enter private property to
inspect and repair, if necessary, any stormwater management facility.
(ff)
All plans shall note that the stormwater management
facilities are a permanent part of the development and shall not be
removed, altered, or modified.
(3)
Supplemental information.
(a)
A written description of the following information
shall be submitted:
[1]
The overall stormwater management concept for
the project.
[2]
Stormwater runoff computations as specified
in this chapter.
[3]
Stormwater management techniques to be applied
both during and after development.
[4]
Expected project time schedule.
[5]
Development stages (project phases) if so proposed.
(b)
A soil erosion and sediment control plan, where
applicable, including all reviews and approvals, as required by PADEP.
(c)
A geologic assessment of the effects of runoff
on sinkholes as specified in this chapter, when detected.
(d)
The effect of the project (in terms of runoff
volumes and peak flows) on adjacent properties and on any existing
stormwater management facilities and/or existing Township storm sewer
networks that may receive runoff from the project site.
(e)
A declaration of adequacy and highway occupancy
permit from the PennDOT district office when utilization of a PennDOT
storm drainage system is proposed.
C.
Stormwater management facilities.
(1)
All stormwater management facilities must be located
on a plan and described in detail.
(2)
When groundwater recharge methods such as seepage
pits, beds or infiltration trenches are used, the locations of existing
and proposed septic tank infiltration areas and stromwaterm, both
on and off site, must be shown.
(3)
All calculations, assumptions and criteria used in
the design of the stormwater management facilities must be shown.
[Amended 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-11]
For all activities regulated by this chapter,
that are not part of a subdivision or land development application,
but are subject to earth disturbance approval or otherwise regulated
by this chapter, the steps below shall be followed for submission.
For any activities that require a PADEP joint permit application and
are regulated under Chapter 105 (Dam Safety and Waterway Management)
or Chapter 106 (Floodplain Management) of PADEP's Rules and Regulations,
require a PennDOT highway occupancy permit or require any other permit
under applicable state or federal regulations, the permit(s) shall
be part of the plan.
A.
The Township Engineer shall review the drainage plan
for consistency with this chapter. The Township of Falls shall require
receipt of a complete plan, as specified in this chapter.
B.
The Township Engineer shall review the drainage plan
for any submission or land development in accordance with the Township
Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance provisions not superseded
by this chapter.
C.
For activities regulated by this chapter, the Township
Engineer shall notify the Township of Falls in writing, within 30
calendar days, whether the drainage plan is consistent with this chapter.
Should the drainage plan be determined to be consistent with this
chapter, the Township Engineer will forward an approval letter to
the applicant/owner with a copy to the Township Secretary.
D.
Should the drainage plan be determined to be inconsistent
with this chapter, the Township Engineer will forward a disapproval
letter to the applicant/owner with a copy to the Township Secretary
citing the reason(s) for the disapproval. Any disapproved drainage
plan may be revised by the applicant/owner and resubmitted consistent
with this chapter.
E.
For regulated activities specified in § 187-4A through C of this chapter, the Township Engineer shall notify the designated Township officer in writing, within a time frame consistent with the Building Code and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, whether the drainage plan is consistent with this chapter and forward a copy of the approval/disapproval letter to the applicant/owner. Any disapproved drainage plan may be revised by the applicant/owner and resubmitted consistent with this chapter.
F.
For regulated activities requiring a PADEP joint permit
application, the Township Engineer shall notify PADEP whether the
drainage plan is consistent with this chapter and forward a copy of
the review letter to the Township of Falls and the applicant/owner.
PADEP may consider the Township Engineer's review comments in determining
whether to issue a permit.
G.
The Township of Falls shall not approve any subdivision and/or land development for regulated activities specified in §§ 187-4A and B of this chapter if the drainage plan has been found to be inconsistent with this chapter, as determined by the Township Engineer. All required permits from PADEP must be obtained prior to approval.
H.
The Township Building Permit Office shall not issue a building permit for any regulated activity specified in § 187-4 of this chapter if the drainage plan has been found to be inconsistent with this chapter, as determined by the Township Engineer, or without considering the comments of the Township Engineer. All required permits from PADEP must be obtained prior to issuance of a building permit.
(1)
The applicant shall be responsible for completing
record drawings of all stormwater management facilities included in
the approved drainage plan. The record drawings and an explanation
of any discrepancies with the design plans shall be submitted to the
Township Engineer for final approval. In no case shall the Township
approve the record drawings until the Township receives a copy of
an approved declaration of adequacy, highway occupancy permit from
the PennDOT district office, and any applicable permits from DEP.
I.
The Township of Falls' approval of a drainage plan shall be valid for a period not to exceed two years. This two-year time period shall commence on the date that the Township of Falls signs the approved drainage plan. If stormwater management facilities included in the approved drainage plan have not been constructed, or if an "as-built" survey of these facilities has not been approved within this two-year time period, then the Township of Falls may consider the drainage plan disapproved and may revoke any and all permits. Drainage plans that are considered disapproved by the Township of Falls shall be resubmitted in accordance with § 187-24 of this chapter.
A.
A modification to a submitted drainage plan for a development site that involves a change in stormwater management facilities or techniques, or that involves the relocation or redesign of stormwater management facilities, or that it is necessary because soil or other conditions are not as stated on the drainage plan as determined by the Township Engineer, shall require a resubmission of the modified drainage plan consistent with § 187-21 of this chapter and be subject to review as specified in § 187-22 of this chapter.
B.
A modification to an already approved or disapproved
drainage plan shall be submitted to the Township of Falls, accompanied
by the applicable review fee. A modification to a drainage plan for
which the Township of Falls has not taken a formal action shall be
submitted to the Township of Falls, accompanied by the applicable
Township review fee.
A disapproved drainage plan may be resubmitted, with the revisions addressing the Township Engineer's concerns documented in writing, to the Township Engineer in accordance with § 187-21 of this chapter and be subject to review as specified in § 187-22 of this chapter. The applicable Township review fee must accompany a resubmission of a disapproved drainage plan.
