For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCELERATED SOIL EROSION. The increased movement of soils that occurs as a result of human activities and development.
AUTHORIZED PUBLIC AGENCY. A state, local, or county agency designated pursuant to sedimentation control requirements with regard to earth changes undertaken by that agency.
CHANNEL. The portion of a natural stream which conveys normal flows of water, or a ditch or channel excavated for the flow of water.
DEVELOPED or DEVELOPMENT. The installation or construction of impervious surfaces on a development site that require, pursuant to state law or local ordinance, the city’s approval of a site plan, plat, site condominium, special land use, planned unit development, rezoning of land, land division approval, private road approval or other approvals required for the development of land or the erection of buildings or structures; provided, however, that for purposes of this chapter, DEVELOPED or DEVELOPMENT shall not include the actual construction of, or an addition, extension or modification to, an individual single-family or a two-family detached dwelling or a mobile home. (§ 154.060(B)(1), (2) and (3); § 154.061(B)(2) and § 154.062(B)(2) of this Code of Ordinances.)
DEVELOPER. Any person proposing or implementing the development of land.
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. The public agency designated to enforce permit requirements under this chapter.
EARTH CHANGE. A human-made change in the natural cover or topography of land, including cut and fill activities. This includes any grading, stripping, clearing, stumping, excavating, filling, stockpiling, or any combination thereof, including the land in its excavated or filled condition. The term EARTH CHANGE, as used in this chapter, shall not apply to the practice of plowing and tilling soil for the purpose of crop production.
FLOOD. An overflow of surface water onto lands not normally covered by water.
IMPOUNDMENT. A body of water which is created by constructing an impermeable barrier which either prevents or restricts water flow out of the impoundment area.
INTERMITTENT STREAM. Any stream that can be identified as an intermittent stream on U.S.G.S. topographic maps, county soil surveys or other reliable source.
LAKE. A man-made or natural body of open water which is five acres or more in size.
LANDSCAPING. The adjournment of land, such as planting of flowers, shrubs and trees, and similar activities accomplished in a method not to disturb existing vegetative cover.
NORMAL MAINTENANCE. Landscaping, repairs, road leveling and/or grading, minor excavation or filling to maintain existing condition at a developed site, or other activities determined by the enforcement agency to be exempt from permit requirements, provided that such activities do not violate standards in this chapter.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, partnership, association, public or private corporation, company, organization or legal entity of any kind, including governmental agencies.
POND. A permanent or temporary body of open water which is more than one acre in size and less than five acres in size.
PROTECTED WETLAND. A wetland which meets the criteria of Section 2 of Part 303 of 1994 PA 451.
SITE RESTORATION. Returning a disturbed site to a condition that approximates its original slope and original use, with full vegetative cover and sediment remediation.
STORMWATER FLOW. Waters from rains falling within a tributary drainage basin, flowing over the surface of the ground or collected in channels, watercourses, or conduits, measured in gallons per minute.
STORMWATER FLOW CONTROL FACILITIES AND MEASURES. Any facility, structure, channel, area, or vegetative cover, or measure which serves to control stormwater flow in accordance with the purposes and standards of this chapter.
STREAM. A river, stream, or creek which may be serving as a drain, having definite banks, a scoured bed and visible evidence of a continued flow or continued occurrence of water.
SURFACE WATER. Any body of water and the associated sediments which has a top surface that is exposed to the atmosphere and which is not solely for wastewater conveyance, treatment or control. SURFACE WATER may be any of the following:
(1) Any Great Lake or its connecting waters.
(2) Any inland lake or pond.
(3) A river or stream, including intermittent streams.
(4) An impoundment.
(5) An open drain.
(6) A wetland.
VEGETATIVE COVER. Grasses, shrubs, trees and other vegetation which hold and stabilize soils.
WETLAND. Land characterized by the presence of water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support and that under normal circumstances does support wetland vegetation or aquatic life and is commonly referred to as a bog, swamp or marsh. A WETLAND will contain predominance, not just an occurrence, of wetland vegetation, aquatic life or hydric soil as defined by Part 303 of 1994 PA 451.
WETLAND VEGETATION. Plants, including but not limited to trees shrubs and herbaceous plants, that exhibit adaptations to allow, under normal conditions, germination or propagation and to allow growth with at least their root systems in water or saturated hydric soil.
(Ord. eff. 9-6-07; Am. Ord. eff. 12-15-08)