Commission Recommends Grading, Stormwater Manual

FARMINGTON — Farmington Planning Commission is recommending the City Council approve an ordinance concerning grading, erosion control and stormwater pollution prevention.

The commission recently held a public hearing on the ordinance but no one from the public spoke about it or asked questions. The commission then voted to forward it to the council for its April 14 agenda.

The proposed ordinance states it is in the best interest of the citizens to adopt a manual governing construction grading, erosion control during construction projects and the prevention of stormwater pollution.

The purposes and objectives of the 30- page manual are to maintain and improve the quality of water impacted by storm drainage in the city, to prevent the discharge of contaminated stormwater runoff and illicit discharges, to promote public awareness of the hazards involved with improper discharge, to encourage recycling of used motor oil and safe disposal of other hazardous consumer products, to help owners comply with state and federal standards and to enable the city to comply with state and federal laws.

Section 1 includes seven pages of definitions for terms in the manual. Section 2 lists prohibitions and requirements and Section 3 gives requirements for stormwater discharges from construction activities.

Section 4 is nine pages long and it deals with grading and requires any person proposing activities that cause the displacement of earth for one acre or more to submit a drainage and grading plan and apply to the city for a grading permit.

Section 5 is enforcement of the provisions of the manual. City inspectors and the city engineer have authority to enforce the manual. A violation of any provisions would be punishable by fines, with the amount set as $1,000 for a first offense and higher fines for subsequent offenses.

A copy of the manual is available at City Hall.