On March 19th there was a hearing on significant changes to the By Laws regarding Storm Water/Drainage. These changes will likely affect all property owners in Weston.  “ Stormwater and Erosion Control” and Illicit Discharge 

Please make sure to e-mail your Storm Water Committee and your Selectmen and ask how this proposal will affect you and your property. Prevent your
next landscaping or septic system replacement project from becoming an expensive bureaucratic undertaking.

stormwater@westonmass.org

Charlip.s@westonmass.org

Gillespie.d@westonmass.org

Harrity.m@westonmass.org

What does this Storm Water proposal mean in money terms for you?

The black bullets - is what other towns do, as well as what is in Weston proposal 

The red bullets - are the superfluous requirements in the Weston proposal, that would be
in addition to what every other town does….

 
For a single family home, depending on the scope of the project, the prices are as follows:

·         Average Storm Water drainage sys tem design cost – from $1000  to $2,500

·         Average Storm Water system installation cost -  $5,000 to $25,000

·         Average price to get an attorney to participate in and  record this procedure – from $1000 -$5,000

·        Average cost to reduce pre-disturbance  water flow by 10% for 2-year storm (6 inches of rain) – $2,500 – 12,000 

·         Average price to produce a post disturbance planting plan - $500 - $5,000
The following comments were written by an engineering firm that we hired to review the proposal. This firm services many local towns. Here is their opinion:

 

Town of Weston Storm water Bylaw, draft, 2-23-09

 

Comments & Concerns

 

1.1 b) 10% reduction in a 2 year storm event is greater than most other Cities, Towns and State

1. 2 i) States to reduce lot coverage by limiting impervious cover and preservation of existing trees 
and vegetation which will be open to interpretation and the opinion of the Storm water Bylaw board. 
Reduction of impervious cover should be controlled by a lot coverage percentage. The only appeal avenue is to Superior court.

1.2 k) What is meant by adequate funding mechanism and is surety for long term maintenance of the storm water facilities.

2 a) The definition of clearing is very broad and could be interpreted to make drainage required to remove some shrubs or 
even resoding a lawn

2 b) The definition of “redevelopment” states an increase in impervious area which will be considered 
redevelopment and will trigger compliance with this Bylaw.

4.1) With this Bylaw a Storm Water management permit would be required on almost every project from 
small additions as well as the resurfacing of a driveway

4.1 b) No exemption for larger lots, a 5000 sf minimum disturbance will require a storm water permit.

4.1.c) Any work on a slop greater than 10% the disturbance is limited to 2500 sf and is contradicted in 
section 5f-g) which states any disturbance on a slope of greater than 10% is not exempt.

4.1 e) Re-loaming and seeding 10000 sf of backyard lawn with 3 inches of loam will trigger a storm water 
permit.

5 i) Any expansion to an existing septic system will trigger a storm water permit.

6.17 a2) Conservation Commission appeal is to the DEP, while this Storm Water Bylaws appeal is to 
the Superior Court.

6.7) The time that is be requested (60 days) is twice as long as the time allowed to issue a building permit.

6.8) the only appeal to this Bylaw is with Superior Court.

6.14 a) Private consultants are very expensive and these reviews are typically done by existing staff or the 
Town Engineer which would save the applicants the burden of this cost.

6. 15) may require a cash performance guarantee to ensure compliance and long term maintenance of all 
permanent erosion control and storm water management measures.

 

 General Comments

1)      All of these requirements will lower the value of existing properties due to the cost and time required to obtain and implementing a Storm Water Management Permit

 
Read the article in the entry below to find out how else the proposal could affect you.
Get informed!