Orange County NC Website
37 <br /> 1 Commissioner Burroughs asked if there was a detailed explanation of the process <br /> 2 involved in monitoring impervious surfaces. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Michael Harvey said there is a requirement in the UDO, as well as in State law, that all <br /> 5 stormwater features have a recorded operations agreement. He said this agreement will detail <br /> 6 the care and maintenance of that facility in perpetuity, including the responsibility of the current, <br /> 7 and all future, property owners. He said the property owner would have to submit <br /> 8 documentation showing that the system is functioning properly. He said the County is required <br /> 9 to inspect biannually. He said some difficulty arises based on the complexity of the various <br /> 10 systems. He added that the Applicant's documentation would have to be certified by an <br /> 11 Engineer. He said the long term concern is that, over time, the property owners may have to <br /> 12 remove and reinstall, or massively up-fit, the system to guarantee its viability as an infiltration <br /> 13 based stormwater feature. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Commissioner Burroughs asked if there is a reason that the surface would fail. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 Michael Harvey said the generic term of infiltration based storm water feature as the <br /> 18 State is currently revising its manual. He said the current stormwater feature, which is <br /> 19 recognized by the State, is permeable pavement. He said permeable pavement calls for the <br /> 20 removal of dirt, planting of rock, sand and other substrata allowing the water to percolate <br /> 21 through. He said permeable pavement is still not completely pervious and the allowance is <br /> 22 based on the soil content. He said not all soil can take advantage of this program. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Michael Harvey said permeable pavement is not going to be the only option. He said <br /> 25 engineers may come up with other solutions consistent with the State stormwater management <br /> 26 manual with respect to the development and installation of what can be classified as an <br /> 27 infiltration based stormwater feature. These alternatives will be evaluated by local and State <br /> 28 staff. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Commissioner Burroughs said the budget recommendation includes another soil erosion <br /> 31 staff person and asked if that position would conduct the inspections to which Mr. Harvey refers. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Craig Benedict said yes, the Erosion Patrol Stormwater staff would conduct the <br /> 34 inspections. He said they are very aware of best practices. He said vacuuming is a <br /> 35 maintenance that can occur on permeable pavement where sediments clog its permeability. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Commissioner Rich said two or three emails were received about this topic. She asked <br /> 38 if these emails should be passed along to the Planning Department. <br /> 39 <br /> 40 Michael Harvey said he has received one email. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 Commissioner Rich said it is important that the Planning Department receive these <br /> 43 communications and perhaps determining a way to insure this in the future would be helpful. <br /> 44 <br /> 45 Bonnie Hammersely said she would forward all the emails to the Planning Department. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 Commissioner Rich said one of Orange Water and Sewer Authority's (OWASA) <br /> 48 comments stated, "this conclusion is predicated on the assumption that development densities <br /> 49 and riparian buffer requirements are not relaxed." She said the General Assembly may change <br /> 50 some of these things and asked if such changes would affect OWASA's comment. <br />