The City of Gladstone 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 Gladstone 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 Gladstone will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Gladstone, 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 Gladstone has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.
Stormwater Utility Provides Resources to Solve the Problem
Until recently, Gladstone was the only city in the region without a stormwater utility and fee. Without a stormwater fee, Gladstone could not comply with state and federal regulations to protect public health and the environment.
Creating a stormwater utility and enacting a stormwater fee and system development charge allows Gladstone to maintain, operate, and upgrade the stormwater system to prevent sewer overflows and avoid costly regulatory violations.
The new stormwater fee with be phased-in, starting below the level in peer communities – to begin, household will pay $5 per month in the first year. Businesses will pay a proportionate amount depending on their impervious surface (the area covered by roofs, parking, and other hard surfaces that do not absorb water).
How is the stormwater fee calculated?
The average single-family residence in Gladstone has about 3,000 square feet of impervious surface area, the hard area on a property that prevents water from going into the ground and therefore increases stormwater runoff.
3,000 square feet of impervious surface area represents an equivalent residential unit (ERU) which is charged at $5 per month.
Commercial and other non-single family residential accounts are charged $5 per ERU or 3,000 square feet of impervious area.
17.56.010 Applicability
The development standards for surface water drainage shall apply to all new or redevelopment activities in the City of Gladstone that result in the creation or disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more impervious surface except for substantial improvement or lesser remodel or reconstruction of existing single-family or two-family dwellings.
17.56.020 Standards
Adequate provisions shall be made to ensure proper drainage of surface waters, to preserve natural flow of watercourses and springs and to prevent soil erosion and flooding of neighboring properties or streets. Such provisions shall include, but not be limited to the following:
(1) Generally. All development shall be planned, designed, constructed and maintained to:
(a) Protect and preserve existing drainage channels to the maximum practicable extent;
(b) Protect development from flood hazards;
(c) Provide a system by which water within the development will be controlled and managed without causing damage or harm to the natural environment, or to property or persons within the drainage basin;
(d) Assure that waters drained from new or redevelopment sites are substantially free of pollutants, including sedimentary materials, through the use of stormwater treatment facilities as referenced herein and appropriate erosion and sediment control practices;
(e) Assure that runoff drained from new and redevelopment sites is managed in accordance with criteria outlined in the City of Gladstone Stormwater Treatment and Detention Standards as to not cause erosion to any greater extent than would occur in the absence of development;
(f) A void placement of surface detention or retention facilities in road rights-of-way.
(5) Surface Drainage and the Storm Sewer System. Stormwater treatment and detention facilities shall be designed and installed in accordance with criteria outlined in the City of Gladstone Stormwater Treatment and Detention Standards.
I. General Standards and Design Requirements
a. Stormwater Treatment and Detention Threshold - Stormwater treatment and detention standards shall apply to all new or redevelopment activities in the City of Gladstone that result in the creation or disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface, except for substantial improvement or lesser remodel or reconstruction of existing single family or two-family dwellings.
b. Drainage System Plan Review - All drainage plans and calculations, including those specific to the proposed stormwater treatment and detention system, must be stamped and signed by a civil engineer licensed by the State of Oregon. Unless otherwise specified in this document, the design and supporting plans and calculations shall meet the Standard Surface Water Specifications of Clackamas County Service District #1 (CCSD #1) and general surface water management standards outlined in Section 5.1 of the CCSD #1 Surface Water Management Rules and Regulations.
c. Treatment and Detention Facilities Required - All applicable new and redevelopment activities shall provide for water quality, water quantity, and infiltration in accordance with provisions outlined in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 of the CCSD #1 Surface Water Management Rules and Regulations, unless otherwise specified in this document.
d. Maintenance - All surface drainage facilities, specifically stormwater treatment and detention systems, shall be maintained regularly in accordance with a schedule acceptable to the city and owner to be defined during the project approval phase (see Section II.d of this docun1ent). Proof of maintenance shall be annually submitted to the City.
Stormwater Permit Application Forms and Fees
Gladstone Stormwater Division Website