The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing within this jurisdiction and to address the findings in §
57B-2 hereof. This chapter seeks to meet those purposes by achieving the following objectives:
A. Meet the requirements of Minimum Measures 4 and 5
of the 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 State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES)
General Permit for Construction Activities GP-02-01 or as amended
or revised;
C. Minimize increases in stormwater runoff from land
development activities in order to reduce flooding, siltation, increases
in stream temperature, and stream bank erosion and maintain the integrity
of stream channels;
D. Minimize increases in pollution caused by stormwater
runoff from land development activities which would otherwise degrade
local water quality;
E. Minimize the total annual volume of stormwater runoff
which flows from any specific site during and following development
to the maximum extent practicable; and
F. 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 property maintained and eliminate threats to public safety.
It is hereby determined that:
A. Land development activities and associated increases
in site impervious cover often alter the hydrologic response of local
watersheds and increase stormwater runoff rates and volumes, flooding,
stream channel erosion, or sediment transport and deposition;
B. This stormwater runoff contributes to increased quantities
of water-borne pollutants, including siltation of aquatic habitat
for fish and other desirable species;
C. Clearing and grading during construction tends to
increase soil erosion and add to the loss of native vegetation necessary
for terrestrial and aquatic habitat;
D. Improper design and construction of stormwater management
practices can increase the velocity of stormwater runoff, thereby
increasing stream bank erosion and sedimentation;
E. Impervious surfaces allow less water to percolate
into the soil, thereby decreasing groundwater recharge and stream
base flow;
F. Substantial economic losses can result from these
adverse impacts on the waters of the municipality;
G. Stormwater runoff, soil erosion and nonprofit source
pollution can be controlled and maintained through the regulation
of stormwater runoff from land development activities;
H. The regulation of stormwater runoff discharges from
land development activities in order to control and minimize increases
in stormwater runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion, stream channel
erosion, and nonpoint source pollution associated with stormwater
runoff is in the public interest and will minimize threats to public
health and safety; and
I. Regulation of land development activities by means
of performance standards governing stormwater management and site
design will produce development compatible with the natural functions
of a particular site or an entire watershed and thereby mitigate any
adverse effects of erosion and sedimentation from development.
In accordance with Article 10 of the Municipal
Home Rule Law of the State of New York, the Town Board of Trustees
of the Town of Chenango 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 Chenango and for the protection and
enhancement of its physical environment. The Town Board of the Town
of Chenango 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.
The following activities may be exempt from
review under this chapter:
A. Agricultural activity as defined in this chapter.
B. Silvicultural activity, except that landing areas
and log haul roads are subject to this chapter.
C. Routine maintenance activities that disturb less than
five acres and are performed to maintain the original line and grade,
hydraulic capacity or original purpose of a facility.
D. Repairs to any stormwater management practice or facility
deemed necessary by the Stormwater Management Officer.
E. Any part of a subdivision if a plat for a subdivision
that has been approved by the Town of Chenango and construction activities
have started on or before the effective date of this chapter.
F. Land development activities for which a building permit
has been approved on or before the effective date of this chapter.
H. Installation of fence, sign, telephone, and electric
poles and other kinds of posts or poles.
I. Emergency activity immediately necessary to protect
life, property or natural resources.
J. Activities of an individual engaging in home gardening
by growing flowers, vegetables and other plants primarily for use
by that person and his or her family.
K. Landscaping and horticultural activities in connection
with an existing structure.
The terms used in this chapter or in documents
prepared or reviewed under this chapter shall have the meanings as
set forth:
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY
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, or the
construction of new structures associated with agricultural activities.
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.
CATCH BASIN (drain inlet)
A structure which allows the entry of surface runoff into
a storm sewer by connection to the storm sewer.
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.
DEDICATION
The deliberate appropriation of property by its owner for
general public use.
DEPARTMENT
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
DESIGN MANUAL
The New York State Stormwater Design Manual, most recent
version, including applicable updates, that serves as the official
guide for stormwater management principles, methods and practices.
DETENTION STRUCTURE
A permanent stormwater management structure whose primary
purpose is to temporarily store stormwater runoff. A detention structure
may be dry during nonstorm events or may have a permanent pool of
water.
DEVELOPER
A person who undertakes land development activities.
EROSION CONTROL MANUAL
The most recent version of the New York Standards and Specifications
for Erosion and Sediment Control manual, commonly known as the "Blue
Book."
FIRST FLUSH
The delivery of a disproportionately large load of pollutants
during the early part of storms due to the rapid runoff of accumulated
pollutants. The first flush is defined as the runoff generated from
the first 1/2 inch of runoff from the entire site from land which
has been made less pervious than the predevelopment conditions though
land grading and/or construction/development activities.
GRADING
Excavation or fill of material, including the resulting conditions
thereof.
IMPERVIOUS COVER
Those surfaces, improvements and structures that cannot effectively
infiltrate rainfall, snowmelt 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 specific on-site pollution control strategies.
INFILTRATION
The process of percolating water into the subsoil.
JURISDICTIONAL WETLAND
An area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or
groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence
of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions,
commonly known as "hydrophytic vegetation."
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 is part of a larger common plan
of development or sale, even though multiple separate and distinct
land development activities may take place at different times on different
schedules.
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner of land, including those holding
the right to purchase or lease the land, or any other person holding
proprietary rights in the land.
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
A legally recorded document that acts as a property deed
restriction, and which provides for long-term maintenance of stormwater
management practices.
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.
PHASING
Developing a parcel of land in distinct pieces or parts,
with the stabilization of each place completed before the development
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.
RECHARGE
The replenishment of underground water reserves.
RETENTION
A practice designed to store stormwater runoff by collection
as a permanent pool of water without release except by means of evaporation,
infiltration, or attenuated release when runoff volumes exceed the
storage capacity of the pool.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension,
is being transported, or has been removed from its site of origin
by erosion.
SENSITIVE AREAS
Cold water fisheries, shellfish beds, swimming beaches, groundwater
recharge areas, water supply reservoirs, habitats for threatened,
endangered or special concern species, critical environmental areas
designated by the municipality.
STABILIZATION
The use of practices that prevent exposed soil from eroding.
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 sense of stormwater management practices installed,
stabilized and operated for the purpose of controlling stormwater
runoff.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT OFFICER
An employee or officer designated by the municipality to
accept and review stormwater pollution prevention plans, forward the
plans to the applicable municipal board and 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.
STRIPPING
Any activity which removes or significantly disturbs trees,
brush, grass, or any other kind of vegetation.
SURFACE WATERS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Lakes, bays, sounds, ponds, impounding reservoirs, springs,
wells, rivers, streams, creeks, estuaries, marshes, inlets, canals,
the Atlantic Ocean within the territorial seas of the State of New
York and all other bodies of surface water, natural or artificial,
inland or coastal, fresh or salt, public or private (except those
private waters that do not combine or effect a junction with natural
surface or underground waters), which are wholly or partially within
or bordering the state or within its jurisdiction. Storm sewers and
waste treatment systems, including treatment ponds or lagoons which
also meet the criteria of this definition are not waters of the state.
This exclusion applies only to man-made bodies of water which neither
were originally created in waters of the state (such as a disposal
area in wetlands) nor resulted from impoundment of waters of the state.
SWALE
A natural depression or wide shallow ditch used to route
or filter runoff.
WATERCOURSE
A permanent or intermittent stream or other body of water,
either natural or man-made, which gathers or carries surface water.
WATERSHED
A region or area contributing stormwater ultimately to a
particular watercourse or body of water.
WATERWAY
A channel that directs surface runoff to a watercourse or
to the public storm drain.
All land development activities shall be subject
to the following performance and design criteria:
A. Technical standards. For the purpose of this chapter,
the following documents shall serve as the official guides and specifications
for stormwater management. Stormwater management practices that are
designed and constructed in accordance with these technical documents
shall be presumed to meet the standards imposed by this chapter:
(1) 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").
(2) New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion
and Sediment Control (Empire State Chapter of the Soil and Water Conversion
Society, 2004, most current version or its successor, hereafter referred
to as the "Erosion Control Manual").
B. Equivalence to technical standards. Where stormwater management practices are not in accordance with technical standards, the applicant or developer must demonstrate equivalence to the technical standards set forth in §
57B-8A. The SWPPP shall be prepared by a licensed professional.
C. Water quality standards. Any land development activity
shall not cause an increase in turbidity that will result in substantial
visible contrast to natural conditions in surface waters of the State
of New York.
[Amended 12-23-2009 by L.L. No. 3-2009]
The following fees shall be required in connection with the
submission of a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP):
A. Review fees deposit.
[Amended 4-7-2014 by L.L.
No. 1-2014]
(1) Full SWPPP, in accordance with Chapter
19.
(2) Erosion and sediment control plan, in accordance with Chapter
19.
B. Inspection fees. SWPPP subdivision and site plan inspection fees to be paid upon approval of final subdivision or site plan shall be in accordance with Chapter
19. The total estimated cost of all improvements, including all temporary and permanent stormwater erosion control measures, shall be determined by Chenango Town personnel or Town consultants.
[Amended 4-7-2014 by L.L.
No. 1-2014]
C. Escrow accounts.
(1) An escrow account entitled "Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
Review and Inspection" can be established by the Office of Supervisor
of the Town of Chenango regarding applications addressed as set forth
in this chapter. The applicant shall fund said escrow account.
(2) Withdrawals from said escrow account may be made from time to time
to reimburse the Town for the cost of its Town personnel, including
but not limited to legal consultation, review and consideration, and/or
professional review and inspection services actually incurred at prevailing
rates of pay for such Town personnel or consultant's services. Whenever
the balance in such escrow account is reduced to 1/4 of its initial
amount, the Town shall so notify the applicant; thereafter, the applicant
shall deposit additional funds into such account so as to restore
its balance to 1/2 of the initial deposit. If such account is not
replenished by such additional deposit, the reviewing and/or inspecting
party may suspend the review of the application or inspection of the
construction until such time that the above-stated conditions are
met.
(3) After all pertinent review and inspection fees with respect to the
particular application for which the account was established have
been paid, the Town shall refund to the applicant the balance of any
funds then remaining on deposit in the escrow account, without interest,
as established by this section.