Chapter 21.06
DEFINITIONS

Sections:

21.06.010    Definition of any word not listed.

21.06.020    Definitions.

21.06.010 Definition of any word not listed.

The definition of any word or phrase not listed in this chapter which is in question when administering this title shall be as defined from one of the following sources, which are incorporated herein by reference. Said sources shall be utilized by finding the desired definition from source A, but if it is not available there, then source B may be used and so on. Sources are as follows:

A. Any city resolution, ordinance, code or regulation;

B. Any statute or regulation of the state of Washington (i.e., the most applicable);

C. Legal definitions from case law or a law dictionary;

D. The common dictionary. (Ord. 1685 § 1(Exh. A), 2009).

21.06.020 Definitions.

For the purposes of this title, the following definitions shall apply:

A. “Amended soils,” or “compost-amended soils,” are an integrated stormwater management practice that improves the hydrologic function of soils by amending native soils with organic matter during the development process. For technical information regarding the design and engineering of amended soils, applicants may refer to the stormwater management manual, or the Puget Sound Partnership’s Bioretention Soil Mix Review and Recommendations for Western Washington.

B. Approval. See Chapter 15.32 FMC.

C. “Bioretention” is an integrated stormwater management practice that uses the chemical, biological, and physical properties of plants, microbes and soils to remove or retain pollutants from stormwater. Bioretention areas may or may not have an underdrain.

D. “Bioretention swales” are designed as part of a conveyance system and have relatively gentle side slopes and flow depths that are generally less than 12 inches. For technical information regarding the design and engineering of bioretention swales, applicants may refer to the stormwater management manual, the Pierce County Low Impact Development Technical Guides or the Low Impact Development Technical Manual. Bioretention swales may or may not have berms to allow for ponding.

E. “Bioretention areas” are shallow depressions with a designed planting soil mix and a variety of plant material, including trees, shrubs, grasses, and/or other herbaceous plants. Bioretention cells may or may not have an underdrain and are not designed as a conveyance system. For technical information regarding the design and engineering of bioretention areas, applicants may refer to the stormwater management manual, the Pierce County Low Impact Development Technical Guides or the Low Impact Development Technical Manual.

F. Department of Ecology Stormwater Manual. See Chapter 15.32 FMC.

G. “Director” means the public works director.

H. “Ecology” means the Washington State Department of Ecology.

I. Effective Impervious Surfaces. See current adopted version of the Department of Ecology Stormwater Manual.

J. Experimental BMP. See FMC 15.32.020.

K. Green Roof. See “vegetated roof.”

L. Impervious Surfaces. See FMC 13.18.030.

M. Low Impact Development (also called LID). See FMC 15.32.020.

N. “Low impact development techniques” per stormwater management manual.

O. “Low impact development BMPs” per Chapter 15.32 FMC.

P. “Low impact development principles” per stormwater management manual.

Q. Low Impact Development Technical Manual. The “Low Impact Development Technical Manual” is the technical assistance document for implementing low impact development as produced by the Puget Sound Partnership and Washington State University Extension at WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center. The 2012 Low Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound.

R. “Permeable pavements” are paving systems that allow water to infiltrate through the paving surface to store or significantly attenuate subsurface flows depending on underlying soil and aggregate storage design. Permeable pavement systems should be designed by a civil engineer, landscape architect or other qualified professional. For technical information regarding the design and engineering of permeable pavements, applicants may refer to the stormwater management manual, the Pierce County Low Impact Development Technical Guides or the Low Impact Development Technical Manual.

S. “Pierce County Low Impact Development Technical Guides” refer to documents produced by Pierce County, Washington.

T. “Rain garden” means a nonengineered shallow, landscaped depression, with compost amended native soils and adapted plants. The depression is designed to pond and temporarily store stormwater runoff from adjacent areas, and to allow stormwater to pass through the amended soil profile.

U. “Rainwater harvesting” is the collection, storage and reuse of rainwater. For technical information regarding the design and engineering of rainwater harvesting technologies, applicants may refer to the stormwater management manual, the Pierce County Low Impact Development Technical Guides or the Low Impact Development Technical Manual.

V. Stormwater Manual. See Chapter 15.32 FMC.

W. “Vegetated roof” means a bioretention strategy of storing, evaporating and transpiring stormwater as part of a roof system. For technical information regarding the design and engineering of vegetated roofs, applicants may refer to the stormwater management manual, the Pierce County Low Impact Development Technical Guides or the Low Impact Development Technical Manual. (Ord. 1954 § 53, 2016; Ord. 1859 § 113, 2014; Ord. 1685 § 1(Exh. A), 2009).