Over the last couple of years there has been a huge shift in how stormwater and floodplains are managed.  The Borough of North East is mandated to have new Stormwater Management and Floodplain Management Ordinances in effect by September 2011.  The Planning Commission and Borough Manager have been diligently drafting the required ordinances in conjunction with Federal, State and County guidelines.  Where the Borough could, we are working to maximize the limitations set by the different layers of the government as to unfairly burden property owners who plan their property use in accordance with the regulations and laws while ensuring those who don't fully realize their responsibilities to their neighbors.

In the Borough, the Borough Manager is the Stormwater and Floodplain Manager with assistance from the Borough's engineering consulting firm, Erie County Department of Planning and PA Department of Environmental Protection.

Stormwater Management

Stormwater management starts at the peak of your roof and the property owner is responsible for the run off onto surrounding properties.  The Borough has updated its Stormwater Ordinance and it is available here.    The biggest change is that all property owners are required to complete a worksheet documenting how much impervious cover they have.  When filling out the form, make sure that any CURRENT impervious cover is included in the calculations.  The Borough chose to maximize the allowable limits contrary to the recommendation from the state allowing its residents as much latitude as possible.  In the meantime here are a few informational pieces to start educating the residence:

Visit this website for everything stormwater related in Pennsylvania:  : http://www.stormwaterpa.org/

 Use these two presentations to develop your own stormwater management plan; Stormwater and YOU, Structural Stormwater and Stormwater Exercise

Floodplain Management

The DRAFT Floodplain Ordinance is currently under State and Federal review and the current "effective map date" is currently March 1981.  The proposed new maps which updates the 100 year flood plain within the Borough are under FEMA review and should be published in July 2012 with the Letter of Final Determination in January 2012.  There was a public meeting in July of 2010 where the proposed maps were presented and explained to the public.  The current Floodplain Ordinance places additional requirements on property owners within the designated floodplain along Baker Creek and 16 Mile Creek inside the Borough.