§ 10-4.350. Stormwater management facility landscaping.

(a)

Visual screen. A visual screen shall be placed around the entire perimeter of any detention or retention facility around which fencing is required pursuant to section 10-4.303.

(b)

Minimum landscaping standards. All detention and retention facilities shall meet the following minimum standards:

(1)

NWFWMD ERP Handbook. The design shall meet any specifications required within the "Department of Environmental Protection and Northwest Florida Water Management District Environmental Resource Permit Applicant's Handbook" or its successor.

(2)

Slope stabilization.

a.

Side slopes shall be stabilized with sod. With approval by the county administrator or designee, seeding and mulching may be allowed for slopes flatter than 10:1, if the applicant demonstrates it is sufficient to prevent erosion.

b.

Areas designed to be submerged for greater than 72 hours shall be stabilized with suitable vegetation.

c.

Retention areas underlain by hydrologic group "A" soils (as defined by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service) shall be stabilized with permanent vegetative cover.

(c)

Landscape area credit availability. As a design alternative, credit can be given toward the landscape area requirements of section 10-4.344 when stormwater facilities meet section 10-4.303 and are landscaped in accordance with the minimum standards set forth in subsection 10-4.351(e)(6), provided:

(1)

Wet detention ponds.

a.

Side slopes are 4:1 or flatter (outside the littoral zone). Steeper side slopes may be allowed for sites with exceptional site constraints that significantly limit the development area as determined by the county administrator or designee.

b.

Pond must be curvilinear in shape.

c.

Landscaping in desired landscape credit area outside of the littoral zone shall meet the forest creation standards of subsection 10-4.351(d)(6).

d.

Sediment sumps are to be located at all points of concentrated inflows to the pond.

(2)

Retention/detention ponds.

a.

Side slopes are 4:1 or flatter; steeper side slopes may be allowed for sites with exceptional site constraints that significantly limit the development area, as determined by the county administrator or designee.

b.

Pond must be curvilinear in shape.

c.

Landscaping in desired landscape credit area shall meet the forest creation standards of subsection 10-4.351(d)(6).

d.

The duration of flooding within all landscape credit areas shall not exceed 72 hours.

e.

Sediment sumps shall be located at all points of concentrated inflows to the pond.

(3)

Water quality treatment requirements.

a.

When the size of all lots, parcels or sites involved in the development total between zero and two acres:

1.

Within the urban services area, the stormwater management facility can be counted toward the landscaping requirements, provided the facility is designed in a manner that integrates it into the landscape theme to the maximum extent feasible and provided the requirements in subsections (c)(1) and (2) of this section are met.

2.

Outside the urban services area, the stormwater management facility can be counted toward the landscaping requirements if it is either a wet detention or retention facility and applicable subsections (c)(1) and (2) of this section are met.

b.

When the size of all lots, parcels or sites involved in the development total over two acres. The stormwater management facility can be counted toward landscaping requirements as follows:

1.

Wet detention ponds. A credit in the amount of 100 percent of the pond area, provided the pond meets the requirements set forth in subsection (c)(1).

2.

Retention/detention ponds within the urban services area. A credit in the amount of 100 percent of the pond area for side slopes of 4:1 or flatter along at least 50 percent of the pond perimeter and a credit of 50 percent of the pond area for side slopes greater than 4:1, provided the pond meets the minimum standards set forth in subsection (c)(2).

3.

Retention ponds outside the urban services area. A credit in the amount of 100 percent of the pond area for side slopes of 4:1 or flatter along at least 50 percent of the pond perimeter and a credit of 50 percent of the pond area for side slopes greater than 4:1, provided the pond meets the minimum standards set forth in subsection (c)(2).

(4)

Landscaping functions to visually integrate the stormwater management system into the overall landscape design of the site.

(5)

The pond is landscaped in accordance with the minimum standards set forth in section 10-4.351. The pond area allowable for landscape credit shall be defined as the area encompassed by the pond's maximum contour line.

(Ord. No. 07-20, § 2, 7-10-07; Ord. No. 09-23, § 20, 7-14-09; Ord. No. 12-07, § 8, 5-8-12)