City of Lower Burrell, PA Article IV Stormwater Management (SWM) Site Plan and Report Requirements

§ 252-24 Approval of plan required.

For any activities regulated by this chapter and not eligible for the exemptions provided herein, the final approval of subdivision and/or land development plans, the issuance of any building or occupancy permit, or the commencement of any land disturbance activity may not proceed until the applicant has received written approval of a SWM site plan from the City.

§ 252-25 Contents of plan and report.

The SWM site plan and SWM report shall consist of all applicable calculations, maps and plans. All SWM site plan materials shall be submitted to the City in a format that is clear, concise, legible, neat and well organized; otherwise, the SWM site plan shall be rejected. All other applicable local and county ordinances shall be followed in preparing the SWM site plan.

A. SWM site plan shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Plans shall be of one size and in a form that meets the requirements for recording in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Westmoreland County.

(a) Plans for tracts of less than 20 acres shall be drawn at a scale of one inch equals no more than 50 feet;

(b) Plans for tracts of 20 acres or more shall be drawn at a scale of one inch equals no more than 100 feet;

(c) Lettering shall be drawn to a size to be legible if the plans are reduced to half size.

(2) The name of the development; name and location address of the property site; name, address and telephone number of the applicant/owner of the property; and name, address, telephone number, email address, and engineering seal of the individual preparing the SWM site plan.

(3) The date of submission and dates of all revisions.

(4) A graphical and written scale on all drawings and maps.

(5) A North arrow on all drawings and maps.

(6) A location map at a minimum scale of one inch equals 2,000 feet that illustrates the project location relative to highways, municipalities or other identifiable landmarks.

(7) Metes and bounds description of the entire tract perimeter.

(8) Existing and final contours at intervals:

(a) Slopes less than 5%: no greater than one foot.

(b) Slopes between five and 15%: no greater than two feet.

(c) Steep slopes (greater than 15%): five-foot contour intervals may be used.

(9) Perimeters of existing water bodies within the project area, including stream banks, lakes, ponds, springs, field-delineated wetlands or other bodies of water, sinkholes, flood hazard boundaries (FEMA-delineated floodplains and floodways), areas of natural vegetation to be preserved, the total extent of the upstream area draining through the site, and overland drainage paths. In addition, any areas necessary to determine downstream impacts, where required for proposed stormwater management facilities, must be shown.

(10) The location of all existing and proposed utilities, on-lot wastewater facilities, water supply wells, sanitary sewers, and water lines on and within 50 feet of the property lines, including inlets, manholes, valves, meters, poles, chambers, junction boxes, and other utility system components.

(11) A key map showing all existing man-made features beyond the property boundary that may be affected by the project.

(12) Soil names and boundaries with identification of the hydraulic soil group classification, including rock outcroppings.

(13) Proposed impervious surfaces (structures, roads, paved areas and buildings), including plans and profiles of roads and paved areas and floor elevations of buildings.

(14) Existing and proposed land use(s).

(15) Horizontal alignment, vertical profiles, and cross sections of all open channels, pipes, swales and other BMPs where required by the City Engineer.

(16) The location and clear identification of the nature of permanent stormwater BMPs.

(17) The location of all erosion and sedimentation control facilities, shown on a separate drawing from the SWM site plan (typically an E&S plan).

(18) A minimum twenty-foot wide access easement around all stormwater management facilities or facilities to be considered that would provide ingress to and egress from a public right-of-way.

(19) Construction details for all drainage and stormwater BMPs.

(20) Construction sequence.

(21) Identification of short-term and long-term ownership, operations and maintenance responsibilities.

(22) Notes and statements:

(a) A statement, signed by the landowner, acknowledging that the stormwater BMPs are fixtures that cannot be altered or removed without prior approval from the municipality.

(b) A statement referencing the operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement and stating that the O&M agreement is part of the SWM site plan.

(c) At the discretion of the City Engineer, a note indicating that record drawings will be provided for all stormwater facilities prior to occupancy, or release of the surety bond.

(d) The following signature block for the registered professional preparing the stormwater management plan:

I, __________, hereby certify that the stormwater management plan meets all design standards and criteria of the City of Lower Burrell Stormwater Management Ordinance.

(e) The following signature block for the Municipal Engineer reviewing the stormwater management plan:

I, __________, have reviewed this stormwater management plan in accordance with the design standards and criteria of the City of Lower Burrell Stormwater Management Ordinance.

B. SWM report shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) General date, including:

(a) Project name.

(b) Project location and address of the property site (if available).

(c) Name, address and telephone number of the applicant/owner of the property.

(d) Name, address, telephone number, email address and engineering seal of the individual preparing the SWM report.

(e) Date of submission and any revisions.

(2) Project description narrative that clearly discusses the project and provides the following information, where applicable:

(a) Narrative:

[1] Statement of the regulated activity describing what is being proposed. Overall stormwater management concept with description of permanent techniques, including construction specifications and materials to be used for stormwater management facilities.

[2] Expected project schedule.

[3] Location map showing the project site and its location relative to its overall surroundings.

[4] Detailed description of the existing site conditions, including a site evaluation completed for projects proposed in areas of carbonate geology or karst topography, and other environmentally sensitive areas such as brownfields.

[5] A watershed map of the total site area, pre- and post-, which must be equal or have an explanation as to why they are not. This map must also show the time of concentration that is representative of site conditions for pre- and post-development areas.

[6] Total site impervious area.

[7] Total off-site areas.

[8] Number and description of stormwater management facilities.

[9] Type of development.

[10] Predevelopment land use.

[11] Whether the site is located in a high-quality or exceptional-value watershed.

[12] The Chapter 93 stream classification of any watercourses present on site.

[13] Types of water quality and recharge systems used, if applicable.

[14] Complete hydrologic, hydraulic and structural computations for all stormwater management facilities.

[15] A written maintenance plan for all stormwater features, including detention facilities and other stormwater management facilities.

[16] Other pertinent information as required.

(b) Summary tables:

[1] Predevelopment/existing conditions:

[a] Hydrologic soil group (HSG) assumptions.

[b] Curve numbers (CN).

[c] Time of concentration.

[d] Runoff volume and peak rate of runoff for each storm interval.

[2] Post-development/proposed conditions:

[a] Hydrologic soil group (HSG) assumptions.

[b] Curve numbers (CN).

[c] Time of concentration.

[d] Runoff volume and peak rate of runoff for each storm interval.

[3] Detention facility (pond) routing analysis:

[a] Undetained areas that drain to the proposed stormwater facilities.

[b] Runoff volume and peak rate as released from the proposed detention facility for each storm interval.

[4] Detention facility (pond):

[a] Maximum water surface elevation for each storm interval.

[b] Berm elevation.

[c] Emergency spillway elevation.

[d] Outlet structure: orifice and weir size and elevation.

[5] Water quality volume and depth requirements (where applicable).

(c) Calculations:

[1] Complete hydrologic, hydraulic and structural computations, calculations, assumptions, and criteria for the design of all stormwater BMPs.

[2] Details of the berm embankment and outlet structure indicating the embankment top elevation, embankment side slopes, the width of all embankments, emergency spillway elevation, outlet structure dimensions, discharge barrel dimensions and slope as well as spacing of anti-seep collars.

[3] Design computations for the control structure (discharge barrel and outlet structure, etc.).

[4] A plot or table of the stage-storage (volume vs. elevation) and all supporting computations.

[5] Routing computations.

(d) Drawings:

[1] Drainage area maps for all watersheds and inlets depicting the time of concentration path for both existing conditions and post-development conditions.

[2] All stormwater management facilities must be located on a plan and described in detail, including easements and buffer boundaries.

(3) Reports that do not clearly contain the above information may be rejected for review by the municipality and will be returned to the applicant.

(4) Description of, justification, and actual field results for infiltration testing with respect to the type of test and test location for the design of infiltration BMPs.

(5) The effect of the project (in terms of runoff volumes, water quality, and peak flows) on surrounding properties and aquatic features and on any existing municipal stormwater collection system that may receive runoff from the project site.

(6) Description of the proposed changes to the land surface and vegetative cover, including the type and amount of impervious area to be added.

(7) Identification of short-term and long-term ownership, operation and maintenance responsibilities, as well as schedules and costs for inspection and maintenance activities for each permanent stormwater or drainage BMP, including provisions for permanent access and maintenance easements.

C. Supplemental information to be provided prior to final approval of the SWM site plan, as requested by the City:

(1) Signed and executed operations and maintenance agreement (Appendix A).[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.

(2) Signed and executed easements, as required for all on-site and off-site work.

(3) An erosion and sedimentation control plan.

(4) Approval letter from the Westmoreland County Conservation District for those projects which require an NPDES permit.

(5) Applicable permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), for those projects which require permits from the PA DEP and/or the ACOE.

(6) Soils investigation report, including boring logs, compaction requirements, and recommendation for construction of detention basins.

(7) A highway occupancy permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) when utilization of a PennDOT storm drainage system is proposed or when the proposed development would encroach onto a PennDOT right-of-way.

(8) Cost estimate of the proposed improvements.

D. The municipality shall not approve any SWM site plan that is deficient in meeting the requirements of this chapter. At its sole discretion and in accordance with this article, when an SWM site plan is found to be deficient, the municipality may either disapprove the submission and require a resubmission, or, in the case of minor deficiencies, the municipality may accept submission of modifications.

§ 252-26 Plan submission.

A. The applicant shall submit the SWM site plan and report for the regulated activity at least two weeks prior to the regularly scheduled Council meeting.

B. Five copies of the SWM site plan shall be submitted as follows:

(1) Two copies to the municipality.

(2) One copy to the Municipal Engineer.

(3) Submission to the County Conservation District (if applicable).

(4) One copy to the County Planning Commission/Office.

C. Additional copies shall be submitted as requested by the municipality or PA DEP.

§ 252-27 Plan review.

A. SWM site plans shall be reviewed by the municipality for consistency with the provisions of this chapter.

B. The municipality shall notify the applicant, in writing, within 45 days whether the SWM site plan is approved or disapproved. If the SWM site plan involves a subdivision and land development plan, the notification shall occur within the time period allowed by the Municipalities Planning Code (90 days). If a longer notification period is provided by other statute, regulation, or ordinance, the applicant will be so notified by the municipality.

C. If the municipality disapproves the SWM site plan, the municipality will state the reasons for the disapproval in writing. The municipality also may approve the SWM site plan with conditions and, if so, shall provide the acceptable conditions for approval in writing.

D. The Municipal Building Permit Office shall not issue a building permit for any regulated activity if the SWM site plan and report has been found to be inconsistent with this chapter, as determined by the municipality. All required permits from the PA DEP must be obtained prior to issuance of a building permit.

§ 252-28 Modification of plans.

A modification to a submitted SWM site plan that involves a change in SWM BMPs or techniques, or that involves the relocation or redesign of SWM BMPs, or that is necessary because soil or other conditions are not as stated on the SWM site plan as determined by the municipality shall require a resubmission of the modified SWM site plan in accordance with this article.

§ 252-29 Resubmission of disapproved SWM site plans.

A disapproved SWM site plan may be resubmitted, with the revisions addressing the municipality's concerns, to the municipality in accordance with this article. The applicable review fee must accompany a resubmission of a disapproved SWM site plan.

§ 252-30 Authorization to construct and term of validity.

The municipality's approval of an SWM site plan authorizes the regulated activities contained in the SWM site plan for a maximum term of validity of five years following the date of approval. The municipality may specify a term of validity shorter than five years in the approval for any specific SWM site plan. Terms of validity shall commence on the date the municipality signs the approval for an SWM site plan. If an approved SWM site plan is not completed according to § 252-31 within the term of validity, then the municipality may consider the SWM site plan disapproved and may revoke any and all permits. SWM site plans that are considered disapproved by the municipality shall be resubmitted in accordance with § 252-28 of this chapter.

§ 252-31 As-built plans, completion certificate, and final inspection.

A. The developer shall be responsible for providing as-built plans of all SWM BMPs included in the approved SWM site plan. The as-built plans and an explanation of any discrepancies with the construction plans shall be submitted to the municipality.

B. The as-built submission shall include a certification of completion signed by a qualified professional verifying that all permanent SWM BMPs have been constructed according to the approved plans and specifications. The latitude and longitude coordinates for all permanent SWM BMPs must also be submitted, at the central location of the BMPs. If any licensed qualified professionals contributed to the construction plans, then a licensed qualified professional must sign the completion certificate.

C. After receipt of the completion certification by the municipality, the municipality may conduct a final inspection.

D. As-built drawings. Upon completion of the construction within a land development or construction of improvements in a subdivision, the applicant shall furnish the City with the electronic file in PDF format of the plan. Such as-built drawings shall include the following items where applicable:

(1) Scale, North arrow and date.

(2) Tract boundary and lot lines.

(3) Road access, public and private internal roads and walks.

(4) Plan view and vertical profiles of new public streets.

(5) Stormwater management to include:

(a) Location of detention facilities, including measurements as required to verify as-built volume.

(b) Location of outflow structures, including measurements of controls.

(c) Location and size of emergency spillway(s).

(d) Location of all best management practices (BMPs), including, but not limited to sumps, vegetative swales, bioswales, ditches and sediment forebays.

(6) Locations of drainage structures and pipes, including type and profile.

(7) Utility easements, including sanitary sewer.

(8) Parking area and number of spaces.

(9) Location of all buildings.

(10) Statement to the effect that all utilities are located within the proper rights-of-way for roads to be considered for acceptance by the City.

(11) Landscaping.

(12) Lighting.

(13) Location of trash facilities.

(14) Seal of the registered professional who prepared the drawing(s).

§ 252-32 Easement agreements.

A. At the developer's option, the developer may grant to the City of Lower Burrell an easement for drainage. The developer should consider granting the following easements:

(1) Easements to accommodate existing drainageways.

(2) Easements for planned infiltration facilities, drainage swales, and drainage facilities (inlets, manholes, pipes, etc.).

(3) Easements where the tract is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway, channel or stream.

B. In lieu of granting an easement to the City of Lower Burrell for drainage, the developer shall enter into a legal agreement approved by the Solicitor which shall hold the City harmless from any and all liability relating to storm drainage collection and its discharge during construction of the stormwater system and thereafter.

C. The owner or developer shall secure, where necessary, all off-site easements for storm drainage (i.e., downstream properties).

D. All easement agreements will be recorded with a reference to the recorded development plan.

§ 252-33 Scope of easements.

A. Where the developer grants an easement for a drainageway, drainage swale, watercourse, channel or stream, the easement should be a minimum of 20 feet wide and paralleling the center line of such drainageway, drainage swale, watercourse, channel or stream; and to the extent possible, such drainage easements should encompass the one-hundred-year floodplain.

B. The City of Lower Burrell may refuse acceptance of any easement that in the opinion of the Municipal Engineer is of insufficient width to allow for proper maintenance and servicing of the drainageway, drainage swale, watercourse, channel or stream.

C. The City of Lower Burrell may refuse acceptance of any easement that in the opinion of the Municipal Engineer does not provide for a means of ingress, regress and egress to the drainageway, drainage swale, watercourse, channel or stream.