Abbotstown stormwater rules to change

Abbottstown Borough's new stormwater management ordinance will be ready for adoption within the next few months and will include an exemption for any building of less than 800 square feet.

The new stormwater ordinance that is under consideration in Abbottstown is a variation of the one suggested by Adams County, said borough engineer Chad Clabaugh.

Adoption of a stricter stormwater ordinance is required by the state, said Clabaugh, but each municipality can set exemptions so that property owners are not required to have full stormwater management studies completed on smaller projects.

If the borough did not include a square footage exemption with its new stormwater plan, said Clabaugh, then each and every plan would be required to be prepared by a stormwater management engineer and then be reviewed by the borough engineer.

"The reason we are recommending that exemption is because a two-car garage can be built under 800 square feet," said Clabaugh. "This would allow borough property owners to use a simplified approach for those types of plans and save them a lot of money."

For example, said Clabaugh, a property owner wanting to build a new shed under 800 square feet would only need to fill out an application at the borough office and present the borough with a simple plan showing the location of the intended building, and that it is under the exemption size.

Residents can buy aerial views of their lots for $7 at the Adams County Office of Planning

Clabaugh said that notes on each building on a property will be kept on file indefinitely at the borough office because the exemptions pertain to the total cumulative impervious surface, not just a single project.

"Anytime a property owner is adding to a building and it will exceed the 800 square feet, then they will need to have a stormwater management plan for that project," said Clabaugh.

Clabaugh presented council and the borough solicitor with copies of the proposed stormwater management document. Council directed solicitor Guy Beneventano to review the document and make suggestions for any additions, such as the types of fines that would be included for violations.

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Abbotstown stormwater rules to change