This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Dickinson
Township Stormwater Management Ordinance."
The Township is empowered to regulate land use activities that
affect stormwater impacts by the authority vested in second class
townships by the Second Class Township Code, 53 P.S. §§ 65101 — 67201,
and the Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864 (Act 167), 32 P.S. § 680.1
et seq., as amended (the Stormwater Management Act). This chapter
has been enacted in compliance with the Cumberland County Stormwater
Management Plan.
The Board of Supervisors of Dickinson Township finds that:
A. Inadequate management of accelerated runoff of stormwater resulting
from development throughout a watershed increases flood flows and
velocities; contributes to erosion and sedimentation; overtaxes the
carrying capacity of streams and storm sewers; greatly increases the
cost of public facilities to carry and control stormwater; undermines
floodplain management and flood control efforts in downstream communities;
reduces groundwater recharge; threatens public health and safety;
and increases non-point-source pollution of water resources.
B. A comprehensive program of stormwater management, including reasonable
regulation of development and activities causing the removal of the
surface of land through the combined action of man's activities and
the natural processes at a rate greater than would occur because of
the natural process alone, is fundamental to the public health, safety
and welfare and the protection of the people of the Township and all
the people of the commonwealth, their resources and the environment.
C. Stormwater is an important water resource which provides groundwater
recharge for water supplies and base flow of streams and which also
protects and maintains surface water quality.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare within the Township and its watershed by minimizing the harms and maximizing the benefits described in §
170-3 of this chapter 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 the
commonwealth.
B. Preserve the natural drainage systems as much as possible.
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
water 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 permanent stormwater
management (SWM) best management practices (BMPs) that are implemented
within the Township.
H. Provide standards to meet NPDES permit requirements and provide performance
standards and design criteria for watershed-wide stormwater management
collection, conveyance and planning.
I. Meet general water quality and soil disturbance goals by implementing
measures to:
(1) Minimize disturbance to floodplains, wetlands, natural slopes over
15%, and existing native vegetation.
(2) Preserve and maintain trees and woodlands; maintain or extend riparian
buffers and protect existing forested buffer; and provide trees and
woodlands adjacent to impervious areas whenever feasible.
(3) Establish and maintain nonerosive flow conditions in natural flow
pathways.
(4) Minimize soil disturbance and soil compaction; over disturbed areas,
replace topsoil to a minimum depth equal to the original depth or
four inches, whichever is greater; and use tracked equipment for grading
when feasible.
(5) Disconnect impervious surfaces by directing runoff to pervious areas,
wherever possible.
(6) Incorporate the techniques for low-impact development practices described
in the most-current version of the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management
Practices Manual.
(7) Minimize thermal impacts to waters of the commonwealth.
Any ordinance provision(s) or regulation of the Township inconsistent
with any of the provisions of this chapter is hereby repealed to the
extent of the inconsistency only.
Should any section or provision 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.
Permits and 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. If more-stringent requirements concerning
regulation of stormwater or erosion and sedimentation control are
contained in the other code, rule, act or ordinance, the more-stringent
regulation shall apply.
Any reference in this chapter to any publication, manual, standard,
law, code or regulation shall include any and all subsequent amendments,
supplements and successor publications, standards, laws, codes and
regulations thereto without the need to amend this chapter to make
specific reference thereto.