Any regulated activity that meets the following exemption criteria
is exempt from the part(s) of this chapter as specified herein. However,
the requirements of this chapter shall otherwise remain in effect.
The criteria for exemption in this section apply to the total development
proposed, including instances in which the development is proposed
to take place in phases. The date of enactment of this chapter shall
be the starting point from which future development and the respective
proposed impervious surface computations shall be cumulatively considered
and regulated. Exemption shall not relieve an applicant from implementing
such measures as necessary to meet the intent of this chapter or compliance
with any NPDES permit requirements.
A. Regulated activities and altered impervious surfaces that total less than 1,000 square feet are exempt from the peak rate control requirements of this chapter, provided such improvements are in compliance with the intent of §
415-11, the definition of "land disturbance, Subsection A(3), Minimal residential disturbance.
[Amended 7-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
B. Regulated activities that create DIAs greater than 1,000 square feet
and equal to or less than 5,000 square feet are exempt only from the
peak rate control requirement of this chapter.
C. Agricultural activity is exempt from the rate control and SWM site
plan preparation requirements of this chapter, provided the activities
are performed according to the requirements of 25 Pa. Code § 102.
D. Forest management and timber operations are exempt from the rate control and SWM site plan preparation requirements of this chapter, provided the activities are performed according to the requirements of Chapter
444 of this Code of Ordinances and 25 Pa. Code § 102.
[Amended 7-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
E. Domestic gardening and landscaping are exempt from specific approval
and permitting under this chapter so long as those activities are
associated with residential dwelling units and the activities comply
with all other applicable ordinances and statutes.
F. Exemptions from certain provisions of this chapter shall not relieve the applicant from the requirements in §§
415-12D through
O of this chapter.
G. The Township may deny or revoke any exemption pursuant to this section
at any time for any project that the Township determines poses a threat
to public health, safety, property or the environment.
The low-impact development practices provided in the BMP Manual
shall be utilized for all regulated activities to the maximum extent
practicable. Water volume controls shall be implemented using the
Design Storm Method in Subsection A or the Simplified Method in Subsection
B below. For regulated activity areas equal or less than one acre
that do not require hydrologic routing to design the stormwater facilities,
this chapter establishes no preference for either methodology; therefore,
the applicant may select either methodology on the basis of economic
considerations, the intrinsic limitations on applicability of the
analytical procedures associated with each methodology, and other
factors.
A. The Design Storm Method (CG-1 in the BMP Manual) is applicable to
any size of regulated activity. This method requires detailed modeling
based on site conditions.
(1) Do not increase the post-development total runoff volume for all
storms equal to or less than the two-year, twenty-four-hour duration
precipitation.
(2) For modeling purposes:
(a)
Predevelopment (existing) nonforested pervious areas must be
considered meadow in good condition (or its equivalent).
[Amended 7-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
(b)
Twenty percent of the existing impervious area of a project
site, when present, shall be considered meadow in good condition in
the model for existing conditions.
B. The Simplified Method (CG-2 in the PADEP BMP Manual) is independent
of site conditions and should be used if the Design Storm Method is
not followed. This method is not applicable to regulated activities
greater than one acre or for projects that require design of stormwater
storage facilities.
[Amended 7-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
C. For new impervious surfaces:
(1) Stormwater facilities shall capture at least the first two inches
of runoff from all new impervious surfaces.
(2) At least the first two inches of runoff from new impervious surfaces
shall be permanently removed from the runoff flow, i.e., it shall
not be released into the surface waters of this commonwealth. Removal
options for the first two inches of runoff include reuse, evaporation,
transpiration, and infiltration.
[Amended 7-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]
(3) Wherever possible, infiltration facilities should be designed to
accommodate infiltration of the entire permanently removed runoff;
however, in all cases at least the first 1.0 inch of the permanently
removed stormwater runoff shall be infiltrated. If site soils are
unsuitable for natural infiltration, a man-made stone bed with perforated
pipes may be installed if outletted into an approved bioretention
area.
[Amended 7-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-02]