Source: https://www.ecode360.com/15006910
Timestamp: 2019-02-17 16:40:52
Document Index: 680265730

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 280', '§ 280', '§ 280', '§ 280', '§ 280', '§ 280', '§ 280']

Township of Upper Burrell, PA Maintenance Responsibilities
Ch 280 Art VII Maintenance Responsibilities
§ 280-27 Performance guarantee.
§ 280-28 Maintenance responsibilities.
§ 280-29 Maintenance agreement for privately owned stormwater facilities.
§ 280-30 Stormwater management easements.
§ 280-31 Township stormwater maintenance fund.
§ 280-32 Postconstruction maintenance inspections.
Chapter 280 Stormwater Management
Article VII Maintenance Responsibilities
Chapter 280 Stormwater Management Article VII Maintenance Responsibilities
Prior to approval by the Township, the applicant shall provide a financial guarantee to the Township for the timely installation and proper construction of all stormwater management BMPs as required by this chapter equal to the full construction cost of the required BMPs. Construction costs shall be reviewed and approved by the Township Engineer prior to approval of project plan.
The project plan required under § 280-14 shall contain an operation and maintenance plan prepared by the applicant and approved by the Township and the Westmoreland County Conservation District. The operation and maintenance plan shall outline required routine maintenance actions and schedules necessary to insure proper operation of the BMPs.
The project plan for the development site shall establish responsibilities for the continuing operating and maintenance of all proposed stormwater BMPs, consistent with the following principals:
If a development consists of structures or lots which are to be separately owned and in which streets, sewers and other public improvements are to be dedicated to the Township, stormwater BMPs may also be dedicated to and maintained by the Township, if the Township so desires.
If a development project is to be maintained in a single ownership or if sewers and other public improvements are to be privately owned and maintained, then the ownership and maintenance of stormwater BMPs shall be the responsibility of the owner or private management entity.
The Township, upon recommendation of the Township Engineer, shall make the final determination on the continuing maintenance responsibilities prior to final approval of the project plan. The Township reserves the right to accept, or reject, the ownership and operating responsibility for any or all of the stormwater management controls.
Prior to final approval of the project plan, the applicant shall sign a maintenance agreement covering all stormwater BMPs that are to be privately owned. The agreement shall be in a form acceptable to the Township and shall stipulate that:
The owner, successor and assigns shall maintain all facilities in accordance with the approved maintenance schedule and shall keep all facilities maintained in a safe and attractive manner.
The owner shall convey to the Township easements and/or rights-of-way, as required, to assure access for periodic inspections by the Township and maintenance, if required.
The owner shall keep on file with the Township the name, address and telephone number of the person, association or company responsible for maintenance activities; in the event of a change, new information shall be submitted to the Township within 10 days of the change.
If the owner, successor or assign fails to maintain any stormwater control BMP following due notice by the Township to correct the problem(s), the Township may perform the necessary maintenance or corrective work and shall take appropriate action to file a municipal claim pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act, Act of May 16, 1923, P.L. 207, as amended and supplemented,[1] as a lien against the real property upon which the work was performed.
All stormwater BMPs that are to be privately owned shall have a description of the facility and the terms of the required maintenance incorporated as part of the deed to the property on any subsequent transfer, and recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds.
Other items may be included in the agreement where determined necessary to guarantee the satisfactory maintenance of all stormwater BMPs. The maintenance agreement shall be subject to the review and approval of the Township Solicitor. A sample Maintenance Agreement has been included in Appendix B.[2]
Stormwater management easements shall be provided by the property owner if necessary for: access for facility inspections and maintenance; or preservation of stormwater runoff conveyance, infiltration, and detention areas and facilities, including flood routes for the one-hundred-year storm event. The purpose of the easement shall be specified in the maintenance agreement signed by the property owner. Easements shall include a description and ownership and maintenance program, in a recordable form, that clearly sets forth maintenance responsibilities for all temporary and permanent stormwater management facilities.
Stormwater management easements are required for all areas used for off-site stormwater control, unless a waiver is granted by the Township Engineer.
Access easements, a minimum of 20 feet wide, are required around all stormwater BMPs that would provide ingress to and egress from a public right-of-way.
Easements shall be set forth on the plans for recording and recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds prior to issuance of a building permit or land development approval by the Township.
All easements shall have a minimum width of 20 feet and shall be adequately designed to provide sufficient area for:
The collection and discharge of stormwater.
The maintenance, repair and reconstruction of the stormwater management facilities.
The passage of machinery, as required, for such work.
If stormwater BMPs are accepted by the Township for dedication, persons installing stormwater storage BMPs shall be required to pay a specified amount to the Township Stormwater Maintenance Fund to help defray costs of periodic inspections and maintenance expenses. The amount of the deposit shall be determined as follows:
If the BMP is to be owned and maintained by the Township, the deposit shall cover the estimated costs for maintenance and inspections for 10 years. The Township Engineer will establish the estimated costs utilizing information submitted by the applicant.
The amount of the deposit to the fund shall be converted to present worth of the annual series values. The Township Engineer shall determine the present worth equivalents, which shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors.
If a BMP is proposed that also serves as a recreation facility (e.g., ball field, lake), the Township may reduce or waive the amount of the maintenance fund deposit based upon the value of the land for public recreation purpose.
If at some future time a BMP (whether publicly or privately owned) is eliminated due to the installation of storm sewers or another BMP, the unused portion of the maintenance fund deposit will be applied to the cost of abandoning the facility and connecting to the storm sewer system or other facility. Any amount of the deposit remaining after the costs of abandonment are paid will be returned to the depositor.
All BMPs shall be inspected by the landowner/developer or responsible entity on the following basis:
During or immediately after the cessation of a one-hundred-year (i.e., 5.0 inches of rain in 24 hours) or greater storm event.
The entity conducting the inspection should be required to submit a report to the Township regarding the condition of the BMPs and recommending necessary repairs, if needed.