Source: http://www.ecode360.com/29369758
Timestamp: 2017-06-22 22:20:20
Document Index: 125290582

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 680', '§ 107', '§ 503', '§ 10107', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252', '§ 252']

City of Lower Burrell, PA Stormwater Management
Stormwater plan requirements.
Stormwater plan review procedures.
Status of stormwater plan after final approval.
Stormwater plan modifications.
§ 252-8
§ 252-9
§ 252-10
Maintenance of stormwater control facilities and systems.
§ 252-11
Inspections of stormwater management controls during construction.
Burrell 5-11-1992 by Ord. No. 6-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Uniform construction code — See Ch. 140.
Chapter 252: Stormwater Management
This chapter is adopted and implemented to achieve the following
A. To manage stormwater runoff resulting from land alteration and disturbance
activities in accordance with the watershed stormwater management
plans adopted by Westmoreland County as required by the Pennsylvania
Stormwater Management Act (Act 167 of 1978, as amended).[1]
B. To utilize and preserve desirable existing natural drainage systems
and to preserve the flood-carrying capacity of streams.
C. To encourage natural infiltration of rainfall to preserve groundwater
structures in the City.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all developments,
improvements, subdivisions, land developments and environmental disturbances
unless specifically exempted or otherwise modified herein.
For the purpose of this chapter, these terms shall be defined
The Stormwater Management Act (Act of October 4, 1978, P.L.
864, No. 167, as amended by Act of May 24, 1984, No. 63, 32 P.S. §§ 680.1–680.17).
A landowner or developer, as defined by this chapter, who
has filed an application for a land development or for a development,
including his/her heirs, successors and assigns.
A natural stream that conveys water; a ditch or open channel
excavated for the flow of water.
Points where watercourses join together.
CONSERVATION DISTRICT (WCCD)
The County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.
A pipe, conduit or similar structure including appurtenant
works which carries a stream under or through an embankment or fill.
Any artificial barrier, together with its appurtenant works,
constructed for the purpose of impounding or storing water or a structure
for highway, railroad or other purposes which may impound water.
The magnitude of precipitation from a storm event measured
in probability of frequency of occurrence (e.g., fifty-year storm)
and duration (e.g., 24 hours), and used in computing stormwater management
The slowing, dampening or attenuating of runoff flow entering
the natural drainage pattern or storm drainage system by temporarily
holding water on a surface area such as detention basins, reservoirs,
on roof tops, in streets, parking lots, or within the drainage system
itself, and releasing the water at a desired rate of discharge.
DETENTION BASIN (STORAGE FACILITY)
A basin designed to retard stormwater runoff by temporarily
storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined rate. A detention
basin can be designed to drain completely after a storm event, or
it can be designed to contain a permanent pool of water.
Any landowner, agent of such landowner or tenant with the
permission of such landowner, who makes or causes to be made a subdivision,
land development or development.
Any activity, construction, alteration, change in land use
or similar action that effects stormwater runoff characteristics.
A lot, parcel or tract of land on which development is taking
place or is proposed.
Rate of flow, specifically fluid flow. A volume of fluid
flowing from a conduit or channel, or being released from detention
storage, per unit of time. Commonly expressed as cubic feet per second
(cfs), million gallons per day (mgd), gallons per minute (gpm) or
cubic meters per second (cms).
DISCHARGE CONTROL POINT
A point of hydraulic concern, such as bridge, culvert or
channel section, for which the rate of runoff is computed.
Interception and removal of excess surface water or groundwater
from land by artificial or natural means.
The contributing area to a single drainage basin, expressed
in acres, square miles or other units or area; also called a catchment
area, or river basin; the area served by a drainage system or by a
watercourse receiving storm and surface water.
A nonpossessive right or interest allowing the use of private
and for stormwater management purposes.[1]
Any structure or activity which in any manner changes, expands
or diminishes the course, current or cross-section of any watercourse,
floodway or body of water.
ENGINEER (CITY ENGINEER)
A professional engineer duly appointed as the engineer for
the City of Lower Burrell.
The wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind,
ice or other geological agents, including such process as gravitational
Any act by which soil or rock is cut into, dug, quarried,
uncovered, removed, displaced or relocated and shall include the conditions
A normally dry land area adjacent to stream channels that
is susceptible to being inundated by overbank stream flows. For regulatory
purposes, the Floodplain Management Act (Act of October 4, 1978, P.L.
851, No. 166)[2] and regulations pursuant to the Act define the floodplain as the area inundated by a one-hundred-year flood and delineated on a map prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). See Chapter 170, Floodplain Management.
The branch of engineering concerned with the mechanics of
fluids, especially liquids. As applied in stormwater management, the
study of the characteristics of water flow in, and conveyance capacity
of, a watercourse, considering such factors as depth, velocity and
The science dealing with the waters of the earth and their
distribution and circulation through the atmosphere. Engineering hydrology
deals with the application or hydraulic concepts to the design of
projects for use and control of water.
A graph showing, for a given point on a stream or for a given
point in any drainage system, the discharge, stage, velocity or other
property of water in respect to time.
IMPERVIOUS MATERIAL OR SURFACE
Material which resists the entrance or passing through of
As defined by the Municipalities Planning Code [§ 107(a)]:[3]
whether proposed initially or cumulatively or a single nonresidential
leaseholds, and condominiums, buildings groups, or other features.
C. Development in accordance with § 503(1.1) of the Municipalities
Planning Code.[4]
Any activity involving grading, tilling, digging or filling
or stripping of vegetation; or any other activity which causes land
to be exposed to the danger of erosion.
The City of Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of
Any structure or assembly of materials, including fill, above
or below the surface of land or water; and activity which might impede,
retard or change flood flows; an encroachment.
Points or areas at which stormwater runoff leaves a site,
which may include streams, storm sewers, swales or other well defined
natural or artificial drainage features, as well as areas of dispersed
overland flows.
A structure designed to control volume of stormwater runoff
that passes through it during a specific length of time.
PEAK RATE OF RUNOFF OR DISCHARGE
The maximum rate of flow water at a given point and time
resulting from a predetermined storm.
A standard which establishes an end result or outcome which
is to be achieved but does not prescribe specific means for achieving
it. The "release rate percentage" is an example of a performance standard.
Material which permits the passage or entrance of water or
A point of hydrological and hydraulic importance used for
computing a release rate percentage. These may include points of stream
confluences, an existing obstruction or problem area or other similar
Instantaneous measurement of water flow expressed in a unit
of volume per unit of time, also referred to as "discharge." Usually
stated in cubic feet per second (cfs) or gallons per minute (gpm).
An engineer licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated
or deposited by moving wind, water, or gravity.
A barrier or dam built at a suitable location to retain rock,
sand, gravel, silt or other material.
Any subdivision, development or land development which results,
or will result when fully constructed, in the creation of 3,000 square
feet, or less, of impervious surface area.
A method of runoff computation developed by the U.S. Natural
Resources Conservation Service and found in its publication "Urban
Hydrology for Small Watersheds," Technical Release No. 55, NRCS, January
1975 (or most current edition).
A standard which prescribes the exact characteristics to
be used, leaving little choice to the applicant. The design standards
for storm sewers are specification standards.
See "detention basin."
A sewer that carries intercepted surface runoff, street water
and other washwater, or drainage, but excludes domestic sewage and
Flow from a storm sewer that is discharged into a receiving
Natural or engineered structures which collect and transport
stormwater through or from a drainage area to the point of final outlet
including, but not limited to, any of the following: conduits and
a pertinent features, canals, channels, ditches, streams, culverts,
streets, retention structures and pumping stations.[5]
Waters resulting from snow melt or precipitation within a
drainage basin, flowing over the surface of the ground, collected
in channels and conduits, and carried by receiving streams.
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface
The time period necessary for surface runoff to reach the
outlet of a subarea from the hydraulically most remote point in the
tributary drainage area.
Quantity of water normally measured in cubic feet or acre-feet,
measured or determined analytically from: runoff coefficients; rainfall/runoff
ratios; and areas underneath hydrographs.[6]
WATERCOURSE (WATERWAYS)
Any channel of conveyance of surface water having a defined
bed and banks, whether natural or artificial with perennial or intermittent
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10107(a).
A. General requirements. No final subdivision or land development plan
shall be approved, no permit authorizing construction issued, or any
earthmoving or land disturbance activity initiated until the final
stormwater management plan for the development site is approved in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter. This requirement shall
not apply to municipal sewer, water, gas, electric or public utility
company excavations for the maintenance, repair or installation of
service lines or rights-of-way.
B. Exemption for small developments.
(1) At the time of application, the City shall determine if the development,
environmental disturbance, subdivision or land development qualifies
as a "small development" and, therefore, is eligible for a simplified
stormwater plan submission.
(2) A small development shall be exempt from the preparation of a stormwater management plan as specified by Subsection B(3) or (4) of this section. However, such developments shall provide safe management of stormwater runoff in accordance with the performance standard of § 252-8 and as approved by the City Engineer.
(3) Applications for small developments shall include a plan which describes,
narratively and graphically, the type and location of proposed on-site
stormwater management techniques or the proposed connection to an
existing storm sewer system. The plan should show accurately site
boundaries, two-foot interval contours and any watercourses, floodplains
or existing drainage facilities or structures located on the site.
The plan must be prepared by a registered professional engineer.[1]
(4) The City Engineer shall review and approve the proposed provisions
for stormwater management for a small development. Where the applicant
is proposing to connect to an existing storm sewer, the developer's
engineer shall determine that sufficient capacity exists in the storm
sewer from the point of connection to the point of outlet in the natural
drainage system. The engineer shall also determine if the proposed
development site is part of a larger parcel or tract for which a stormwater
management plan was approved previously and, therefore, subject to
any specific stormwater management control contained in the prior
(5) For a parcel or tract of land under single ownership, only one application
for a small development, as defined above, shall be permitted before
requiring a stormwater management plan for the entire parcel.
C. Stormwater plan contents; preliminary subdivision/development/land
development plan submission.
(1) General format. The stormwater plan shall contain the following information:
(a) Floodplain boundaries. Identify one-hundred-year floodplains
on the development site (as appropriate) based on the flood insurance
(b) Natural features. Show 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.
(c) Soils. Provide an overlay showing soils types and boundaries
within development site (consult county, NRCS, and U.S. Geologic Survey
(d) Contours. Show existing and final contours at intervals of two
feet. In areas with slopes greater than 15%, five-foot contour intervals
(e) Stormwater management controls. Show any and all 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.
(2) 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 City.
(3) 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 § 252-8.
(4) 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
(a) 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.
(5) Easements; rights-of-way; 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.
Any areas subject to special deed restrictions relative to or affecting
stormwater management on the development site must be shown.
(6) Other permits/approvals. A list of any approvals/permits relative
to stormwater management that will be required from other governmental
agencies (e.g., an obstructions permit from PaDEP) and anticipated
dates of submission/receipt should be included with the preliminary
plan submission. Copies of applications may be required by the City
where they may be helpful for the stormwater plan review.[2]
(7) Maintenance program. The preliminary application shall contain a
proposed maintenance plan for all stormwater control facilities, in
(a) Identify the proposed ownership entity (e.g., City, property
owner, a homeowner's association, other management entity).
(b) Include a maintenance program for all facilities, outlining
the type of maintenance activities, probable frequencies, personnel
and equipment requirements, and estimated annual maintenance costs.
Maintenance program shall include specific requirements for "during
construction" and for "after construction."
(c) Identify method of financing continuing operation and maintenance
if facility is to owned by other than City or other governmental agency.
(8) In addition to the requirements of this subsection, the stormwater plan must satisfy all of the requirements contained in the building and housing codes of the City of Lower Burrell pertaining to drainage systems, which provisions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and Chapter 170, Floodplain Management, and Chapter 154, Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance.[3]
D. Stormwater plan contents; final subdivision/development/land development
plan submission. The final plan submission shall contain the following:
(1) All information pertaining to stormwater management from the preliminary
plan along with any changes.
(2) Final plan maps and drawings showing the exact nature and location
of all temporary and permanent stormwater management controls along
with design and construction specifications.
(3) A schedule for the installation of all temporary and permanent stormwater
control measures and devices.
(4) An accurate survey showing all current and proposed easements and
rights-of-way and copies of all proposed deed restrictions.
(5) A maintenance program establishing ownership and maintenance responsibilities for all stormwater control facilities (identify specific person or entity) and detailing financial requirements and sources of funding. Applicant shall submit any legal agreements required to implement the maintenance program and copies of the maintenance agreement as specified by § 252-10B.
(6) Financial guarantees to ensure that all stormwater controls will
be installed properly and function satisfactorily.
A. Preapplication phase.
(1) Prior to submitting the preliminary subdivision/development/land
development plan, applicants are urged to consult with the City, the
Westmoreland 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 City ordinances.
These agencies may be helpful in providing the data that are necessary
for preparing the stormwater management plan.
(2) Applicants are encouraged to submit a sketch plan with a narrative
description of the proposed stormwater controls for general guidance
and discussion with City and other agencies.
(3) While strongly recommended, the preapplication phase is not mandatory,
and any review comments provided by City or other agencies are advisory
only and do not constitute any legally binding action on the part
of the City of any County agency.
B. Preliminary and final stormwater plan reviews.
(1) Preliminary and final plans required. Stormwater management plans, in accordance with the requirements of § 252-4D, will be submitted with the preliminary and final subdivision or land development plan application.
(2) Review by City Engineer and Conservation District. Preliminary and
final plans will be reviewed by the City Engineer and County Conservation
District. At its discretion, the City may also engage other specialties
in hydrology or hydraulics to assist with the stormwater plan review.
(3) Notification of affected municipalities. The City shall notify municipalities
upstream and downstream of the development 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 City Engineer and will be submitted with the
Engineer's report to the Planning Commission and City Council.
(4) City Engineer's review. The City Engineer shall approve or disapprove
the preliminary and final stormwater management plan based on the
requirements of the City ordinances, the review by the Westmoreland
County Conservation District and good engineering practice. The Engineer
shall submit a written report, along with supporting documentation
to the City Planning Commission for its consideration as part of the
overall subdivision or land development plan review.[1]
(5) Status of Engineer's determination. The approval/disapproval
of the site's stormwater management plan by the City Engineer
shall be considered final. The Commission or City Council may require
modifications or alternate approaches to the stormwater management
controls if they feel such approaches are in the best interest of
the residents and the results complies with good engineering practices.[2]
(6) Approval of stormwater plan required for subdivision/development/land
development approval. No preliminary or final approval shall be granted
for the overall subdivision or land development application until
a stormwater management plan for the site has been approved.
(7) Permits required from other governmental agencies. Where the subdivision
or land development application requires an obstruction or erosion/sedimentation
permit from PaDEP, the 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 City.[3]
(8) Costs of review by engineer and other specialists appointed by the
City. The costs of review of all stormwater plans by the City Engineer
and other specialists appointed by the City shall be paid by the applicant.
(9) Filing fees. City Council may set a filing fee for stormwater plans,
which may be adjusted from time to time by resolution.
Upon final approval subdivision/development/land development plan approval, the applicant may commence to install or implement the approved stormwater management controls, subject to the provisions of § 252-4D(6) above. If site development or building construction does not begin within two years of the date of final approval of the subdivision of land development plan, then before doing so, the applicant shall resubmit the stormwater management plants to verify that no condition has changed 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 for the stormwater management plan shall apply.
A. Procedure for approving plan modifications. Request for modification
in the finally approved stormwater management controls shall be submitted
to the City Engineer as follows:
(1) If request is initiated before construction begins, the stormwater plan must be resubmitted and reviewed according to the procedures in § 252-5.
(2) If request is initiated after construction is underway, the City
Engineer shall have the authority to approve or disapprove the modification,
based on field inspection; provided:
(a) The requested changes in stormwater controls do not result in
any modifications to other approved City land use/development requirements
(such as required building setbacks, yards, etc.).
(b) The performance standards in § 252-8 are met.
B. Notification of the Engineer's action shall be sent to the Planning Commission and City Council. The City Council 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 § 252-5.
The stormwater management plan shall be designed on the following
A. The maximum post-development release rate shall be limited to the
pre-development peak discharge for each design storm return period.
B. Stormwater management design calculations shall be based on the Rational
Method for sites less than five acres or the Natural Resources Conservation
Service TR-55 Method for sites greater than three acres. Sites between
three acres and five acres may use either method.
C. The minimum storage capacity will be that volume required by routing
the post-development twenty-five-year, twenty-four-hour storm release
at a rate not to exceed the pre-development twenty-five-year twenty-four-hour
storm. For the Rational Method, storage shall be determined by using
(Cpost - Cpre)RA
Storage volume (cubic feet)
Twenty-five-year twenty-four-hour rainfall (feet)
Development area (square feet)
For the NRCS TR-55 Method, storage basin detention capacity
shall be calculated as described in the manual "Urban Hydrology for
Small Watersheds" or by computer programs using those methods.
D. The design maximum runoff velocity for all storms less than or equal
to the twenty-five-year storm shall be three feet per second.
E. Stormwater discharges may be retarded by temporary containment devices
including, but not limited to, flat rooftops, curbed or depressed
parking areas, underground reservoirs and/or holding ponds on the
property to be maintained by the property owner. Discharge outlets
must provide for complete dewatering of the storage facility.
F. The developer shall secure, where necessary, any drainage easements
off the property to connect the stormwater management system with
an existing stream, recognized wet weather stream versus wet weather
stress drainage line. All designs submitted must consider and be sized
to pass discharges through existing culverts and drainage.[1]
No erosion or sedimentation by water shall be permitted which will carry substances into the waters of the commonwealth, neighboring properties or public rights-of-way. The requirements and standards set forth in Chapter 154, Erosion and Sediment Control, shall act as the erosion and sedimentation controls and are incorporated herein by reference.
A. Maintenance responsibilities.
(1) The stormwater management plan for the development site must establish responsibilities for the continuing operation and maintenance of all proposed stormwater control facilities. The proposed maintenance plan must be consistent with the general objectives set forth in § 252-4A of this chapter.
(2) City Council shall make the final determination on the continuing
maintenance responsibilities as part of the development application
review and reserves the right to accept the ownership and operating
responsibility of any or all of the stormwater management controls.
B. Maintenance agreement for privately owned stormwater facilities.
(1) Prior to final approval of the site's stormwater management
plan, the property owner shall sign and record a maintenance agreement
covering all stormwater control facilities which are to be privately
owned. The agreement shall stipulate that:
(a) The owner shall maintain all facilities in accordance with the
approved maintenance schedule and shall keep all facilities maintained
in a safe and attractive manner.
(b) The owner shall grant to the City the right of access for periodic
inspections and any elective maintenance.
(c) The owner shall keep on file with the City the name, address
and telephone number of the person or company responsible for maintenance
activities; in the event of a change, new information will be submitted
to the City within 10 days of the change.
(d) The owner shall establish any special maintenance funds or other
financing sources, in accordance with the approved maintenance plan.
(e) The owner shall pay the amount due, if any, to any special stormwater
facility maintenance fund hereinafter established.
(f) If the owner fails to maintain the stormwater control facilities,
following due notice by the City to correct the problems, the City,
without waiving any other remedies, may perform the necessary maintenance
or corrective work. The owner shall reimburse the City for all costs,
plus 10% to cover overhead.
(2) Other items may be included in the agreement where determined necessary
to guarantee the satisfactory maintenance of all facilities. The maintenance
agreement shall be subject to the review and approval of the City
A. The City Engineer or a designated representative shall inspect the
construction of the temporary and permanent stormwater management
for the development site. The permittee shall notify the Engineer
48 hours in advance of the completion of the following key development
phases:[1]
(1) Prior to starting any construction but after all temporary erosion
and sedimentation controls have been installed.
(2) At the completion of rough grading, but prior to placing topsoil,
permanent drainage or other site development improvements and ground
(3) Completion of any final grading, vegetative control measures, or
other site restoration work done in accordance with the approved plan
B. No work shall commence on any subsequent phase until the preceding
one has been inspected and approved. If there are deficiencies in
any phase, the City Engineer shall issue a written description of
the required corrections and stipulate the time by which they must
C. If, during construction, the contractor or permittee identifies any
site conditions, such as subsurface soil conditions, alterations in
surface or subsurface drainage, which could affect the feasibility
of the approved stormwater facilities, he must notify the City Engineer
within 24 hours of the discovery of such condition and request a field
inspection. The City Engineer shall determine if the condition requires
a stormwater plan modification.
D. In cases where stormwater facilities are to be installed in areas
of landslide-prone soils or other special site conditions exist, the
City may require special precautions such as soil tests and core borings,
full-time resident inspectors and/or similar measures. All costs of
any such measures shall be borne by the permittee.