This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Act 167
Stormwater Management Ordinance."
The governing body of the Borough 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, changes the
natural hydrologic patterns, destroys aquatic habitat, elevates aquatic
pollutant concentrations and loadings, 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, and threatens public health and safety.
B.
A comprehensive program of stormwater management, including reasonable
regulation of development and activities causing accelerated erosion
and loss of natural infiltration, is fundamental to the public health,
safety and welfare and the protection of the people of the Borough
and all of the people of the commonwealth, their resources and the
environment.
C.
Stormwater can be an important resource by providing groundwater
recharge for water supplies and baseflow of streams, which also protects
and maintains surface water quality.*
D.
Public education on the control of pollution from stormwater is an
essential component in successfully addressing stormwater.*
E.
Federal and state regulations require certain boroughs to implement
a program of stormwater controls. These Boroughs are required to obtain
a permit for stormwater discharges from their separate storm sewer
systems under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES).*
F.
Nonstormwater discharges to Borough separate storm sewer systems
can contribute to pollution of waters of the commonwealth by the Borough.*
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare within the Saucon Creek Watershed by minimizing the damages and maximizing the benefits described in § 378-2 of this chapter by provisions designed to:
A.
Manage stormwater runoff impacts at their source by regulating activities
which cause such problems.
B.
Utilize and preserve the desirable existing natural drainage systems.
C.
Encourage infiltration of stormwater, where appropriate, to maintain
groundwater recharge, to prevent degradation of surface water and
groundwater quality and to otherwise protect water resources.
D.
Maintain the existing flows and quality of streams and watercourses
in the Borough and the commonwealth.
E.
Preserve and restore the flood-carrying capacity of streams.
F.
Provide for proper maintenance of all permanent stormwater management
BMPs that are implemented in the Borough.
G.
Provide review procedures and performance standards for stormwater
planning, design and management.*
H.
Manage stormwater impacts close to the runoff source which requires
a minimum of structures and relies on natural processes.*
I.
Meet legal water quality requirements under state law, including
regulations at 25 Pa. Code Chapter 93.4a to protect and maintain "existing
uses" and maintain the level of water quality to support those uses
in all streams and to protect and maintain water quality in "special
protection" streams.*
J.
Prevent scour and erosion of stream banks and streambeds.*
K.
Provide standards to meet the NPDES permit requirements.*
The Borough is empowered to regulate these activities by the
authority of the Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864 (Act 167), 32 P.S.
§ 680.1 et seq., as amended, the "Stormwater Management
Act," and the Borough Code.
A.
This chapter shall only apply to those areas of the Borough which
are located within the Saucon Creek Watershed, as delineated on an
official map available for inspection at the Borough office. A map
of the Saucon Creek Watershed at a reduced scale is included in Appendix
A for general reference.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is on file in the Borough office.
B.
The following activities are defined as regulated activities and
shall be governed by this chapter.
(1)
Land development.
(2)
Subdivision.
(3)
Construction of new or additional impervious surfaces (driveways,
parking lots, etc.).
(4)
Construction of new buildings or additions to existing buildings.
(5)
Diversion or piping of any natural or man-made stream channel.
(6)
Installation of stormwater systems or appurtenances thereto.
(7)
Regulated earth disturbance activities.*
A.
Impervious cover. Any proposed regulated activity, except those defined in § 378-5B(5) and (6), which would create 10,000 square feet or less of additional impervious cover is exempt from the drainage plan preparation provisions of this chapter. The date of the Borough adoption of the Stormwater Management Ordinance shall be the starting point from which to consider tracts as "parent tracts" in which future subdivisions and respective impervious area computations shall be cumulatively considered. For development taking place in stages, the entire development plan must be used in determining conformance with these criteria. Additional impervious cover shall include, but not be limited to, additional indoor living spaces, decks, patios, garages, driveways, storage sheds and similar structures, any roof, parking or driveway areas and any new streets and sidewalks constructed as part of or for the proposed regulated activity. Any additional areas proposed to initially be gravel, crushed stone, porous pavement, etc., shall be assumed to be impervious for the purposes of comparison to the exemption criteria. Any existing gravel, crushed stone or hard-packed soil areas on a site shall be considered as pervious cover for the purpose of exemption evaluation. All of the impervious cover added incrementally to a site above the initial 10,000 square feet shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. If a site has previously received an exemption and is proposing additional development such that the total impervious cover on the site exceeds 10,000 square feet, the total impervious cover on the site proposed since the original ordinance date must meet the provisions of this chapter.
B.
Prior drainage plan approval. Any regulated activity for which a drainage plan was previously prepared as part of a subdivision or land development proposal that received preliminary plan approval from the Borough prior to the effective date of this chapter is exempt from the drainage plan preparation provisions of this chapter, except as cited in Subsection C, provided that the approved drainage plan included design of stormwater facilities to control runoff from the site currently proposed for regulated activities consistent with ordinance provisions in effect at the time of approval and the approval has not lapsed under the Borough's Planning Code.[1] If significant revisions are made to the drainage plan
after both the preliminary plan approval and the effective date of
this chapter, preparation of a new drainage plan subject to the provisions
of this chapter shall be required. Significant revisions would include
a change in control methods or techniques, relocation or redesign
of control measures or changes necessary because soil or other conditions
are not as stated on the original drainage plan.
C.
These exemptions shall not relieve the applicant from implementing
such measures as are necessary to protect health, safety, property
and state water quality requirements. These measures include adequate
and safe conveyance of stormwater on the site and as it leaves the
site. These exemptions do not relieve the applicant from the responsibility
to secure required permits or approvals for activities regulated by
any other applicable code, rule, act or ordinance.
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.
Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter, including exemption
and waiver provisions, any landowner and 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
shall include such actions as are required to manage the rate, volume,
direction and quality of resulting stormwater runoff in a manner which
otherwise adequately protects health and property from possible injury.
