A.
Prior to submitting the preliminary subdivision and
land development plan, applicants are urged to consult with the Township,
the Allegheny County Planning Department and the County Conservation
District on the requirements for safely managing stormwater runoff
from the development site in a manner consistent with the municipal
ordinances and applicable watershed stormwater management plan. These
agencies may be helpful in providing the data that are necessary for
preparing the stormwater management plan.
B.
Applicants are encouraged to submit a sketch plan
with a narrative description of the proposed stormwater management
controls for general guidance and discussion with the municipal and
other agencies.
C.
The preapplication phase is not mandatory, and any
review comments provided by municipal or other agencies are advisory
only and do not constitute any legally binding action on the part
of the municipality or any county agency.
A.
General format. The stormwater plan shall be prepared using the general requirements for plan format contained in this chapter, and those of § 84-125 of the Zoning Chapter, with the following additions:
(1)
Watershed location. A key map showing development
site location within the designated watershed and watershed subareas
(consult watershed stormwater plans for boundaries) shall be provided.
On all site drawings, the boundaries of the watershed(s) and subareas
as they are located on the development site and identify watershed
name(s) and subarea number(s) shall be shown.
(2)
Floodplain boundaries. The one-hundred-year floodplains
on the development site (as appropriate) based on the municipal Flood
Insurance Study maps or a determination by another method acceptable
to the Township shall be identified.
(3)
Natural features. All bodies of water (natural and
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 shall be shown.
(4)
Soils. An overlay showing soil types and boundaries
within the development site (consult the County Soil Conservation
Service and United States Geological Survey for information) shall
be provided.
(5)
Contours. Existing and final contours at intervals
of two feet (in areas with slopes greater than 15%, five-foot contour
intervals may be used) shall be shown.
(6)
Stormwater management controls. 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 shall be shown.
B.
Professional certification. The stormwater management
plan, including all calculations, must be prepared and sealed by a
registered professional engineer with training and expertise in hydrology
and hydraulics. Documentation of qualifications may be required by
the Township.
C.
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 method and data prescribed by § 84-125 of the Township of Pine Code.
D.
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/sedimentation
controls shall be shown. The preliminary plan should provide information
on the general type, location, sizing, etc., of all proposed facilities
and their relationship to the existing watershed drainage system.
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.
E.
Easements, rights-of-way and 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.
F.
Other permits and approvals. A list of any approvals
or permits relative to stormwater management that will be required
from other governmental agencies (e.g., an obstructions permit from
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) and anticipated
date of submission/receipt should be included with the preliminary
plan submission. Copies of applications may be requested by the Township
where they may be helpful for the stormwater plan review.
G.
Maintenance program. The preliminary application shall
contain a proposed maintenance plan for all stormwater control facilities,
in accordance with the following:
(1)
The identification of the proposed ownership entity
(e.g., Township, property owner, a homeowners' association or other
management entity).
(2)
The inclusion of a maintenance program for all facilities,
outlining the type of maintenance activities, probable frequencies,
personnel and equipment requirements and estimated annual maintenance
costs.
(3)
The identification of the method of financing continuing
operation and maintenance if facility is to be owned by other than
the Township or other governmental agency.
This submission shall contain the following:
A.
All information pertaining to stormwater management
from the preliminary plan along with any changes.
B.
Final plan maps and drawings showing the exact nature
and location of all temporary and permanent management controls, along
with design and construction specifications.
C.
A schedule for the installation of all temporary and
permanent stormwater control measures and devices.
D.
An accurate survey showing all current and proposed
easements and rights-of-way and copies of all proposed deed restrictions.
E.
A maintenance program establishing ownership and maintenance
responsibilities for all stormwater control facilities (identify specific
person or entity) and detailing financial requirements and source
of funding. Any legal agreements required to implement the maintenance
program and copies of the maintenance agreement as specified in § 84-125G,
maintenance of stormwater control facilities, shall be submitted.
F.
Financial guaranties consistent with this chapter
to ensure that all stormwater controls will be installed properly
and function satisfactorily.
A.
Preliminary and final plans required. Stormwater management
plans, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, will be
submitted with the preliminary and final subdivision or land development
plan application.
B.
Review by Township Engineer and Conservation District.
Preliminary and final plans will be reviewed by the Township Engineer
and County Conservation District. At its discretion, the Township
may also engage other specialists in hydrology or hydraulics to assist
with the stormwater plan review.
C.
Preliminary plan to county planning. A copy of the
preliminary plan, along with all runoff calculations, will be forwarded
to the Allegheny County Planning Department. A report of the findings
will be returned to the Township within 30 days. If the county planning
review identifies the possibility of harmful impacts downstream of
the development site, the applicant will be advised so that the necessary
modifications can be made to the stormwater management controls for
the development site. The Township Engineer shall not approve a preliminary
stormwater plan, which receives a negative watershed impact review
from county planning.
D.
Notification of affected municipalities. The Township
shall notify municipalities upstream and downstream of the development
site, which may be affected by the stormwater runoff and proposed
management system for the site, when both the preliminary and final
plan applications are submitted. Copies of the plans will be made
available to the municipalities upon request. Comments received from
any affected municipality will be considered by the Township Engineer
and will be submitted with the Engineer's report to the Planning Commission
and governing body.
E.
Township Engineer's review. The Township Engineer
shall approve or disapprove the preliminary and final stormwater management
plan based on the requirements of the municipal ordinances, the standards
and criteria of the watershed plan and good engineering practice.
The Engineer shall submit a written report, along with supporting
documentation, to the Planning Commission for its consideration as
part of the overall subdivision or land development plan review.
F.
Status of the Township Engineer's determination. The
approval/disapproval of the site's stormwater management plan by the
Township Engineer shall be considered final. The applicability or
effectiveness of the previously approved stormwater management controls.
Further, if for any reason development activities are suspended for
two years or more, then the same specific control measure in contradiction
to the Engineer's action. The Commission or governing body can request
modifications or alternative approaches to the stormwater management
controls, provided that these are agreed to by the Township Engineer
and the applicant's engineer.
G.
Approval of stormwater plan required for subdivision/land
development approval. No preliminary or final approval shall be granted
for the overall subdivision of land development application until
a stormwater management plan for the site has been approved.
H.
Permits required from other governmental agencies.
Where the subdivision or land development application requires an
obstruction or erosion or sedimentation permit from the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, then final subdivision or
land development plan approval shall be conditional upon receipt of
such permits. However, no building permit shall be issued or construction
started until the permits are received and copies filed with the Township.
No stormwater plan shall be given any approval unless it is certified by the Township Engineer as being in compliance with all applicable standards of the Township of Pine Code and, in particular, the provisions of Chapter 84, Zoning, relating to performance standards, design criteria, erosion and sedimentation control and maintenance and inspections, the provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Upon final subdivision and land development plan approval, the applicant may commence to install or implement the approved stormwater management controls, subject to the provisions of § 84-125 of the Township of Pine Code. If site development or building construction does not begin within two years of the date of final approval of the subdivision or land development plan, then before doing so, the applicant shall resubmit the stormwater management plans to verify that no condition has changed within the watershed that would affect the feasibility or effectiveness of the previously approved stormwater management controls. Further, if for any reason development activities are suspended for two years or more, then the same requirement for resubmission of the stormwater management plan shall apply.
Requests for modifications in the finally approved
stormwater management controls shall be submitted to the Township
Engineer as follows:
A.
If a request is initiated before construction begins,
the stormwater plan must be resubmitted and reviewed according to
the procedure in this section.
B.
If a request is initiated after construction is underway,
the Township Engineer shall have the authority to approve or disapprove
the modification, based on field inspection, provided that:
(1)
The requested changes in stormwater controls do not
result in any modifications to other approved municipal land use and
land development requirements, such as required building setbacks,
yards, etc.; and
(2)
The performance standards contained in § 84-125, Stormwater management, of the Township of Pine Code are met. Notification of the Engineer's action shall be sent to the Planning Commission and governing body. The governing body may issue a stay of stormwater plan modification within five days and require the permittee to resubmit the plan modification for full stormwater plan review in accordance with the procedures in this section.
