[Added 3-3-2021 by Ord.
No. 2021-02]
a. Policy statement. Flood control, groundwater recharge, and pollutant
reduction shall be achieved through the use of stormwater management
measures, including green infrastructure best management practices
(GI BMPs) and nonstructural stormwater management strategies. GI BMPs
and low-impact development (LID) should be utilized to meet the goal
of maintaining natural hydrology to reduce stormwater runoff volume,
reduce erosion, encourage infiltration and groundwater recharge, and
reduce pollution. GI BMPs and LID should be developed based upon physical
site conditions and the origin, nature and the anticipated quantity,
or amount, 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. The purpose of this section is to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls for major development, as defined below in §
13-110.2.
c. Applicability.
1. This section shall be applicable to the following major developments:
(a)
Nonresidential major developments; and
(b)
Aspects of residential major developments that are not preempted
by the Residential Site Improvement Standards at N.J.A.C. 5:21.
2. This section shall also be applicable to all major developments undertaken
by Hardwick Township.
3. Development of single-family residences, accessory structures, and associated uses on individual parcels as well as minor subdivisions as defined in §
13-6 shall be deemed compliant with the requirements of §
13-110 without need for engineering documentation or employment of stormwater mitigation means provided all of the following conditions are met:
(a)
Where the parcel is less than 20 acres in area, the total impervious
coverage, including both rooftop and motor vehicle surfaces, does
not exceed 10% of the parcel's surface area or 1/4 acre, whichever
is greater. For a parcel greater than 100 acres in area, the total
impervious coverage does not exceed 5% of the parcel's surface area.
For a parcel greater than 20 acres and less than 100 acres in area,
the total impervious coverage does not exceed a percentage value that
may be calculated as linearly decreasing from 10% to 5% as the parcel's
surface area increases from 20 acres to 100 acres. Note: The impervious
coverage limit for the parcels with areas between 20 acres and 100
acres may be calculated as follows:
Impervious Coverage Limit = 10% - (parcel area-20) (5%/80)
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(b)
Development does not occur within wetlands, wetlands transition
areas, or other conservation easement areas;
(c)
Development does not occur on steep slopes as defined in §
13-6. Note: Maintenance or restoration of lawns, pastures, agricultural fields, and the like, preexisting as of March 2, 2021, and whether or not located on steep slopes or within wetlands transition areas, shall not be considered disturbance or development. Removal of invasive plant species, such as, but not limited to, multiflora rose, autumn-olive, red cedar, Canadian thistle, hemp dogbane, horse nettle, etc., considered part of routine maintenance or restoration.
(d)
Development does not entail construction of a public motor vehicle
surface;
(e)
Development and any associated disturbances does not entail
meaningful risk of creating a discernible degradation of surface water
or groundwater resources;
(f)
Reasonably anticipated stormwater runoff will not create adverse
impacts such as erosion and siltation either on-site or off-site.
4. Compliance with conditions in Subsection
c3(f) immediately above creates a presumption of conformity with the provisions of this section. Under exceptional circumstances where there is credible reason for concern that proposed new development may result in outcomes contrary to the intent of this section of Hardwick Township's Code, responsible Township officials may request additional documentation to support a determination that the proposed development may appropriately be granted the presumption of conformity. Officials or bodies with primary responsibility for this determination shall include the Zoning Officer, the Township Engineer, and the Land Use Board.
d. Compatibility with other permit and ordinance requirements. Development
approvals issued pursuant to this section are to be considered an
integral part of development approvals 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 section
shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of
the public health, safety, and general welfare. This section is not
intended to interfere with, abrogate, or annul any other ordinances,
rule or regulation, statute, or other provision of law except that,
where any provision of this section 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.
For the purpose of this section, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein
unless their use in the text of this section 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. The definitions below are the same as or
based on the corresponding definitions in the Stormwater Management
Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:8-1.2.
CAFRA CENTERS, CORES OR NODES
Those areas with boundaries incorporated by reference or
revised by the Department in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:7-13.16.
CAFRA PLANNING MAP
The map used by the Department to identify the location of
Coastal Planning Areas, CAFRA centers, CAFRA cores, and CAFRA nodes.
The CAFRA Planning Map is available on the Department's Geographic
Information System (GIS).
COMMUNITY BASIN
An infiltration system, sand filter designed to infiltrate,
standard constructed wetland, or wet pond, established in accordance
with N.J.A.C. 7:8-4.2(c)14, that is designed and constructed in accordance
with the New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, or
an alternate design, approved in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.2(g),
for an infiltration system, sand filter designed to infiltrate, standard
constructed wetland, or wet pond and that complies with the requirements
of this section.
CONTRIBUTORY DRAINAGE AREA
The area from which stormwater runoff drains to a stormwater
management measure, not including the area of the stormwater management
measure itself.
CORE
A pedestrian-oriented area of commercial and civic uses serving
the surrounding municipality, generally including housing and access
to public transportation.
COUNTY REVIEW AGENCY
An agency designated by the County Board of Commissioners
to review municipal stormwater management plans and implementing ordinance(s).
The county review agency may either be:
a.
A county planning agency; or
b.
A county water resource association created under N.J.S.A. 58:16A-55.5,
if the ordinance or resolution delegates authority to approve, conditionally
approve, or disapprove municipal stormwater management plans and implementing
ordinances.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Environmental Protection.
DESIGN ENGINEER
A person professionally qualified and duly licensed in New
Jersey to perform engineering services that may include, but not necessarily
be limited to, development of project requirements, creation and development
of project design and preparation of drawings and specifications.
DESIGNATED CENTER
A state development and redevelopment plan center as designated
by the State Planning Commission, such as urban, regional, town, village,
or hamlet.
DEVELOPMENT
The division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels,
the construction, reconstruction, conversion, structural alteration,
relocation or enlargement of any building or structure, any mining
excavation or landfill, and any use or change in the use of any building
or other structure, or land or extension of use of land, for which
permission is required under the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A.
40:55D-1 et seq. In the case of development of agricultural land,
development means any activity that requires a state permit, any activity
reviewed by the County Agricultural Board (CAB) and the State Agricultural
Development Committee (SADC), and municipal review of any activity
not exempted by the Right to Farm Act, N.J.S.A. 4:1C-1 et seq.
DISTURBANCE
The placement or reconstruction of impervious surface or
motor vehicle surface, or exposure and/or movement of soil or bedrock
or clearing, cutting, or removing of vegetation. Milling and repaving
is not considered disturbance for the purposes of this definition.
DRAINAGE AREA
A geographic area within which stormwater, sediments, or
dissolved materials drain to a particular receiving water body or
to a particular point along a receiving water body.
EMPOWERMENT NEIGHBORHOODS
Neighborhoods designated by the Urban Coordinating Council
"in consultation and conjunction with" the New Jersey Redevelopment
Authority pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-69.
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSTRAINED AREA
The following areas where the physical alteration of the
land is in some way restricted, either through regulation, easement,
deed restriction or ownership, such as wetlands, floodplains, threatened
and endangered species sites or designated habitats, and parks and
preserves. Habitats of endangered or threatened species are identified
using the Department's Landscape Project as approved by the Department's
Endangered and Nongame Species Program.
ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL AREA
An area or feature which is of significant environmental
value, including, but not limited to, stream corridors, natural heritage
priority sites, habitats of endangered or threatened species, large
areas of contiguous open space or upland forest, steep slopes, and
wellhead protection and groundwater recharge areas. Habitats of endangered
or threatened species are identified using the Department's Landscape
Project as approved by the Department's Endangered and Nongame Species
Program.
EROSION
The detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by
water, wind, ice, or gravity.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
A stormwater management measure that manages stormwater close
to its source by:
a.
Treating stormwater runoff through infiltration into subsoil;
b.
Treating stormwater runoff through filtration by vegetation
or soil; or
c.
Storing stormwater runoff for reuse.
HUC 14 or HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE 14
An area within which water drains to a particular receiving
surface water body, also known as a "subwatershed," which is identified
by a fourteen-digit hydrologic unit boundary designation, delineated
within New Jersey by the United States Geological Survey.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that has been covered with a layer of material
so that it is highly resistant to infiltration by water.
INFILTRATION
The process by which water seeps into the soil from precipitation.
LEAD PLANNING AGENCY
One or more public entities having stormwater management
planning authority designated by the regional stormwater management
planning committee pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:8-3.2, that serves as the
primary representative of the committee.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT
a.
An 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 the effective date of this section,
whichever is earlier); or
4.
A combination of Subsections a2 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 paragraphs Subsection a1, 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.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Land vehicles propelled other than by muscular power, such
as automobiles, motorcycles, autocycles, and low-speed vehicles. For
the purposes of this definition, motor vehicle does not include farm
equipment, snowmobiles, allterrain vehicles, motorized wheelchairs,
go-carts, gas buggies, golf carts, ski-slope grooming machines, or
vehicles that run only on rails or tracks.
MOTOR VEHICLE SURFACE
Any pervious or impervious surface that is intended to be
used by motor vehicles and/or aircraft, and is directly exposed to
precipitation, including, but not limited to, driveways, parking areas,
parking garages, roads, racetracks, and runways.
NEW JERSEY STORMWATER BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP) MANUAL
or BMP MANUAL
The manual maintained by the Department providing, in part, design specifications, removal rates, calculation methods, and soil testing procedures approved by the Department as being capable of contributing to the achievement of the stormwater management standards specified in this section. The BMP Manual is periodically amended by the Department as necessary to provide design specifications on additional best management practices and new information on already included practices reflecting the best available current information regarding the particular practice and the Department's determination as to the ability of that best management practice to contribute to compliance with the standards contained in this section. Alternative stormwater management measures, removal rates, or calculation methods may be utilized, subject to any limitations specified in this section, provided the design engineer demonstrates to the municipality, in accordance with §
13-110.4f of this section and N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.2(g), that the proposed measure and its design will contribute to achievement of the design and performance standards established by this section.
NODE
An area designated by the State Planning Commission concentrating
facilities and activities which are not organized in a compact form.
NUTRIENT
A chemical element or compound, such as nitrogen or phosphorus,
which is essential to and promotes the development of organisms.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm,
association, political subdivision of this state and any state, interstate
or federal agency.
POLLUTANT
Any dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, filter
backwash, sewage, garbage, refuse, oil, grease, sewage sludge, munitions,
chemical wastes, biological materials, medical wastes, radioactive
substance [except those regulated under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954,
as amended (42 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.)], thermal waste, wrecked
or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, industrial, municipal,
agricultural, and construction waste or runoff, or other residue discharged
directly or indirectly to the land, groundwaters or surface waters
of the state, or to a domestic treatment works. "Pollutant" includes
both hazardous and nonhazardous pollutants.
RECHARGE
The amount of water from precipitation that infiltrates into
the ground and is not evapotranspired.
REGULATED IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
Any of the following, alone or in combination:
a.
A net increase of impervious surface;
b.
The total area of impervious surface collected by a new stormwater
conveyance system (for the purpose of this definition, a "new stormwater
conveyance system" is a stormwater conveyance system that is constructed
where one did not exist immediately prior to its construction or an
existing system for which a new discharge location is created);
c.
The total area of impervious surface proposed to be newly collected
by an existing stormwater conveyance system; and/or
d.
The total area of impervious surface collected by an existing
stormwater conveyance system where the capacity of that conveyance
system is increased.
REGULATED MOTOR VEHICLE SURFACE
Any of the following, alone or in combination:
a.
The total area of motor vehicle surface that is currently receiving
water;
b.
A net increase in motor vehicle surface; and/or
c.
Quality treatment either by vegetation or soil, by an existing
stormwater management measure, or by treatment at a wastewater treatment
plant, where the water quality treatment will be modified or removed.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, mineral or organic, that is in suspension,
is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by
air, water or gravity as a product of erosion.
SITE
The lot or lots upon which a major development is to occur
or has occurred.
SOIL
All unconsolidated mineral and organic material of any origin.
STATE PLAN POLICY MAP
The geographic application of the State Development and Redevelopment
Plan's goals and statewide policies, and the official map of these
goals and policies.
STORMWATER
Water resulting from precipitation (including rain and snow)
that runs off the land's surface, is transmitted to the subsurface,
or is captured by separate storm sewers or other sewage or drainage
facilities, or conveyed by snow removal equipment.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BMP
An excavation or embankment and related areas designed to
retain stormwater runoff. A stormwater management BMP may either be
normally dry (that is, a detention basin or infiltration system),
retain water in a permanent pool (a retention basin), or be planted
mainly with wetland vegetation (most constructed stormwater wetlands).
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT MEASURE
Any practice, technology, process, program, or other method
intended to control or reduce stormwater runoff and associated pollutants,
or to induce or control the infiltration or groundwater recharge of
stormwater or to eliminate illicit or illegal nonstormwater discharges
into stormwater conveyances.
STORMWATER RUNOFF
Water flow on the surface of the ground or in storm sewers,
resulting from precipitation.
TIDAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA
A flood hazard area in which the flood elevation resulting
from the two-, ten-, or 100-year storm, as applicable, is governed
by tidal flooding from the Atlantic Ocean. Flooding in a tidal flood
hazard area may be contributed to, or influenced by, stormwater runoff
from inland areas, but the depth of flooding generated by the tidal
rise and fall of the Atlantic Ocean is greater than flooding from
any fluvial sources. In some situations, depending upon the extent
of the storm surge from a particular storm event, a flood hazard area
may be tidal in the 100-year storm, but fluvial in more frequent storm
events.
URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONES
A zone designated by the New Jersey Enterprise Zone Authority
pursuant to the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27H-60
et seq.
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AREA
Previously developed portions of areas:
a.
Delineated on the State Plan Policy Map (SPPM) as the Metropolitan
Planning Area (PA1), designated centers, cores or nodes;
b.
Designated as CAFRA centers, cores or nodes;
c.
Designated as Urban Enterprise Zones; and
d.
Designated as Urban Coordinating Council Empowerment Neighborhoods.
WATER CONTROL STRUCTURE
A structure within, or adjacent to, a water, which intentionally
or coincidentally alters the hydraulic capacity, the flood elevation
resulting from the two-, ten-, or 100-year storm, flood hazard area
limit, and/or floodway limit of the water. Examples of a water control
structure may include a bridge, culvert, dam, embankment, ford (if
above grade), retaining wall, and weir.
WATERS OF THE STATE
The ocean and its estuaries, all springs, streams, wetlands,
and bodies of surface water or groundwater, whether natural or artificial,
within the boundaries of the State of New Jersey or subject to its
jurisdiction.
WETLANDS or WETLAND
An area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or
groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and
that under normal circumstances does support, a prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, commonly
known as "hydrophytic vegetation."
Any person(s) who erects, constructs, alters, repairs, converts,
maintains, or uses any building, structure or land in violation of
this section shall be subject to the penalties as established by this
chapter and the Township Code.
Each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase of this
section is declared to be an independent section, subsection, sentence,
clause and phrase, and the finding or holding of any such portion
of this section to be unconstitutional, void, or ineffective for any
cause, or reason, shall not affect any other portion of this section.
This section shall be in full force and effect from and after
its adoption and any publication as required by law.