Source: https://ecode360.com/10932228
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 05:13:00+00:00

Document:
§ 73-1 Findings of fact.
§ 73-6 Conflict with other provisions.
§ 73-8 Stormwater pollution prevention plans.
§ 73-9 Performance and design criteria.
§ 73-10 Maintenance, inspection and repair of stormwater facilities.
§ 73-11 Administration and enforcement.
Excavations — See Ch. 77.
Nonstormwater discharges to MS4 — See Ch. 165, Part 3.
Excavation, removal and storage of materials — See Ch. 179.
Editor's Note: This local law repealed former Ch. 73, Drainage Control, adopted 3-23-1987 by L.L. No. 1-1987. This local law also provided that it shall be effective on the first day of January after it shall have been adopted and filed with the office of the Secretary of State. Said local law was filed 11-23-2007.
The regulation of stormwater runoff discharges from construction activities in order to control and minimize increases in stormwater runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion, stream channel erosion, and nonpoint source pollution associated with stormwater runoff is in the public interest and will minimize threats to public health and safety.
Regulation of construction activities by means of performance standards governing stormwater management and site design will produce development compatible with the natural functions of a particular site or an entire watershed and thereby mitigate the adverse effects of erosion and sedimentation from development.
This chapter shall be applicable to all construction activities, as defined in § 73-7 of this chapter that occur in the area of the Town of Tonawanda, excluding the Village of Kenmore.
Each owner and occupant of property in the Town of Tonawanda shall keep any natural drainage course on such property clear and unobstructed. No such owner or occupant shall cause or permit the inhibition, alteration or obstruction of any natural drainage course without first obtaining approval of the Town Board of the Town of Tonawanda. A natural drainage course shall be deemed to be any stream, ditch, culvert or watercourse other than a sewer as defined and regulated by Chapter 165, Sewers, of the Code of the Town of Tonawanda.
All construction activities subject to review and approval by the Code Enforcement Officer, Town Building Department, or Town Board of the Town of Tonawanda under zoning, site plan, subdivision, trailer parks and camps license application review, and/or special use permit regulations shall be subject to the standards contained in this chapter.
All construction activities not subject to review as stated in § 73-5 of this chapter shall be required to submit a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) to the Stormwater Management Officer who shall approve the SWPPP if it complies with the requirements of this chapter.
Where the conditions imposed by any provisions of this chapter are either more restrictive or less restrictive than comparable conditions imposed by any other applicable law, ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation of any kind, the regulations which are more restrictive and impose higher standards or requirements shall govern.
A property owner or agent of a property owner who has filed an application for a construction activity.
Construction activity, including clearing, grading, excavating, soil disturbance or placement of fill, that results in land disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre, or activities disturbing less than one acre of total land area that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale, even though multiple separate and distinct construction activities may take place at different times on different schedules.
The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual, most recent version, including applicable updates, which serves as the official guide for stormwater management principles, methods and practices.
A person who undertakes construction activities.
A licensed professional shall include: a licensed professional engineer, a certified professional in erosion and sediment control (CPESC), a registered landscape architect, or someone working under the direct supervision of, and at the same company as, the licensed professional engineer or registered landscape architect, provided they have received four hours of endorsed training in proper erosion and sediment control principles from a Soil and Water Conservation District and provided they are licensed to practice their profession in New York State.
Sediment or a water quality measurement that addresses sediment (such as total suspended solids, turbidity or siltation) and any other pollutant that has been identified as a cause of impairment of any water body that will receive a discharge from the construction activity.
An employee or officer designated by resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Tonawanda to accept and review stormwater pollution prevention plans, forward the plans to such agency, committee, department, or board of the Town of Tonawanda which may be reviewing any application for a construction activity requiring submission of a SWPPP, and inspect stormwater management practices. The Town Board of the Town of Tonawanda shall appoint such employee or officer to act as the Stormwater Management Officer by resolution.
Stormwater pollution prevention plan requirement. No application for approval of a construction activity shall be reviewed until the SMO has received a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) prepared in accordance with the specifications in this chapter.
Condition A. Stormwater runoff from construction activities discharging a pollutant of concern to either an impaired water identified on the Departments 303(d) list of impaired waters or a total maximum daily load (TMDL) designated watershed for which pollutants in stormwater have been identified as a source of the impairment.
Condition B. Stormwater runoff from construction activities disturbing five or more acres.
Condition C. Stormwater runoff from construction activity disturbing between one and five acres of land during the course of the project, exclusive of the construction of single-family residences and construction activities at agricultural properties.
SWPPP requirements for Condition A, B or C.
All information in § 73-8B(1) of this chapter.
Description of each postconstruction stormwater management practice.
Maintenance schedule to ensure continuous and effective operation of each postconstruction stormwater management practice.
Inspection and maintenance agreement binding on all subsequent landowners served by the on-site stormwater management measures in accordance with § 73-10 of this chapter.
The SWPPP must be prepared by a licensed professional and must be signed by the professional preparing the plan, who shall certify that the design of all stormwater management practices meets the requirements in this chapter.
Other environmental permits. The applicant shall assure that all other applicable environmental permits have been or will be acquired for the construction activity prior to approval of the final stormwater design plan.
Each contractor and subcontractor identified in the SWPPP who will be involved in soil disturbance and/or stormwater management practice installation shall sign and date a copy of the following certification statement before undertaking any construction activity: "I certify under penalty of law that I understand and agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the stormwater pollution prevention plan. I also understand that it is unlawful for any person to cause or contribute to a violation of water quality standards."
The certification statement(s) shall become part of the SWPPP for the construction activity.
A copy of the SWPPP shall be retained at the site of the construction activity during construction from the date of initiation of construction activities to the date of final stabilization.
The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, most current version or its successor, hereafter referred to as the Design Manual).
New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control (Empire State Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, 2004, most current version or its successor, hereafter referred to as the Erosion Control Manual).
Equivalence to technical standards. Where stormwater management practices are not in accordance with technical standards, the applicant or developer must demonstrate equivalence to the technical standards set forth in § 73-9A of this chapter and the SWPPP shall be prepared by a licensed professional.
Water quality standards. Any construction activity shall not cause an increase in turbidity that will result in substantial visible contrast to natural conditions in surface waters of the State of New York.
The applicant or developer of the construction activity or their representative shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the applicant or developer to achieve compliance with the conditions of this chapter. Sediment shall be removed from sediment traps or sediment ponds whenever their design capacity has been reduced by 50%.
For construction activities as defined in § 73-7 of this chapter and meeting Condition A, B or C in § 73-8B(2) of this chapter, the applicant shall have a licensed professional conduct site inspections and document the effectiveness of all erosion and sediment control practices every seven days and within 24 hours of any storm event producing 0.5 inch of precipitation or more. Inspection reports shall be maintained in a site logbook.
Maintenance easement(s). Prior to the issuance of any approval that has a stormwater management facility as one of the requirements, the applicant or developer must execute a maintenance easement agreement that shall be binding on all subsequent landowners served by the stormwater management facility. The easement shall provide for access to the facility at reasonable times for periodic inspection by the Town of Tonawanda to ensure that the facility is maintained in proper working condition to meet design standards and any other provisions established by this chapter. The easement shall be recorded by the grantor in the office of the County Clerk after approval by the counsel for the Town of Tonawanda.
Discharges from the SMPs shall not exceed design criteria or cause or contribute to water quality standard violations in accordance with § 73-9.
Maintenance agreements. The Town Board of the Town of Tonawanda shall approve a formal maintenance agreement for stormwater management facilities binding on all subsequent landowners and recorded in the office of the County Clerk as a deed restriction on the property prior to final plan approval. The maintenance agreement shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of Attachment A of this chapter, entitled "Sample Stormwater Control Facility Maintenance Agreement." The Town of Tonawanda, in lieu of a maintenance agreement, at its sole discretion, may accept dedication of any existing or future stormwater management facility, provided such facility meets all the requirements of this chapter and includes adequate and perpetual access and sufficient area, by easement or otherwise, for inspection and regular maintenance.
Editor's Note: Attachment A is included at the end of this chapter.
Stormwater management practice inspections. The Town of Tonawanda Stormwater Management Officer, is responsible for conducting inspections of stormwater management practices (SMPs). All applicants are required to submit as-built plans for any stormwater management practices located on site after final construction is completed. The plan must show the final design specifications for all stormwater management facilities and must be certified by a licensed professional.
Inspection of stormwater facilities after project completion. Inspection programs shall be established on any reasonable basis, including but not limited to: routine inspections; random inspections; inspections based upon complaints or other notice of possible violations; inspection of drainage basins or areas identified as higher than typical sources of sediment or other contaminants or pollutants; inspections of businesses or industries of a type associated with higher-than-usual discharges of contaminants or pollutants or with discharges of a type which are more likely than the typical discharge to cause violations of state or federal water or sediment quality standards or the SPDES stormwater permit; and joint inspections with other agencies inspecting under environmental or safety laws. Inspections may include, but are not limited to: reviewing maintenance and repair records; sampling discharges, surface water, groundwater, and material or water in drainage control facilities; and evaluating the condition of drainage control facilities and other stormwater management practices.
Submission of reports. The Town of Tonawanda Stormwater Management Officer may require monitoring and reporting from entities subject to this chapter as are necessary to determine compliance with this chapter.
Right-of-entry for inspection. When any new stormwater management facility is installed on private property or when any new connection is made between private property and the public storm water system, the landowner shall grant to the Town of Tonawanda the right to enter the property at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner for the purpose of inspection as specified in § 73-11A(3).
Construction completion guarantee. In order to ensure the full and faithful completion of all construction activities related to compliance with all conditions set forth by the Town of Tonawanda in its approval of the stormwater pollution prevention plan, the Town of Tonawanda may require the applicant or developer to provide, prior to construction, a performance bond, cash escrow, or irrevocable letter of credit from an appropriate financial or surety institution which guarantees satisfactory completion of the project and names the Town of Tonawanda as the beneficiary. The security shall be in an amount to be determined by the Town of Tonawanda based on submission of final design plans, with reference to actual construction and landscaping costs. The performance guarantee shall remain in force until the surety is released from liability by the Town of Tonawanda, provided that such period shall not be less than one year from the date of final acceptance or such other certification that the facility(ies) have been constructed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and that a one-year inspection has been conducted and the facilities have been found to be acceptable to the Town of Tonawanda. Per annum interest on cash escrow deposits shall be reinvested in the account until the surety is released from liability.
Maintenance guarantee. Where stormwater management and erosion and sediment control facilities are to be operated and maintained by the developer or by a corporation that owns or manages a commercial or industrial facility, the developer, prior to construction, may be required to provide the Town of Tonawanda with an irrevocable letter of credit from an approved financial institution or surety to ensure proper operation and maintenance of all stormwater management and erosion control facilities both during and after construction, and until the facilities are removed from operation. If the developer or landowner fails to properly operate and maintain stormwater management and erosion and sediment control facilities, the Town of Tonawanda may draw upon the account to cover the costs of proper operation and maintenance, including engineering and inspection costs.
Recordkeeping. Landowners and developers subject to this chapter shall maintain records demonstrating compliance with this chapter.
Stop-work orders. The SMO may issue a stop-work order for violations of this chapter. Persons receiving a stop-work order shall be required to halt all construction activities, except those activities that address the violations leading to the stop-work order. The stop-work order shall be in effect until the SMO confirms that the construction activity is in compliance and the violation has been satisfactorily addressed. Failure to address a stop-work order in a timely manner may result in civil, criminal, or monetary penalties in accordance with the enforcement measures authorized in this chapter.
Violations. Any construction activity that is commenced or is conducted contrary to this chapter, may be restrained by injunction or otherwise abated as provided by law.
Penalties. In addition to or as an alternative to any penalty provided herein or by law, any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine not exceeding $350 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed six months, or both for conviction of a first offense; for conviction of a second offense both of which were committed within a period of five years, punishable by a fine not less than $350 nor more than $700 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed six months, or both; and upon conviction for a third or subsequent offense all of which were committed within a period of five years, punishable by a fine not less than $700 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed six months, or both. However, for the purposes of conferring jurisdiction upon courts and judicial officers generally, violations of this chapter shall be deemed misdemeanors and for such purpose only all provisions of law relating to misdemeanors shall apply to such violations. Each week's continued violation shall constitute a separate additional violation.
Withholding of certificate of occupancy. If any building or construction activity is installed or conducted in violation of this chapter the Stormwater Management Officer may prevent the occupancy of said building or land.
Restoration of lands. Any violator may be required to restore land to its undisturbed condition. In the event that restoration is not undertaken within a reasonable time after notice, the Town of Tonawanda may take necessary corrective action, the cost of which shall become a lien upon the property until paid.
Fees for services. The Town of Tonawanda may require any person undertaking construction activities regulated by this chapter to pay reasonable costs at prevailing rates for review of SWPPPs, inspections, or SMP maintenance performed by the Town of Tonawanda or performed by a third party for the Town of Tonawanda. The fee shall be set by the Town Board of the Town of Tonawanda by resolution.

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