19.85.011 Grading and drainage.
A. Special care shall be taken in development proposals adjacent to sensitive habitat to avoid or minimize problems of silting and oil or chemical leakage. Some diversion of water is necessary and one or more desilting/retention basins may be required in development projects to protect and enhance the biological and water quality of the habitat.
B. All development for properties within the coastal zone shall comply with the following requirements:
1. A grading plan that incorporates runoff and erosion control procedures to be utilized during all phases of project development shall be prepared and submitted concurrently with subdivision improvement plans or planned unit development plans where such development is proposed to occur on lands that will be graded or filled. Such a plan shall be prepared by a registered civil engineer and shall be designed to ensure that runoff rates will be controlled to minimize the potential for siltation in wetlands. The erosion control measures and hydrology calculations shall be based on the six-hour, 10-year design storm, or on the storm intensity designated in the subdivision manual, in the event that the subdivision manual requirement is more stringent. Runoff control shall be accomplished by establishing on site, or at suitable nearby locations, catchment basins, detention basins, and siltation traps along with energy dissipating measures at the terminus of storm drains, or other similar means of equal or greater effectiveness.
2. Sediment basins (debris basins, desilting basins, or silt traps) shall be installed in conjunction with the initial grading operations and maintained through the development process as necessary to remove sediment from runoff waters draining from the land undergoing development. Areas disturbed but not completed prior to November 1st, including graded pads and stockpiles, shall be suitably prepared to prevent excessive soil loss during the late fall and winter seasons. All graded areas shall be stabilized prior to November 1st, by means of native vegetation, if feasible, or by other suitable means approved by the City.
The use of vegetation as a means to control site erosion shall be accomplished pursuant to plans and specifications prepared by a licensed landscape architect or other qualified professional. Erosion control utilizing vegetation may include, but is not limited to, seeding, mulching, fertilization, and irrigation within sufficient time prior to November 1st to provide landscape coverage that is adequate to achieve the provisions of this policy. Temporary erosion control measures shall include the use of berms, interceptor ditches, filtered inlets, debris basins, silt traps, or other similar means of equal or greater effectiveness.
From November 1st to March 31st, grading may be permitted, provided the applicant conforms to the requirements of subsection (B)(3) of this section and submits monthly documentation within two weeks following the end of the preceding month to the City Engineer of the condition of the erosion control procedures for graded pads, slopes, and stockpiles whenever precipitation during the month exceeds two inches.
3. From November 1st to March 31st, grading may occur in phased increments as determined by the City Engineer, provided all of the following requirements have been met. Grading from April 1st through October 31st shall be subject to standard practices.
a. The increments shall be limited to those areas that have been prepared to control the effects of soil erosion. Control measures, such as sedimentation basins, detention basins and other facilities, shall be scheduled and placed in a sequence that shall minimize and control the off-site transportation of sediments. Such erosion control measures shall be installed for such increments prior to commencing any grading that would be performed during the period between November 1st and March 31st.
b. The applicant shall post a deposit for such areas to be graded, which shall remain in force and effect for one year after final inspection approval of grading by the City. The deposit shall be sufficient to cover the costs of any remedial grading and replanting of vegetation, including any restoration of wetlands, or other environmentally sensitive habitat areas adversely affected by the failure of the erosion control measures required herein, as determined by the City Engineer. The deposit will inure to the benefit of the City in case of noncompliance as determined by the City Engineer.
c. The applicant agrees to provide daily documentation to the City Engineer of the condition of the erosion control procedures for any 24-hour period in which precipitation exceeds 0.25 inches. Such documentation shall be provided within five working days of said 24-hour period. Failure to provide such documentation of the occurrence of any significant discharge of sediments or silts in violation of this policy shall constitute grounds for suspension of the applicant’s grading permit(s) during the period of November 1st to March 31st.
4. The following additional safeguards shall be required for grading between November 1st and March 31st:
a. A 100-foot buffer is required between permanent open space wetlands associated with the nature reserves and grading activities.
b. A silt fence (or equal) shall be installed between graded areas and all wetlands. A distance of 10 feet is required between the silt fence and the toe of any manufactured slope.
c. The maximum slope permitted is 3:1.
C. Erosion Control Monitoring Program for Chula Vista Coastal Zone Areas.
1. Overall field review of grading operations will be performed by the City on each grading project in the coastal zone.
2. Field review of erosion control devices, sedimentation basins, detention basins, and landscaping will be made by the City Engineer prior to the advent of the rainy season, and throughout the rainy season as necessary to monitor grading operations phased between November 1st and March 31st. The City Engineer shall document noncompliance of projects with the grading and erosion control requirements and correct problems with funds from the deposit posted by the applicant.
3. The City Engineer will periodically review and prepare a report on the effectiveness of the runoff and erosion control measures for areas within the Chula Vista coastal zone. The initial report shall be completed within two years following February 1989 and thereafter six months prior to any scheduled review by the California Coastal Commission of the LCP for the City. A copy of the report shall be submitted to the Chula Vista City Council and to the Executive Director of the Coastal Commission.
D. All areas disturbed by grading shall be planted within 60 days of the initial disturbance and prior to November 1st with temporary or permanent (in the case of finished slopes) erosion control methods. Such planting shall be accomplished under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect and shall consist of seeding, mulching, fertilization, and irrigation adequate to provide 90 percent coverage within 90 days. Planting shall be repeated if the required level of coverage is not established. This requirement shall apply to all distributed soils including stockpiles.
E. Refer also to Chapter 19.86 CVMC, Bayfront Specific Plan – Environmental Management Program, for additional requirements concerning grading. (Ord. 3352 § 2, 2015; Ord. 3238 § 2 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 2532, 1992; Res. 13957, 1989; Res. 11903, 1985. Formerly 19.85.010).