[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
1.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for
the purpose of this Part 4, have the meaning indicated below.
2.
Words used in the singular include the plural and words in the plural
include the singular. The word "building" shall be construed as if
followed by the words "or a part thereof." The word "may" is permissive;
the words "shall" and "will" are mandatory.
[Ord. 691, 9/10/2009]
As used in this Part 4, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The removal of the surface of the land through the combined
action of human activities and the natural processes, at a rate greater
than would occur because of the natural process alone.
A landowner, as herein defined, or agent of the landowner,
who has filed an application for a stormwater management permit.
An activity, facility, design, measure or procedure used
to manage stormwater impacts from regulated earth disturbance activities,
to meet state water quality requirements, to promote groundwater recharge
and to otherwise meet the purposes of this Part 4. BMPs include, but
are not limited to, infiltration, filter strips, low impact design,
bioretention, wet ponds, permeable paving, grassed swales, forested
buffers, sand filters, and detention basins.
Any structure, either temporary or permanent, having walls
and a roof, designed or used for the shelter of any person, animal
or property, and occupying more than 100 square feet of area.
An underground reservoir or tank for storing rainwater.
The Bucks County Conservation District.
A pipe, conduit or similar structure, including appurtenant
work, which carries surface water.
The deliberate devotion of property by its owner for general
public use.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The magnitude of precipitation from a storm event measured
in probability of occurrence (e.g., fifty-year storm) and duration
(e.g., twenty-four-hour), and used in computing stormwater management
control systems.
A basin designed to retard stormwater runoff by temporarily
storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined rate.
A person, partnership, association, corporation or other
entity, or any responsible person therein or agent thereof, that undertakes
any regulated activity of this Part 4.
The specific tract of land for which a regulated activity
is proposed.
An unstabilized land area where an earth disturbance activity
is occurring or has occurred.
[Amended by Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
A right granted by a landowner to a grantee, allowing the
use of private land for stormwater management purposes.
A construction or other human activity which disturbs the
surface of the land, including, but not limited to, clearing and grubbing;
grading; excavations; embankments; road maintenance; building construction;
and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock,
or earth materials.
[Added by Ord. No. 769, 9/8/2022]
The removal of soil particles by the action of water, wind,
ice or other geological agents.
A plan for a project which identifies BMPs to minimize accelerated
erosion and off-site sedimentation.
The dominant land cover during the five-year period immediately
preceding a proposed regulated activity. If the initial condition
of the site is undeveloped land, the land use shall be considered
as "meadow" unless the natural land cover is proven to generate a
lower curve number or Rational "c" value, such as forested lands.
[Added by Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
Replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies.
Surfaces which do not absorb water and which prevent the
infiltration of water into the ground. Any area which has been or
is proposed to be modified from grass, dirt, vegetation, wooded, or
groundcover, including but not limited to the area of all buildings,
streets, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks, swimming pools,
and any areas in concrete, asphalt, porous pavers, packed stone, or
other similar materials shall be considered impervious surfaces. Impervious
surfaces also include other areas determined to be impervious by the
Township Engineer.
[Amended by Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
A structure designed to direct runoff into the ground (e.g.,
french drains, seepage pits, seepage trench).
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts
or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings,
whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential
building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or
tenure; or
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially
or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective
occupants by means of or for the purpose of streets, common areas,
leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
A subdivision of land.
The legal, beneficial, equitable owner or owners of land,
including the holder of an option or contract to purchase (whether
or not such option or contact is subject to any condition), a lessee
(if he is authorized under the lease to exercise the rights of the
landowner), or any other person having a proprietary interest in land.
Township of Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
[Added by Ord. No. 769, 9/8/2022]
Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, the federal
government's system for issuance of permits under the Clean Water
Act, which is delegated to DEP in Pennsylvania.
"Point source" as described in 40 CFR 122.2 at the point
where the Township's storm sewer system discharges to the surface
waters of the commonwealth.
"Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual,"
December 30, 2006, or as last revised and/or amended.
The maximum rate of flow of stormwater runoff at a given
point and time resulting from a specified storm event.
Any discernable, confined and discrete conveyance, including
but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel or conduit from
which stormwater is or may be discharged, as defined in state regulations
at 25 Pa. Code § 92.1.
The specific area of land where any regulated activities
in the municipality are planned, conducted or maintained.
Earth disturbance activity one acre or more with a point
source discharge to surface waters of the Warminster Township storm
sewer system, or five acres or more regardless of the planned runoff.
This includes earth disturbance on any portion of, or during any stage
of, a larger common plan of development. For road maintenance activities,
this only includes those activities involving 25 acres or more earth
disturbance.
The percentage of the predevelopment peak rate of runoff
for a development site to which the post-development peak rate of
runoff must be controlled to protect downstream areas.
A basin designed to retain stormwater runoff so that a permanent
pool is established.
An area of trees and other vegetation located in areas adjoining
and upgradient from surface water bodies and designed to intercept
surface runoff, wastewater, subsurface flow, and deeper groundwater
flows from upland sources for the purpose of removing or buffering
the effects of associated nutrients, sediment, organic matter, pesticides,
or other pollutants prior to entry into surface waters and groundwater
recharge areas.
Earth disturbance activities within the existing road cross
section, such as grading and repairing existing unpaved road surfaces,
cutting or cleaning road banks and/or drainage ditches and other similar
activities.
The part of precipitation which flows over the land.
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension,
is being transported or has been moved from its site of origin by
water.
A barrier, dam, retention or detention basin to retain sediment.
An area of excavated earth filled with loose stone or similar
material and into which water is directed for infiltration into the
ground.
A surface such as stone, rock, concrete or other material
which prevents some percolation of water into the ground.
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with
drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters,
ditches, man-made channels or storm drains) primarily used for collecting
and conveying stormwater runoff.
A method of runoff computation developed by NRCS (issued
under Technical Release 55) which is based upon relating soil type
and land use/cover to a runoff parameter called a curve number.
As defined under state regulations protection of designated
and existing uses (see 25 Pa. Code Chapters 93 and 96), including:
Each stream segment in Pennsylvania has a designated use, such
as cold water fishery or potable water supply, which are listed in
Chapter 93. These uses must be protected and maintained under state
regulations.
"Existing uses" are those attained as of November 1975, regardless
of whether they have been designated in Chapter 93. Regulated earth
disturbance activities must be designed to protect and maintain existing
uses and maintain the level of water quality necessary to protect
those uses in all streams, and to protect and maintain water quality
in special protection streams.
Water quality involves the chemical, biological and physical
characteristics of surface water bodies. After regulated earth disturbance
activities are complete, these characteristics can be impacted by
addition of pollutants, such as sediment, and change in habitat through
increased flow volumes and/or rates as a result of changes in land
surface area from those activities. Therefore, permanent discharges
to surface waters must be managed to protect the streambank, streambed,
and structural integrity of the waterway to prevent these impacts.
A system of pipes or other conduits and/or open channels
that convey intercepted runoff and stormwater from other sources,
but excludes domestic sewage and industrial wastes.
[Amended by Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
The surface runoff generated by precipitation reaching the
ground surface.
The plan for managing stormwater runoff adopted by Bucks
County for the Neshaminy Creek Watershed, Little Neshaminy Creek Watershed,
and Pennypack Creek Watershed as required by the Act of October 4,
1978, P.L. 864 (Act 167), and known as the "Stormwater Management
Act."
[Amended by Ord. 737, 1/19/2017]
A watercourse.
The smallest unit of watershed breakdown for hydrologic modeling
purposes for which the runoff control criteria have been established
in the stormwater management plan.
The division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land
by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions
of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose,
whether immediate or future, of lease, transfer of ownership or building
or lot development.
Any and all rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments,
ditches, watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, wetlands,
ponds, springs and all other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface
water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or
on the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A low lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface
water runoff.
Any channel of conveyance of surface water having defined
bed and banks, whether natural or artificial, with perennial or intermittent
flow.
Region or area drained by a river, watercourse or other body
of water, whether natural or artificial.
