The City of Tuscaloosa has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in watersheds within this jurisdiction. The City of Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Tuscaloosa, 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. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The City of Tuscaloosa has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.
The City shall maintain an inventory of newly developed and redeveloped sites that incorporate post‐construction structural controls. Maintain inventory of LID/GI practices implemented at sites within MS4. Inventory will guide inspection and enforcement practices. Post‐construction structural controls shall be recorded on a dedicated spreadsheet and included in the SWMPP annual report.
Personnel shall inspect post‐construction structural controls to ensure installation, function, and maintenance are adequate and in accordance with plans and agreements. Post‐construction structural control inspections shall be performed annually using a dedicated Post BMP Annual Inspection form. Any deficiencies noted will be appropriately addressed using the Escalating Enforcement Procedure. The number of inspections and any enforcement actions will be documented and included in the SWMPP annual report.
Appropriate personnel will be trained to inspect post‐construction structural controls. Annual training shall be conducted for appropriate personnel in regard to the installation, inspection, and maintenance requirements of post‐construction structural controls. The number of trainings conducted, attendees, and material presented shall be documented and included in the SWMPP annual report.
ARTICLE IX. - STORMWATER PHASE II
Sec. 21-150. - Preamble, findings of fact and intent.
Sec. 21-152. - Illicit discharges.
Recognizing the adverse effects that illicit discharges can have on receiving waters as well as the health, safety, and welfare of local citizens, this article implements and enforces an illicit discharge detection and elimination program.
(e) Inspection. Inspections by the director of transportation/city engineer or his representative for the purpose of identifying potential illicit discharges shall be made as part of the subdivision, site development, or building inspection process, or as the response to a citizen complaint or city council request. Inspections to identify pollutant sources from upland areas may also be generated by the discovery and subsequent investigation and tracing of downstream pollutants in the MS4.
(f) Enforcement. Every effort shall be made to achieve the resolution of isolated violations of this article via the established subdivision, site development permit, and building inspection procedures. Repeated or gross violations of this article or those violations where the aforementioned measures cannot be successfully applied shall be treated as a violation of the Code of Tuscaloosa punishable in accordance with section 11-45-9, Code of Alabama, 1975.
ARTICLE XII. - REGULATION OF CERTAIN LAND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Land Development Activities Regulations Generally
Sec. 21-210. - Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to establish minimum standards for design and construction of site grading and site and land development projects within the city and within its police jurisdiction. These minimum standards for land development activities are intended to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare by requiring the developing party to achieve these goals:
Sec. 21-211. - Scope.
This article does not contain all the regulations and requirements for development activities, design and construction nor does a permit issued pursuant to the provisions hereof serve as a substitute for obtaining and complying with all other applicable city ordinances, building and related codes, zoning restrictions, and other applicable regulations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing development activities may also require building and related technical permits and inspections, compliance with zoning and subdivision ordinances and regulations. Municipal utilities for water and sewer require compliance with separate ordinances and policies of the water and sewer department of the city.
Sec. 21-215. - Design objectives.
The purpose of this article is to establish minimum requirements to be met by a developer or persons with respect to development and driveway activities on property in the area. The design objectives of the developers land development plan and application for a land development permit shall sufficiently and adequately address the following issues: