Source: http://www.codepublishing.com/wa/redmond/municode/Redmond15/Redmond1524.html
Timestamp: 2015-05-28 03:55:08
Document Index: 259969373

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Chapter 15.24 CLEARING, GRADING, AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
15.24.084 Adjustments.
15.24.095 Wellhead Protection Zones 1 and 2 performance standards.
The purpose of the Clearing, Grading, and Stormwater Management Code is to: safeguard life, property, public health, and general welfare; minimize water quality degradation; prevent excessive sedimentation of or erosion by surface waters; and prevent the creation of public nuisances such as fouling of surface or groundwater. Furthermore, this section is intended to reduce impacts from land development; preserve and enhance wildlife habitat in and along surface waters; enhance the aesthetic quality of the area waters; minimize erosion; preserve trees; and preserve natural topographic features. These regulations focus on prevention of adverse impacts associated with clearing, grading and stormwater activities rather than remediation of adverse impacts after they have occurred. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(b) The Washington State Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, dated February 2005 or its successor when approved by the City’s Technical Committee and as applied by the Clearing, Grading and Stormwater Management Technical Notebook (“Stormwater Technical Notebook” for the remainder of this chapter). (c) Any applicable construction specifications, design standards and details approved under the authority of subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The Public Works Director shall prepare and shall adopt construction specifications and design standards and details for clearing, grading, and stormwater management. The specifications, design standards and details shall be based on the Washington State Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, dated February 2005 or its successor when approved by the City’s Technical Committee. The Public Works Director has the authority to make changes as local conditions warrant. The specifications, design details, and any changes shall be made available to the public. A fee set by the Public Works Director may be charged for these documents.
(3) In the case of conflicts between the documents listed in subsection (1) of this section, conflicts shall be resolved by applying the following order of precedence: (a) This chapter;
(b) The Stormwater Technical Notebook; (c) City of Redmond Standard Specifications and Details;
(d) The Washington State Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004) 15.24.030 Director.
For the purposes of this chapter only, “Director” shall mean the Director of the Public Works Department or his/her designee. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(3) For regulated activities, “City approval” means approval of appropriate plans, prepared by the applicant’s engineer(s), indicating compliance with the requirements and design standards specified in this chapter under RMC 15.24.020. Approval shall be evidenced by the signature of the Public Works Director or designee. Once plans are approved, a permit may be issued by the City. Fees for plan review and permit processing may be charged as established by separate ordinance. Issued permits shall be posted on the construction site at all times when work is underway. To ensure that the actual work in the field conforms with the approved plans, permitted activities shall be inspected by the City during construction. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(6) Any work within a public easement, City-owned tract or City right-of-way. Any clearing, grading or landscaping must be approved by the Department of Public Works prior to construction.
(7) The creation or addition of new, replaced or new plus replaced impervious surface in the amount of 2,000 square feet or more.
(10) Any modification of, or construction which affects, a privately owned/operated flow control facility or runoff treatment facility. (Does not include maintenance or repair to the condition defined by previously approved plans.) (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(2) Activities that do not require approved plans or permits must still provide BMPs as necessary to protect water quality. Any surface intended for vehicular traffic shall provide a floatables separator. Minimum requirements for other activities may be obtained by written request to the Development Services Division, accompanied by an adequate description of proposed work.
(a) Agricultural crop management of existing farmed areas. (b) Cemetery graves involving less than 50 cubic yards of excavation, and related filling per each cemetery plot. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
Subdivision, utility construction outside City right-of-way, clearing and grading only projects including landscaping projects
(Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(1) Rough Grading Prerequisites. The Technical Committee shall determine whether rough grading will be permitted for a project. At a minimum, to obtain a Rough Grading Permit approval for a project all the following shall have been processed and have received approval:
(a) Site plan approval including conceptual utility layout.
(a) Seven sets of rough grading drawings and supporting information stamped and signed by a professional civil engineer.
(g) An erosion control plan designed in accordance with the City Design Specifications.
(i) Prior to issuance of Rough Grading Permits, acceptable site restoration assurance (bonding, cash deposits, etc., as specified by the Technical Committee) shall be posted with the City. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
The City hereby adopts the thresholds, definitions, and minimum requirements, found in Appendix 1 of the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, including the mandatory provisions of the 2005 Washington State Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. Refer to the Stormwater Technical Notebook for local modifications and application of the definitions, thresholds, and minimum requirements in Redmond. (1) Design and Construction Standard Requirements. The design and construction standards found in this section are required. The Director may require additional or modified standards for specific projects or areas based on approved interlocal agreements, identified capacity limitations, significant erosion potential, seasonal factors, or other applicable factors.
(2) Checklist. The Director of Public Works shall maintain a checklist of Project Requirements that will be available at the Development Services Center. For those activities that require preparation of plans (see regulated activities, RMC 15.24.050), the applicant shall prepare plans that, at a minimum, include the following:
(a) Erosion and Sediment Control. All clearing, grading and stormwater management activities shall be designed and constructed to minimize erosion and the transport of sediment. (b) Drainage Facilities. Drainage facilities shall be provided with site improvements as needed to meet the intent of this section. As a minimum, conveyance systems shall be designed to convey the 10-year storm. Culvert crossings of public rights-of-way shall be designed for at least the 25-year storm. Additional analysis may be required and if excessive flooding, erosion and other damage would occur, the design storm may be increased by the Director. (c) Water Quality Control. Post construction stormwater water quality control requirements depend on project and site characteristics. Runoff treatment and pollution source control measures are required of development/redevelopment projects based on the following:
• If a project creates 2,000 square feet (sf) or more new, replaced, or new plus replaced impervious surfaces, OR the project will disturb 7,000 sf or more land, post construction source control of pollutants is required as specified in the Stormwater Technical Notebook. • If a project adds 5,000 sf or more new impervious surfaces OR the project converts 3/4 acre native vegetation to lawn/landscaping OR converts 2.5 acres of native vegetation to pasture, runoff treatment facilities AND the selection of post construction source controls are required as specified in the Stormwater Technical Notebook. Selection and documentation of post construction operational and structural source controls, and treatment facilities, shall conform with requirements detailed in the Stormwater Technical Notebook. All runoff treatment facilities are required to have an operations and maintenance manual that clearly indicates who is responsible for cleaning, maintenance, and operation of the facility. The Director may exempt trails and other linear types of construction projects if not used by motor vehicles and no significant impacts are identified.
(d) Water Quantity Control.
(i) Post construction runoff quantity control requirements depend on project and site characteristics. Runoff reduction/on-site stormwater management and flow control facilities are required of development/redevelopment projects based on the following:
• If a project creates 2,000 square feet (sf) or more new, replaced, or new plus replaced impervious surfaces, OR the project will disturb 7,000 sf or more land: runoff reduction/on-site stormwater management, to reduce the quantity of runoff created by the proposed project, is required as detailed in the Stormwater Technical Notebook.
• If a project adds 5,000 sf or more new impervious surfaces OR the project converts 3/4 acre native vegetation to lawn/landscaping OR the project converts 2.5 acres of native vegetation to pasture OR a project one acre or larger will result in a 0.1 cubic feet per second increase in flow during a 100-year frequency storm: runoff flow control facilities AND runoff reduction/on-site stormwater management are required as detailed in the Stormwater Technical Notebook. (ii) When modeling to determine quantity control design requirements, the predeveloped condition to simulate is forested land cover except on the Sammamish Valley floor, where pasture may be taken as the predeveloped condition. If downstream analyses show flooding, erosion, and other damage would still occur, the allowable discharge rates may be decreased by the Director. In some cases direct discharge without detention may be permitted as determined by the Director. Trails and other linear types of construction activities may be exempt if not used by motor vehicles and no significant impacts are identified with approval by the Director. (iii) Project proponents are required to document the application of permanent runoff reduction/on-site stormwater management techniques, to reduce the quantity of runoff produced by the project, as required by the Stormwater Technical Notebook. All facilities are required to have an operations and maintenance manual that clearly indicates who is responsible for cleaning, maintenance, and operation of flow control and on-site/runoff reduction facilities. (e) Stabilization of Disturbed Areas. All exposed soil shall be stabilized by suitable application of erosion control BMPs. All BMPs shall be selected, designed and maintained according to sediment and erosion control standards established by the Stormwater Technical Notebook. From October 1st through April 30th, no unworked soil shall remain exposed for more than two days. From May 1st through September 30th, no unworked soil shall remain exposed for more than seven days. The director or his/her designee may permit extension of these times or require reduction of these times.
(f) Protection of Adjacent Properties. Adjacent properties shall be protected from sediment deposition by appropriate use of vegetative buffer strips, sediment barriers or filters, dikes or mulching, or by a combination of these measures and other appropriate BMPs.
(g) Maintenance. All erosion and sediment control BMPs shall be regularly inspected (minimum once a week and after each storm) and maintained to ensure continued performance of their intended function.
(h) Identification of Critical Areas and Associated Buffers. No clearing or grading activity shall take place without first delineating critical areas and buffers. All critical areas shall be delineated and clearly marked on the plans for permits. On-site and off-site critical areas that may be affected by the proposed activity shall be identified. All such on-site areas shall be fenced before any clearing or grading whether a permit is required or not required. These areas shall not be cleared and the vegetation shall not be disturbed per Redmond Zoning Code Chapter 21.64, Critical Areas.
(i) Identification of Easements. Native growth protection easements (NGPE), utility easements, etc., and corresponding setbacks shall be delineated and clearly marked on the plans. These areas shall not be cleared and the vegetation shall not be disturbed without proper approval. (j) Accurately Describe Work Area. Provide a plan showing location of the property where the activity is proposed. Show areas to be cleared and graded, stockpile areas, staging areas, etc.
(k) Control of Pollutants Other Than Sediment on Construction Sites. All potential pollutants in addition to sediment that occur on-site during construction shall be handled and disposed of in a manner that does not cause contamination of stormwater, surface waters, soil, or groundwater. (l) Source Control of Pollution. Source control BMPs shall be applied to all projects to the maximum extent practicable. Source control BMPs shall be selected, designed, and maintained according to the Stormwater Technical Notebook.
(m) Controlling Off-Site Erosion. Properties and waterways downstream from development sites shall be protected from erosion due to increases in the volume, velocity, and peak flow rate of stormwater runoff from the site.
(n) Other BMPs. Shall be applied as appropriate to mitigate the effects of potential increased runoff and/or decreased runoff water quality to the maximum extent practicable.
(o) Separate public and private drainage stormwater facilities for public land and City rights-of-way shall be separate from private stormwater facilities to the maximum extent practicable.
(p) Limit Topographic Change.
• Within structure footprints, this chapter does not limit cuts or fills (even with the presence of significant trees).
• Within the structural footprint, plus a 10-foot horizontal buffer, temporary cuts or fills are not limited by this chapter (even with the presence of significant trees).
• Outside the structure’s footprint, and where significant trees are not present, the maximum permitted vertical depth or height of a cut or fill is a total of eight vertical feet.
• Outside building work areas, and where significant trees are present, grades shall not be changed.
• Cut or fill slopes may not exceed 33 percent (3H:1V). Cut and fill slopes for roadways may, however, be designed at (2H:1V) upon review and approval by the Director.
(q) Tree preservation plan information in accordance with the City’s Tree Preservation Regulations shall be incorporated into the clearing and grading drawings and shall become part of all construction documentation. This information shall define spatial limits for tree protection and include detailed drawings of tree protection measures and all required mitigation plantings. The tree preservation information must be prepared by a certified arborist or a certified landscape architect in conjunction with a registered civil engineer. (Note: In most instances, the tree survey will serve as the basis for the tree preservation information.) (r) Placement of imported contaminated fill material is prohibited, citywide. Additional requirements for fill material in Wellhead Protection Zones 1 and 2, and language to determine fill material as contaminated, is detailed in RMC 15.24.095. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(1) Adjustments are permissions granted by the Technical Committee to deviate from the stormwater requirements for design and construction specified in RMC 15.24.080 or in the Stormwater Technical Notebook. Adjustments must provide the equivalent (or improved) level of environmental protection. Adjustments are requested through application of a General Development Permit and decision by the Technical Committee. Application for adjustments must include clear written documentation to explain how the proposed adjustments address the following criteria:
(2) The Technical Committee may deny any or all of the requested adjustments, may request additional information including written documentation from qualified specialists, may approve any or all of the requested adjustments, or may approve specific parts of adjustments, either to the extent requested or to a reduced extent. All documentation is to be obtained and paid for by the applicant(s). The Technical Committee may also require peer review which, if required, is to be paid for by the applicant.
(3) The Technical Committee may determine the adjustment(s) requested are to be processed in accordance with Redmond Zoning Code Section 21.76.070(BB), Variances, and the criteria in RMC 15.24.089. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010)
(1) Variances are permissions granted through the City’s variance process in accordance with Redmond Zoning Code Section 21.76.070(BB), Variances. Variances under this title apply only to RMC 15.24.080(1) and (2)(a), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (j), (k), (l), and (n). The criteria for approving a variance requested under this title shall include the decision criteria contained in Redmond Zoning Code Section 21.76.070(BB)(3), Decision Criteria, together with the following criteria:
(3) The City shall prepare written findings of fact that address each of the six items above and that address the variance criteria. The City shall publish legal public notice of an application that requests a variance under this title and shall publish legal notice of the City’s decision on the application. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010)
In Wellhead Protection Zones 1 and 2, performance standards for the following uses or activities shall be implemented:
(1) Well Construction and Operation. The record and construction details of any well regulated under Chapter 173-160 WAC, Construction and Maintenance of Wells, and any well excluded per WAC 173-160-010(2) that is constructed or decommissioned in Zones 1 and 2 shall be provided to the Department of Public Works within 60 days of well completion or decommissioning.
(2) Fill Material. Fill material shall not contain concentrations of contaminants that exceed cleanup standards for soil specified in WAC 173-340-740, Model Toxics Control Act, regardless of whether all or part of the contamination is due to natural background levels at the fill source site. Where the detection limit (lower limit at which a chemical can be detected by a specified laboratory procedure) for a particular soil contaminant exceeds the cleanup standard for soil specified in WAC 173-340-740, the detection limit shall be the standard for fill material quality. (a) Fill materials in quantities greater than 10 cubic yards placed directly on or in the ground in excess of six months shall meet the following requirements:
(d) The Director of Public Works shall have the authority to require corrective measures regarding noncompliant fill materials, including independent sampling and analysis, if the property owner or operator fails to accomplish such measures in a timely manner. The property owner or operator shall be responsible for any costs incurred by the City in the conduct of such activities. (3) Cathodic Protection Wells. Designs for cathodic protection wells shall be submitted to the City for review and approval prior to initiation of drilling. Cathodic protection wells shall be constructed such that the following do not occur: (a) Vertical cross-connection of aquifers normally separated by confining units;
(4) Underground Hydraulic Elevator Cylinders. All underground hydraulic elevator pressure cylinders shall be encased in an outer plastic casing constructed of Schedule 40 or thicker-wall polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, or equivalent. The plastic casing shall be capped at the bottom, and all joints shall be solvent- or heat-welded to ensure water tightness. The neck of the plastic casing shall provide a means of inspection to monitor the annulus between the pressurized hydraulic elevator cylinder and the protective plastic casing. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2257 § 1, 2005)
The Director is authorized and directed to enforce all the provisions of this section. For such purpose, the Director may appoint officers, inspectors, assistants and other employees as needed from time to time. The Director may authorize such employees, as may be necessary, to carry out the duties and functions of that office. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
The Director is authorized to make such inspections and take such actions as may be required to enforce the provisions of this chapter or whenever the Director has reasonable cause to believe that any land is being used in violation of this section. Inspections shall be made as follows:
(1) As a condition of any permit issued for activity covered by this chapter, the property owner shall be required to consent to entry upon the land by the Director at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed upon the Director by this section. If the land is occupied, the Director shall first present proper credentials and request entry. If the land is unoccupied, a reasonable effort shall be made to locate the owner or other persons at the site who are in apparent charge or control of the land and demand entry. If no person is located, the Director may enter said property and shall, with due diligence, make attempts to notify the owner, occupant, or other person having charge within a reasonable amount of time.
(2) Where the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that activities for which a permit is required by this chapter are being conducted without a permit on land within the City, the Director may seek to inspect the land and such activity. If the land is occupied, the Director shall first present proper credentials and request entry for inspection. If the land is unoccupied, a reasonable effort shall be made to locate the owner or other persons at the site in apparent charge or control of the land and request entry for inspection. If no person is located, or if entry is refused, the Director may request the assistance of the City Attorney, City Prosecutor or Police Department regarding access. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(1) Whenever any activity is being done contrary to the provisions of this section, the Director may order the work stopped by notice verbally or in writing served on any persons engaged in the doing or causing such work to be done, and any such person shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by the Director to proceed with the work.
(2) The Director may suspend work on any project during periods of inclement weather to reduce actual or potential erosion and/or sedimentation. Such a period may involve days or weeks during storm events or may, at the discretion of the Director, involve the entire rainy season.
(3) The Director may order work stopped because of inadequate on-site erosion/sedimentation controls. In such cases, a revised and improved erosion/sediment control plan (including but not limited to addition of or additional phasing) shall be submitted to the City for review. Once approved, the Director shall lift the stop work order and work can continue. If the revised and improved erosion/sediment control plan is found to be inadequate and work is again ordered stopped, then the following shall be required:
(a) If it is the rainy season, work will be suspended until the end of the season (until April 30th, or later if weather conditions warrant, and work shall not continue beyond October 1st or earlier if weather conditions warrant).
(b) A revised plan shall be required to be submitted to the City Public Works Department. Once approved, work can continue between April 30th and October 1st.
(c) An on-site, full-time erosion control inspector (provided by developer) shall be required to monitor all work involving land disturbance. All costs for this inspector shall be paid by the contractor. The inspector shall provide weekly reports to the City regarding all clearing and grading work; monitor all erosion control features; and be a direct contact for the City inspectors. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
The Director may suspend or revoke a permit whenever the permit is issued on the basis of incorrect information supplied, approved plans are not accurately reflective of actual field conditions, or the work is being done contrary to, or in violation of, any pertinent ordinance, regulation, procedure or permit. Upon receipt of a timely appeal under Redmond Zoning Code Chapter 21.76, suspension or revocation shall be stayed pending decision on the appeal; provided, that such a stay shall not affect any stop work order issued by the Director. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011: Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
All violations of this chapter, including hazards and failure to comply with terms of the clearing/grading permit and conditions, are determined to be detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare and declared to be public nuisances. All such violations are also criminal gross misdemeanors and punishable as provided in RMC 1.01.110. All conditions that, after inspection, have been determined by the Director to render any site or portion thereof to be used or maintained in violation of the section, shall be abated. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(3) Reseeding and landscaping with vegetation similar to that which was removed, in areas without significant trees where bare ground exists. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
(1) If, while fulfilling their responsibility under this chapter, the inspector, the engineer, the soil engineer, the engineering geologist or the testing agency finds that the work is not being done in conformance with this chapter or the approved grading plans, the discrepancies shall be reported immediately in writing to the person in charge of the grading work and to the Director. Recommendations for corrective measures, if necessary, shall be submitted.
(3) The Director may require that the approved activity, operations and project designs be modified if delays occur which incur weather-generated problems not apparent at the time the permit was issued. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, the work shall be stopped, and special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work. Work shall not commence during the investigation other than restoration, work on pollution control measures or stabilization approved by the Public Works Director. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee required by the code. The minimum investigation fee shall be the same as the minimum fee set forth in the standard clearing and grading fee for permit application. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this code nor from any penalty prescribed by law. (Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
Clearing and grading and stormwater management fees shall be determined by the Director, and upon approval by the City Council shall be made available to the public.
Before accepting a set of plans and specifications for checking, the Director shall collect a plan-checking fee. Separate permits and fees shall apply to retaining walls or major drainage structures as required by the Uniform Building Code. There shall be no separate charge for standard terrace drains and similar facilities. The amount of the plan-checking fee for clearing/grading plans shall be as set forth in the schedule of fees adopted pursuant to Redmond Zoning Code Chapter 21.76, Review Procedures. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011: Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
A fee for each clearing, grading or stormwater management permit shall be paid to the Director as set forth in the fee schedule adopted pursuant to Redmond Zoning Code Chapter 21.76, Review Procedures.
Permits may be extended, before their expiration, for up to a total of one year. Inspection fees shall be paid before the start or extension of work and are required for the duration of the project. An additional fee may be charged for processing of a permit extension. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011: Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)
A fee for each clearing, grading or stormwater management construction inspection shall be paid to the Director as set forth in the fee schedule adopted pursuant to Redmond Zoning Code Chapter 21.76, Review Procedures. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011: Ord. 2532 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2218 § 1, 2004)