1. Purpose
The purpose of this section is to recognize the potential for damage to public and private improvements, human injury or death, and the disruption of vital public services which may arise by the potential for sinkholes and/or subsidence within areas of carbonate geology.
2. Karst Hazard Indicator Map.
Areas of the Borough in which Karst features are believed more likely to be present are shown on the Karst Indicator Map in the code book at the end of the Zoning Chapter.
3. Procedures.

A. As part of the preliminary plan requirements for all subdivisions and land developments the applicant shall engage a qualified professional to review the existing aerial photos, soils, geological and related data available to him as it may pertain to the subject property and to make a site inspection of the property.
B. A site inspection by the applicant's professional using all available data and with such assistance as is needed shall determine the presence or absence of Karst surface features of the site, and locate the same if present on a site plan at a scale no smaller than one inch to 100 feet. In particular, the following features shall be located, if present on, the site:

Closed depressions;
Open sinkholes;
Seasonal high water table indicators;
Unplowed areas in plowed fields;
Surface drainage into ground;
Limonite excavations and quarries;
Any Karst feature shown on the Karst Features Indicator Map.

C. The applicant must provide the Borough with a map at a scale of one inch to 100 feet that shows the Karst features listed in subsection (4)(B) above.
D. Based upon the site inspection, the applicant's professional shall determine what further testing should be done by the applicant to ensure compliance with performance standards set forth in subsection (4)(B) above. Testing methodology shall be reasonable under the circumstances, including (1) the scale of the proposed development; and (2) the hazards revealed by examination of available data and site inspection.
E. The applicant shall cause the additional testing, if any to be effected, and shall submit test results to the Borough Engineer.
F. The Borough Engineer shall report to the Borough Planning Commission and/or Council, with a copy to the applicant, his opinion concerning the adequacy of the report submitted based upon the scale of the development and the hazards revealed by the report, and shall make recommendations to the Planning Commission and/or Council based upon the report submitted concerning site development, including stormwater management, the layout of utility lines and building location. The Borough Engineer may require the applicant to perform such additional testing as may be appropriate.

A. All applicants for subdivisions or land developments shall comply with the requirements of this Part regarding Karst hazards.
B. No stormwater detention facility shall be placed within 100 feet of the features listed in subsection (4)(B) above, unless a detailed geotechnical solution to the subsidence, pollution and safety problems of the Karst feature has been presented by a competent professional in carbonate geology.
C. No stormwater swale with design flows in excess of 10 cubic feet per second for the ten-year flood may be constructed within 100 feet of the features listed in subsection (4)(B), unless a detailed geotechnical solution to the subsidence, pollution and safety problems of the Karst feature has been presented by a competent professional in carbonate geology.
D. No storm sewer pipe shall be constructed within 100 feet of the features listed in subsection (4)(B) above, unless it is concrete pipe utilizing 0-ring joints.
E. No principal or accessory building, no structure and no impervious surface shall be located closer than 100 feet from the edge of the features listed in subsection (4)(B) above, unless a detailed geotechnical solution to the subsidence, pollution and safety problems of the Karst feature has been presented by a competent professional in carbonate geology.
F. No septic systems or tile field, no swimming pool, no solid waste disposal area, transfer area or facility, no oil, gasoline, salt or chemical storage area, and no blasting for quarry or well enhancement activities shall occur within 100 feet of the features listing in subsection (4)(B) above, unless a detailed geotechnical solution to the subsidence, pollution and safety problems of the Karst feature has been presented by a competent professional in carbonate geology.
G. Soil erosion and sedimentation control plans filed with the County Soil Conservation Service shall detail safeguards to protect identified Karst features.
H. All water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer lines located in a Karst hazard area shall be so constructed as to not permit the flow of water along the utility line trench, and shall be imperviously diked at thirty-foot intervals.

5. If the Zoning Officer has reason to believe that the proposed use may have difficulty complying with the standards of Part 5: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, of the Zoning Chapter, then the Zoning Officer may require an applicant to provide written descriptions of proposed machinery, hazardous substances, operations and safeguards.
See § 27-517: Karst Hazards for additional information.
See § 27-110: Zoning Officer for more information on this officer.