It is hereby determined that:
A. Uncontrolled drainage and runoff associated with land development
has a significant impact upon the health, safety and welfare of the
community.
B. Eroded soil endangers water resources by reducing water quality and
causing the silting of streams, lakes and other water bodies, adversely
affecting aquatic life.
C. Stormwater runoff and sediment transports pollutants such as heavy
metals, hydrocarbons, nutrients and bacteria to water resources, degrading
water quality.
D. Eroded soil necessitates repair and accelerates the maintenance needs
of stormwater management facilities.
E. Clearing, grading and altering natural topography during construction
tends to increase erosion.
F. Improper design and construction of drainage facilities can increase
the velocity of runoff, thereby increasing streambank erosion and
sedimentation.
G. Impervious surfaces increase the volume and rate of stormwater runoff
and allow less water to percolate into the soil, thereby decreasing
groundwater recharge and stream base flow.
H. Improperly managed stormwater runoff can increase the incidence of
flooding and the severity of floods that occur, endangering property
and human life.
I. Substantial economic losses can result from these adverse impacts.
J. Stormwater runoff, soil erosion and nonpoint source pollution can
be controlled and minimized through the regulation of land development
activities.
The purpose of this article is to safeguard persons, protect
property, and prevent damage to the environment in the Town of Glenville,
New York. This article will also promote the public welfare by guiding,
regulating, and controlling the design, construction, use, and maintenance
of any land development activity as it relates to erosion and sedimentation
control and stormwater management. This article seeks to meet these
purposes by achieving the following objectives:
A. Meet the requirements of minimum control Measures 4 (construction
site stormwater runoff control) and 5 (postconstruction stormwater
management) of the State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES)
general permit for stormwater discharges from municipal separate stormwater
sewer systems (MS4s), Permit No. GP-02-02 or as amended or revised.
B. Require land development activities to conform to the substantive
requirements of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(SPDES) general permit for construction activities GP-02-01 or as
amended or revised.
C. Minimize discharge of pollutants caused by stormwater runoff from
land development activities draining to impaired waters.
D. Minimize increases in pollution caused by stormwater runoff from
land development activities in order to reduce flooding, siltation,
increases in stream temperature, and streambank erosion and maintain
the integrity of stream channels;
E. Minimize increases in pollution caused by stormwater runoff from
land development activities which would otherwise degrade local water
quality;
F. Minimize the total annual volume of stormwater runoff which flows
from any specific site during and following development to the maximum
extent practicable; and
G. Reduce stormwater runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion and nonpoint
source pollution, wherever possible, through stormwater management
practices and to ensure that these management practices are properly
maintained and eliminate threats to public safety.
H. Encourage the use of green infrastructure practices to control stormwater
runoff such as protecting natural areas, reducing impervious cover,
maintaining natural hydrology, and using runoff reduction techniques
to the maximum extent practicable.
In accordance with § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule
Law of the State of New York, the Town Board of the Town of Glenville
has the authority to enact local laws and amend local laws for the
purpose of promoting the health, safety or general welfare of the
Town of Glenville and for the protection and enhancement of its physical
environment. The Town Board may include in any such local law provisions
for the appointment of any municipal officer, employees, or independent
contractor to effectuate, administer and enforce such local law.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AGRICULTURE
The activity of an active farm including grazing and watering
livestock, irrigating crops, harvesting crops, using land for growing
agricultural products, and cutting timber for sale, but shall not
include the operation of a dude ranch or similar operation, the construction
of a barn or other agricultural building, silo, stockyard or pen,
or structural practices identified in Table II in the Agricultural
Management Practices Catalog for Nonpoint Source Pollution in New
York State.
BUILDING
Any structure, either temporary or permanent, having walls
and a roof, designed for the shelter of any person, animal, or property,
and occupying more than 100 square feet of area.
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL (CPESC)
A person who has received training and is certified by CPESC
Inc., or other professionally accredited association, recognized for
its expertise in the erosion and sedimentation prevention field, to
review, inspect and/or maintain erosion and sediment control practices.
CHANNEL
A natural or artificial watercourse with a definite bed and
banks that conducts continuously or periodically flowing water.
CLEARING
Any activity that removes the vegetative surface cover.
COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
The initial disturbance of soils associated with clearing,
grading, or excavating activities, or other construction activities.
DEDICATION
The deliberate appropriation of property by its owner for
general public use.
DESIGN MANUAL
The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual, most
recent version, including applicable updates, that serves as the official
guide for stormwater management principles, methods and practices.
DEVELOPER
A person who undertakes land development activities.
ENHANCED PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL WATERSHED
A watershed where the most recent version of the SPDES general
permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities requires
a reduction of phosphorus loads utilizing the enhanced phosphorus
removal standards contained in the Design Manual.
EROSION
The wearing away of the land surface by action of wind, water,
gravity, or other natural forces.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN
A set of plans prepared by or under the direction of a licensed/certified
professional indicating the specific measures and sequencing to be
used to control sediment and erosion on a development site during
and after construction.
EROSION CONTROL MANUAL
The most recent version of the "New York State Standards
and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control" manual, commonly
known as the "Blue Book."
GRADING
Excavation of fill, rock, gravel, sand, soil or other natural
material, including the resulting conditions therefrom.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green infrastructure approaches infiltrate, evapotranspire
or reuse stormwater, using soils and vegetation rather than hardscape
collection, conveyance and storage structures. Common green infrastructure
approaches include green roofs, trees and tree boxes, rain gardens,
vegetated swales, pocket wetlands, infiltration planters, vegetated
median strips, reforestation, and protection and enhancement of riparian
buffers and floodplains.
HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP (HSG)
A Natural Resource Conservation Service classification system
in which soils are categorized into four runoff potential groups.
IMPAIRED WATERBODY
Rivers, streams, lakes and ponds on the 303(d) list of waterbodies
impaired by pollutants related to construction activity (silt, sediment
or nutrients).
IMPERVIOUS COVER
Those surfaces, improvements and structures that cannot effectively
infiltrate rainfall, snow melt and water (e.g., building rooftops,
pavement, sidewalks, driveways, etc.).
INDUSTRIAL STORMWATER PERMIT
A State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued
to a commercial industry or group of industries which regulates the
pollutant levels associated with industrial stormwater discharges
or specifies on-site pollution control strategies.
INFILTRATION
The process of percolating stormwater into the subsoil.
LAND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
Construction activity including clearing, grading, excavating,
soil disturbance or placement of fill that results in land disturbance
of equal to or greater than one acre, or activities disturbing less
than one acre of total land area that are part of a larger common
plan of development or sale, and will occur under one plan, even though
multiple separate and distinct land development activities may take
place at different times on different schedules.
LICENSED/CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL
A person currently licensed to practice engineering, or landscape
architecture in New York State or who is a certified professional
in erosion and sediment control. (CPESC).
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
A legally recorded document that acts as a property deed
restriction, and which provides for long-term maintenance of stormwater
management practices.
MINING
Any excavation subject to permitting requirements of the
State Department of Environmental Conservation under the Mined Land
Reclamation Law (Environmental Conservation Law, Article 23, Title
27).
NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Pollution from any source other than from any discernible,
confined, and discrete conveyances, and shall include, but not be
limited to, pollutants from agricultural, silvicultural, mining, construction,
subsurface disposal and urban runoff sources.
NOTICE OF INTENT (NOI)
A permit application prepared and filed by an owner or operator
with the Department of Environmental Conservation as an affirmation
that a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) has been prepared
and will be implemented in compliance with the most current State
Pollution Discharge Elimination System general permit for stormwater
runoff for construction activity.
OPERATOR
The person, persons, or legal entity which owns or leases
the property on which the construction activity is occurring.
PERIMETER CONTROL
A barrier that prevents sediment from leaving a site by filtering
sediment-laden runoff or diverting it to a sediment trap or basin.
PHASING
Clearing a parcel of land in distinct phases, with the stabilization
of each phase completed before the clearing of the next.
POLLUTANT OF CONCERN
Sediment or a water quality measurement that addresses sediment
(such as total suspended solids, turbidity or siltation) and any other
pollutant that has been identified as a cause of impairment of any
water body that will receive a discharge from the land development
activity.
PROJECT, MAJOR
Any land development activity that disturbs one acre or more,
including all commercial, industrial, or mixed-use development, as
well as any residential development consisting of buildings that contain
two or more dwelling units, or any land development activity not classified
as a minor project. (The operator of a major project must submit an
SWPPP that addresses water quality and quantity controls in addition
to erosion and sedimentation controls.)
PROJECT, MINOR
Any land development activity associated with a permitted
agricultural use or single-family residential construction/subdivision
that disturbs between one and five acres and is not discharging stormwater
directly to a water body listed on New York State 2002 Section 303(d)
list of impaired water bodies. (At present in Schenectady County,
Collins Lake is the only water body on the list due to phosphorous
levels associated with urban runoff.) (The operator of a minor project
must submit an SWPPP that addresses erosion and sedimentation controls.)
QUALIFIED INSPECTOR
A person that is knowledgeable in the principles and practices
of erosion and sediment control, such as a licensed professional engineer,
certified professional in erosion and sediment control (CPESC), registered
landscape architect, or other New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation endorsed individual. It can also mean someone working
the direct supervision of, and at the same company as, the licensed
professional engineer or registered landscape architect, provided
that person has received New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation endorsed training in the principles and practices of
erosion and sediment control.
RECHARGE
The replenishment of underground water reserves.
REDEVELOPMENT
Refers to the reconstruction or modification to any existing,
previously developed land such as residential, commercial, industrial,
institutional, or road or highway which involves soil disturbance.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, both mineral and organic, which is in suspension,
is being transported, has been deposited, or has been removed from
its site of origin.
SENSITIVE AREAS
Cold water fisheries, shellfish beds, swimming beaches, groundwater
recharge areas, water supply reservoirs, habitats for threatened,
endangered or special concern species.
SILVICULTURAL ACTIVITY
An ongoing practice involving the dedicated and cyclic use
of land for the periodic production of timber. Silvicultural activities
can include: site preparation for forest regeneration; reforestation
(including subsequent cultural treatment); thinning; prescribed burning;
pest and fire control; harvesting operations; surface drainage; harvest-related
road construction and maintenance; and nursery operations. Tree removal
in preparation for development or other conversion to a nonforestry
use is not silviculture.
SITE
A parcel of land, or a contiguous combination thereof, where
grading work is performed as a single unified operation.
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
A permit issued by the municipality for the construction
or alteration of ground improvements and structures for the control
of erosion, runoff, and grading.
SLOPES, SEVERE
Ground areas with a slope greater than 25% covering a minimum
horizontal area of 1/4 acre or 10,890 square feet and a minimum horizontal
dimension of 10 feet.
SLOPES, STEEP
Ground areas with a slope greater than 15% covering a minimum
horizontal area of 1/4 acre or 10,890 square feet and a minimum horizontal
dimension of 10 feet.
STABILIZATION
Covering or maintaining an existing cover over soil. Cover
can be vegetative (e.g., grass, trees, seed and mulch, shrubs, or
turf) or nonvegetative (e.g., geotextiles, riprap, or gabions).
STABILIZATION, FINAL
That all soil-disturbing activities at the site have been
completed and that a uniform perennial vegetative cover with a density
of 80% has been established or equivalent stabilization measures (such
as the use of mulches or geotextiles) have been employed on all unpaved
areas and areas not covered by permanent structures.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
The first land-disturbing activity associated with a development,
including land preparation such as clearing, grading, and filling.
STOP-WORK ORDER
An order issued which requires that all construction activity
on a site be stopped.
STORMWATER
Rainwater, surface runoff, snowmelt and drainage.
STORMWATER HOTSPOT
A land use or activity that generates higher concentrations
of hydrocarbons, trace metals or toxicants than are found in typical
stormwater runoff, based on monitoring studies.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The use of structural or nonstructural practices that are
designed to reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate its adverse impacts
on property, natural resources and the environment.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
One or a series of stormwater management practices installed,
stabilized and operating for the purpose of controlling stormwater
runoff.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT OFFICER
An employee of the municipality or officer designated by
the municipality to accept and coordinate the review of stormwater
pollution prevention plans and to inspect stormwater management practices.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (SMPs)
Measures, either structural or nonstructural, that are determined
to be the most effective, practical means of preventing flood damage
and preventing or reducing point source or nonpoint source pollution
inputs to stormwater runoff and water bodies.
TEMPORARILY CEASED
Means that an existing disturbed area will not be disturbed
again within 14 calendar days of the previous soil disturbance.
TRAINED CONTRACTOR
An employee from the contracting (construction) company that
will be responsible for implementing the SWPPP, who has received four
hours of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation endorsed
training in proper erosion and sediment control principles. After
receiving the initial training, the trained contractor shall receive
four hours of training every three years. It can also mean an employee
from the contracting (construction) company that meets the qualified
inspector qualifications.
WATERCOURSE
Any body of water, including but not limited to lakes, ponds,
rivers, streams, and intermittent streams.
WATERCOURSE BUFFER
A minimum horizontal distance of 50 feet away from and parallel
to the high-water level or top of bank (whichever is easiest to accurately
determine) of a watercourse. This minimum distance may be increased
in consideration of site-specific soil conditions, existing water
quality of the subject watercourse or other pertinent factors as determined
by the Town's Planning and Zoning Commission, Town Economic Development
and Planning Department, Stormwater Management Officer or New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation.
WATERWAY
A channel that directs surface runoff to a watercourse or
to the public storm drain.
WETLANDS
Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water
or groundwater at a frequency or duration sufficient to support, and
that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands
include those areas determined to be wetlands by the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers and/or the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation.
The SWPPP shall be prepared by a licensed/certified professional.
The SWPPP must be signed by the professional preparing the plan and
shall make the following certification:
"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments
were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with
a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gathered
and evaluated the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the
person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly
responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted
is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete.
I am aware that false statements made herein are punishable as a Class
A misdemeanor pursuant to § 210.45 of the Penal Law."
All land development activities shall be subject to the following
design and performance standards:
A. Technical guides and standards.
(1)
For the purpose of this article, the following documents shall
serve as the official guides and standards for stormwater management.
Stormwater management practices in accordance with these technical
documents shall be presumed to meet the standards imposed by this
article.
(a)
The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual (New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation, most current
version or its successor, hereafter referred to as the "Design Manual").
[1] Stormwater management practices must be selected,
designed, installed and maintained to meet the performance criteria
in the most current version of the Design Manual using sound engineering
judgment.
[2] Stormwater management practices must be designed
to meet the applicable sizing criteria in the most current version
of the Design Manual.
(b)
New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment
Control (Empire State Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society
2004, most current version or its successor, hereafter referred to
as the "Erosion Control Manual").
(2)
Equivalence to technical standards. (NOTE: New York State requires
applicants to demonstrate that stormwater management practices that
are not prepared in accordance with NYSDEC design and technical standards
will work in the field to prevent soil erosion and maintain water
quality, certified by a licensed/certified professional.) Where stormwater
management practices are not in accordance with above design and technical
standards, the applicant or developer must demonstrate equivalence
to the design and technical standards set forth in this section, and
the equivalence shall be documented and certified by a licensed/certified
professional as part of the SWPPP.
Any land development activity shall not result in:
A. An increase in turbidity that will cause a substantial visible contrast
to natural conditions;
B. An increase in suspended, colloidal and settleable solids that will
cause deposition or impair the waters for their best uses; or
C. Residue from oil and floating substances, nor visible oil film, or
globules of grease.