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Council adopts property maintenance and revised stormwater ordinances
Summary
Oak Ridge City Council approved amendments to the property maintenance code and to stormwater management rules (second readings) and advanced a steep-slope stabilization amendment on first reading. The council adopted a substitute ordinance clarifying continuous stabilization requirements for construction sites.
Oak Ridge City Council on Thursday approved a set of municipal code changes addressing property maintenance and stormwater management.
On second reading the council adopted an ordinance amending Title 13 (Property Maintenance Regulations) and Chapter 2 of the city code; the motion carried 7-0. The council also approved on second and final reading amendments to Title 14 (Zoning and Land Use Control), Chapter 5 (Stormwater Management) that clarify sequencing for sediment control measures, require sedimentation retention structures before clearing large areas, and require continuous stabilization on sites where stabilization is required. A substitute ordinance with revised language was offered and accepted before the vote.
During discussion staff said the substitute ordinance made a minor but important wording change to clarify that continuous stabilization “shall be maintained at locations where stabilization is required,” addressing uncertainty about what constituted an “active” site and the 15-day temporary exclusion used elsewhere in the code. The amendment passed unanimously.
Council also moved a separate ordinance on first reading to amend Title 14, Section 14-506 to require temporary stabilization of steep slopes when activity on the slope has temporarily or permanently ceased. Staff explained the proposal largely follows language in the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) handbook but proposes defining a steep slope at 30% or greater (TDEC uses 35%) and requiring stabilization no later than seven days after construction activity stops. Council approved the first reading 7-0.
The stormwater and property maintenance amendments aim to reduce erosion and runoff risks from construction sites by ensuring sediment controls and stabilization are in place before and during site disturbance. The city will implement the new provisions as codified pending administrative steps to finalize the ordinances.
