[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Geneva 9-14-2004 by L.L. No. 2-2004. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Stormwater Management and Erosion
Control Law."
The Town of Geneva has undertaken a study of the need for a stormwater
management and erosion control law and finds that uncontrolled drainage and
runoff associated with land development has a significant impact upon the
health, safety and welfare of the community. Specifically:
A.
Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants into receiving
water bodies, degrading water quality;
B.
The increase in nutrients in stormwater runoff, such
as phosphorus and nitrogen accelerates eutrophication of receiving waters;
C.
Improper design and construction of drainage facilities
can increase the velocity of runoff, thereby increasing streambank erosion
and sedimentation;
D.
Construction requiring land clearing and the alteration
of natural topography tends to increase erosion;
E.
Siltation of water bodies resulting from increased erosion
decreases their capacity to hold and transport water, interferes with navigation,
and harms flora and fauna;
F.
Impervious surfaces increase the volume and rate of stormwater
runoff and allow less water to percolate into the soil, thereby decreasing
groundwater recharge and stream base flow;
G.
Improperly managed stormwater runoff can increase the
incidence of flooding and the level of floods which occur, endangering property
and human life;
H.
Substantial economic losses can result from these adverse
impacts on community waters;
I.
Many future problems can be avoided if land is developed
in accordance with sound stormwater runoff management practices.
In order to protect, maintain and enhance both the immediate and the
long-term health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the Town of
Geneva, this chapter has the following objectives:
A.
Prevent increases in the magnitude and frequency of stormwater
runoff so as to prevent an increase in flood flows and in the hazards and
costs associated with flooding;
B.
Prevent decreases in groundwater recharge and stream
base flow so as to maintain aquatic life, assimilative capacity and potential
water supplies;
C.
Maintain the integrity of stream geometry so as to sustain
the hydrologic functions of streams;
D.
Control erosion and sedimentation so as to prevent its
deposition in streams and other receiving water bodies;
E.
Facilitate the removal of pollutants in stormwater runoff
so as to perpetuate the natural biological functions of streams; and,
F.
To the extent practical, secure multiple community benefits
such as groundwater replenishment, open space protection and increased recreational
opportunity through integrated land use-stormwater management planning.
In accordance with Article 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, Article
9 of the Town Law, of the State of New York, the Town of Geneva has the authority
to enact local laws for the purpose of promoting the health, safety or general
welfare of Town of Geneva. The Town of Geneva may include in any such local
law provisions for the appointment of any municipal officer or employees to
effectuate and administer such local law.
Upon approval of this chapter and filing by the Town of Geneva in the
Office of the Secretary of State all site preparation and construction activities
requiring approval or permit for site development, subdivision, special use
permit, zoning variance or zoning change shall be in conformance with the
provisions set forth herein.
A.
Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases shall
be interpreted so as to give them the meanings they have in common usage and
to give this chapter its most effective application. These definitions shall
apply to all rules, regulations, manuals and guidelines promulgated by the
federal, state or local government relating to this chapter and its effective
implementation, or to those rules, regulations, manuals and guidelines hereafter
so promulgated. Words used in the singular shall include the plural and the
plural the singular; words used in the present tense shall include the future
tense. The word "shall" connotes mandatory and not discretionary; the word
“may” is permissive.
B.
CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREA
DEVELOPMENT or DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
DRYWELL
EROSION
EXFILTRATION
EXTENDED DETENTION
FIRST FLUSH
FLOODPLAIN
FOREBAY
IMPERVIOUS AREA
INFILTRATION
INFILTRATION BASIN
OUTFALL
PEAK FLOW
PEAK FLOW ATTENUATION
RETENTION
RIPRAP
RISER
STREAM CORRIDOR
SWALE
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
A specific geographic area designated by a state or local agency
having exceptional or unique characteristics that make the area environmentally
important.
To make a site or area available for use by physical alteration.
Development includes but is not limited to providing access to a site, clearing
of vegetation, grading, earthmoving, providing utilities and other services
such as parking facilities, stormwater management and erosion control systems,
and sewage disposal systems, altering landforms, the filling, changing course
or obstructing the flow of any natural waterway or watercourse, or the construction
of a structure on the land.
Similar to infiltration trench but smaller with inflow from pipe;
commonly covered with soil and used for drainage areas of less than 1 acre
such as roadside inlets and rooftop runoff.
The removal of soil particles by the action of water, wind, ice or
other geological agents.
The downward movement of runoff through the bottom of an infiltration
system into the soil.
A practice to store stormwater runoff by collection as a temporary
pool of water and provide for its gradual (attenuated) release over 24 hours
or more. A practice which is used to control peak discharge rates, and which
provides gravity settling of pollutants.
The delivery of a disproportionately large load of pollutants during
the early part of storms due to the rapid runoff of accumulated pollutants.
The "first flush" in these guidelines is defined as the runoff generated from
a one-year twenty-four-hour storm event from land which has been made more
impervious from predevelopment conditions through land grading and construction/development
activities.
For a given flood event, that area of land temporarily covered by
water which adjoins a watercourse.
An extra storage area or treatment area, such as a sediment pond
or created wetland, near an inlet of a stormwater management facility to trap
incoming sediments or take up nutrients before they reach a retention or extended
detention pond.
Impermeable surfaces, such as pavement or rooftops, which prevent
the percolation of water into the soil.
A practice designed to promote the recharge of groundwater by containment
and concentration of stormwater in porous soils.
An impoundment made by excavation or embankment construction to contain
and exfiltrate runoff into the soil layer.
The terminus of a storm drain where the contents are released.
The maximum rate of flow of water at a given point and time resulting
from a storm event.
The reduction of the peak discharge of storm runoff by storage and
gradual release of that storage.
A practice designed to store stormwater runoff by collection as a
permanent pool of water without release except by means of evaporation, infiltration,
or attenuated release when runoff volume exceeds the permanent storage capacity
of the Town of Geneva of the permanent pool.
A combination of large stone, cobbles and boulders used to line channels,
stabilize streambanks, reduce runoff velocities.
A vertical pipe that is used to control the discharge rate from a
pond for a specified design storm.
The landscape features on both sides of a stream, including soils,
slope and vegetation, whose alteration can directly impact the streams physical
characteristics and biological properties.
A natural depression or wide shallow ditch used to temporarily route,
or filter runoff.
A.
It has been established that land clearing, land grading,
earthmoving or development activities can have a significant effect on the
environment, therefore, no person, corporation, organization, or public agency
shall, on or after the effective date of this chapter:
(1)
Initiate any land clearing, land grading, earthmoving
or development activities without first preparing a stormwater management
and erosion control plan and obtaining approval of said plan from the Town
of Geneva; or
(2)
Alter any drainage system or natural waterway or filling,
changing course or obstructing the flow of any natural waterway or watercourse,
without first preparing a stormwater management and erosion control plan and
obtaining approval of said plan from the Town of Geneva.
B.
Exemptions. The following activities are exempt from
the stormwater management and erosion control plan requirements:
(1)
Agricultural activities, including household gardening
and timber harvesting that is not part of a development project;
(2)
Development of one single-family or duplex residential
structure not in an existing subdivision;
(3)
Industrial and/or commercial development projects which
result in an impervious surface less than 10,000 square feet;
(4)
Any maintenance, alteration, use or improvement to an
existing structure which will not change the quality, rate, volume or location
of surface water discharge or contribute to erosion and sedimentation.
A.
It is the responsibility of an applicant to prepare a
stormwater management and erosion control plan so that the Town of Geneva
can evaluate the environmental characteristics of the affected areas, the
potential and predicted impacts of the proposed activity on community waters,
and the effectiveness and acceptability of those measures proposed by the
applicant for reducing or mitigating adverse impacts.
B.
The stormwater management and erosion control plan shall
contain the name, address, and telephone number of the owner and developer.
In addition, the legal description of the property shall be provided, and
its location with reference to such landmarks as major water bodies, adjoining
roads, railroads, subdivisions, or towns shall be clearly identified on a
map.
C.
The structure and content of the stormwater management
and erosion control plan shall be as follows: The structure and content shall
be as specified in the New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual,
dated October 2001 or as later revised, and shall contain such other information
as shall be required by the Code Enforcement Officer and Planning Board of
the Town of Geneva as approved by the Town Board.
A.
Provisions for stormwater management and erosion control
should be considered in a three-stage process:
(1)
Presubmision phase, which provides an opportunity for
the community to earn of the developer's intent and for the developer
to learn of the community's requirements and standards for development.
(2)
Preliminary site development plan phase, which includes the submission of an application for preliminary site development plan approved for a developer. The application shall be accompanied by information about the proposal as set forth in § 75-8 of this chapter. Because it is a preliminary action and not final, action on the proposal shall be given as tentative approval, tentative approval with modification or disapproval.
(3)
Final site development plan phase, if approval or approval
with modification is tentatively given in the preliminary site development
phase, the next step can be submission of a final application, including the
necessary documentation for final approval. It is in this phase that any requested
modifications be satisfied as part of final application submission.
B.
The stormwater management and erosion control plan shall not be approved unless it is consistent with the purposes and objectives of this chapter in § 75-3 and the performance standards described in § 75-10 and with applicable performance standards set forth in state and federal laws and regulations.
C.
Inspections.
(1)
No stormwater management and erosion control plan will
be approved without adequate provision for inspection of the property before
development actively commences. The applicant shall arrange with the Town
of Geneva for scheduling the following inspections:
(a)
Initial inspection: prior to approval of the stormwater
management and erosion control plan;
(b)
Erosion control inspection: to ensure erosion control
practices are in accord with the plan.
(c)
Bury inspection: prior to backfilling of any underground
drainage or stormwater conveyance structures.
(d)
Final inspection: when all work including construction
of stormwater management facilities has been completed.
(2)
The Town of Geneva shall inspect the work and either approve it or notify the applicant in writing in what respects there has been a failure to comply with the requirements of the approved stormwater management and erosion control plan. Any portion of the work which does not comply shall be promptly corrected by the applicant or the applicant will be subject to the bonding provisions of § 75-14 and the penalty provisions of § 75-15. The Town of Geneva may conduct random inspections to ensure effective control of erosion and sedimentation during all phases of construction.
Stormwater management and erosion control plans shall be prepared in
accordance with performance standards which have been structured to achieve
the purposes and objectives of this chapter as well as to ensure that the
quality and quantity of runoff after development is not substantially altered
from predevelopment conditions. Performance shall be in conformance with the
performance standards as specified in the New York State Stormwater Management
Design Manual, dated October 2001 or as later revised, and shall contain such
other information as shall be required by the Town of Geneva.
The Town of Geneva may allow stormwater runoff that is of unacceptable
quality or which would be discharged in volumes or rates in excess of those
otherwise allowed by this chapter, to be discharged into stormwater management
facilities off the site of development if all of the following conditions
are met:
A.
It is not practicable to completely manage runoff on-site in a manner that meets the performance standards in § 75-10.
B.
The off-site drainage facilities and channels leading
to them are designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements
of this chapter;
C.
Adverse environmental impacts on the site of development
will be minimized.
(1)
Adequate provision is made for the sharing of construction
and operating costs of the off-site facilities. The developer may be required
to pay a portion of the cost of constructing the facilities as a condition
to receiving approval of the drainage plan.
(2)
Use of regional off-site stormwater management facilities does not eliminate the requirement that the first-flush be captured and treated on-site pursuant to the performance standards of § 75-10.
(3)
A request to use off-site stormwater management facilities
and all information related to the proposed off-site facilities shall be made
a part of the developer's stormwater management plan.
A.
The Town of Geneva shall determine whether stormwater
management facilities are to be maintained by the developer/owner, a homeowners'
association, or by the Town of Geneva.
(1)
If maintenance is to be performed by a homeowners'
association, the homeowners' association must be registered pursuant
to § 352-E of the New York State General Business Law.
(2)
If maintained by an owner or homeowners' association,
a maintenance plan containing a maintenance schedule shall be prepared by
the developer, owner and/or homeowners' association for approval by the
Town of Geneva.
(3)
Stormwater management facilities maintained by an owner or homeowners' association shall have adequate easements to permit the Town of Geneva to inspect and, if necessary, to take corrective action should the owner fail to properly maintain the system. Before taking corrective action, the Town of Geneva shall give the owner or homeowners' association written notice of the nature of the existing defects. If the owner or homeowners' association fails within 30 days from the date of notice to commence corrective action or to appeal the matter to the Town of Geneva, the Town of Geneva may take necessary corrective action, the cost of which shall be borne by the owner or developer pursuant to § 75-13 of this chapter or by the homeowners' association. If, in the event the homeowners' association fails to pay for required corrective action, the Town of Geneva shall have a lien placed on the real property of members of the homeowners' association until payment is made.
B.
Stormwater management facilities may be dedicated to
the Town of Geneva for purposes of maintenance by mutual consent and agreement
of the developer/owner and Town of Geneva.
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer or any duly authorized officer of the Town of Geneva shall determine that this Chapter 75 of the Geneva Code shall be required to be enforced, the costs incurred by said the Town of Geneva for consultation fees with engineers, attorneys, or other professionals or costs incurred in enforcement of compliance with this Code, including but not limited to the costs of meeting the requirements of Article 6 of the Environmental Conservation Law (SEQRA) and it shall be charged to the Town of Geneva which shall be reimbursed before any permit required by this or any other Article of the Town Code may be issued and if the applicant fails to make such reimbursement, then said reimbursement costs levied pursuant to this chapter are hereby made a lien on the premises and if the same is not paid within 30 days after it shall be deemed payable, the same shall be certified to the County Treasurer's Office who shall place the same on the real property tax roll for that year, with interest, and penalties allowed by law, and be collected as other Town taxes are collected.
A.
In order to ensure the full and faithful completion of
all construction activities related to compliance with all conditions set
forth by the Town of Geneva in its approval of the stormwater management and
erosion control plan, the Town of Geneva may require the developer to provide,
prior to construction, a performance bond, escrow account certification, or
irrevocable letter of credit from an appropriate financial or surety institution
which guarantees satisfactory completion of the project and names the Town
of Geneva as the beneficiary. The security shall be in an amount to be determined
by the Town of Geneva based on submission of final design plans, with reference
to actual construction costs.
B.
Where stormwater management and erosion and sediment
control facilities are to be operated and maintained by the developer or by
a corporation that owns or manages a commercial or industrial facility, the
developer, prior to construction, may be required to provide the Town of Geneva
with an irrevocable letter of credit from an appropriate financial institution
or surety to ensure proper operation and maintenance of all stormwater management
and erosion control facilities for the life of the project. The letter of
credit shall remain in force until the surety is released from liability by
the Town of Geneva. Per annum interest on the letter of credit will be reinvested
in the account until the surety is released from liability. The operation
and maintenance letter of credit shall remain in force for the life of the
project. If the developer or owner fails to properly operate and maintain
stormwater management and erosion and sediment control facilities, the Town
of Geneva may draw upon the account to cover the costs of proper operation
and maintenance.
A.
Civil action to enjoin illegal construction activity.
Any development activity that is commenced without prior approval of a stormwater
management and erosion control plan or is conducted contrary to an approved
stormwater management and erosion control plan as required by this chapter,
or applicable state or federal law, may be restrained by injunction or otherwise
abated in a manner provided by law.
B.
A violation of this chapter is an offense punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III. However, for the purpose of conferring jurisdiction upon courts and judicial officers generally, violations of this chapter shall be deemed misdemeanors and for such purposes only all provisions of law relating to misdemeanors shall apply to such violations. Each week's continued violation shall constitute a separate additional violation.
C.
The Code Enforcement Officer and Deputy Code Enforcement
Officer of the Town of Geneva or other duly appointed enforcement officer
are hereby authorized and empowered to enforce the laws and ordinances of
the Town of Geneva and are further hereby authorized to issue appearance tickets
pursuant to § 150.20 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
D.
Any violator may be required to restore land to its undisturbed
condition. In the event that restoration is not undertaken within a reasonable
time after notice, the Town of Geneva may take necessary corrective action,
the cost of which shall become a lien upon the property until paid.
E.
Notice of violation.
(1)
When the Town of Geneva determines that developmental
activity is not being carried out in accordance with the requirements of this
chapter, it shall issue a written notice to the owner of the property. The
notice of violation shall contain:
(a)
The name and address of the owner or applicant;
(b)
The street address when available or a description of
the building, structure, or land upon which the violation is occurring;
(c)
A statement specifying the nature of the violation;
(d)
A description of the remedial actions necessary to bring
the development activity into compliance with this chapter and a time schedule
for completion of such remedial action;
(e)
A statement of the penalty or penalties that shall or
may be assessed against the person to whom the notice of violation is directed;
(f)
A statement that the determination of violation may be
appealed to the Town of Geneva by filing a written notice of appeal within
15 days of service of notice of violation.
(2)
The notice of violation shall be served upon the person(s)
to whom it is directed either personally, in a manner provided for personal
services of notices by the court of local jurisdiction, or by mailing a copy
of the notice of the violation by certified mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, to such person at his or her last known address.
(3)
A notice of violation issued pursuant to this section
constitutes a determination from which an administrative appeal may be taken
to the Town of Geneva.
Any person aggrieved by the action of any official charged with the
enforcement of this chapter, as the result of the disapproval of a stormwater
management and erosion control plan, issuance of a written notice of violation,
or an alleged failure to properly enforce the chapter in regard to a specific
application, shall have the right to appeal the action to the Town of Geneva.
The appeal shall be filed in writing within 20 days of the date of official
transmittal of the final decision or determination to the applicant, shall
state clearly the grounds on which the appeal is based, and shall be processed
in the manner prescribed for hearing administrative appeals under state code
provision.
Each separate provision of this chapter is deemed independent of all
other provisions herein so that if any provision or provisions of this chapter
be declared invalid, all other provisions thereof shall remain valid and enforceable.
The Town of Geneva may grant a written variance from any requirement
of this chapter using the following criteria:
A.
There are special circumstances applicable to the subject
property or its intended use; and
The Town Board may delegate authority to review, approve, issue permits,
grant variances and conduct enforcement activities pursuant to this chapter
to one or more official boards or officers of the Town of Geneva. Such delegation
of authority shall take place annually at the organizational meeting of the
Town Board.
This chapter shall become effective upon the date of duly
filing with the Secretary of State of the State of New York.
