(A) Every applicant shall provide for stormwater management as required by this subchapter, unless a written request is filed to waive this requirement. Requests to waive the stormwater management plan requirements shall be submitted to the MS4 Coordinator for approval.
(B) The minimum requirements for stormwater management may be waived in whole or in part upon written request of the applicant, provided that at least one of the following conditions applies:
(1) It can be demonstrated that the proposed development is not likely to impair attainment of the objectives of this subchapter.
(2) Alternative minimum requirements for on-site management of stormwater discharges have been established in a stormwater management plan that has been approved by the county and the implementation of the plan is required by local ordinance.
(3) Provisions are made to manage stormwater by an off-site facility. The off-site facility is required to be in place, to be designed and adequately sized to provide a level of stormwater control that is equal to or greater than that which would be afforded by on-site practices and there is a legally obligated entity responsible for long-term operation and maintenance of the stormwater practice.
(4) The MS4 Coordinator finds that meeting the minimum on-site management requirements is not feasible due to the natural or existing physical characteristics of a site.
(5) Non-structural practices, as explained in the Reference Manuals listed in § 52.05, will be implemented, with the amount of credit available for using such practices as determined by the MS4 Coordinator. Non-structural practices will be used on the site that reduce:
(a) The generation of stormwater from the site;
(b) The size and cost of stormwater storage; and
(c) The pollutants generated at the site.
(C) In instances where one of the conditions above applies, the MS4 Coordinator may grant a waiver from strict compliance with these stormwater management provisions, as long as acceptable mitigation measures are provided. However, to be eligible for a variance, the applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the county that the variance will not result in the following impacts to downstream waterways:
(1) Deterioration of existing culverts, bridges, dams and other structures;
(2) Degradation of biological functions or habitat;
(3) Accelerated stream bank or streambed erosion or siltation; and
(4) Increased threat of flood damage to public health, life and/or property.
(D) Furthermore, where compliance with minimum requirements for stormwater management is waived, the applicant will satisfy the minimum requirements by meeting one of the mitigation measures selected by the MS4 Coordinator. Mitigation measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) The purchase and donation of privately owned lands, or the grant of an easement to be dedicated for preservation and/or reforestation. These lands should be located adjacent to the stream corridor in order to provide permanent buffer areas to protect water quality and aquatic habitat.
(2) The creation of a stormwater management facility or other drainage improvements on previously developed properties, public or private, that currently lack stormwater management facilities designed and constructed in accordance with the purposes and standards of this subchapter.
(3) Monetary contributions (Fee-in-Lieu) to fund stormwater management activities such as research and studies (for example, regional wetland delineation studies, stream monitoring studies for water quality and macro-invertebrates, stream flow monitoring, threatened and endangered species studies, hydrologic studies, and monitoring of stormwater management practices).
(Ord. 2007-05, passed 4-17-07)