The following terms, phrases or words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein:
ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT
A permit issued by the Town Engineer for activities in controlled areas or minimum activity setback areas where such activities are found by this chapter to be limited in scope and in potential impact on such areas, as determined by the Water Control Commission with regard to applications concerning activities listed under § 63-8C. For purposes of complying with the State Environmental Quality Review Law, the granting of such permit shall be considered an exempt action as defined in Part 617.2.
AGRICULTURE
The act of raising crops or livestock for economic gain, excluding the raising of horses, as further defined in 6 NYCRR 663.2(c).
APPLICANT
Any individual or individuals, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, organization or other legal entity of any kind, including municipal corporations, governmental agencies or subdivisions thereof.
CLEAR CUTTING
The cutting of more than 1/2 of the existing living trees measuring more than six inches in diameter at the base in an area 1/4 acre or more over the period of five consecutive years.
CONTROLLED AREAS
General boundaries of "controlled areas" are shown on the Freshwater Wetlands Maps and other local environmental maps. Finite boundaries of the "controlled areas" will be established when requested by the Water Control Commission, following the appropriate field work by qualified staff members of the Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation or other qualified individuals approved by the Water Control Commission. "Controlled areas" shall be defined as the following:
A. 
Ponds, lakes, reservoirs (water bodies). Those areas of permanent water retention fed by springs or natural drainage systems,
B. 
Natural drainage systems. Rivers, streams, creeks and brooks which contain running water at least six months a year. The "controlled area" of such natural drainage systems shall be that area between the tops of the banks of the watercourse. In the absence of adjoining wetlands, as defined in Subsection C, the minimum activity setback shall be measured from the top of the bank of the watercourse.
C. 
Wetlands. Those geographical areas of 1/4 acre or more covered with shallow and sometimes temporary or intermittent waters (commonly referred to as "marshes, swamps and bogs"), including wetlands as shown on the Freshwater Wetlands Map, as such map may, from time to time, be amended, filed by the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation pursuant to the Freshwater Wetlands Act of the State of New York. The following categories shall apply:
(1) 
Freshwater meadows. Areas without standing water during the growing season but with waterlogged soil and with at least 50% of the vegetation in the area consisting of but not limited to the following characteristic vegetation: cattails (Typha species), rushes (Juncus species) and sedges (Carex species), rice cut-grass (Leersia oryzoides), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinace), swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) and spikerush (Eleocharis species) often growing in tussocks.
(2) 
Inland shallow freshwater marshes. Areas with waterlogged soil during the growing season covered with up to six inches of water and with at least 50% of vegetation in the area consisting of but not limited to the following characteristic vegetation: bulrushes (Scirpus species), spikerushes (Eleocharis species), cattails (Typha species), arrowhead (Sagittaria species), smartweed (Polygonum scandens), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) bur reeds (Sparganium species), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salacaria), swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) and water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica), arrow arum (Peltrandra virginica) and sedges (Carex species).
(3) 
Inland deep freshwater marshes. Soil covered with six inches to three feet of water and with at least 50% of the vegetation in the area consisting of but not limited to the following characteristic vegetation: cattails (Typha species), reeds (Phragmites communis), bulrushes (Scirpus species), spikerushes (Eleocharis species), bur reeds (Sparganium species), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) and water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica), water lily (Nymphaea odorata), water shield (Brasenia schreberi) and spatterdock (Nuphar species), duckweed (Lemna species), big duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza), watermeal (Wolffia species) and wild rice (Zizania aquatica).
(4) 
Shrub swamps. Areas with waterlogged soil covered with up to six inches of water and with at least 50% of the vegetation in the area consisting of but not limited to the following characteristic vegetation: alders (Alnus species), willows (Salix species), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), red twig dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera), silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), bog rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla) and leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata).
(5) 
Wooded swamps. Areas with waterlogged soil covered with up to one foot of water and with at least 50% of the vegetation in the area consisting of but not limited to the following characteristic vegetation: red maple (Acer rubrum), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica), tamarack (Larix laricina), northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides).
(6) 
Bogs. Areas characterized by an accumulation of sphagnum moss (Sphagnum species) as peat and with at least 50% of the vegetation in the area consisting of but not limited to the following characteristic vegetation: Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), pitcher plant (Sarrancenia purpurea), bog rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla) and cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos).
(7) 
Submergent vegetation. Includes but is not limited to pondweeds (Potamogeton species), naiads, (Najas species), bladderworts (Utricularia species), wild celery (Vallisneria americana), coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum), water milfoils (Mytriophyllum species), muskgrass (Chara species), stonewort (Nitella species), waterweeds (Elodea species) and water smartweed (Polygonum amphibium).
(8) 
Floodplains. Flat, low-lying areas bordering a river or stream which are seasonally flooded and with at least 50% of the vegetation in the area consisting of but not limited to the following characteristic vegetation: red maple (Acer rubrum), elms (Ulmus species), alders (Alnus species), willows (Salix species), black spruce (Picea mariana), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), red ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and red twig dogwoods (Cornus species); and areas of special flood hazard as defined by the Federal Insurance Administration on the latest Flood Hazard Boundary Maps on file at the Pound Ridge Town House office of the Building Inspector.
(9) 
Upland drainage areas. Areas of seasonally, sometimes steep, waterlogged soil containing small permanent or intermittent streams or occurring at the beginning of a drainage sequence and with at least 50% of the vegetation in the area consisting of but not limited to the following characteristic vegetation: red maple (Acer rubrum), elms (Ulmus species), dogwoods (Cornus stolonifera), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), summer sweet (Clethra alnifolia), jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) and skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus).
D. 
Lands and submerged lands containing remnants of any vegetation that is not aquatic or semiaquatic that has died because of wet conditions over a sufficiently long period, provided that such wet conditions do not exceed a maximum seasonal water depth of six feet, and provided further that such conditions can be expected to persist indefinitely, barring human intervention.
E. 
Lands and waters enclosed by aquatic or semiaquatic vegetation as set forth in Subsection C above and dead vegetation as set forth in Subsection D above, the regulation of which is necessary to protect and preserve the wetland.
F. 
The waters overlying the areas set forth in Subsections B, C and D above.
G. 
Poorly drained soils. Those areas with somewhat poorly drained, poorly drained and very poorly drained soils as provided by data of the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, including but not limited to the following classifications, as may be updated or amended by the Soil Conservation Service from time to time:
Soils List
25
Sun
27
Sun extremely stoney
28
Fredon
35
Raynham
101
Carlisle
103
Freshwater marsh
251
Ridgebury
311
Fluvaquent
1011
Palms
1251
Leicester
1252
Leicester, stoney
DEPOSIT
To fill, place, eject or dump any liquid, solid or gaseous material or the act thereof, but not including stormwater.
FRESHWATER WETLANDS MAP
The final Freshwater Wetlands Map promulgated by the New York State Department of Conservation as defined in 6 NYCRR 663.2(p).
GARDENING
The raising of vegetables, berries and other edible items for the use of the homeowner, when such endeavor is not for the purpose of economic gain.
MATERIAL
Substances including but not limited to soil, silt, gravel, rock, sand, clay, peat, mud, debris and refuse, any organic or inorganic compound, chemical agent or matter (excluding pesticides, herbicides, algaecides and agricultural or radioactive wastes to the extent that the same are exempt or regulated exclusively by the state), sewage, sewage sludge or effluent or solid waste (industrial or municipal).
MINIMUM ACTIVITY SETBACK
The minimum buffer area required by this chapter between a proposed activity and a controlled area, as defined herein. "Minimum activity setbacks" shall be 150 feet, measured horizontally. Proposed activities within the "minimum activity setbacks" described above are subject to permits as described in Articles IV and V. Proposed activities outside of the "minimum activity setbacks" described above are exempt from this chapter.
PERSON
See "applicant."
POLLUTION
The presence in the environment of human-induced conditions or contaminants in quantities or characteristics which are or may be injurious to human, plant or animal life or to property.
REMOVE
To dig, dredge, suck, bulldoze, dragline, blast or otherwise excavate or regrade; or the act thereof.
STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT (SEQRA)
A law pursuant to Article 8 of the New York Environmental Conservation Law providing for environmental quality review of actions which may have a significant effect on the environment.
TOWN BOARD
The Town Board of the Town of Pound Ridge.
TOWN ENGINEER
Any person employed as the Town Engineer.
WATER CONTROL COMMISSION
The Water Control Commission of the Town of Pound Ridge (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission"), which acts as the review and approval authority for all permits issued under this chapter, except for applications received and approved by the Town Engineer in accordance with this chapter.
WETLANDS ACTIVITY PERMIT
A permit authorized by the Water Control Commission for activities in controlled areas or minimum activity setback areas which are defined by this chapter as prohibited without a permit from the Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "permit").