ARTICLE I - GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 101.
STATEMENT OF FINDINGS
SECTION 102. PURPOSE
SECTION
104. APPLICABILITY
SECTION 101. STATEMENT OF FINDINGS
The
Commissioners of Aston Township find that:
A.
Inadequate management of accelerated
stormwater runoff resulting from development throughout a watershed increases
flood flows and velocities, contributes to erosion and sedimentation, overtaxes
the carrying capacity of existing 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.
A comprehensive program of
stormwater management, including reasonable regulation of development and
activities causing accelerated erosion, is fundamental to the public health,
safety, welfare, and the protection of the people of the Municipality and all of
the people of the Commonwealth, their resources, and the environment.
The
purpose of this Ordinance is to :
A.
Promote health, safety, and welfare within the Township;
B.
Implement the requirements of the Chester Creek Stormwater Management
Plan , and
C.
Implement the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Phase II (NPDES II);
by
minimizing the damages described in Section 101.A of this Ordinance through
provisions designed to:
A.
Manage accelerated runoff, erosion, and sedimentation problems at their
source by regulating activities that cause these problems.
B.
Utilize and preserve the existing natural drainage systems.
C.
Encourage recharge of groundwater where appropriate and prevent
degradation of groundwater quality.
D.
Maintain existing flows and quality of streams and watercourses in the
Municipality and the Commonwealth.
E.
Preserve and restore the flood-carrying capacity of streams.
F.
Provide proper maintenance of all permanent stormwater management
facilities that are constructed in the Municipality.
G.
Provide
performance standards and design criteria for watershed-wide stormwater
management and planning.
Section
103. STATUTORY AUTHORITY
The
Municipality is empowered to regulate land use activities that affect runoff by
the authority of the Act of October 4, 1978, 32 P.S., P.L. 864 (Act 167),
Section 680.1 et seq., as amended, the “Storm Water Management Act,” the
Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, as amended, and the Aston
Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
This
Ordinance shall apply to those areas of the Municipality that are located within
the Chester Creek watershed, as delineated in the
Chester Creek Stormwater Management Plan, which is hereby adopted as part of
this Ordinance.
This
Ordinance shall only apply to permanent stormwater management facilities
constructed as part of any of the regulated activities listed in this section.
Stormwater management and erosion and sedimentation control during
construction activities are specifically not regulated by this Ordinance but
shall continue to be regulated under existing laws and ordinances.
This
Ordinance contains only the stormwater management performance standards and
design criteria that are necessary or desirable from a watershed-wide
perspective. Local stormwater
management design criteria (e.g., inlet spacing, inlet type, collection system
design and details, outlet structure design, etc.) shall continue to be
regulated by the applicable municipal ordinances or at the municipal
Engineer’s discretion.
The
following activities are defined as “Regulated Activities” and shall be
regulated by this Ordinance:
A.
Land development and/or redevelopment.
B.
Subdivision.
C.
Construction of new or additional impervious or semi-pervious surfaces
(driveways, parking lots, etc.).
D.
Construction of new buildings or additions to existing buildings.
E.
Diversion or piping of any natural or man-made stream channel.
F.
Installation of stormwater management facilities or appurtenances
thereto.
G.
Placement of fill material.