Municipal Services

The Venango County Regional Planning Commission (VCRPC) offers a variety of services to member municipalities and their residents, some of which are at no additional cost. In municipalities with agreements, residents can contact our office about the following services:

  • Stormwater Management
  • Floodplain Administration

If you are looking for information on a particular municipality, please visit the Municipal Information Database (MunID) for the VCRPC's most up-to-date information about all municipalities in Venango County. 

Stormwater Management

Stormwater is water runoff from rain and snow that can pick up pollutants as it flows over surfaces, such as roads, sidewalks, buildings, and landscapes. Stormwater Management is defined as the control of runoff to ensure that precipitation is absorbed or retained on site rather than allowing it to flow into off-site drainage systems. When development occurs, the capacity for infiltration of rainwater changes. The purpose of Stormwater Management is to document and ensure that the peak rate of discharge leaving the site after development does not exceed the rate prior to development.  Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff contributes to erosion and sedimentation, overtaxes the carrying capacity of existing streams and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost of public facilities to convey and manage stormwater, undermines floodplain management and flood reduction efforts in upstream and downstream communities, reduces groundwater recharge, threatens public health and safety, and increases non-point source pollution of water resources. Stormwater Management includes the documentation of all proposed Impervious Surface Area being added to a site. Impervious Surface Area is a surface that prevents the infiltration of water into the ground. This can include, but is not limited to: buildings (i.e. houses, sheds, etc.), structures (i.e. porches, pavilions, decks, etc.), and paved areas (i.e. parking areas, driveways, streets, sidewalks, etc.). Any surface areas proposed to initially be gravel or crushed stone is considered impervious surface, according to the Venango County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance Appendix A: Stormwater Management Requirements. 

Stormwater Administrators

  1. Alex Shreffler

    Geospatial Analyst
    Contact by Email
    Phone: 814-432-9676

  2. Jenna Dillion

    Land Use Planner
    Contact by Email
    Phone: 814-432-9698

Small Project Stormwater Application (PDF) 


Small Projects are considered any development with less than 5000 square feet of proposed Impervious Surface Area. Small Projects between 2500 square feet and 5000 square feet are required to manage stormwater through the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs), which can either be structural (i.e. infiltration trench, French drains, rain barrels, etc.) or vegetated (i.e. rain gardens, swales, etc.). These projects will require calculation to determine the surface area design of the BMPs to recapture the required capture volume. In some cases, credits may be applied for projects which have certain factors that provide a more favorable stormwater condition. There are many factors which contribute to the behavior of stormwater, including the soil composition, the slope of the site, and the flow path distance from roadways and streams. All of these variables are taken into consideration when designing a plan to manage stormwater. Applicants for Small Projects between 2500 and 5000 square feet will be asked to pay a fee of $30 to the Venango County Regional Planning Commission to cover the cost of review and design before approval is granted. Small Projects less than 2500 square feet are not required to implement a plan to manage stormwater and therefore are not required to pay a fee; however, documentation is still required to ensure that the cumulative total of Impervious Surface Area has not exceeded 2500 square feet. 

Any projects with more than 5000 square feet of proposed Impervious Surface Area will need to submit an engineered stormwater management plan to be reviewed by the Planning Commission before approval is granted. The Venango Conservation District also requires an Erosion & Sedimentation (E&S) plan for any development greater than 5,000 square feet. If the project reaches one (1) acre of earth disturbance, the project will need to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. More information can be obtained by visiting the Venango Conservation District website at https://www.venangocd.org/erosion--sediment-control.html or by contacting the District at 814-676-2832. 

Venango County currently administers stormwater for the following municipalities:

Allegheny TownshipIrwin TownshipRichland Township
Canal TownshipJackson TownshipRockland Township
Clinton TownshipMineral TownshipRouseville Borough
Cooperstown BoroughOakland TownshipScrubgrass Township
Cornplanter TownshipCity of Oil CitySugarcreek Borough
Frenchcreek TownshipPinegrove TownshipVictory Township

Polk Borough


Resources

Venango County Stormwater Management Ordinance (Appendix A of the Venango County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance - PDF)

Small Project Stormwater Application (PDF) – Required for all projects proposing at least 1000 square feet of impervious surface area and less than 5000 square feet

Calculation Sheets for Small Project Stormwater (PDF) – Methods used by municipal/county officials to calculate recapture for projects with more than 2500 square feet of impervious surface proposed (not required for applicants)

Homeowners Guide to Stormwater BMP Maintenance – Recommended reading material for all homeowners

Native PA Species Shrubs and Trees Eligible for Stormwater Credits in Venango County - Recommended reading material for all homeowners

Stormwater Management Operation and Maintenance Agreement (PDF) – Required for all projects more than 5000 square feet

Venango County Stormwater Management Plan (PDF - Appendix C) 

Stormwater Management District Map (PDF)

PA Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual 363-0300-002 (Link - PDF)

Floodplain Administration

Municipalities which have been mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and have identified Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are encouraged to adopt a floodplain ordinance, which regulates development activities in the floodplains. The state of Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) has published a suggested model ordinance (link to PDF) that most municipalities have followed as a guideline. Additional information from PEMA can be found on their website. Since variation does exist, it is important to review your local ordinance. Please contact your local municipal officials for more information.

Floodplain Administrator

  1. Alex Shreffler

    Geospatial Analyst
    Contact by Email
    Phone: 814-432-9676

Floodplain Permitting

The Floodplain Development Permit is the mechanism by which the community evaluates any and all impacts of activities proposed in the regulated floodplains. All activities must follow the community’s Floodplain Ordinance. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides flood insurance to individuals at typically much lower premiums than could otherwise be purchased through private insurers, and makes certain federal funds are available to communities. In order for citizens to be eligible for the national flood insurance rates, or for communities to receive certain kinds of federal funds, the community must agree to meet minimum floodplain standards. As of the end of 2021, there are 29 communities participating in the NFIP out of 31 total municipalities within Venango County; Pleasantville Borough has no mapped SFHAs and Barkeyville Borough is a non-participant despite having mapped SFHAs. Although it is the responsibility of municipalities within the county to maintain and enforce their own floodplain ordinances, there are some municipalities which choose to delegate floodplain management services to the county level. In Venango County, this currently includes the following municipalities: 

Canal Township

Cornplanter Township

Clintonville Borough

Frenchcreek Township

Irwin Township

Mineral Township

Oakland Township

Oilcreek Township

Pinegrove Township

Polk Borough

Rockland Township

Rouseville Borough

Victory Township

What is development? According to the NFIP, development is "any man‐made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to building or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or storage of equipment or materials" (Title 44 CFR 59.1). For the purposes of enforcing the local floodplain ordinance, this would generally mean that any activity which alters the natural topography of the floodplain would need to be reviewed. Any structure which is principally above ground and enclosed by walls and a roof (including manufactured homes and prefabricated buildings) would be subject to the permit review process. There are three activities which are NOT considered development: 1) maintenance of existing buildings (built prior to the community adoption of current maps, which varies depending on the community), 2) resurfacing roads, and 3) agricultural activities which do not involve filling or grading. There are also special provisions for recreational vehicles and travel trailers which must meet conditions in order to be permitted and approved. In some situations, structures may be exempt from the building permit process, but would still need a floodplain development permit regardless of any other exemptions.

Want to know if a property is in a floodplain? Try out the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) interactive map. There are additional resources on the FEMA website, including the Map Service Center, which contains effective mapping products, including Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels, Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, processed Letters of Map Change (LOMCs), and spatial data downloads. 

If you believe you are in need of a floodplain development permit or have any other questions about this process, please contact our office at 814-432-9689 for more information. 

Risk Rating 2.0

FEMA is updating the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) risk rating methodology through the implementation of a new pricing methodology called Risk Rating 2.0. The methodology leverages industry best practices and cutting-edge technology to enable FEMA to deliver rates that are actuarily sound, equitable, easier to understand and better reflect a property’s flood risk.

PHASE I: New policies beginning Oct. 1, 2021, will be subject to the new rating methodology. Also beginning Oct. 1, existing policyholders eligible for renewal will be able to take advantage of immediate decreases in their premiums.

PHASE II: All remaining policies renewing on or after April 1, 2022, will be subject to the new rating methodology.  

What does this mean for Venango County residents? In April 2022, all policies will see rate changes because FLOOD ZONES (i.e. SFHA) will no longer be factored into rating. This means that whether or not you are in or out of the SFHA does not impact your policy rating, but it DOES still determine whether or not you are subject to the mandatory purchase requirement.

Try this link for more information from FEMA. There is also a set of interactive maps to help visualize the anticipated impact of Risk Rating 2.0 on policies for Single Family Homes (SFH) as well as all policies.

Looking to get a quote for flood insurance? Check out FloodSmart.gov to see if NFIP coverage is available for your property. 

Municipal Assistance Program 

Municipalities can apply for funding through the Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) which can cover up to 50 percent of eligible costs related to (1) community planning, (2) floodplain management, and (3) shared services. For more information, please review the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) webpage. These grant applications are due by the end of February on an annual basis.

Additional Resources

  • Protect Your Home From Flooding (Brochure)
  • Guidelines for Maintaining Streams: When to Call DEP (PDF)
  • Pennsylvania Association of Floodplain Managers (PAFPM) - An organization which provides many resources for local officials and advocates of floodplain preservation. 
  • Pennsylvania Construction Code Academy (PCCA) - A resource maintained by the Pennsylvania Municipal League to provide professional development to code officials through certification and continuing education training by offering multi-formatted sessions and operating a clearing house of information relevant to additional education opportunities.
  • FEMA Elevation Certificate (PDF) - The Elevation Certificate is an important administrative tool of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It is to be used to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, to determine the proper insurance premium rate, and to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision based on fill (LOMR-F). The Elevation Certificate also provides a way for a community to document compliance with the community's floodplain management ordinance. This form has sections which require a licensed land surveyor or engineer to complete. 
  • FEMA Floodproofing Certificate (PDF) - Under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the floodproofing of non-residential buildings may be permitted as an alternative to elevating to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). A floodproofing design certification is required for non-residential structures that are floodproofed. This form is to be used for that certification. This form has sections which require a licensed land surveyor or engineer to complete. 
  • No-Rise Certification (PDF) - Any project in a floodway must be reviewed to determine if the project will increase flood heights. An engineering analysis must be conducted before a permit can be issued. The community's permit file must have a record of the results of this analysis, which can be in the form of a No-Rise Certification. This No-Rise Certification must be supported by technical data and signed by a registered professional engineer. The supporting technical data should be based on the standard step-backwater computer model used to develop the one-percent annual chance (i.e. 100-year) floodway shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM).