Stormwater Ordinance
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Overview
The Borough of Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, enacted Ordinance #612 on July 28, 2014. This ordinance establishes a fee structure to fund the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the public stormwater management system.
Purpose and Findings
The Borough maintains an extensive system of pipes, gutters, and drainage facilities to protect public health and safety. The ordinance establishes that:
- Equitable Fees: All developed properties connected to or benefiting from the system should pay a fee proportional to their use.
- Impervious Surfaces: The primary factor in generating stormwater runoff is the amount of impervious surface (e. g. , roofs, driveways) on a property.
- Environmental Impact: Inadequate management of stormwater leads to flooding, erosion, and pollution of local waterways.
Key Definitions
The ordinance defines specific terms to ensure fair application of the fees:
- Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU): A standard measure for billing, defined as 2,830 square feet of impervious surface. This is based on the average size of a single-family detached home in Ebensburg.
- Impervious Surface: Any surface that prevents water from soaking into the ground, including roofs, patios, driveways, and parking lots.
- Single-Household Detached (SHD): A parcel containing one structure designed for one family.
- Non-Single Household Detached (NSHD): Any developed parcel not fitting the SHD definition, including multi-family homes, commercial buildings, and industrial properties.
Fee Assessment Rules
The fees are calculated based on the following criteria:
- Minimum Threshold: A property must have at least 400 square feet of impervious surface to be assessed a fee.
- Measurement: Impervious surfaces are measured using aerial photography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- Residential Standard: The standard charge for a single-family home is based on the 2,830 sq. ft. ERU benchmark.
- Commercial/Institutional: Larger properties are assessed based on their actual impervious surface area.
Signatories
The ordinance was enacted and approved by the Ebensburg Borough Council on July 28, 2014.
- Doug Tusing, President of the Borough Council
- Randy S. Datsko, Mayor
- Daniel L. Penatzer, Manager