This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Millersville Borough Stormwater Management Ordinance."
Millersville Borough Council finds that:
A. 
Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff resulting from development throughout a watershed increases flood flows and velocities, contributes to erosion and sedimentation, overtaxes the carrying capacity of existing streams and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost of public facilities to convey and manage stormwater, undermines floodplain management and flood control efforts in downstream communities, reduces groundwater recharge, threatens public health and safety, and increases nonpoint source pollution of water resources.
B. 
A comprehensive program of stormwater management (SWM), including reasonable regulation of development and activities causing accelerated runoff and based on the concepts of low-impact development (LID), is fundamental to the public health, safety, welfare, and the protection of the people of Millersville Borough and all the people of the Borough and all of the people of the commonwealth, their resources, and the environment.
[Amended 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04]
C. 
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.
D. 
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).
E. 
Riparian forest buffers enhance water quality by filtering pollutants in runoff, providing light control and temperature moderation, processing pollutants, increasing infiltration and providing channel and shoreline stability thus decreasing erosion (DEP Riparian Forest Buffer Guidance, November 27, 2010).
F. 
The use of green infrastructure and low-impact development (LID) is intended to address the root cause of water quality impairment by using systems and practices which use or mimic natural processes to infiltrate and recharge; evapotranspire; and/or harvest and reuse precipitation near where it falls to earth. Green infrastructure practices and LID contribute to the restoration or maintenance of predevelopment hydrology.
[Added 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04]
The purpose of this chapter is to promote health, safety, and welfare by minimizing the harms and maximizing the benefits described in § 315-2 through provisions designed to:
A. 
Meet legal water quality requirements under state law, including regulations at 25 Pa. Code Chapter 93 to protect, maintain, reclaim, and restore the existing and designated uses of the waters of this commonwealth.
B. 
Preserve the natural drainage systems as much as practicable.
C. 
Manage stormwater runoff close to the source.
D. 
Provide procedures and performance standards for stormwater planning and management.
E. 
Maintain groundwater recharge to prevent degradation of surface and groundwater quality and to otherwise protect water resources.
F. 
Prevent scour and erosion of stream banks and streambeds.
G. 
Provide proper operation and maintenance of all stormwater management best management practices (SWM BMPs) that are implemented within the Borough.
H. 
Provide standards to meet NPDES permit requirements.
I. 
Promote stormwater runoff prevention through the use of nonstructural best management practices (BMPs).
J. 
Provide a regulatory environment that supports the proportion, density and intensity of development called for in the comprehensive plan; allow for creative methods of improving water quality and managing stormwater runoff; and promote a regional approach to water resource management.
K. 
Help preserve and protect exceptional natural resources and conserve and restore natural resource systems.
L. 
Promote stormwater management practices that emphasize infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration.
M. 
Provide processes and standards for the determination that implemented best management practices are installed as designed and functioning as intended.
[Added 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04]
A. 
Primary authority. The Borough is empowered to regulate these activities by the authority of the Act of October 4, 1978, 32 P.L. 864 (Act 167), 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq., as amended, the Storm Water Management Act, and Act 394 of 1937, as amended, 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq., the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law. The Borough also is empowered to regulate land use activities that affect stormwater impacts by the authority of the Borough Code, Act of February 1, 1966, P.L. (1965) 1656, No. 581, as reenacted and amended by the Act of May 17, 2012, P.L. 262, No. 43, as amended, and as reenacted, amended and codified by Act 37 of 2014, 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.
B. 
Secondary authority. The Borough also is empowered to regulate land use activities that affect runoff by the authority of the Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,[1] as amended.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
The provisions, regulations, limitations, and restrictions of this chapter shall apply to regulated activities as defined in this chapter.
A. 
This chapter applies to any regulated earth disturbance activities within the Borough and all stormwater runoff entering into the Borough's separate storm sewer system from lands within the boundaries of the Borough.
B. 
Earth disturbance activities and associated stormwater management controls are also regulated under existing state law and implementing regulations. This chapter shall operate in coordination with those parallel requirements; the requirements of this chapter shall be no less restrictive in meeting the purposes of this chapter than state law.
C. 
The provisions, regulations, limitations, and restrictions of this chapter governing maintenance of SWM facilities shall apply to all SWM facilities existing on the date of this chapter or installed after the date of this chapter and shall apply to all persons responsible for maintenance of such SWM facilities and all persons who own or occupy the land upon which such SWM facilities are located.
D. 
The provisions, regulations, limitations and restrictions of this chapter governing grading, erosion and sedimentation control, excavation and other earth disturbance activities shall apply to all persons performing any such activities within the Borough and to all landowners of lots upon which such activities are performed.
E. 
No person shall use or modify any land or watercourse, and no person shall disturb, move, strip or modify the earth, and no person shall build, install or extend any structure or other impervious surface or semi-impervious surface without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations.
F. 
It shall be the responsibility of the developer and, if different, the landowner, to ensure that all contractors, agents or other persons comply with all requirements of the chapter and with any approved SWM site plan or stormwater management permit.
A. 
Except as otherwise required by law, this chapter is intended as a continuation of, and not a repeal of, existing regulations governing the subject matter. To the extent that this chapter restates regulations contained in ordinances previously enacted by the Borough Council of Millersville Borough, this chapter shall be considered a restatement and not a repeal of such regulations. It is the specific intent of the Borough Council of Millersville Borough that all provisions of this chapter shall be considered in full force and effect as of the date such regulations were initially enacted. All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed. It is expressly provided that the provisions of this chapter shall not affect any act done, contract executed or liability incurred prior to its effective date, or affect any suit or prosecution pending or to be instituted to enforce any rights, rule, regulation or ordinance, or part thereof, or to punish any violation which occurred under any prior stormwater regulation or ordinance. In the event any violation has occurred under any prior stormwater regulation or ordinance of Millersville Borough, prosecution may be initiated against the alleged offender pursuant to the provisions of said prior stormwater regulation or ordinance, and the provisions and penalties provided in said prior stormwater regulation or ordinance shall remain effective as to said violation.
B. 
Any plan (hereinafter defined) pending at the time of the effective date of this chapter shall be allowed to proceed with revisions, finalization and implementation in accordance with any ordinance in effect prior hereto.
Should any section, provision or part thereof of this chapter be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of any of the remaining provisions of this chapter.
Approvals issued pursuant to this chapter do not relieve the applicant of the responsibility to secure required permits or approvals for activities regulated by any other applicable code, rule, act, or ordinance.
Any permit or authorization issued or approved based on false, misleading or erroneous information provided by an applicant is void without the necessity of any proceedings for revocation. Any work undertaken or use established pursuant to such permit or other authorization is unlawful. No action may be taken by a board, agency or employee of the Borough purporting to validate such a violation.
Except as specifically provided by the Pennsylvania Storm Water Management Act, Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864, No. 167, as amended, 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq., the making of any administrative decision by the Borough or any of its officials or employees shall not constitute a representation, guarantee or warranty of any kind by the Borough of the practicability or safety of any proposed structure or use with respect to damage from erosion, sedimentation, stormwater runoff, flood, or any other matter, and shall create no liability upon or give rise to any cause of action against the Borough and its officials and employees. Millersville Borough, by enacting and amending this chapter, does not waive or limit any immunity granted to the Borough and its officials and employees by the Governmental Immunity Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8541 et seq., and does not assume any liabilities or obligations.
[Amended 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04]
Notwithstanding any provision(s) of this chapter, including exemptions, any landowner or any person engaged in the alteration or development of land which may affect stormwater runoff characteristics shall implement such measures as are reasonably necessary to prevent injury to health, safety, or other property. Such measures also shall include actions as are required to manage the rate, volume, direction, and quality of resulting stormwater runoff in a manner which otherwise adequately protects health, property, and water quality.
A. 
Each structural BMP installed pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained and operated by persons engaged in the development or redevelopment of land so as to preserve and continue its function in controlling stormwater quality and quantity at the degree or amount of function for which the structural BMP was designed until transfer of ownership and responsibilities has been successfully completed.
[Added 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04]
Any person or entity owning or occupying a premises through which the MS4 passes, or conducts activities subject to this chapter in which the MS4 passes or receives drainage from the site in which the activities are subject to this chapter, shall:
A. 
Keep and maintain that part of the premises reasonably free of trash, debris, sediment, and other obstacles which may pollute, contaminate, or retard the flow of water to or through the MS4.
B. 
Maintain existing structures within or adjacent to the MS4 so that those structures will not become a hazard to the use, function, or physical integrity of the MS4.
C. 
Protect inlets or other entry points to the MS4, including inlets off site or downstream, to the maximum extent practicable in which activities, equipment, or materials could result in the discharge of a pollutant or a nonstormwater discharge.
D. 
Protect receiving waters and reduce/prevent discharge of pollutants from the MS4 to receiving waterways in accordance with the requirements of the Borough's MS4 permit.
[Added 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04]
Any person or entity engaged in activities which may result in discharges to the MS4 shall, to the maximum extent practicable, undertake all measures to reduce the risk of nonstormwater discharges and polluted discharges. The following requirements shall apply:
A. 
Every person or entity undertaking an activity or use of a premises that may cause or contribute to stormwater pollution or contamination, illicit discharges, or nonstormwater discharges to the MS4 shall implement structural and/or nonstructural BMPs to reduce or prevent a polluted discharge. BMPs shall be maintained routinely throughout the life of the activity.