For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions describe the meanings of the terms used in this chapter:
ADMINISTRATIONThe Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Water Management Administration (the Administration).
ADVERSE IMPACTAny deleterious effect on waters or wetlands, including their quality, quantity, surface area, species composition, aesthetics, or usefulness for human or natural uses, which is or may potentially be harmful or injurious to human health, welfare, safety, or property, or to biological productivity, diversity, or stability, or which unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life or property, including outdoor recreation.
AGRICULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICESThose methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land in order to further crop and livestock production and conservation of related soil and water resources.
APPLICANTAny person, firm, or governmental agency who executes the necessary forms to procure official approval of a project or a permit to carry out construction of a project.
CHANNEL PROTECTION STORAGE VOLUME (CPv)The volume used to design structural stormwater management practices to control stream channel erosion. Methods for calculating the channel protection storage volume are specified in the 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual.
CLEARINGThe removal of trees and/or bushes from the land but not the ordinary mowing of grass or fields.
CONTROLThe application of one or more stormwater management practices intended or designed to control the volume and rate of stormwater runoff for the purposes of minimizing damage to public and private property, reducing the effects of development on land and on the quality of water, controlling stream channel erosion, reducing local flooding, and maintaining after development, as nearly as possible, the predevelopment stormwater runoff characteristics.
DESIGN MANUALThe 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, and all subsequent revisions, that serves as the official guide for stormwater management principles, methods and practices. "Design manual" also refers to any guidance documents issued by MDE as deemed appropriate in the professional judgment of the Town's Engineer.
[Added 11-19-2014 by Ord. No. 456]
To change the stormwater runoff characteristics of a parcel of land in conjunction with residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional construction or alteration.
DEVELOPMENTRefers only to projects disturbing an area of more than 5,000 square feet.
DIRECT DISCHARGEThe concentrated release of stormwater to tidal waters or vegetated tidal wetlands from new development or redevelopment projects in the critical area.
DRAINAGE AREAThat area enclosed by a ridgeline and contributing stormwater runoff to a single point.
EASEMENTA grant or reservation by the owner of land for the use of such land by others for a specific purpose or purposes, and which must be included in the conveyance of land affected by such easement.
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITYThe Town's consulting engineer is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
ENVIRONMENTAL SITE DESIGN (ESD)Small-scale stormwater management practices, nonstructural techniques, and better site planning to mimic natural hydrologic runoff characteristics and minimize the impact of land development on water resources. Methods for designing ESD practices are specified in the Stormwater Design Manual.
EXEMPTIONThose land development activities that are not subject to the stormwater management requirements contained in this chapter.
GRADINGAny act by which soil is cleared, stripped, stockpiled, excavated, scarified, filled or any combination thereof.
IMPERVIOUS AREA (SURFACE)Nonporous ground covers or areas, such as sidewalks, roads, parking areas, and rooftops, that prevent penetration of water into the ground.
INFILL DEVELOPMENTThe use of vacant land and property within a built-up area for further construction or development as part of an existing neighborhood.
INFILTRATIONThe passage or movement of stormwater runoff into the soil surface.
MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIESPavement overlay, mill and overlay, street or parking lot rehabilitation where expansion to impervious surfaces, modification to drainage patterns, and enlarged storm drain systems are avoided. Repair and replacement of deteriorated curb, brick and concrete sidewalks are also considered maintenance. Maintenance activities will not be considered land disturbance or development of land.
[Added 11-19-2014 by Ord. No. 456]
Pavement overlay and/or patching and replacement of deteriorated brick and concrete walkways.
MAJOR PROJECTAn application entailing a commercial development of 1/2 acre or more or two or more separate uses, a residential development of two or more acres or four or more dwelling units, or any institutional or industrial use.
MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE (MEP)Designing stormwater management systems so that all reasonable opportunities for using ESD planning techniques and treatment practices are exhausted and, only where absolutely necessary, a structural SMP is implemented.
MINOR PROJECTAn application entailing a commercial development of less than 1/2 acre and a single permissible use, or a residential development of less than two acres and less than four dwelling units of a permissible size and type within the zoning district.
MINOR SUBDIVISIONThe division of a single lot, tract, or parcel of land into four or fewer lots, tracts, or parcels of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or of building development.
ON-SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENTThe design and construction of systems to control stormwater runoff from within an immediate development and located on the project site.
OWNERAny person or entity, or its successor in interest, that:
A. Is the deed holder of land that is required by this chapter to have an approval under this chapter;
Is the deed holder of land that is the subject of an application for approval or permit under this chapter; or
Has executed the necessary forms to procure official approval under this chapter of, and will be held responsible under this chapter for, a project to develop land or a permit to carry out construction of a project to develop land.
PERSONThe federal government, the state, any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state or any of their units, an individual, a receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, fiduciary or representative of any kind, any partnership, firm, association or public or private corporation, or any other entity.
PLANNING TECHNIQUESA combination of strategies employed early in project design to reduce the impact from development and to incorporate natural features into a stormwater management plan.
POINT OF STUDYAny point on the boundary of a property or downstream flow path convergence at which stormwater runoff is quantified for the purposes of stormwater management.
PRIVATE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMA group of two or more stormwater management practices which together are owned or controlled by one or more persons or nongovernmental entities.
PUBLIC WAYSAll streets, avenues, roads, highways, public thoroughfares, lanes and alleys, whether privately owned or owned by the Town or other public entity.
RECHARGE VOLUME (Rev)That portion of the water quality volume necessary to maintain predevelopment groundwater recharge rates at a development site. Methods for calculating the recharge volume are specified in the Stormwater Design Manual.
REDEVELOPMENTAny construction, alteration, or improvement that results in a disturbance of more than 5,000 square feet and that significantly alters the footprint of the impervious surface, or constitutes the demolition and substantial or complete rebuilding of previously existing structures, buildings, and/or impervious surfaces on a site, or contiguous sites, where existing and/or proposed site impervious area exceeds 40%.
RETROFITTINGImplementation of ESD practices, the construction of a structural SMP, or the modification of an existing structural SMP in a previously developed area to improve water quality over current conditions.
SCDThe Talbot Soil Conservation District.
SEDIMENTSoils or other surface materials transported or deposited by the action of wind, water, ice, or gravity as a product of erosion.
SITEAny tract, lot, or parcel of land, or combination of tracts, lots, or parcels of land, which are in one ownership, or are contiguous and in diverse ownership, where development is to be performed as part of a unit, subdivision, or project.
STABILIZATIONThe prevention of soil movement by any of various nonstructural and/or structural means.
STORMWATERWater that originates from a precipitation event.
STORMWATER DESIGN MANUALThe 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II (Maryland Department of the Environment, April 2000), as it is from time to time hereafter modified, amended and/or replaced by MDE or its successor state agency to serve as its official and lawful guide for stormwater management principles, methods, and practices.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLANA set of drawings or other documents relating to a site, containing all of the necessary information and specifications pertaining to stormwater management to be implemented for the site, submitted to the Town as a prerequisite to obtaining from the Town stormwater management approval for the site.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (SMP)A nonstructural stormwater management practice or a structural stormwater management facility intended or designed to treat, control and/or temporarily store stormwater runoff in order to minimize damage to public and private property, to reduce the effects of development on land and on the quality of water, to control stream channel erosion, to reduce local flooding, and to maintain after development, as nearly as possible, the predevelopment stormwater runoff characteristics. A stormwater management practice that conforms to the requirements of the Stormwater Design Manual is also known as a "best management practice" or "BMP."
THE COMMISSIONERS OF ST. MICHAELSThe Maryland municipal corporation whose corporate name is "The Commissioners of St. Michaels," also commonly known as "St. Michaels" or the "Town of St. Michaels," and referred to in this chapter as "the Town" or "COSM."
TREATThe application of one or more stormwater management practices intended or designed to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff for the purposes of minimizing damage to public and private property, reducing the effects of development on the quality of water, and maintaining after development, as nearly as possible, the predevelopment stormwater runoff characteristics.
VARIANCEThe modification of the minimum stormwater management requirements, on a case-by-case basis, according to the procedures and standards of §
281-8 of this chapter.
The release by the enforcement authority from the legal duty to satisfy specific stormwater management requirements for a specific development on a case-by-case review basis.
WATER QUALITY VOLUME (WQv)The volume needed to capture and treat the stormwater runoff from 90% of the average annual rainfall at a development site. In numerical terms, it is equivalent to one inch of rainfall multiplied by the volumetric runoff coefficient (Rv) and site area. Methods for calculating the water quality volume are specified in the Stormwater Design Manual. In this chapter, water quality volume is a requirement for addressing qualitative treatment of stormwater runoff.
WATERSHEDThe total drainage area contributing stormwater runoff to a single point.