A.

Performance standards. All development must be designed, constructed and maintained to meet the following performance standards:

(1)

Stormwater runoff. While development activity is underway and after it is completed, the characteristics of stormwater runoff shall approximate the rate, volume, quality and timing of stormwater runoff that occurred under the site's natural unimproved or existing state, except that the first one-half-inch of stormwater runoff shall be treated in an off-line retention system or according to other best management practices as described in the Statewide Environmental Resource Permit issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), 2013, with amendments adopted pursuant to this code.

(2)

Water quality. The proposed development and development activity shall not violate the water quality standards as set forth in Southwest Florida Water Management Applicants Handbook, Vol 2.

B.

Design standards. To comply with the foregoing performance standards, the proposed stormwater management system shall conform to the following design standards:

(1)

Detention and retention systems shall be designed in conformance with the Statewide Environmental Resource Permit issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), 2013, with amendments adopted by the City of Belleair Bluffs pursuant to this code.

(2)

To the maximum extent practicable, natural systems shall be used to accommodate stormwater.

(3)

The proposed stormwater management system shall be designed to accommodate the stormwater that originates within the development and stormwater that flows onto or across the development from adjacent lands.

(4)

The proposed stormwater management system shall be designed to function properly for a minimum 20-year life.

(5)

The design and construction of the proposed stormwater management system shall be certified as meeting the requirements of this code by a professional engineer, architect or landscape architect registered in the State of Florida.

(6)

No surface water may be channeled or directed into a sanitary sewer.

(7)

The proposed stormwater management system shall be compatible with the drainage systems or drainageways on surrounding properties or streets, taking into account the possibility that substandard systems may be improved in the future.

(8)

The banks of detention and retention areas shall be sloped to accommodate and shall be planted with appropriate vegetation.

(9)

Dredging, clearing of vegetation, deepening, widening, straightening, stabilizing or otherwise altering natural surface waters shall be minimized.

(10)

Natural surface waters shall not be used as sediment traps during or after development.

(11)

For aesthetic reasons and to increase shoreline habitat, the shorelines of detention and retention areas shall be sinuous rather than straight.

(12)

Water reuse and conservation shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be achieved by incorporating the stormwater management system into irrigation systems serving the development.

(13)

Vegetated buffers of sufficient width to prevent erosion shall be retained or created along the shores, banks or edges of all natural or manmade surface waters.

(14)

In phased developments, the stormwater management system for each integrated stage of completion shall be capable of functioning independently as required by this code.

(15)

All detention and retention basins, except natural water bodies used for this purposes, shall be accessible for maintenance from streets or public rights-of-way.

(16)

Erosion and runoff control devices must be used during construction.

C.

Additional standards. The City of Belleair Bluffs hereby adopts the following standards:

(1)

All requirements as set forth in the Pinellas County Stormwater Manual adopted February 1, 2017.

(2)

All standards established by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation for Aquatic Preserve designations of Clearwater Harbor.

(3)

All standards and programs established in the Southwest Florida Water Management District of Tampa Bay.

(4)

All standards established by the NPDES.

(Amended 11-21-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-22, § 1; amended 5-18-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-05, §§ 4—8; amended 2-8-2016 by Ord. No. 2015-08, § 6; amended 7-18-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-14, §§ 1—3)

Editor's note— See editor's note to art. XV.