Neshaminy Creek Watershed Ordinance
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WARRINGTON TOWNSHIP NESHAMINY CREEK WATERSHED ACT 167 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE Implementing the requirements of the Neshaminy Creek Watershed Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan (includes Little Neshaminy Creek Watershed) ORDINANCE NO.________ Warrington Township, Bucks COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Adopted at a Public Meeting Held on XXXXXXXX, 2011 Warrington Township Neshaminy Creek Watershed Act 167 Ordinance - 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS .............................................................................4 Section 101. Short Title ..................................................................................................4 Section 102. Statement of Findings ................................................................................4 Section 103. Purpose .......................................................................................................5 Section 104. Statutory Authority ....................................................................................5 Section 105. Applicability/Regulated Activities.............................................................6 Section 106. Exemptions ................................................................................................6 Section 107. Repealer .....................................................................................................8 Section 108. Severability ................................................................................................8 Section 109. Compatibility with Other Ordinance or Legal Requirements ....................8 ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS ..............................................................................................9 Section 201. Interpretation ..............................................................................................9 Section 202. Definitions..................................................................................................9 ARTICLE III. STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ..........................................................24 Section 301. General Requirements ..............................................................................24 Section 302. Permit Requirements by Other Governmental Entities ...........................26 Section 303. Volume Control .......................................................................................26 Section 304. Stormwater Peak Rate Control and Management Districts .....................29 Section 305. Calculation Methodology.........................................................................31 Section 306. Other Requirements .................................................................................34 ARTICLE IV. STORMWATER MANAGEMENT (SWM) SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................35 Section 401. General Requirements ..............................................................................35 Section 402. SWM Site Plan Requirements .................................................................35 Section 403. Plan Submission .......................................................................................38 Section 404. Stormwater Management (SWM) Site Plan Review ...............................39 Section 405. Modification of Plans ...............................................................................39 Section 406. Resubmission of Disapproved SWM Site Plans ......................................40 Section 407. Authorization to Construct and Term of Validity ....................................40 ARTICLE V. INSPECTIONS ...........................................................................................41 Section 501. Inspections ..............................................................................................41 ARTICLE VI. FEES AND EXPENSES (RESERVED) ...................................................42 ARTICLE VII. MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES .................................................43 Section 701. Performance Guarantee ............................................................................43 Section 702. Responsibilities for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of Stormwater Facilities and BMPs ..................................................................................43 Section 703. Municipal Review of Stormwater Facilities and BMP Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plan ........................................................................45 Section 704. Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement for Privately Owned Stormwater Facilities and BMPs ..............................................................45 Section 705. Stormwater Management Easements .......................................................46 ARTICLE VIII. PROHIBITIONS .....................................................................................47 Section 801. Prohibited Discharges ..............................................................................47 Warrington Township Neshaminy Creek Watershed Act 167 Ordinance - 2 Section 802. Roof Drains ..............................................................................................47 Section 803. Alteration of SWM BMPs .......................................................................48 ARTICLE IX. ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES ......................................................49 Section 901. Right-of-Entry ..........................................................................................49 Section 902. Inspection .................................................................................................49 Section 903. Enforcement .............................................................................................49 Section 904. Suspension and Revocation of Permits and Approvals ...........................50 Section 905. Penalties ...................................................................................................51 Section 906. Appeals ....................................................................................................51 APPENDIX A: STORMWATER CONTROLS AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT .52 APPENDIX B: STORMWATER MANAGEMENT DESIGN CRITERIA .....................56 APPENDIX C-1: SAMPLE SWM SITE PLAN APPLICATION ....................................67 APPENDIX C-2: SWM SITE PLAN CHECKLIST .........................................................71 APPENDIX D. MAP OF MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS ...............................................75 APPENDIX E: LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID) PRACTICES..........................76 APPENDIX F: DISCONNECTED IMPERVIOUS AREA (DIA) ....................................79 APPENDIX G: HOT SPOTS.............................................................................................80 APPENDIX H: WEST NILE VIRUS GUIDANCE ..........................................................84 APPENDIX I: SMALL PROJECT STORMWATER MANAGEMENT (SWM) SITE PLAN .................................................................................................................................87 APPENDIX J: REFERENCES ........................................................................................102 TABLES Table 106.1 Impervious Surface Exemption Thresholds for the Neshaminy Creek Watershed ..........................................................................................................8 Table 304.1 Peak Rate Runoff Control Standards by Stormwater Management Districts in the Neshaminy Creek Watershed ................................................................. 29 Table 305.1 Acceptable Computation Methodologies for Stormwater Management Plans 31 Warrington Township Neshaminy Creek Watershed Act 167 Ordinance - 3 ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS Section 101. Short Title This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the “Neshaminy Creek Watershed Stormwater Management Ordinance” (a.k.a. Neshaminy/Little Neshaminy Stormwater Management Ordinance). Section 102. Statement of Findings The Governing Body of the Municipality finds that: A. Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff resulting from development and redevelopment 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 convey and manage stormwater, undermines floodplain management and flood reduction efforts in upstream and downstream communities, reduces groundwater recharge, and threatens public health and safety. B. Inadequate planning and management of stormwater runoff resulting from land development and redevelopment throughout a watershed can also harm surface water resources by changing the natural hydrologic patterns, accelerating stream flows (which increase scour and erosion of streambeds and streambanks, thereby elevating sedimentation), destroying aquatic habitat, and elevating aquatic pollutant concentrations and loadings such as sediments, nutrients, heavy metals, and pathogens. C. A comprehensive program of stormwater management (SWM), including reasonable regulation of development and activities causing accelerated runoff, is fundamental to the public health, safety, welfare, and the protection of the people of the municipality and all the people of the Commonwealth, their resources, and the environment. D. Stormwater is an important water resource by providing groundwater recharge for water supplies and base