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Township of Washington, NJ
Morris County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Washington as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Floodplain management — See Ch. 92.
Sewers — See Ch. 155.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 175.
[Adopted 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 46-05]
A. 
Policy statement. Flood control, groundwater recharge and pollutant reduction through nonstructural or low-impact techniques shall be explored before relying on structural best management practices (BMPs). Structural BMPs should be integrated with nonstructural stormwater management measures and proper maintenance plans. Nonstructural measures include both environmentally sensitive site design and source controls that prevent pollutants from being placed on the site. Source control plans should be developed based upon physical site conditions and the origin, nature and the anticipated loading of potential pollutants. Multiple stormwater management BMPs may be necessary to achieve the established performance standards for water quality, quantity and groundwater recharge.
B. 
Purpose. It is the purpose of this article to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls for major development.
C. 
Applicability.
(1) 
This article shall be applicable to any site plan or subdivision that requires preliminary or final subdivision or site plan review as follows:
(a) 
Nonresidential major development; and
(b) 
Aspects of the residential major developments that are not pre-empted by the Residential Site Improvements Standards at N.J.A.C. 5:21.
(2) 
This article shall also be applicable to all major developments undertaken by any federal, state, interstate agency, county or municipal government or school district whose jurisdiction is partially or entirely within the State of New Jersey.
(3) 
This article and the design standards contained herein shall apply to all projects that meet the definition of "major development" or "minor development" herein, even if site plan or subdivision approval is not required.
[Added 3-18-2019 by Ord. No. 03-19]
D. 
Compatibility with other permit and ordinance requirements. Development approvals issued pursuant to this article are to be considered an integral part of development approvals under the subdivision and site plan review process and do not relieve the applicant of the responsibility to secure required permits or approvals for activities regulated by any other applicable code, rule, act or ordinance. In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this article shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare. This article is not intended to interfere with, abrogate or annul any other ordinance, rule or regulation, statute or other provision of law except that, where any provision of this article imposes restrictions different from those imposed by any other ordinance, rule or regulation or other provision of law, the more restrictive provisions or higher standards shall control.
[Amended 2-10-2021 by Ord. No. 02-21]
All terms in this section shall be defined in the NJDEP Stormwater Rule (N.J.A.C. 7:8, et seq.). The following additional terms are defined for this chapter only.
EXEMPT DEVELOPMENT
Any development that creates an increase of less than 2,000 square feet of impervious area and disturbs less than 5,000 square feet of land. Further, an exempt development shall not meet the definition of "minor development."
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT
A. 
Any individual development, as well as multiple developments that individually or collectively result in:
(1) 
The disturbance of one or more acres of land since February 2, 2004;
(2) 
The creation of 1/4 acre or more of "regulated impervious surface" since February 2, 2004;
(3) 
The creation of 1/4 acre or more of "regulated motor vehicle surface" since March 2, 2021; or
(4) 
A combination of (2) and (3) above that totals an area of 1/4 acre or more. The same surface shall not be counted twice when determining if the combination area equals 1/4 acre or more.
B. 
Major development includes all developments that are part of a common plan of development or sale (for example, phased residential development) that collectively or individually meet any one or more of conditions (1), (2), (3) or (4) above. Projects undertaken by any government agency that otherwise meet the definition of "major development" but which do not require approval under the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., are also considered "major development."
MINOR DEVELOPMENT
Any development that results in the creation of an increase of 2,000 square feet or more of impervious area or one that disturbs more than 5,000 square feet of land area. Further, a minor development shall not meet the definition of "major development."
[Amended 4-18-2011 by Ord. No. 03-11; 2-10-2021 by Ord. No. 02-21]
A. 
Exempt developments. Any project meeting the definition of "exempt development" shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
B. 
Minor developments. Minor developments shall be designed to include the following stormwater management measures:
(1) 
Water quality. Soil erosion and sediment control measures shall be installed in accordance with the Standards for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control in New Jersey.
(2) 
Rate/volume control. Seepage pits or other infiltration measures shall be provided with a capacity of three inches of runoff for each square foot of new impervious area. Stone used in the infiltration devices shall be 2 1/2 inches clean stone and design void ratio of 33% shall be used. The infiltration measures shall be designed with an overflow to the surface which shall be stabilized and directed to an existing stormwater conveyance system or in a manner to keep the overflow on the developed property to the greatest extent feasible. If the new impervious surface is not roof area, an equivalent area of existing roof may be directed to the infiltration system. This shall be permitted where the existing roof is not already directed to infiltration devices.
C. 
Major developments. All major developments shall have their stormwater management designed in accordance with the Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS, N.J.A.C. 5:21) and the NJDEP Stormwater Rule (N.J.A.C. 7:8) including all requirements for green infrastructure outline therein. These standards shall apply to all projects, residential and nonresidential as well as projects by the Township, Board of Education and other agencies subject to review by the Township.
[Added 9-19-2011 by Ord. No. 13-11]
An escrow review fee shall be required in the amount of $700 for review of the design plan for a minor development by the Township Engineer or any other professional retained by the Township in connection with the above design. The balance of the escrow fee deposit, if any, shall be refunded to the applicant upon completion and final inspection of the applicable stormwater control measure. The escrow fee deposit shall be administered by the Township in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Municipal Land Use Law, N. J. S.A. 40:55D-53.1.
[Amended 2-10-2021 by Ord. No. 02-21]
A. 
Standards for relief. Waivers from strict compliance with the major development design standards shall only be granted upon showing that meeting the standards would result in an exceptional hardship on the applicant or that the benefits to the public good of the deviation from the standards would outweigh any detriments of the deviation. A hardship will not be considered to exist if reasonable reductions in the scope of the project would eliminate the noncompliance.
B. 
Mitigation. If the reviewing agency for the project determines that a waiver is appropriate, the applicant must execute a mitigation plan. The scope of the mitigation plan shall be commensurate with the size of the project and the magnitude of the relief required. The mitigation project may be taken from the list of projects in the Municipal Stormwater Management Plan. All mitigation projects are subject to the approval of the Township Engineer.
C. 
Reviewing agency. All applications subject to the review of the Land Use Board shall be reviewed by the Board concurrently with subdivision or site plan review. Applications not subject to Land Use Board review shall be reviewed by the Township Engineer.
D. 
Appeals. The appeal of the determination of the Township Engineer shall be made in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70a.
[Amended 2-10-2021 by Ord. No. 02-21]
There shall be no additional fees for stormwater review for applications to the Land Use Board. Minor development applications to the Township Engineer shall be accompanied by a review fee in the amount of $700. Major development applications shall be accompanied by a review fee in the amount of $1,000. If a project is approved, an inspection escrow deposit shall be made in an amount to be determined by the Township Engineer.
[Amended 2-10-2021 by Ord. No. 02-21]
A. 
Applicability. Projects subject to review as in § 170-1C of this chapter shall comply with the requirements of § 170-6B and C.
B. 
General maintenance.
(1) 
The design engineer shall prepare a maintenance plan for the stormwater management measures incorporated into the design of a major development.
(2) 
The maintenance plan shall contain specific preventative maintenance tasks and schedules; cost estimates, including estimated cost of sediment, debris, or trash removal; and the name, address, and telephone number of the person or persons responsible for preventative and corrective maintenance (including replacement). Maintenance guidelines for stormwater management measures are available in the New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual. If the maintenance plan identifies a person other than the developer (for example, a public agency or homeowners' association) as having the responsibility for maintenance, the plan shall include documentation of such person's agreement to assume this responsibility, or of the developer's obligation to dedicate a stormwater management facility to such person under an applicable ordinance or regulation.
(3) 
Responsibility for maintenance shall not be assigned or transferred to the owner or tenant of an individual property in a residential development or project, unless such owner or tenant owns or leases the entire residential development or project.
(4) 
If the person responsible for maintenance identified under § 170-6B(2) above is not a public agency, the maintenance plan and any future revisions based on § 170-6B(7) below shall be recorded upon the deed of record for each property on which the maintenance described in the maintenance plan must be undertaken.
(5) 
Preventative and corrective maintenance shall be performed to maintain the function of the stormwater management measure, including repairs or replacement to the structure; removal of sediment, debris, or trash; restoration of eroded areas; snow and ice removal; fence repair or replacement; restoration of vegetation; and repair or replacement of nonvegetated linings.
(6) 
The person responsible for maintenance identified under § 170-6B(2) above shall maintain a detailed log of all preventative and corrective maintenance for the structural stormwater management measures incorporated into the design of the development, including a record of all inspections and copies of all maintenance-related work orders.
(7) 
The person responsible for maintenance identified under § 170-6B(2) above shall evaluate the effectiveness of the maintenance plan at least once per year and adjust the plan and the deed as needed.
(8) 
The person responsible for maintenance identified under § 170-6B(2) above shall retain and make available, upon request by any public entity with administrative, health, environmental, or safety authority over the site, the maintenance plan and the documentation required by § 170-6B(6) and B(7) above.
(9) 
The requirements of § 170-6B(3) and B(4) do not apply to stormwater management facilities that are dedicated to and accepted by the municipality or another governmental agency.
(10) 
In the event that the stormwater management facility becomes a danger to public safety or public health, or if it is in need of maintenance or repair, the municipality shall so notify the responsible person in writing. Upon receipt of that notice, the responsible person shall have 14 days to effect maintenance and repair of the facility in a manner that is approved by the Municipal Engineer or his designee. The municipality, in its discretion, may extend the time allowed for effecting maintenance and repair for good cause. If the responsible person fails or refuses to perform such maintenance and repair, the municipality or county may immediately proceed to do so and shall bill the cost thereof to the responsible person.
C. 
Nothing in this section shall preclude the municipality in which the major development is located from requiring the posting of a performance or maintenance guarantee in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.
Any person who erects, constructs, alters, repairs, converts, maintains, or uses any building, structure or land in violation of this chapter shall be subject to one or more of the following penalties: Imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days; a fine not exceeding $2,000; and a period of community service not to exceed 90 days.
[Amended 2-10-2021 by Ord. No. 02-21]
This article shall take effect March 2, 2021.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 170-9, Requirements for a site development stormwater plan, § 170-10, Maintenance and repair, and § 170-11, Violations and penalties, were repealed 2-10-2021 by Ord. No. 02-21.
[Adopted 10-18-2010 by Ord. No. 21-10]
The purpose of this article is to require the retrofitting of existing storm drain inlets which are in direct contact with repaving, repairing, reconstruction, or resurfacing or alterations of facilities on private property, to prevent the discharge of solids and floatables (such as plastic bottles, cans, food wrappers and other litter) to the municipal separate storm sewer system(s) operated by the Township of Washington so as to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to prescribe penalties for the failure to comply.
For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this article clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4)
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) that is owned or operated by the Township of Washington or other public body, and is designed and used for collecting and conveying stormwater.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
STORM DRAIN INLET
An opening in a storm drain used to collect stormwater runoff; includes, but is not limited to, a grate inlet, curb-opening inlet, slotted inlet, and combination inlet.
WATERS OF THE STATE
The ocean and its estuaries, all springs, streams and bodies of surface or ground water, whether natural or artificial, within the boundaries of the State of New Jersey or subject to its jurisdiction.
No person in control of private property (except a residential lot with one single-family house) shall authorize the repaving, repairing (excluding the repair of individual potholes), resurfacing (including top coating or chip sealing with asphalt emulsion or a thin base of hot bitumen), reconstructing or altering any surface that is in direct contact with an existing storm drain inlet on that property unless the storm drain inlet either:
A. 
Already meets the design standard below to control passage of solid and floatable materials; or
B. 
Is retrofitted or replaced to meet the standard in § 170-15 below prior to the completion of the project.
Storm drain inlets identified in § 170-14 above shall comply with the following standard to control passage of solid and floatable materials through storm drain inlets. For purposes of this subsection, "solid and floatable materials" means sediment, debris, trash, and other floating, suspended, or settleable solids. For exemptions to this standard see Subsection C below.
A. 
Grates.
(1) 
Design engineers shall use either of the following grates whenever they use a grate in pavement or another ground surface to collect stormwater from that surface into a storm drain or surface water body under that grate.
(a) 
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) bicycle safe grate, which is described in Chapter 2.4 of the NJDOT Bicycle Compatible Roadways and Bikeways Planning and Design Guidelines (April 1996); or
(b) 
A different grate, if each individual clear space in that grate has an area of no more than seven square inches, or is no greater than 0.5 inches across the smallest dimension.
(2) 
Examples of grates subject to this standard include grates in grate inlets, the grate portion (non-curb-opening portion) of combination inlets, grates on storm sewer manholes, ditch grates, trench grates, and grates of spacer bars in slotted drains. Examples of ground surfaces include surfaces of roads (including bridges), driveways, parking areas, bikeways, plazas, sidewalks, lawns, fields, open channels, and stormwater basin floors.
B. 
Whenever design engineers use a curb-opening inlet, the clear space in that curb opening (or each individual clear space, if the curb opening has two or more clear spaces) shall have an area of no more than seven square inches, or be no greater than two inches across the smallest dimension.
C. 
This standard does not apply:
(1) 
Where the municipal engineer agrees that this standard would cause inadequate hydraulic performance that could not practicably be overcome by using additional or larger storm drain inlets that meet these standards;
(2) 
Where flows are conveyed through any device (e.g., end of pipe netting facility, manufactured treatment device, or a catch basin hood) that is designed, at a minimum, to prevent delivery of all solid and floatable materials that could not pass through one of the following:
(a) 
A rectangular space 4 5/8 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide (this option does not apply for outfall netting facilities); or
(b) 
A bar screen having a bar spacing of 0.5 inches.
(3) 
Where flows are conveyed through a trash rack that has parallel bars with one-inch spacing between the bars; or
(4) 
Where the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection determines, pursuant to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:4-7.2(c), that action to meet this standard is an undertaking that constitutes an encroachment or will damage or destroy the New-Jersey-Register-listed historic property.
This article shall be enforced by the Police Department and/or Construction Official of the Township of Washington.
Any person(s) who is found to be in violation of the provisions of this article shall be subject to the penalties set forth in § 1-3 of the Code of the Township of Washington for each storm drain inlet that is not retrofitted to meet the design standard.