§ 5-4-7. Minimum criteria; city handbook.

(a)

The director shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter.

(b)

This chapter, the erosion and sediment control regulations of the Department of Environmental Quality (9 VAC 25-840 et seq.), and the "Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, Third Edition, 1992, which are incorporated herein by reference, shall be an integral part of the city's erosion and sediment control program and shall comprise the city's "Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook." The text of these regulations is on file in the office of the director.

(c)

In addition to the minimum requirements for controlling erosion and sedimentation for land-disturbing activities which are contained in 9 VAC 25-840, the following additional minimum requirements shall apply:

(1)

Protection of adjacent properties.

a.

Properties adjacent to the site of a land disturbance shall be protected from sediment deposition. This may be accomplished by preserving a well-vegetated buffer strip around the lower perimeter of the land disturbance, by installing perimeter controls such as sediment barriers, filters, dikes, sediment basins or by a combination of such measures.

b.

Vegetated buffer strips may be used alone only where runoff in sheet flow is expected. Buffer strips should be at least 20 feet in width. If at any time it is found that a vegetated buffer strip alone is ineffective in stopping sediment movement onto adjacent property, additional perimeter controls must be provided.

(2)

The director may require sediment basins or traps for smaller disturbed areas where deemed necessary. The sediment basin requirement may also be waived if the director agrees that site conditions do not warrant its construction.

(3)

Cut and fill slopes. Cut and fill slopes must be designed and constructed in a manner which will minimize erosion. Consideration must be given to the length and steepness of the slope, the soil type, upslope drainage area, groundwater conditions and other applicable factors. Slopes which are found to be eroding excessively within one year of construction must be provided with additional slope-stabilizing measures until the problem is corrected. The following guidelines are provided to aid site planners and plan reviewers in developing an adequate design.

a.

Roughened soil surfaces are generally preferred to smooth surfaces on slopes.

b.

Diversions should be constructed at the top of long, steep slopes which have significant drainage areas above the slope. Diversions or terraces may also be used to reduce slope length.

(4)

The following additional stormwater management criteria shall apply: A stormwater management plan consistent with the requirements of Section 13-109(F) in Article XIII of the Alexandria Zoning Ordinance (the Environmental Management Ordinance and the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) regulations shall apply. For plans approved on and after July 1, 2014, the flow rate capacity and velocity requirements of this section shall be satisfied by compliance with water quantity requirements in the Stormwater Management Act (§ 62.1-44.15:24 et seq.) and attendant regulations, unless such land-disturbing activities are in accordance with the grandfathering provisions of the VSMP regulations.

(5)

Runoff rate and channel adequacy must be verified with engineering calculations to the satisfaction of the director.

(6)

All channel improvements or modifications must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

(7)

If the applicant chooses an option which includes stormwater detention, the applicant must provide the city with a plan for maintenance of the detention facilities. The plan shall set forth the maintenance requirements of the facility and the party responsible for performing the maintenance. The responsible party may be an individual, organization or the city, whichever has consented to carry out the maintenance. If the designated maintenance responsibility is with an individual or organization other than the city, a maintenance agreement should be executed between the responsible party and the city.

(8)

Stabilization adequate to prevent erosion must be provided at the outlets of all pipes and paved channels. Energy dissipators shall be installed as required by the director.

(9)

Working in or crossing watercourses. Construction vehicles should be kept out of watercourses to the extent possible. Where in-channel work is necessary, precautions must be taken to stabilize the work area during construction to minimize erosion. The channel (including bed and banks) must always be re-stabilized immediately after in-channel work is completed.

(10)

Underground utility lines shall be installed in accordance with the following standard in addition to other applicable criteria: no more than 100 feet of trench are to be opened at one time.

(11)

Maintenance. All temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control practices must be maintained and repaired as specified in 9 VAC 25-840-60.

(12)

Submission of an erosion and sediment control plan to the city is a grant of unlimited right of entry to the property to officials or agents of the city for the purposes of determining adequacy of the proposed plan and inspection of land-disturbing activities for compliance with the approved plan.

(d)

The "Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, Third Edition, 1992" and the tree planting and preservation regulations authorized by § 11-410(CC)(1) of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Alexandria, and known as the city's Landscape Guidelines, shall be used by any applicant making a submittal under this chapter and by the director in his or her review and consideration of the adequacy of landscaping elements included in any erosion and sediment control plan submitted. (Ord. No. 4489, 6/16/07, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 4957, 6/13/15, Sec. 1)