Melissa, TX SWPPP & Stormwater Requirements

What does Melissa require for SWPPP compliance?

Under its stormwater management plan, the City of Melissa may not approve any plans unless they contain appropriate site-specific construction site control measures that, at a minimum, meet the requirements described in the TPDES Construction General Permit TXR150000, and the city commits to pre-development and pre-construction meetings for 100 percent of new construction sites.

In Melissa, an application for a land disturbance activity permit must be accompanied by a stormwater management plan, a stormwater maintenance agreement in the form required by the city, and a non-refundable permit review fee, and within ten business days of receiving a complete application the Director of Engineering must inform the applicant whether the application, plan, and agreement are approved or disapproved. Ten business days is the city's own decision clock — the submittal package sets whether it starts clean.

Weekly, on every site

Melissa's stormwater management plan commits the city to weekly inspections of construction projects, with a measurable goal of performing inspections on 100 percent of small and large construction activities weekly to ensure construction site stormwater control measures, erosion, and sediment controls are being implemented and maintained. A weekly city rhythm on every active site means findings surface fast — and plan approval is held until the controls are up to grade.

The pre-con is mandatory, early work is on you

In Melissa, representatives of all contractors listed on a development permit application are required to attend the pre-construction meeting, which is arranged with the city engineer after the applicant has signed the Development Permit Approval. Melissa's development permit provides that a developer who proceeds with installation of erosion controls, clearing, and street grading does so at his own risk and agrees to modify that work as necessary to conform to the final construction plans and specifications approved by the City of Melissa. Every contractor on the application sits in the same meeting — and anything built before approvals lands at the developer's own risk.

The paperwork trail

Melissa's MS4 ordinance requires the owner or operator of a commercial or industrial establishment to submit a copy of the NOI and stormwater pollution prevention plans for regulated construction sites, new or redeveloped land, and industrial and commercial facilities, in accordance with TPDES Phase II MS4 Permit TXR040000. The copies flow with the state filings — one package, assembled once, satisfies both layers.

Trees are permitted work

In Melissa, a developer must obtain a tree removal permit in accordance with city ordinances before removing any trees six inches in caliper or larger. The trigger is measured in caliper inches — survey before the schedule depends on it.

The state permit still applies

The city's rules sit on top of the state's, not in place of them. A stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWP3) must be prepared and implemented before construction activities begin. TXR150000's standard schedule requires construction site inspections at least once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm event of 0.5 inches or greater. The city permit and the state program run together for the life of the disturbance.

Inspections and the record

The operator owns the inspection record from first disturbance to final stabilization. Terradyne provides routine SWPPP inspection reports with cloud-based client access. See SWPPP Inspections for how the program works, and Silt Fence Installation for the perimeter the reviewers will look at first.

Check before you mobilize

Ordinances and city standards get revised; confirm the current documents with the city before you mobilize. For other North Texas cities, start at Local Compliance.