The City of Hopkinsville has enacted a Stormwater Management and Control Ordinance in order to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the public by minimizing as much as possible the dangers of flooding to life and property. The City of Hopkinsville is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The City of Hopkinsville will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. Stormwater fees will be calculated and collected by the City of Hopkinsville. The City of Hopkinsville, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite.
A monthly service fee is imposed upon all real property in the City of Hopkinsville to fund stormwater management programs. This service fee shall be known as the Stormwater Management Fee (“Fee”). As of January 1, 2006 all real property located within the city limits of Hopkinsville, and any real property thereafter developed or added through annexation, shall be subject to a monthly service fee. The Fee is based on : (1) The extent to which runoff from each property creates the need for the stormwater management program; (2) the amount of impervious area on each property ; and (3) the cost of implementing a stormwater management program.
Base Rate
A monthly base rate for the Stormwater Management Fee is established for all single family residential property as one ERU. The base rate for all single family residential property which contains impervious surface area less than one half (1/2) of the ERU shall pay one half (1/2) of the established fee.
Schedule of Monthly Rates for Stormwater Management Fee
The following rates shall apply to each property. This schedule includes the rate for the Stormwater Utility Fees.
Rate Category /Single Family Residential
Rate per Month $ 3.00
Rate Category /Non-Single Family Residential
$ 3.00 multiplied by the numerical factor obtained by dividing the total impervious area (square feet) of the property by one Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU).
(A) An application is required to be submitted to the Flood Safety Officer or should he so designate the plans examiner, prior to subdivision approval or issuance of a building permit for each of the following proposed improvements within the city limits. The chapter shall apply to:
(1) Residential development of two acres or more; commercial, industrial, institutional, govern-mental, utility, or other development or redevelopment comprising a gross aggregate of one acre or more. This gross aggregate shall include streets and other dedicated lands;
(2) Development, new construction, and substantial improvements including the placement of prefabricated buildings, mobile homes, apartment complexes and shopping centers, or any other residential developments under two acres or commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, or utility developments under one acre which, because of unusual circumstances, impose particular hazards to life safety or property;
(3) Subdivision proposals and other proposed new developments;
(4) Proposals to alter or relocate a watercourse, deposit, or remove any material within a water-course, plant or remove any vegetation, or alter any embankment within a watercourse. (This requirement shall be in addition to any review of the state); and
(5) Any development meeting the conditions listed in division (A)(4) above which do not have a valid building permit as of the effective date of this chapter shall be regulated under the terms of this chapter.
(B) Plans, specifications, and all calculations for the control of storm runoff as required by this chapter shall be provided.
(C) Required maintenance for retention basins or other structures shall be permanently provided by the developer with responsibility becoming that of the private landowner after complete development, subject to inspection of the Flood Safety Officer. Every retention basin or structure shall be legally defined on both deed and plat and the maintenance entity shall be specified.
(D) The applicant is required to dedicate easements along those drainageways necessary for adequate watershed drainage, maintenance, and operations.
(E) Each application must be on a form furnished by the city, sub- mitted in at least three copies and each be accompanied by a map to determine location of the proposed sites. At least one copy of the application, map, and other attachments are to be retained for city files by the Flood Safety Officer.
(F) An application for a permit for proposed improvements within the city must also be accompanied by a fee as set forth by City Council, and specifications and plans of such nature and detail that will enable the Flood Safety Officer to determine that the proposed improvements meet this chapter.
(G) When it has been determined that the applicant has sufficiently met the requirements, permits will be issued for proposed improvements to be carried out. If a definite determination cannot be made, the Flood Safety Officer may request additional information be supplied by the applicant, or may request the city or its authorized agent prepare an additional set of specifications and plans adequate to derive a determination. (Ord. 14-79, passed 10-16-79; Am. Ord. 17-80, passed 12-16-80)
Hopkinsville Stormwater Management and Control
Hopkinsville Stormwater Surface and Stormwater Utility Web site