-
PWD Development Services Newsletter June 2024
Celebrating PWD’s 2024 Stormwater Pioneers awardees
On April 25—during Earth Week—Development Services recognized two privately owned properties for their stormwater management retrofit projects, bestowing on each its Stormwater Pioneers award. Stormwater Pioneers is an annual award that salutes innovation and excellence in stormwater management; this year, both Pioneers projects were made possible with the assistance of PWD grant funds.
To learn more about the 2024 winners Awbury Arboretum and Philadelphia Federal Credit Union (PFCU), and their projects, see PWD’s recent post about the awards event.
Considering a voluntary retrofit for your property? Information about the process and requirements can be found on our Stormwater Grants webpage.
New! Development Services’ FAQs page
Development Services is pleased to announce its just-published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) webpage. This list was informed by various inquiries staff have received over the last several years and represents scenarios frequently encountered by developers.
These FAQs are not comprehensive, of course. If you have a question or would like to discuss a situation that is not addressed here, as always, please email PWD_DevServices@phila.gov or call 215-685-0798.
Project Meetings in PERSON starting July 15, 2024
The Parker Administration recently announced that all City workers will transition to full-time, in-office work effective July 15, 2024. To align with this mandate, the Development Services Unit will no longer offer virtual project meetings. After this date, all project-based meetings will be held in person at PWD headquarters, located at 1101 Market Street. Requests for virtual meetings will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Click here to request a development project meeting.
New! Review Timelines webpage
PWD serves as a prerequisite review for various permits issued by Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). The new Review Timelines resource guides applicants in navigating PWD’s prerequisite reviews for zoning, building, demolition, site/utility, and other permits.
The Review Timelines webpage converts and updates a prior static fact sheet to a dynamic web-based resource. This resource provides applicants with the Development Services’ current average review times for plan approvals, review requirements, and a quick guide to Water and Sewer Connection Permits.
Click here to access the new Review Times resource, which is also linked at Development Services’ main page.
Philadelphia C-PACE Expands to Include Stormwater Projects
In case you missed it: in 2022, Philadelphia’s C-PACE program was expanded to include resiliency projects that may now contain stormwater management components—under certain circumstances. More information about the Philadelphia C-PACE program and how it relates to stormwater management can be accessed through the Development Services’ Development Incentives webpage.
Reminder: CO Holds Policy and FAQs
PWD’s current policy concerning Certificate of Occupancy (CO) holds in the L&I eCLIPSE application went into effect on August 1, 2023. The Final CO will not be issued by L&I until PWD’s hold has been resolved. Development projects subject to PWD’s stormwater regulations must satisfy all Department requirements by close of construction. These requirements include, though are not limited to, the settlement of all outstanding review fees, the resolution of any construction violations, and the submission and acceptance of a compliant project Record Drawing.
To review the policy and related FAQs, visit PWD’s Certificate of Occupancy Hold Policy webpage.
Reminder: Final Inspection Request Form
As noted in our February newsletter, all requests for a development project’s final inspection are now submitted online. Requesting a final inspection requires a project engineer’s confirmation that all prerequisite site preparations and closeout documentation have been fully addressed, including the submission of a Record Drawing.
To access Development Services’ Final Inspection Request form, click here. Any questions about the process should be sent to PWD_DevServices@phila.gov.
-
PWD Development Services August 2023 Newsletter
New! Certificate of Occupancy Holds in eCLIPSE – Procedural Change
Starting today, August 1, 2023, the Philadelphia Water Department will insert Certificate of Occupancy (CO) holds within eCLIPSE for building permit applications that trigger PWD’s Stormwater Management Review. PWD will resolve this hold after compliance has been confirmed for the project and its associated permit including, though not limited to, the following:
- Resolution of all construction violations
- Payment of all review and inspection fees
- Obtainment of a Post-Constructions Stormwater Management (PCSM) Final Inspection Report
- Execution and recording of an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement
- Submission and acceptance of a compliant Record Drawing
The Final CO will not be issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) until PWD’s hold has been resolved. Please note that Temporary COs may also be held for projects that employ stormwater-related zoning bonuses.
PWD will also continue inserting holds on any issued permits with violation concerns.
This procedure can be reviewed in the recently revised Stormwater Management Guidance Manual’s new Appendix M. PCSMP Closeout. Any questions about this procedure should be directed to Stormwater Plan Review at PWD.PlanReview@phila.gov.
Updated Stormwater Management Review Fees
Beginning September 1, 2023, Development Services is raising certain stormwater management fees and implementing new charges for review and inspection activities. The inspection fee is a one-time charge and will be invoiced with the PCSMP Hourly Review Fee. As adopted by the Water, Sewer, and Storm Water Rate Board on June 21, applicants should expect cost increases for some project-related services provided by PWD. The table below summarizes changes most relevant to the development community. Please refer to the 2023 Rate Determination and current Rates and Charges for more information.
Charge Description Current Charge Chargest Effective September 1, 2023 1 – Stormwater Plan Review Fees Conceptual Stormwater Plan Approval $1,115.00 $1,490.00 Post-Construction Stormwater Plan Approval (hourly review fee) $120.00 $170.00 Active Construction Stormwater Inspection Fee N/A $375.00 2 – Stormwater Management Fee-in-Lieu Exemption to Water Quality Requirement $31.00 $36.00 3 – Stormwater Credit Application Fee Renewal App Fee Renewal $200.00 $280.00