For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADVERSE IMPACT. Any deleterious effect on waters or wetlands, including their quality, quantity, surface area, species composition, aesthetics or usefulness for human or natural uses which are or may potentially be harmful or injurious to human health, welfare, safety or property, to biological productivity, diversity or stability or which unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property, including outdoor recreation.
AGRICULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. Those methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land in order to further crop and livestock production and conservation of related soil and water resources.
APPLICANT. Any person, firm or governmental agency who executes the necessary forms to procure official approval of a project or a permit to carry out construction of a project.
AQUIFER. Porous water bearing geologic formation generally restricted to materials capable of yielding an appreciable supply of water.
BMP (BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE). A structural device or nonstructural practice designed to temporarily store or treat stormwater runoff in order to mitigate flooding, reduce pollution and provide other amenities.
CLEARING. The removal of trees and brush from the land but shall not include the ordinary mowing of grass. Note: The IWWC definition of CLEAR-CUTTING is a timber harvest that removes all trees down to a two-inch diameter at breast height. CLEARING for the purposes of stormwater management has to do with the removal of vegetative cover.
DEP. The State Department of Environmental Protection.
DESIGN MANUAL. The most current edition of the Connecticut Stormwater Quality Manual that serves as the official guide for the stormwater management principles, methods and practices.
DETENTION STRUCTURE. A permanent structure for the temporary storage of runoff, which 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, municipal 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 critical area.
DRAINAGE AREA. An area that contributes runoff to a single point measured in a horizontal plane, which is enclosed by a ridgeline.
EASEMENT. A grant or reservation by the owner of land for the use of land by others for a specific purpose or purposes, and which must be included in the conveyance of land affected by an easement.
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.
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.
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE VOLUME (GRV). The portion of the water quality volume used to maintain groundwater recharge rates at development sites. Methods for calculating the GROUNDWATER RECHARGE VOLUME are specified in the Design Manual.
INFILTRATION. The passage or movement of water into the soil surface.
IWWC. The Inlands Wetlands and Watercourses Commission of the town.
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.
PEAK RUNOFF ATTENUATION. Controlling by structural practices the volume to prevent an increase in the frequency of out of bank flooding generated by development.
REDEVELOPMENT. Any construction, alteration or improvement exceeding 5,000 square feet of land disturbance performed on sites where existing land use is commercial, industrial, municipal, institutional or multi-family residential.
RESPONSIBLE AGENCY.
(1) The Town Planning and Zoning Commission, its agent(s) or the Town Engineer for any stormwater runoff impacting wetlands and watercourses. For the purposes of only this definition, the definition of “wetlands” and “watercourse” is the definition used in the most current version of the inland wetlands and watercourses regulations of the town;
(2) The Town Planning and Zoning Commission, its agent(s) or the Town Engineer for stormwater runoff from roads and sidewalks; and/or
(3) The Town Planning and Zoning Commission, its agent(s) or the Town Engineer for all other stormwater runoff.
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL. The official or officials in the Town Planning and Zoning Commission, its agent(s) or the Town Engineer designated to deal with stormwater management issues.
RETENTION STRUCTURE. A permanent structure that provides for the storage of runoff by means of a permanent pool of water.
RETROFITTING. The construction of a structural BMP in a previously developed area, the modification of an existing structural BMP, or the implementation of a nonstructural practice to improve water quality over current conditions.
SEDIMENT. Soils or other surficial materials transported or deposited by the action of wind, water, ice or gravity as a product of erosion.
SITE.
(1) For “new development,” any tract, lot or parcel of land or combination of tracts, lots or parcels of land, which are in one ownership, or are contiguous and in diverse ownership where development is to be performed as part of a unit, subdivision or project.
(2) For “redevelopment,” the area of new construction as shown on an approved site plan, or the original parcel. The Town Planning and Zoning Commission, its agent(s) or the Town Engineer shall make final determination of the applicable area.
STABILIZATION. The prevention of soil movement by any of various vegetative and/or structural means.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. The selective use of various management measures to effectively address the adverse water quality and quantity impacts of urban stormwater runoff.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN. A set of drawings or other documents that describe the potential water quality and quantity impacts associated with a development project after construction. A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN also identifies selected source controls and treatment practices to address those potential impacts, the engineering design of the treatment practices, and maintenance requirements for proper performance of the selected practices.
STREAM CHANNEL PROTECTION. Restricting peak flows from storm events that result in flow conditions where the stream is flowing to the full extent of its banks so the damaging effects to the channel of increased runoff from urbanization can be reduced. Methods for calculating stream channel protection are specified in the most current edition of the Connecticut Stormwater Quality Manual.
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 necessary hardship and not fulfill the intent of this chapter.
WAIVER. The relinquishment from stormwater management requirements by the Town Planning and Zoning Commission, its agent(s) or the Town Engineer for a specific development on a case-by-case review basis.
(1) QUALITATIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WAIVER. Includes water quality volume and groundwater recharge volume design parameters.
(2) QUANTITATIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WAIVER. Includes stream channel protection, peak runoff attenuation and extreme flood volume design parameters. See note on definition regarding extreme flood volume.
WATER QUALITY VOLUME. The volume of runoff generated by one inch of rainfall on the site.
WATERCOURSE. Any natural or artificial stream, river, brook, lake, pond, marsh, swamp, bog, ditch, channel, canal, conduit, culvert, drain, waterway, gully, ravine, wash and all other bodies of water, natural or artificial, vernal or intermittent, public or private in and including any adjacent area that is subject to inundation from overflow or floodwater.
WATERSHED. The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.
(Ord. passed 7-14-2008)