Stormwater Management
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE
Borough Council adopted the Stormwater Management Ordinance on October 15, 2012 to promote health safety and welfare within the Borough and its watershed by minimizing the harm and maximizing the benefits caused by stormwater runoff. For the full text of the ordinance, click on the Ordinances link found under the DOCUMENTS menu above.
All activities that may affect stormwater runoff by creating an impervious area that prevents infiltration of water into the ground or causes earth disturbance are regulated by the Ordinance. Impervious surfaces include such things as streets, sidewalks, pavements, driveways, roofs and stone patios. Earth disturbance activities include such things as clearing, grading, excavations, embankments, road maintenance and building construction.
The ordinance classifies projects into four categories based on size. The larger the project, the greater the need to include a stormwater management plan as part of the project. The following descriptions provide a very basic summary of what is required for the four project levels covered by the Ordinance:
Level 1
Impervious Area: <1000 Sq Ft
Earth Disturbance: < 5000 Sq ft
Requirement: Prevent stormwater from running onto neighboring properties.
Level 2
Impervious Area: 1000-5000 Sq Ft
Earth Disturbance: 5000-10,000 Sq Ft
Requirement: Show how a disconnected impervious area will capture stormwater runoff (Appendix C-1 of Ordinance)
OR
Capture and control first inch of runoff from proposed impervious area (Appendix E of Ordinance)
Level 3
Impervious Area: 5000-10,000 Sq Ft
Earth Disturbance: 10,000-20,000 Sq Ft
Requirement: Capture and permanently remove the first 2 inches of runoff from the proposed impervious area (Appendix D of ordinance)
Level 4
Impervious Area: > 10,000 Sq Ft
Earth Disturbance: >20,000 Sq Ft
Requirement: Prepare a Stormwater Management (SWM) site plan as described in detail in the Ordinance and execute an agreement with the Borough related to implementation of that plan.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PERMITS FOR LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 PROJECTS
Most projects completed by Bear Creek Village Property owners are likely to fall into one of the two smallest Levels listed above. The stormwater management goal for Level 1 projects is to prevent stormwater runoff from flowing onto neighboring properties. The permit application form is relatiely simple and can likely be completed by someone who is not an expert in stormwater management. The stormwater management goal for Level 2 projects is to promote groundwater recharge and water conservation. The permit application form is more complicated than the Level 1 form, but can possibly be completed by someone who is not a stormwater management professional by following the detailed instructions and examples in Appenix C.1 and/or Appenix E. of the Stormwater Ordinance as appropriate.
Level 1 and Level 2 Stormwater permit applications are reviewed and approved by former Councilman George Albert. George Albert can be reached by phone at (570) 954-4048 or by email at galbert@engineer.com. The Level 1 permit application fee is $25.00 and the Level 2 permit application fee is $50.00. Fees are payable to the Borough of Bear Creek Village. The approved Stormwater Management Permit application form must be included with the zoning permit application for any project that involves building construction or earth disturbance. Click on the Zoning Requirements tab which is found under the Borough Services and Requirements menu above for more information about zoning permits.
If you have questions about how the stormwater management ordinance requirements impact your Level 1 or Level 2 project or options you may have to meet those requirements you may contact George Albert.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PERMITS FOR LEVEL 3 AND LEVEL 4 PROJECTS
The stormwater management requirements for Level 3 and Level 4 projects are very complex and may require review by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Borough has not created a specific application form tailored to the requirements of these larger projects. Instead, the all-purpose Form included in Appendix B of the Stormwater Management Ordinance and detailed instructions included in the Ordinance must be used. Persons wanting to undertake a project of this magnitude may want to consult with a qualified professional to assure compliance with the stormwater management requirements. Level 3 and 4 permit applications are reviewed by the Borough Engineer. Click on the Borough Administration menu found under the Home menu above for information about the current Borough Engineer. The Level 3 permit application fee is $100.00 plus review fees charged by the Borough Engineer, and the Level 4 permit application fee is $500.00 plus review fees charged by the Borough Engineer.