Cotati Municipal Code Art. I Purpose And Definitions

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate construction-related activities on public and private property in order to control erosion and sedimentation, protect water quality, safeguard health, safety, and the public welfare, and to establish administrative procedures to carry out these regulations.

(Ord. 767 § 1(part), 2004; Ord. 772 § 2(part), 2005)

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

"Best management practices (BMPs)"

means construction site controls used to protect water quality.

"Clearing"

means any activity that removes the vegetative surface cover of a site.

"Erosion control" or "erosion and sediment control"

means a measure that prevents erosion.

"Erosion control inspector"

means either the building official for inspection of erosion control measures on private property (or his/her designated representative) or the public works superintendent for inspection of erosion control measures on public property (or his/her designated representative).

"Erosion and sediment control plan" or "erosion control plan"

means a set of plans prepared by, or under the direction of, a licensed professional engineer indicating the specific measures and sequencing to be used to control erosion and sedimentation on a development site during and after construction.

"Freeboard"

means the height above the recorded high water mark of a structure.

"Grading"

means excavation or fill of material, including the resulting conditions thereof.

"Grading permit"

means a permit issued by the city for grading activities to a specific site.

"Phasing"

means clearing a parcel of land in distinct phases, with the stabilization of each phase completed before the clearing of the next.

"Sediment control measures" or "erosion control measures"

means measures that prevent eroded sediment from leaving a construction site.

"Site"

means a parcel of land or a contiguous combination thereof.

"Start of construction"

means the first land-disturbing activity associated with a development, including land preparation such as clearing, grading, and filling; installation of streets and walkways; excavation for basements, footings, piers, or foundations; erection of temporary forms; and installation of accessory buildings such as garages.

(Ord. 767 § 1(part), 2004; Ord. 772 § 2(part), 2005; Ord. 796 § 1, 2007)