For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms are defined as provided below:
AGRICULTURE/AGRICULTURAL USEIncludes farming in all its branches, generally as the cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing and harvesting of any agricultural, floricultural, viticultural or horticultural commodities, and shellfishing, including preparations and delivery to storage or to market or to carriers for transportation to market.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP)A sequence of activities designed to limit a nonpoint pollution source. For the purposes of this bylaw, BMP means the "Best Management Practices for Soil and Nutrient Management in Turf Systems," prepared by University of Massachusetts Extension, Center for Agriculture, Turf Program. The version of this document that applies to this bylaw shall be that which was most recent at the time of the adoption of this bylaw or any subsequent versions that are adopted as an amendment to this bylaw through a majority vote at Town Meeting.
COMBINATION PRODUCTSSometimes known as "weed and feed," any product that, in combination with fertilizer, contains pre- or post-emergence herbicides, insecticides other pesticides or plant growth regulators.
COMPOST or ORGANIC COMPOSTThe biologically stable, humus-like material derived from composting or the aerobic, thermophilic decomposition of organic matter.
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITYThe party designated by the Select Board to oversee and enforce the provisions of this bylaw.
[Amended 11-13-2017 FYTM, Art. 13]
A substance that enriches the soil with elements essential for plant growth, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or other substances; fertilizer does not include those nutrients that are normally excluded from fertilizer such as chemicals that are part of horticultural gypsum, dolomite, limestone, lime, Jersey greensand, grass clippings, or compost topdressing.
HEAVY RAINA rainfall greater than 0.25 inch per hour during a given twenty-four-hour period or a rainfall of greater than one inch total in the next twenty-four-hour period.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACEAny structure, surface, or improvement that reduces or prevents absorption of stormwater into land, and includes concrete, asphalt, paver blocks, gravel, decks, patios, elevated structures, and other similar structures, surfaces, or improvements.
LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALA person, either as a sole proprietor or as part of a company, who, in exchange for money, goods, services, or other consideration, performs landscaping services. A landscape professional can include turf management staff at a private golf course operation or other private entity.
MANAGED TURF AREAAn area of turf that is periodically maintained through mowing, fertilizing, aerating, irrigation or other similar activities designed to maintain or enhance the health, functionality and/or aesthetic appeal of the turf.
MDAR FERTILIZER REGULATIONSThe most recent regulations of the "Plant Nutrient Application Requirements for Agricultural Land and Land Not Used for Agricultural Purposes," developed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) pursuant to its authority under MGL c. 128, §§
2(k) and
65(A), as amended by Chapter 262 of the Acts of 2012, 330 CMR
31.00.
A public employee of a town, the county, or the state or federal government (or an employee of a department of and within such public entity) who fertilizes and manages turf located on property owned or controlled by a town, the county, the state or federal government (including publicly owned golf courses and athletic fields) within the scope of their official public employment responsibilities.
NITROGENAn element essential to plant growth. For the purposes of the bylaw, nitrogen may be available as slow-release, controlled-release, timed-release, slowly available, or water-insoluble nitrogen, which means nitrogen in a form that delays its availability for plant uptake and use after application and is not rapidly available to turf and other plants; and/or quick-release, water-soluble nitrogen which means nitrogen in a form that does not delay its availability for turf and other plant uptake and is rapidly available for turf and other plant uptake and use after application.
NUTRIENTAny of the following 17 elements needed for growth of a plant: the three non-mineral elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; the six macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur; and the eight micronutrients: boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum, nickel and zinc.
SATURATED GROUNDSoil soaked with moisture so that it cannot absorb any more liquid.
TURFAny non-crop land area that is covered by any grass species, excluding meadows, grasslands, flower or vegetable gardens, pasture, hay land, trees, shrubs, turf grown on turf farms or any form of agricultural production or use.