For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions describe the meaning of the terms used in this chapter:
ADMINISTRATION
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Water Management Administration (WMA).
ADVERSE IMPACT
Any deleterious effect on waters or wetlands, including their quality, quantity, surface area, species composition, aesthetics or usefulness for human or natural uses which are or may potentially be harmful or injurious to human health, welfare, safety or property, to biological productivity, diversity, or stability or which unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property, including outdoor recreation.
AGRICULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Those methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land in order to further crop and livestock production and conservation of related soil and water resources.
APPLICANT
Any person, firm, or governmental agency who or which executes the necessary forms to procure official approval of a project or a permit to carry out construction of a project.
AQUIFER
A porous water-bearing geologic formation generally restricted to materials capable of yielding an appreciable supply of water.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP)
A structural device or nonstructural practice designed to temporarily store or treat stormwater runoff in order to mitigate flooding, reduce pollution, and provide other amenities.
CHANNEL PROTECTION STORAGE VOLUME (Cpv)
The volume used to design structural management practices to control stream channel erosion. Methods for calculating the channel protection storage volume are specified in the 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II.
CLEARING
The removal of trees and brush from the land but shall not include the ordinary mowing of grass.
DESIGN MANUAL
The 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II, that serves as the official guide for stormwater management principles, methods, and practices.
[Amended 7-14-2003 by Ord. No. 247]
DETENTION STRUCTURE
A permanent structure for the temporary storage of runoff, which is designed so as not to create a permanent pool of water.
DEVELOP LAND
To change the runoff characteristics of a parcel of land in conjunction with residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional construction or alteration.
DIRECT DISCHARGE
The concentrated release of stormwater to tidal waters or vegetated tidal wetlands from new development or redevelopment projects in the Critical Area.
DRAINAGE AREA
That area contributing runoff to a single point measured in a horizontal plane, which is enclosed by a ridgeline.
EASEMENT
A grant or reservation by the owner of land for the use of such land by others for a specific purpose or purposes, and which must be included in the conveyance of land affected by such easement.
EXEMPTION
Those land development activities that are not subject to the stormwater management requirements contained in this chapter.
EXTENDED DETENTION
A stormwater design feature that provides gradual release of a volume of water in order to increase settling of pollutants and protect downstream channels from frequent storm events. Methods for designing extended detention BMP's are specified in the Design Manual.
EXTREME FLOOD VOLUME (Qf)
The storage volume required to control those infrequent but large storm events in which overbank flows reach or exceed the boundaries of the one-hundred-year floodplain.
FLOW ATTENUATION
Prolonging the flow time of runoff to reduce the peak discharge.
GRADING
Any act by which soil is cleared, stripped, stockpiled, excavated, scarified, filled or any combination thereof.
INFILTRATION
The passage or movement of water into the soil surface.
OFF-SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The design and construction of a facility necessary to control stormwater from more than one development.
ON-SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The design and construction of systems necessary to control stormwater within an immediate development.
OVERBANK FLOOD PROTECTION VOLUME (Qp)
The volume controlled by structural practices to prevent an increase in the frequency of out-of-bank flooding generated by development. Methods for calculating the overbank flood protection volume are specified in the Design Manual.
RECHARGE VOLUME (Rev)
That portion of the water quality volume used to maintain groundwater recharge rates at development sites. Methods for calculating the recharge volume are specified in the Design Manual.
REDEVELOPMENT
Any construction, alteration, or improvement exceeding 5,000 square feet of land disturbance performed on sites where existing land use is commercial, industrial, institutional or multifamily residential.
RETENTION STRUCTURE
A permanent structure that provides for the storage of runoff by means of a permanent pool of water.
RETROFITTING
The construction of a structural BMP in a previously developed area, the modification of an existing structural BMP, or the implementation of a nonstructural practice to improve water quality over current conditions.
SEDIMENT
Soils or other surficial materials transported or deposited by the action of wind, water, ice, or gravity as a product of erosion.
SITE
[Amended 7-14-2003 by Ord. No. 247]
A. 
For "new development," any tract, lot, or parcel of land or combination of tracts, lots or parcels of land, which are in one ownership, or contiguous and in diverse ownership where development is to be performed as a unit, subdivision or project.
B. 
For "redevelopment," the area of new construction as shown on an approved site plan; or the original parcel. Final determination of the applicable area shall be made by the Town Engineer.
STABILIZATION
The prevention of soil movement by any of various vegetative and/or structural means.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
A. 
For quantitative control, a system of vegetative and structural measures that controls the increased volume and rate of surface runoff caused by man-made changes to the land; and
B. 
For qualitative control, a system of vegetative, structural, and other measures that reduces or eliminates pollutants that might otherwise be carried by surface runoff.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
A set of drawings or other documents submitted by a person as a prerequisite to obtaining a stormwater management approval, which contains all of the information and specifications pertaining to stormwater management.
STRIPPING
Any activity which removes the vegetative surface cover, including tree removal, clearing, grubbing and storage or removal of topsoil.
TOWN
The Commissioners of Ridgely, a Maryland municipal corporation.
TOWN ENGINEER
A licensed, professional engineer selected by the Town to assist it with the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. The Commissioners, by resolution, may designate another Town official to perform ministerial actions hereunder which do not require technical expertise.
VARIANCE
The modification of the minimum stormwater management requirements for specific circumstances such that strict adherence to the requirements would result in necessary hardship and not fulfill the intent of the Ordinance.
WAIVER
The relinquishment from stormwater management requirements by the Town Engineer for a specific development on a case-by-case review basis.
A. 
QUALITATIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WAIVERIncludes water quality volume and recharge volume design parameters.
B. 
QUANTITATIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WAIVERIncludes channel protection storage volume, overbank flood protection volume, and extreme flood volume design parameter.
WATERCOURSE
Any natural or artificial stream, river, creek, ditch, channel, canal, conduit, culvert, drain, waterway, gully, ravine or wash, in and including any adjacent area that is subject to inundation from overflow or floodwater.
WATER QUALITY VOLUME (WQv)
The volume needed to capture and treat runoff from 90% of the average annual rainfall at a development site. Methods for calculating the water quality volume are specified in the Design Manual.
[Amended 7-14-2003 by Ord. No. 247]
WATERSHED
The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.