HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCS000240_PCSO Private Projects SOP_20220930City of Charlotte
NPDES Permit Program
Post Construction Controls for
Private Projects
L
CHARLOTTE,..
Permit Number NCS000240
January 2022
SECTION A: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Al. Program Purpose and Background
Documents and Manuals
Post Construction Stormwater Ordinance (PCSO):
httl)s:Hcharlottenc. izov/StonnWater/Reizulations/Documents/CitvPCS02016.ndf
Post Construction Stormwater Administrative Manual:
https://charlottenc.gov/StonnWater/Regulations/Documents/PCSO 2016_ ADMINISTRATIVE_
MANUAL revisions FINAL.PDF
Charlotte -Mecklenburg BMP Design Manual:
https://charlottenc. gov/StonnWater/Regulations/PagesBMPDesignStandardsManual.aspx
Storm Water Permit Application Flow Chart:
https://charlottenc.gov/StonnWater/Regulations/Documents/PCCO%2OCharlotte/PCSO_Re ug lati
ons Flowchart.ndf
Stakeholder Process:
https://charlottenc. gov/StonnWater/SurfaceWaterQualiiy/Documents/ 1_PCSOStakeholderProces
s20042016.docx
Land Development Review Process, Storm Water Plan Review Process, Review Checklist:
G:\Water Quality\NPDES Permit\7_PCSO
Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual, Detention Worksheet, BMP Design Worksheets,
BMP Inset Tables:
https://charlottenc. gov/DevelopmentCenter/Pages/Designerer_and_Developer _Resources. aspx
BMP Maintenance Handbook, Inspection Forms, Maintenance Schedules
https://charlottenc. gov/StormWater/Regulations/Documents/PCCO%2000UNTY/BMPMaintena
nceHandbook2014.pdf
Land Development Review Process
The Land Development review process and storm water plan review process are documented in
the folder denoted above. In addition to the requirements listed in the PCSO and the
Administrative Manual, the designer submits all necessary information for inclusion into the PCO
Projects and SCM database per the review checklist. The project information for each project is
included in the first page of the Detention Worksheet, which is submitted as part of the storm
water calculations. Information about each SCM is included in the BMP Design Worksheets and
BMP Inset Tables. Records of plan review are maintained in the Accela database and uploaded
to the SCM Database.
After a project is approved, the project is entered into the PCO Projects Database.. The PCO
Projects Database project number is the same as the Accela Database project number. Following
final approval of the SCM As -Built, the project and all relevant information will be added to the
SCM Database. An operator manual has been developed and can be found here.
In the case of a proposed septic system design for a project, coordination between Ground Water
Services and Land Development is required.
Applicability Determination and Variance Process
When a project is submitted for which the applicability may be in question, a team consisting of
the Post Construction Stormwater Ordinance Administrator (PCSO Administrator), the Senior
Land Development Review Engineers (and the Land Development Review Engineer of record, if
not a Senior Engineer), and other Surface Water Quality and Environmental Permitting personnel
and Land Development personnel (as needed) shall meet to determine the stormwater
requirements of the project. Staff from the City Attorney's Office will be consulted as necessary.
The decision shall be based on the wording of the PCSO, the Administrative Manual, submittal
date, and consistency with other projects under similar circumstances.
An appeal/variance process is allowed by right in the PCSO. The PCSO Administrator is the
point of contact for this process, and the final decision rests upon the Storm Water Advisory
Committee (SWAC). The PCSO Administrator must issue a statement of support/not support for
the appeal/variance to be used as consideration in the decision process for SWAC. In cases
where the developer/designer has provided an alternative meeting the intent of the ordinance that
is not strictly allowed within the provisions of the PCSO, the PCSO Administrator may issue a
statement of support for the project.
Construction Process
As the construction phase is concluded and the contributing drainage area is stabilized, the SCMs
are completed and finaled by a Land Development inspector and an As -Built survey and other
required documentation is submitted to the Land Development Review Engineer. The date that
an as -built survey for a particular SCM is approved by the Land Development Review Engineer
becomes the official service date of the SCM. This date determines when yearly inspections will
be required. The date may be obtained from records in Accela, the Land Development Review
Engineer or Inspector, or the SCM Database after the as -built survey and related documentation
has been approved.
Compliance/Enforcement
All qualifying projects must comply with the PCSO. Qualifying projects are those meeting the
PCSO development/redevelopment thresholds which are not previously approved, grandfathered,
or otherwise exempt based on provisions in the PCSO. All projects required to meet PCSO
standards submit PCSO designs in the construction plans. Only plans meeting all of the
requirements of the PCSO will be approved for construction. Prior to receiving a certificate of
occupancy (CO), the project must have completed all requirements (completed O&M agreement,
fully functioning SCMs, recorded Natural Area, etc.) listed in the Administrative Manual for
receiving the CO. In the case of subdivisions, a bond or surety must be in place prior to plat
approval as described in the PCSO. If a project fails to maintain SCMs or otherwise be in
violation of the PCSO, the PCSO Administrator shall issue notices and penalties as described in
the PCSO Penalty Assessment Guide.
Maintenance/Inspections
All SCMs are required to be maintained by the property owner, with the exception of SCMs in
single family subdivisions, which may be petitioned for maintenance if it is functioning fully and
in proper condition at the end of two years after beginning of service. Every SCM shall be
inspected yearly by a certified professional. Currently, the City of Charlotte recognizes the
certification from North Carolina State's BAE staff, "Stormwater SCM Inspection &
Maintenance Certification" as an acceptable qualification. Other certification programs may be
reviewed and accepted on a case -by -case basis. Any structural issues or modifications to the
SCM must be inspected or designed by a NC Licensed Professional Engineer or NC Registered
Landscape Architect.
A suggested maintenance schedule and required inspection checklist are included in the BMP
Maintenance Handbook found at the above link. SCMs that do not have the required yearly
inspection documented with the PCSO Administrator may cause the property owner to receive a
letter of non-compliance from the PCSO Administrator. Any unresolved issues may result in a
Notice of Violation and possible fines as outlined in the Administrative Manual.
Currently, the responsible party for maintaining a particular SCM is responsible for submitting a
paper or electronic yearly inspection report the SCM. The inspection reports are recorded in the
SCM Database and maintained for the life of the SCM.
The PCSO Administrator or assign has the right to inspect any SCM required by the PCSO to
ensure that the SCM is functioning properly. These City inspections may be complaint -driven or
at random. The PCSO Administrator shall make every effort to reply to third party requests
related to SCMs with an on -site inspection within 72 hours of recording the request, unless the
request is related to point source pollution, in which case the on -site inspection will be made
within the standard response time for illicit discharge inspections.
All City and other public SCMs shall be maintained per a prescribed schedule and inspected
yearly by the appropriate department. The records of these inspections shall be recorded in the
SCM Database. A Long -Term Stewardship (L-TS) Program is in development and will assist
with ensuring compliance of City -owned SCMs
Training
All inspectors of SCMs shall be certified. Currently, the City of Charlotte recognizes the
certification from North Carolina State's BAE staff, "Stormwater SCM Inspection &
Maintenance Certification" as an acceptable qualification. Other certification programs may be
reviewed and accepted on a case -by -case basis. It is the City's goal to ensure that all City
personnel in charge of the final inspection of private SCMs, stormwater maintenance personnel
and Surface Water Quality and Environmental Permitting team members involved in assessing
SCMs take and pass this training. Any personnel or contractor that provides the service of
inspecting and maintaining the functionality of SCMs shall have this training. The PCSO
Administrator shall ensure that a record of inspection certification is kept current.
Land Development review staff for the City shall have the proper backgrounds in order to review
plans for PCSO compliance. Due to the varying nature of backgrounds and degrees of review
personnel, training goals need to be tailored to suit individual needs and shall be decided by
supervisory personnel in Land Development. In some cases, it may be necessary for the PCSO
Administrator to give one-on-one or group training to personnel.
At least once every two years the PCSO Administrator shall give training to interested City
personnel on the basics and requirements of the PCSO. A record of this training is kept by
appropriate Storm Water Services staff. Additionally, the City shall provide similar training to
the development community as needed or when significant changes are made to PCSO,
Administrative Manual, or a design manual. Records of this training shall be kept by the
appropriate Storm Water Services staff.