Part 2
Stormwater Management Plan Requirements

§23-201 Plan Preparation Requirements.

1.    General Requirements. From and after the date of enactment of this Chapter, a stormwater management plan, and other information specified herein, shall be submitted to the Municipality for all regulated activities. A stormwater management plan, and other information specified herein, shall be submitted at the same time, and together with submission of a preliminary and/or final subdivision or land development plan, along with a completed checklist supplied by the Municipality indicating the items contained within the submission. The applicant/developer and his/her registered professional shall schedule a pre-application meeting that shall include representatives from the Municipality and the Municipal Planning Commission, the Municipal Engineer, the Municipal Zoning Officer, the Municipal Building Code Official, the Lycoming County Conservation District, and when required, PA DEP and PA DOT. The applicant/developer and his/her registered professional are encouraged to schedule the pre-application meeting as early in the design phase as practical.

2.    Concurrent Reviews. Such plans and information shall be considered part of said zoning and subdivision documents, and shall be reviewed in accordance with procedures established thereunder. Preliminary approval and/or final approval of a subdivision or land development plan, and/or the issuance of a zoning permit shall be contingent upon the submission of a stormwater management plan and other materials specified herein, and approval of the stormwater management plan in accordance with provisions of this Chapter.

3.    Review by Municipal Engineer. All stormwater management plans shall be submitted to the Municipal Engineer for review and comment. Such review shall include a statement by the Municipal Engineer specifying the provisions of this Chapter which have not been met by the plan as submitted.

4.    Validity of Approved Plan. Once a stormwater management plan has been approved, together with a subdivision or land development plan approval, or together with the issuance of a zoning permit, said stormwater management plan shall be valid only for the subdivision, land development, or zoning permit approved. Any further development on the lot or lots requiring a revision of the approved plan, or other construction or activities, as defined by Municipal zoning regulations, shall require the submission of a new, amended, or revised stormwater management plan, and other information specified herein.

5.    A.    Exemptions from Plan Preparation. The following activities may be exempt from the plan preparation and submission provisions of this Chapter, but shall remain subject to the minimum design standards and criteria specified in Part 3 of this Chapter (and erosion and sediment pollution control requirements):

(1)    Noncommercial home gardening.

(2)    Agriculture, when operated in accordance with an approved conservation plan, or erosion and sedimentation control plan.

(3)    Regulated activity(ies) where the total impervious area associated with such activity(ies) will be less than 5,000 square feet.

(4)    Regulated activity(ies) where the applicant/developer can satisfactorily demonstrate that downstream property(ies), groundwater, and waters of the Commonwealth will not be harmed if the total impervious area(s) associated with such activity(ies) would exceed 5,000 square feet.

(5)    Forest management conducted in accordance with an approved erosion and sediment pollution control plan may be exempt from the plan preparation and submission provisions of this Chapter; however, a plan showing the location, extent, and description of the proposed forest management activities must be submitted to the Municipality and its Engineer for review, and for a determination regarding the requirement to prepare and submit a stormwater management plan in accordance with this Chapter. Forest management activities may not be conducted until the Municipality and its Engineer complete their review of the plan showing the location, extent, and description of the proposed forest management activities; and until the Municipality and its Engineer approve any required stormwater management plan for the proposed forest management activities. Forest management activities involving timber harvesting in preparation for future land development are not exempt from the plan preparation and submission provisions of this Chapter.

The Municipality and its Engineer shall review all regulated activities to determine if the activity or activities may be exempt from the plan preparation and submission provisions of this Chapter. In addition to the criteria in this Section, the Municipality and its Engineer may require that regulated activities maintain a minimum distance between proposed impervious areas/stormwater management facility outlets and downslope property line(s).

B.    All regulated activities that do not fall under the exemption criteria referenced above shall submit a drainage plan to the Municipality for review. These criteria shall apply to the total proposed development, even if development is to take place in stages. Impervious cover shall include, but not be limited to, any roof, parking, or driveway areas; and any new streets and sidewalks. Any areas designed to initially be gravel or crushed stone shall be assumed to be impervious.

(1)    Stormwater drainage systems shall be provided in order to permit unimpeded flow along natural watercourses, except as modified by stormwater management facilities or open channels consistent with this Chapter.

(2)    The existing points of concentrated drainage that discharge onto adjacent property shall not be altered without permission of the affected property owner(s), and shall be subject to any applicable discharge criteria specified in this Chapter.

(3)    Areas of existing diffused drainage discharge shall be subject to any applicable discharge criteria in the general direction of the existing discharge, whether proposed to be concentrated or maintained as diffused drainage areas, except as otherwise provided by this Chapter. If diffused flow is proposed to be concentrated and discharged onto adjacent property, the applicant/developer must document that adequate downstream conveyance facilities exist to safely convey the concentrated discharge, or otherwise prove that no erosion, sedimentation, flooding, or other harm will result from the concentrated discharge.

(4)    Where a site is traversed by watercourses, drainage easements shall be provided conforming to the line of such watercourses. The terms of the easement shall prohibit excavation, the placing of fill or structures, and any alterations that may adversely affect the flow of stormwater within any portion of the easement. Maintenance, including mowing of vegetation within the easement, shall be required, except as approved by the appropriate governing authority.

(5)    When it can be shown that, due to topographic conditions, natural drainageways on the site cannot adequately provide for drainage, open channels may be constructed conforming substantially to the line and grade of such natural drainageways. Work within natural drainageways shall be subject to approval by PA DEP through the joint permit application process, or, where deemed appropriate by PA DEP, through a general permit or small projects permit.

(6)    Any stormwater management facilities regulated by this Chapter that would be located within or adjacent to wetlands or other waters of the Commonwealth shall be subject to approval by PA DEP through the joint permit application process, or, where deemed appropriate by PA DEP, the general permit process. When there is a question whether wetlands may be involved, it is the responsibility of the applicant/developer, or his agent, to show that the land in question cannot be classified as wetlands, otherwise approval to work in the area must be obtained from PA DEP.

(7)    Any stormwater management facilities regulated by this Chapter that would be located on State highway rights-of-way shall be subject to approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

(8)    Minimization of impervious surfaces, and infiltration of stormwater runoff through stormwater infiltration facilities are encouraged where soil conditions permit in order to reduce the size, or eliminate the need for detention facilities.

(9)    In order to promote overland flow and infiltration, roof drains should not discharge directly to streets or storm sewers. Roof drains may discharge directly to streets or storm sewers when deemed necessary by the Municipality and its Engineer. Under no circumstances shall roof drains discharge directly to sanitary sewer systems.

(Ord. 2013-02, 9/9/2013, Art. II, §1)

§23-202 Plan Content.

1.    The content of the plans shall consist of annotated maps, drawings, engineering plans, and construction details. Said plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer, professional land surveyor, or a registered landscape architect with said preparer’s seal and registration number affixed to the plan. Plans for tracts of less than 20 acres shall be drawn at a scale of 1 inch equals no more than 50 feet; for tracts of 20 acres or more, plans shall be drawn at a scale of 1 inch equals no more than 100 feet. Plans shall be submitted on 24-inch by 36-inch sheets. All lettering shall be legible if the plans are reduced to half size. All sheets comprising a submission shall be on one size.

2.    The following minimum information, unless specifically exempted in writing, must be shown on the plans, and prepared in a form that meets the requirements for recording in the Office of the Register and Recorder of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania:

A.    The name of the proposed development, the name and address of the owner of the property and source of title, and the individual or firm preparing the plan.

B.    Date of submission and revision(s).

C.    Graphic scale.

D.    North point.

E.    Total tract boundary with distances marked to the nearest foot, bearings to the nearest degree, and total acreage of the tract.

F.    Key map showing all existing natural and man-made features beyond the property boundary affected by the project, and the extent of the watershed that drains through the project site.

G.    Topographic contours at intervals not greater than 5 feet for existing and proposed conditions. Topographic contours at intervals less than 5 feet may be required for sites where the average natural ground slope is 4% or less, to depict certain existing and future stormwater management features, and where required by the Municipal Engineer. The reference datum used to develop topographic contours shall be either NGVD 1929 or NAVD 1988.

H.    Drainage areas and subareas affecting the site, including areas necessary to determine downstream impacts analysis, where required, for proposed stormwater management facilities.

I.    Existing and proposed use, including the total area of impervious surfaces after construction.

J.    Existing soil types, karst formations, floodplain boundaries, sinkholes, undrained depressions, rock outcrops, streams, drainage courses, wetlands based on existing sources and references, and vegetation.

K.    Complete drainage systems for the site, including details for construction. All existing drainage features which are to be incorporated in the design shall be so identified. If the site is to be developed in stages, a general drainage plan for the entire site shall be presented with the first stage, and appropriate development stages for the drainage system shall be indicated.

L.    Location of, and selected plant material used for any vegetative filter paths to sinkholes that may be required pursuant to Part 3, §23-302.2, of this Chapter; and the location of all notices that may be required to be posted at sinkholes pursuant to Part 3, §23-302.4, of this Chapter.

M.    If stormwater management facilities are off-site, a note must be placed on the plan(s) referring to the location of the off-site facility or facilities. Said note must identify the entity or entities that will be responsible for the conveyance to, and maintenance of the off-site facility or facilities. All such off-site facilities shall meet the minimum design standards and criteria specified in Part 3 of this Chapter, and details of the facilities shall be included with the plan.

N.    Proposed easement locations, including drainage, maintenance, and access easements in conformance with Part 3, §23-301.L of this Chapter.

O.    The following statement by the landowner: “I/we hereby acknowledge that I/we and/or my/our assignees/grantees shall be responsible for maintenance of the stormwater management system shown hereon, in accordance with the approved stormwater management ownership and maintenance plan for this project, and that such stormwater system shall remain as a permanent fixture that cannot be altered, replaced, or removed without prior written approval from Wolf Township.”

P.    The location of the permanent watercourse that will receive stormwater runoff from the project site.

Q.    Complete erosion and sediment pollution control facilities, including details for construction, in accordance with Part 3, §23-303 of this Chapter.

R.    Horizontal and vertical profiles of any existing and proposed channels, culverts, drainageways, storm sewers, streams, or watercourses.

S.    A note indicating that record (as-built) drawings will be submitted by the applicant’s/developer’s professional engineer or professional land surveyor for all stormwater facilities prior to occupancy, or the release of financial security. Wolf Township reserves the right to authorize the Municipal Engineer to review said record drawing.

T.    The following stormwater management design certification 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 Wolf Township Stormwater Management Ordinance.”

(Ord. 2013-02, 9/9/2013, Art. II, §2)

§23-203 Supplemental Information.

In addition to the plan information enumerated in §23-202 of this Part, the following minimum information shall be submitted:

A.    A written description of:

(1)    The overall project concept.

(2)    Stormwater runoff computations as specified in Part 3 of this Chapter, and in accordance with criteria contained in Appendix 23-A of this Chapter.

(3)    Hydrologic and hydraulic computations for all existing and proposed stormwater management and conveyance facilities.

(4)    Stormwater management both during and after development.

(5)    Expected project time schedule.

B.    The effect of the project on stormwater runoff volume, time to peak flow, and rate of flow on adjacent property, and upon an existing municipal stormwater drainage system when such will be utilized.

C.    Description of all watercourses, impoundments, and wetlands on or adjacent to the site, or into which stormwater flows.

D.    Soils investigation report, including boring logs, compaction requirements, and recommendations for construction of detention basins, when requested by the Municipality or its Engineer.

E.    Karst features identification and analysis reports, and a hydrogeologic assessment of the effects of any regulated activity on sinkholes, as specified in Part 3, §§23-301.H(2), 23-302.C, and 23-302.E of this Chapter.

F.    A soil erosion and sediment pollution control plan, including all reviews and approvals, as required, by PA DEP and/or Lycoming County Conservation District.

G.    All easements, deed restrictions, covenants, and maintenance measures of the system shall be outlined in an ownership and maintenance program in accordance with Part 3, §23-304 of this Chapter. For stormwater management systems to be dedicated to the Municipality, a maintenance guarantee, as specified by the PA Municipalities Planning Code, may be required by Wolf Township. The Municipality has the explicit right to reject any offer of dedication.

H.    All permits required by the Pennsylvania Department Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and other regulatory agencies.

(Ord. 2013-02, 9/9/2013, Art. II, §3)