For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions describe the meaning of the terms used in this chapter.
ADMINISTRATION. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Water Management Administration.
ADVERSE IMPACT. For purposes of stormwater management, any deleterious effect on waters or wetlands, including their quality, quantity, surface area, species, species composition, aesthetics or usefulness for human or natural uses, that is or may potentially be harmful or injurious to human health, welfare, safety or property, to biological productivity, diversity or stability, or that unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life or property, including outdoor recreation.
AGRICULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT. Those methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land in order to further crop or livestock production, and conservation of related soil and water resources. Logging and timber removal operations shall not be considered a part of this definition.
APPLICANT. Any person, firm or government agency that executes the necessary forms to procure official approval of a project or a permit to carry out construction of a project.
APPROVING AGENCY. The Town of Chestertown or the agency, department, person or firm designated by the town to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
AQUIFER. A porous, water-bearing geologic formation, generally restricted to materials yielding an appreciable supply of water.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP). A structural device or non-structural practice designed to temporarily store or treat stormwater runoff in order to mitigate flooding, reduce pollution, and provide other amenities.
CHANNEL PROTECTION STORAGE VOLUME. The volume used to design structural management practices to control stream channel erosion. Methods for calculating the channel protection storage volume are specified in the 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II.
CLEARING. The removal of trees and/or brush from the land, but which shall not include the ordinary mowing of grass.
CONCEPT PLAN. For stormwater management purposes, the first of three plan approvals that includes information necessary to allow an initial evaluation of a proposed project.
DESIGN MANUAL. The 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, and all subsequent revisions, that serves as the official guide for stormwater management principles, methods, and practices.
DETENTION STRUCTURE. A permanent structure for the temporary storage of runoff that is designed so as not to create a permanent pool of water.
DEVELOP LAND. To change the runoff characteristics of a parcel of land in conjunction with residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional construction or alteration.
DIRECT DISCHARGE. The concentrated release of stormwater to tidal waters or vegetated tidal wetlands from new development or redevelopment projects in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.
DRAINAGE AREA. That area contributing runoff to a single point, measured in a horizontal plane, which is enclosed by a ridge line.
EASEMENT. A grant or reservation by a property owner of the right to use an identifiable piece of land or right for a specified purpose or purposes, and that must be included in the conveyance of land affected by such easement.
ENVIRONMENTAL SITE DESIGN (ESD). Using small-scale stormwater management practices, nonstructural techniques, and site planning to mimic natural hydrologic runoff characteristics and minimize the impact of land development on water resources. Methods for designing practices are specified in the design manual.
EXEMPTION. Those land development activities that are not subject to the stormwater management requirements contained in this chapter.
EXTENDED DETENTION. A stormwater design feature that provides gradual release of a volume of water in order to increase settling of pollutants and protect downstream channels from frequent storm events. Methods for designing extended detention BMPs are specified in the design manual.
EXTREME FLOOD VOLUME. The storage volume required to control those infrequent but large storm events in which overbank flows reach or exceed the boundaries of the 100-year floodplain.
FINAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN. The last of three plan approvals that includes the information necessary to allow all approvals and permits relating to stormwater management to be issued by the approving agency.
FLOW ATTENUATION. Prolonging the flow time of runoff to reduce the peak discharge.
GRADING. Any act by which soil is cleared, stripped, stockpiled, excavated, scarified, filled or any combination thereof.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE. Any surface that does not allow stormwater to infiltrate into the ground.
INFILTRATION. The passage or movement of water into the soil surface.
MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE (MEP). Designing stormwater management systems so that all reasonable opportunities for using ESD planning techniques and treatment practices are exhausted, and a structural BMP is implemented only where absolutely necessary.
OFF-SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. The design and construction of a facility necessary to control stormwater from more than one development.
ON-SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. The design and construction of systems necessary to control stormwater within an immediate development.
OVERBANK FLOOD PROTECTION VOLUME. The volume controlled by structural practices to prevent an increase in the frequency of out-of-bank flooding generated by development. Methods for calculating the overbank flood protection volume are specified in the design manual.
PERSON. The federal government, the state, any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state, or any of their units, or an individual receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind, or any partnership, firm, association, public or private corporation or any other entity.
PLANNING TECHNIQUES. For stormwater management purposes, a combination of strategies employed early in the project design to reduce the impact from development and to incorporate natural features into a stormwater management plan.
RECHARGE VOLUME. That portion of the water quality volume used to maintain ground water recharge rates at development sites. Methods for calculating the recharge volume are specified in the design manual.
REDEVELOPMENT. Any construction, alteration, or improvement exceeding 5,000 square feet of land disturbance performed on sites where existing land use is commercial, industrial, institutional, or multi-family residential and existing site impervious area exceeds 40%.
RETENTION STRUCTURE. A permanent structure that provides for the storage of runoff by means of a permanent pool of water.
RETROFITTING. The implementation of ESD practices, the construction of a structural BMP, or the modification of an existing structural BMP in a previously developed area to improve water quality over current conditions.
SEDIMENT. Soils or other surficial materials transported or deposited by the action of wind, water, or artificial means.
SITE. Any tract, lot, or parcel of land or combination of tracts, lots, or parcels of land that are under one ownership, or are contiguous and in diverse ownership where development is to be performed as a part of a unit, subdivision, or project.
SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. The second of three plan approvals that includes the information necessary to allow a detail evaluation of a proposed project.
STABILIZATION. The prevention of soil movement by any of various vegetative and/or structural means.
STORMWATER. Water that originates from a precipitation event.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. Natural areas, ESD practices, stormwater management measures, and any other structure through which stormwater flows, infiltrates, or discharges from a site.
STRIPPING. Any activity that removes the vegetative surface cover, including tree removal, clearing, grubbing, and storage or removal of topsoil.
VARIANCE. The modification of the minimum stormwater management requirements for specific circumstances such that strict adherence to the requirements would result in unnecessary hardship and not fulfill the intent of this chapter.
WAIVER. The reduction of stormwater management requirements by town for a specific development on a case-by-case review basis.
WATER QUALITY VOLUME. The volume needed to capture and treat 90% of the average annual rainfall events at a development site. Methods for calculating the water quality volume are specified in the design manual.
WATERCOURSE AND/OR DRAINAGEWAY. Any natural or artificial watercourse (including, but not limited to, streams, rivers, creeks, ditches, channels, canals, conduits, culverts, drains, waterways, gullies, ravines, or washes) in which waters flow in a definite direction or course, either continuously or intermittently, including any area adjacent thereto that is subject to inundation by reason of overflow or floodwaters.
WATERSHED. The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.
(Ord. 08-2010, passed 11-1-2010)