Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Zoning hearing highlights impervious-surface limits and acceptance of dry-well mitigation over rain barrels
Summary
Board members emphasized engineered dry-well or infiltration trenches as acceptable mitigation to return impervious surface near code limits; the board said rain barrels are an unreliable mitigation method and have been rejected in prior variance requests.
During two appeals on Aug. 4 the Zoning Hearing Board scrutinized impervious-surface calculations and acceptable mitigation approaches. Staff said existing coverage figures and proposed increases must be confirmed by engineering during permitting and that dry wells or infiltration trenches are preferred over rain barrels as long-term mitigation measures.
The chair noted the township's past practice of rejecting rain barrels for variance mitigation, saying they relied on homeowner maintenance and could freeze in winter. "We have actually turned away rain barrels on some recent, variance requests," the chair said, outlining the township's preference for underground infiltration systems sized and verified by the township engineer. Staff told applicants that final dry-well sizing would be part of the building-permit review and that permanent deed restrictions apply to agreed-upon impervious allowances.
