It is the general intent of the city that when development or redevelopment takes place within the city that the development shall not cause any stormwater or erosion problems either up stream or downstream from the development site and more specifically that the amount of stormwater discharged off the site shall not be greater after development than allowed under this chapter and the current edition of the Mason Stormwater Manual.
(a) Before a parcel is cleared, graded or otherwise disturbed by the movement of earth by any person, partnership or corporation, a Water Management and Sediment Control Plan describing the proposed earth movement shall be approved by the Planning Commission, where development comes under any one or more of the following conditions, unless the development is exempted therefrom by division (b) hereof:
(1) Cut and fill will exceed 100 cubic yards. The cut volume shall not include that necessary for pavement, sidewalks or buildings, but, if the material from these excavations is placed within the project area as fill it shall be considered when calculating the fill volume;
(2) Cut or fill will exceed four feet in vertical depth at its deepest point measured from the natural ground surface;
(3) Existing surface drainage is impaired or if the proposed work within the project area constitutes a potential erosion hazard or acts as a source of sediment deposit to any adjacent land or watercourse;
(4) Final slopes are steeper than three to one;
(5) Fill placed on a surface having a slope steeper than five to one; or
(6) Existing stormwater runoff is altered in a way that affects adjacent properties.
(b) A Water Management and Sediment Control Plan shall not be required for any of the following conditions:
(1) Excavations below finished grade for drain fields, tanks, vaults, tunnels, equipment, basements, swimming pools, cellars or footings of buildings or structures for which a building permit shall have been issued by the city, unless the excavation is part of the work within a project area which required a permit;
(2) Excavation or removal of vegetation in public utility easements by public utility companies for the purpose of installing underground utilities, unless required by the City Engineer;
(3) Tilling of the soil for fire protection purposes;
(4) The construction of sod waterways, terraces, grade stabilization structures and surface water diversions which do not direct stormwater to adjacent property, tilling the soil and similar work on property used exclusively for farming or other agricultural purposes;
(5) When the Planning Commission rules that no Water Management and Sediment Control permit is required;
(6) For the construction of one or two family residences in an existing subdivision, their accessory structures and related work;
(7) Any construction work designed, bid and inspected by or under control of the city unless specifically required by the city; or
(8) Any unsubdivided parcel less than one acre in size.
(Ord. 99-207, passed 1-10-2000)