(a) General Requirements. No final subdivision/land development plan shall be approved, no permit authorizing construction shall be issued, and no earthmoving or land disturbance activity shall be initiated until the final stormwater management plan for the development site is approved in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) General Exemptions. The following activities are specifically exempt from the plan preparation provisions of this chapter.
(1) Land disturbances affecting less than one acre of ground surface.
(2) Land disturbances associated with existing one and two-family dwellings.
(3) Use of land for gardening for home consumption.
(4) Agriculture when operated in accordance with a conservation plan or erosion and sedimentation control plan prepared by the Conservation District.
(5) Forest management operations which are following the management practices of the Department of Environmental Resources contained in its publication Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Guidelines for Forestry, and are operating under an erosion and sedimentation control plan.
(c) Exemptions for Small Developments.
(1) At the time of application, the Municipality shall determine if the subdivision/land development qualifies as a "small development" and, therefore, is eligible for simplified stormwater plan submission. For the purposes of this chapter, a small development is any subdivision or land development which results (or will result when fully constructed) in the creation of 5,000 or less square feet of impervious surface area.
(2) Applications for small developments shall include a plan which describes the type and location of proposed connection to an existing storm sewer system. The plan should show accurately site boundaries, five-foot interval contours, locations of watershed and/or subarea boundaries on the site (if applicable) and any watercourses, floodplains or existing drainage facilities or structures located on the site. The City reserves the right to require that the plan be prepared by a registered professional engineer, surveyor or landscape architect.
(3) The City Engineer shall review and approve the proposed provisions for stormwater management in accordance with the standards and requirements of this chapter.
(d) Exemptions for Existing Developed Sites.
(1) Stormwater management plans for existing developed sites as required by the City Engineer shall include information which describes existing conditions and the proposed remedial measures. Information provided shall include the type and location of the development site, the location and causes of identified runoff problems, existing and proposed connections to an existing storm sewer system, and existing and proposed stormwater runoff control facilities. The plan should show accurately site boundaries, locations of watershed and/or subarea boundaries on the site (if applicable) and any watercourses, floodplains or existing drainage facilities or structures located on the site. The City reserves the right to require that the plan be prepared by a registered professional engineer, surveyor or landscape architect.
(2) The City Engineer shall review and approve the proposed provisions and remedial measures for stormwater management in accordance with the standards and requirements of this chapter.
(e) Plans for Existing Developed Property.
(1) The City Engineer is authorized to determine that stormwater runoff from an existing developed property is inadequately controlled and is causing flooding, accelerated erosion or other damage to adjacent or downstream property. Subsequent to the adoption of this chapter, the City Engineer shall develop written standards and procedures for the identification and determination of developed property(ies) that require remediation of stormwater runoff problems.
(2) Upon making such determination, the owner of the existing developed property shall be required to submit a stormwater management plan detailing the remedial actions to be taken to eliminate the problem(s). Within 120 days of receipt of notification of the City Engineer's determination that a landowner's property is creating stormwater problems, the landowner shall submit to the City a stormwater management plan. Such plans shall include information which describes existing conditions and the proposed remedial measures. Information provided shall include the type and location of the developed property, the location and causes of identified runoff problems, existing and proposed connections to an existing storm sewer system, and existing and proposed stormwater runoff facilities. The plan shall accurately show property boundaries, locations of watershed and/or subarea boundaries on the property (if applicable) and any watercourses, floodplains or existing drainage facilities or structures located on the property. The City reserves the right to require that the plan be prepared by a registered professional engineer, surveyor or landscape architect. The remedial plan shall include a timetable for the completion of all proposed actions.
(3) The City Engineer shall review and approve the proposed provisions and the remedial measures for stormwater management in accordance with the standards and requirements of this chapter. The property owner shall be notified in writing of the approved remedial plan. Failure to comply with the time specified in the remedial plan shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
(f) Stormwater Plan Contents.
(1) General format. The stormwater plan shall be drawn to a scale of not less than one inch equals 200 feet. All sheets shall contain a title block with the name and address of the applicant and the engineer, the scale, north arrow, and legend, and the date of preparation.
(2) Existing and proposed features. The plan shall show the following:
A. Watershed location. Provide a key map showing the location of the development site within the watershed(s) and watershed subarea(s). On all site drawings, show the boundaries of the watershed(s) and subarea(s) as they are located on the development site and identify watershed name(s) and subarea number (s).
B. Floodplain boundaries. Identify 100-year floodplains on the development site (as appropriate) based on the Municipal flood insurance study maps.
C. Natural features. Show all bodies of water (natural or artificial), watercourses (permanent and intermittent), swales, wetlands and other natural drainage courses on the development site or which will be affected by runoff from the development.
D. Soils. Provide an overlay showing soil types and boundaries within the development site (consult County, SCS and U.S. Geological Survey for information).
E. Contours. Show existing and final contours at intervals of two feet; in areas with slopes greater than fifteen percent, five-foot contour intervals may be used.
F. Land cover. Show existing and final land cover classifications as necessary to support and illustrate the runoff calculations performed.
G. Drainage area delineations. Show the boundaries of the drainage areas employed in the runoff calculations performed.
H. Stormwater management controls. Show any existing stormwater management or drainage controls and/or structures, such as sanitary and storm sewers, swales, culverts, etc., which are located on the development site, or which are located off-site but will be affected by runoff from the development.
(3) Professional certification. The stormwater management plan (including all calculations) must be prepared and sealed by a registered professional engineer, surveyor or landscape architect with training and expertise in hydrology and hydraulics. Documentation of qualifications may be required by the Municipality.
(4) Runoff calculations. Calculations for determining pre- and post-development discharge rates and for designing proposed stormwater control facilities must be submitted with the stormwater management plan. All calculations shall be prepared using the methods and data prescribed by this chapter.
(5) Stormwater controls. All proposed stormwater runoff control measures must be shown on the plan including methods for collecting, conveying and storing stormwater runoff on-site, which are to be used both during and after construction. Erosion and sedimentation controls shall be shown in accordance with applicable Municipal and County Conservation District requirements. The plan shall provide information on the exact type, location, sizing, design and construction of all proposed facilities and their relationship to the existing watershed drainage system.
A. If the development is to be constructed in stages, the applicant must demonstrate that stormwater facilities will be installed to manage stormwater runoff safely during each stage of development.
B. A schedule for the installation of all temporary and permanent stormwater control measures and devices shall be submitted.
C. If appropriate, a justification should be submitted as to why any preferred stormwater management techniques, as listed in Section 1276.04, are not proposed for use.
(6) Easements; rights of way; deed restrictions. All existing and proposed easements and rights of way for drainage and/or access to stormwater control facilities shall be shown and the proposed owner identified. Show any areas subject to special deed restrictions relative to or affecting stormwater management on the development site.
(7) Other permits/approvals. A list of any approvals/permits relative to stormwater management that will be required from other governmental agencies (e.g. an obstruction permit from the Pennsylvania DER), together with anticipated dates of submission/receipt, should be included with the stormwater plan submission. Copies of permit applications may be requested by the Municipality where they may be helpful for the plan review.
(8) Maintenance program. The application shall contain a proposed maintenance plan for all stormwater control facilities in accordance with the following:
A. Identify the proposed ownership entity (e.g. the Municipality, the property owner, a private corporation, a homeowner's association, or other entity).
B. Include a maintenance program for all facilities, outlining the type of maintenance activities, probable frequencies, personnel and equipment requirements and estimated annual maintenance costs.
C. Identify the method of financing continuing operation and maintenance if the facility is to be owned by other than the Municipality or another governmental agency.
D. Submit any legal agreements required to implement the maintenance program and copies of the maintenance agreement as required by this chapter.
(9) Financial guarantees. Submit financial guarantees in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord 14-91. Passed 8-28-91.)