[Adopted 3-2-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-1]
A. 
Unmitigated stormwater from areas altered by development may pose health and safety threats. Potential contaminants in stormwater runoff may include suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pathogenic organisms (bacteria and viruses), and road salts.
B. 
This article establishes the administrative mechanisms necessary for the Town of Barrington to ensure proper stormwater management after site construction and development is complete. The article is written to work in conjunction with current state regulations, local building and zoning codes, and subdivision regulations. The requirements of this article are in addition to those imposed for stormwater management or erosion control during site construction and development.
This article shall apply to any major or minor subdivision, land development project, or other development or redevelopment activity occurring within the Town of Barrington involving an area or areas of disturbance which total one acre or more. No person shall engage in such development or redevelopment activities without receiving approval by the Public Works Director of the post-construction stormwater management plan for the activity. The stormwater management plan must be approved either at the time of preliminary plan submission of a subdivision or land development project, at the time of the initial application for development plan review or at the time of application to the Building Official for either a demolition permit or a building permit.
All applicants for qualifying development activity must develop and submit a proposed stormwater management plan which must address post-construction stormwater management for the development which meets all the requirements of this article. All such stormwater management shall be consistent with the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual and the Rhode Island Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, as amended. The stormwater management plan must include a description of proposed best management practices (BMPs), detailed site plans, and a written narrative that, when implemented, provides protection of receiving waters by reducing pollutant loadings and other negative impacts associated with changes in land use as described below. Structural BMPs are described as structural stormwater devices that temporarily detain and treat stormwater runoff in order to reduce pollutant loadings. Typical BMPs include wet ponds, extended detention ponds, infiltration trenches, created wetlands, grassed swales and the like.
A. 
Performance standards. Stormwater management plans must incorporate best management practices for water quality control, which in combination are demonstrated to reduce the average annual total suspended solids in post-development runoff by 80%. Development in drinking water supply watersheds or watersheds where impaired waters as defined by the state’s 303(d) list exist may be held to higher standards.
B. 
Disallowed stormwater best management practices. The placement of structural BMPs and other stormwater structures within a floodplain shall be avoided. If there is no alternative, the applicant must show what effects, if any, the tail waters created by the floodplain will have on the outflow and effective storage capacity of the detention facility.
C. 
Facilitation of maintenance. Facilities that require maintenance shall be designed to minimize the need for regular maintenance, facilitate required maintenance, and ensure accessibility of components that require maintenance. At a minimum, all stormwater management plans must incorporate structural BMPs with appropriate maintenance design in accordance with the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, as amended; or the Rhode Island Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, as amended.
A. 
Routine maintenance and repair procedures.
(1) 
Preventative maintenance procedures are required to maintain the intended operation and safe condition of the structural BMPs by greatly reducing the occurrence of problems and malfunctions. To be effective, preventative maintenance shall be performed on a regular basis and include such routine procedures as training staff, periodic inspections, grass cutting, elimination of mosquito breeding habitats, and pond maintenance. Disposal of sediment and debris must occur on a regular basis (unless otherwise specified within an approved plan) at suitable disposal sites or recycling sites and comply with applicable local, state and federal regulations.
(2) 
Corrective maintenance procedures are required to correct a problem or malfunction at a stormwater management facility and to restore the facility’s intended operation and safe condition. Based on the severity of the problem, corrective maintenance must be performed on an as-needed or emergency basis and include such procedures as structural repairs, removal of debris, sediment and trash removal which threaten discharge capacity, erosion repair, snow and ice removal, fence repair, mosquito extermination, and restoration of vegetated and nonvegetated linings.
B. 
General maintenance standards for stormwater best management practices.
(1) 
Maintenance design and maintenance procedures for all structural BMPs shall be in accordance with the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, as amended; or the Rhode Island Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, as amended. Stormwater management plans shall demonstrate appropriate maintenance design and procedures for each proposed best management practice.
(2) 
A maintenance schedule for each type of structural BMP must be included in the stormwater management plan. These schedules shall list the frequency and type of maintenance operations necessary, along with the legally responsible party’s name, address and telephone number. If the stormwater drainage system is to be deeded to the local municipality, the applicant must obtain a letter from the municipality acknowledging maintenance responsibility and intent of ownership.
A. 
Calculations. In addition to the information required for stormwater management plans, the following information must also be included with the application, where applicable:
(1) 
The area of each subwatershed as identified on final site plans.
(2) 
The area of impervious surfaces (including all roads, driveways, rooftops, sidewalks, etc.) for each subwatershed as identified in the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, as amended.
(3) 
Weighted curve numbers (CN), as determined by the SCS TR-55 method, for each subwatershed as identified in the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, as amended.
(4) 
Invert elevations for all applicable structural BMPs. In addition, the elevations for permanent and/or flood pool stages, including peak discharge rates for each stage, within all stormwater basins are required.
(5) 
The total volume capacity for structural BMPs (e.g., infiltration basin, detention basins, wet ponds, etc.). Volumes must be segregated into permanent and flood pool stages volumes where applicable. Furthermore, the volumes of all sediment storage (basins, forebays, etc.) areas must also be shown.
(6) 
The water quality volume must also be calculated for each subwatershed. All relevant variables such as curve numbers and time of concentration, along with the supporting computations and worksheets, must be included.
B. 
Narrative description. As part of the stormwater management plan, the applicant shall include a discussion of the protection of environmental resource functions and values. The following outline is provided as guidance for preparing a narrative description for the stormwater management plan. Depending on the size and scope of the proposed project, the amount of information required by the permitting agency may vary; therefore, it is advised to consult the appropriate permitting agency for specific requirements.
(1) 
Site description: general topography, soil types, current vegetative composition and relative abundance, existing infrastructure, and/or adjacent properties, identification of major resources (e.g., wetlands, groundwater, surface waters, etc.), name of receiving water(s), potential water quality and/or hydrologic impacts on resources.
(2) 
Site input data: watershed characteristics, area of all impervious surfaces, total area of site, annual mean rainfall, runoff coefficients, curve numbers for various land uses, peak discharge rates.
(3) 
Land use planning and source control plan.
(4) 
Best management practices: identify the type of BMP(s) employed both during and post-construction and justification for selection, including any deviation from the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, as amended, and the potential effect on pollutant removal efficiency.
(5) 
Technical feasibility of BMPs, including sizing, location, hydraulic and environmental impacts. Alternatives, which were considered but determined not to be feasible, should also be discussed.
(6) 
Maintenance schedule of BMPs to be used, both during and post-construction, including frequency of inspection and maintenance.
Maintenance agreements between the landowners and the Town of Barrington shall provide written, contractual documentation, which demonstrates compliance with this article and legal arrangements for the upkeep of the structural BMPs to assure their functionality and safety in accordance with this article. Maintenance agreements shall be approved by the Public Works Director and the Town Solicitor and recorded in the land evidence records. Maintenance agreements, which describe all maintenance schedules and requirements, must be developed for each structural BMP unless the facility is dedicated to and accepted by the Town of Barrington.
A. 
Recognition of Municipal Inspection Requirements. Maintenance agreements shall include a reasonable and regular schedule for the Town of Barrington to conduct on-site inspections of the functionality and safety of the structural BMPs. Inspection schedules shall be based on the complexity and frequency of maintenance needs and shall be subject to the approval of the Town of Barrington. At a minimum, maintenance frequency should be in accordance with the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, as amended.
B. 
Recordkeeping for maintenance activities. Maintenance agreements shall include provisions for maintenance recordkeeping. All activities conducted in accordance with a maintenance agreement must be recorded in a work order and inspection log. Timely updates of the log shall be the responsibility of the structural BMPs owner or other responsible party pursuant to this article. Review of the maintenance and inspection log shall be completed by the Town of Barrington to determine the effectiveness of the operation, maintenance and safety activities. Reviews shall occur as part of each on-site inspection. Additional reviews may be made as deemed appropriate by the Town of Barrington.
C. 
Responsibility for maintenance to assure functionality and safety. Appropriate maintenance to assure functionality and safety of the structural BMPs shall be the responsibility of the owner or may be assumed by another party via a written contractual arrangement in accordance with this article.
D. 
Alterations to maintenance agreements. Any alterations in maintenance responsibility or alterations to maintenance agreements must be reviewed and approved by the Building Official. If portions of the land serviced by a structural BMP are to be sold, written contractual arrangements shall be made to pass all responsibility of the maintenance agreement to the purchaser and shall be subject to the review and approval of the Building Official. All alterations to maintenance agreements shall be recorded in accordance with this article.
E. 
Recordation of maintenance agreements. All maintenance agreements and alterations to maintenance agreements shall be recorded in the land evidence records of the Town of Barrington. Copies of all maintenance agreements and alterations to maintenance agreements shall be included in stormwater management plans. Recordation of maintenance agreements in accordance with this article shall be the responsibility of the owner.
The Town of Barrington shall be empowered to collect fees from permit applicants, which are commensurate with the cost of administering this article.
The Public Works Director shall administer, implement, and enforce the provisions of this article. Any powers granted or duties imposed upon the Public Works Director may be delegated in writing by the Public Works Director to persons or entities acting in the interest of or in the employ of the Town of Barrington, including but not limited to the Building Official, the Town Engineer, the Town Planner and the Planning Board.
A. 
Notification of violation.
(1) 
Whenever there is a failure to comply with the provisions of this article, the Town of Barrington shall have the right to notify the applicant/owner that they have five calendar days from the receipt of the notice to temporarily correct the violations and 30 calendar days from receipt of notice to permanently correct the violations.
(2) 
In the event that a structural BMP becomes a danger to public safety or public health, or in need of maintenance or has not been maintained in accordance with the maintenance agreement, the Town of Barrington shall so notify the responsible person in writing by certified mail. Upon receipt of that notice, the responsible person shall have 14 calendar days to complete maintenance and repair of the structural BMP in a manner that is approved by the municipality. If the responsible person fails or refuses to perform such maintenance and repair, the municipality may immediately proceed to do so and enforce penalties as described herein.
B. 
Enforcement of penalties. Should the applicant/owner fail to take the corrective actions, the Town of Barrington shall then have the right to take the available appropriate remedies it deems necessary to correct the violations, and the expense thereof shall be charged to the applicant/owner.