The Village Board finds that runoff from land-disturbing construction
activity carries a significant amount of sediment and other pollutants
to the waters of the state in the Village of Grafton.
It is the purpose of this chapter to further the maintenance
of safe and healthful conditions; prevent and control water pollution;
prevent and control soil erosion; protect spawning grounds, fish and
aquatic life; control building sites, placement of structures and
land uses; preserve ground cover and scenic beauty; and promote sound
economic growth, by minimizing the amount of sediment and other pollutants
carried by runoff or discharged from land-disturbing construction
activity to waters of the state in the Village of Grafton.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ADMINISTERING AUTHORITY
A governmental employee or a regional planning commission
empowered under § 61.354, Wis. Stats., that is designated
by the Village Board to administer this chapter.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE or BMP
Structural or nonstructural measures, practices, techniques
or devices employed to avoid or minimize soil, sediment or pollutants
carried in runoff to waters of the state.
BUSINESS DAY
A day that the office of the Village of Grafton is routinely
and customarily open for business.
CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER
A court-issued order to halt land-disturbing construction
activity that is being conducted without the required permit.
CONSTRUCTION SITE
An area upon which one or more land-disturbing construction
activities occur, including areas that are part of a larger common
plan of development or sale where multiple separate and distinct land-disturbing
construction activities may be taking place at different times on
different schedules but under one plan.
DESIGN STORM
A hypothetical discrete rainstorm characterized by a specific
duration, temporal distribution, rainfall intensity, return frequency
and total depth of rainfall.
DIVISION OF LAND
The creation from one parcel of five or more parcels or building
sites of 1 1/2 or fewer acres each in area where such creation
occurs at one time or through the successive partition within a five-year
period.
EROSION
The process by which the land's surface is worn away
by the action of wind, water, ice or gravity.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN
A comprehensive plan developed to address pollution caused
by erosion and sedimentation of soil particles or rock fragments during
construction.
EXTRATERRITORIAL
The unincorporated area within 1 1/2 miles of the corporate
limits of the Village of Grafton.
FINAL STABILIZATION
That all land-disturbing construction activities at the construction
site have been completed and that a uniform perennial vegetative cover
has been established, with a density of at least 70% of the cover,
for the unpaved areas and areas not covered by permanent structures,
or that employ equivalent permanent stabilization measures.
LAND-DISTURBING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
Any man-made alteration of the land surface resulting in
a change in the topography or existing vegetative or nonvegetative
soil cover, that may result in runoff and lead to an increase in soil
erosion and movement of sediment into waters of the state. Land-disturbing
construction activity includes clearing and grubbing, demolition,
excavating, pit trench dewatering, filling and grading activities.
LANDOWNER
Any person holding fee title, an easement or other interest
in property, which allows the person to undertake cropping, livestock
management, land-disturbing construction activity or maintenance of
stormwater BMPs on the property.
MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE or MEP
A level of implementing best management practices in order
to achieve a performance standard specified in this chapter, which
takes into account the best available technology, cost-effectiveness
and other competing issues, such as human safety and welfare, endangered
and threatened resources, historic properties and geographic features.
MEP allows flexibility in the way to meet the performance standards
and may vary based on the performance standard and site conditions.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
A narrative or measurable number specifying the minimum acceptable
outcome for a facility or practice.
PERMIT
A written authorization made by the Director of Public Works/Village
Engineer or designee to the applicant to conduct land-disturbing construction
activity or to discharge post-construction runoff to waters of the
state.
POLLUTANT
Has the meaning given in § 283.01(13), Wis. Stats.
POLLUTION
Has the meaning given in § 281.01(10), Wis. Stats.
RESPONSIBLE PARTY
Any entity holding fee title to the property or performing
services to meet the performance standards of this chapter through
a contract or other agreement.
RUNOFF
Stormwater or precipitation, including rain, snow or ice
melt, or similar water that moves on the land surface via sheet or
channelized flow.
SEDIMENT
Settleable solid material that is transported by runoff,
suspended within runoff or deposited by runoff away from its original
location.
SEPARATE STORM SEWER
A conveyance or system of conveyances, including roads with
drainage systems, streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches,
constructed channels or storm drains, which meets all of the following
criteria:
A.
Is designed or used for collecting water or conveying runoff.
B.
Is not part of a combined sewer system.
C.
Is not draining to a stormwater treatment device or system.
D.
Discharges directly or indirectly to waters of the state.
SILVICULTURE ACTIVITY
Activities including tree nursery operations, tree harvesting
operations, reforestation, tree thinning, prescribed burning, and
pest and fire control. Clearing and grubbing of an area of a construction
site is not a silviculture activity.
SITE
The entire area included in the legal description of the
land on which the land-disturbing construction activity is proposed
in the permit application.
STOP-WORK ORDER
An order issued by the Director of Public Works/Village Engineer
or designee, which requires that all construction activity on the
site be stopped.
TECHNICAL STANDARD
A document that specifies design, predicted performance and
operation and maintenance specifications for a material, device or
method.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITY
A highway, a railroad, a public mass transit facility, a
public-use airport, a public trail or any other public work for transportation
purposes, such as harbor improvements under § 85.095(1)(b),
Wis. Stats. "Transportation facility" does not include building sites
for the construction of public buildings and buildings that are places
of employment that are regulated by the Department pursuant to § 281.33,
Wis. Stats.
"Maximum extent practicable" applies when a person who is subject
to a performance standard of this chapter demonstrates to the Village
of Grafton's satisfaction that a performance standard is not
achievable and that a lower level of performance is appropriate. In
making the assertion that a performance standard is not achievable
and that a level of performance different from the performance standard
is the maximum extent practicable, the responsible party shall take
into account the best available technology, cost-effectiveness, geographic
features, and other competing interests such as protection of public
safety and welfare, protection of endangered and threatened resources,
and preservation of historic properties.
The fees referred to in other sections of this chapter shall
be established by the Village Board and may from time to time be modified
by resolution. A schedule of the fees established by the Village Board
shall be available for review in the Department of Public Works and
the Building Inspection office.
If land-disturbing construction activities are being carried
out without a permit required by this chapter, the Director of Public
Works/Village Engineer or designee may enter the land pursuant to
the provisions of §§ 66.0119(1), (2), and (3), Wis.
Stats.
Note to permit holder: The Director of Public Works/Village
Engineer or designee will inspect any construction site that holds
a permit under this chapter at least once a month during the period
starting March 1 and ending October 31 and at least two times during
the period starting November 1 and ending February 28 to ensure compliance
with the approved sediment and erosion control plan.
If a court of competent jurisdiction judges any section, clause,
provision or portion of this chapter unconstitutional or invalid,
the remainder of the ordinance shall remain in force and not be affected
by such judgment.
This chapter shall be in force and effect from and after its
adoption and publication.