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Town of Chapel Hill Stonnwater Management -Stonnwater Utility FAQ Page 4 of 6 <br />.--//- <br />annual fee. <br />What is an "impervious surface"? <br />In general terms, an impervious surface is a hardened surface (concrete, <br />rooftop, asphalt, compacted gravel, etc.) that does not absorb stormwater, <br />Impervious surface areas cause increased pollutant loading, increased volume <br />and rate of stormwater runoff, lower stream base flows, and decreased <br />infiltration of stormwater into the soil and availability to plants' roots. <br />Why are gravel roads and gravel parking lots considered <br />to be impervious? <br />Typical gravel materials (including "Chapel Hill gravel") used for roads and <br />parking lots are engineered and compacted to withstand heavy loads. These <br />compacted gravel materials form a seal through which water will not readily <br />infiltrate, Some landscaping or stormwater management applications involve <br />uncompacted, washed stone that would not be considered impervious, <br />How do you determine how much impervious surface is <br />on my property? <br />The Town uses aerial photography and its Geographic Information System <br />(GIs) to identify and measure impervious surface areas on properties. <br />If you calculate the wrong amount of impervious surface <br />on my property, how could I get that corrected? <br />Upon request of the property owner, stormwater management staff would <br />review the calculation of impervious surface area assigned to the property <br />parcel and make any needed adjustments. <br />How could I reduce my fees? <br />There would be an established procedure for issuing "stormwater credits" to <br />properties that include means and measures for reducing the amount of or <br />mitigating the effects of stormwater runoff generated by the property. A manual <br />describing these credits and procedures would be developed during the first <br />year of the utility, to become effective the second year. <br />What kind of public oversight or public involvement <br />would this utility have? <br />The stormwater program development and utility process has been and will <br />continue to be a public process. An ordinance would establish a stormwater <br />Management Advisory Board, similar to other Town Advisory Boards, that <br />would meet quarterly to review program development and policy <br />recommendations. See the main stormwater utility page for information about <br />previous stormwater-related committees, their establishment, mission, and <br />recommendations. <br />http://towriliall.townofchapelhilLorg/stormwater/utility_faq.htnil 5/24/2004 <br />