(A) This section applies to all development or re-development of land, under the jurisdictional authority of the Hancock County, which results in land disturbance of one acre or more. Individual lots with land disturbance less than one acre that are developed within a larger permitted project site should refer to § 154.604 for plan review requirements and procedures.
(B) There are two scenarios for approval or permit application and processing procedures. One process is followed for projects located within unincorporated areas of Hancock County and the Town of Fortville; the other process is for projects that impact Hancock County regulated drains but are located within the jurisdictional areas of the incorporated towns and cities within the county.
(1) Within unincorporated areas of Hancock County.
(a) For projects located within unincorporated areas of Hancock County, the project site owner shall submit an application for a stormwater management approval to the Hancock County Surveyor. The application will include a completed application checklist, construction plan sheets, stormwater drainage technical report, a stormwater pollution prevention plan, and any other necessary support information. Specific information to be included in the application can be found in § 154.604 below. Two copies of each application must be submitted to the Hancock County Surveyor. Additionally, a digital copy of the construction plans is required in a format approved by the Hancock County Surveyor.
(b) If the project does not require Surveyor approval at a scheduled meeting, the Hancock County Surveyor's Office will provide written comments and sign the plans after Construction Approval has been granted. Once the plans have been signed, and after a pre-construction meeting has been held, construction can commence.
(c) The project site owner must notify the Hancock County Surveyor and IDEM before beginning construction. Notification to the Hancock County Surveyor shall be in the form of an email while notification to IDEM shall be in the form of an online IDEM NOI submittal. Once a permit has been issued and the pending construction notifications submitted to Hancock County Surveyor and IDEM before the beginning of construction, construction may commence 48 hours after the NOI is submitted to IDEM. Once construction starts, the project owner shall monitor construction activities and inspect all stormwater pollution prevention measures in compliance with this chapter and the terms and conditions of the stormwater management approval. Upon completion of construction activities, a certification of completion and compliance and as-built plans must be submitted to the Hancock County Surveyor in hardcopy and in an electronic format compatible with the Hancock County geographic information system (GIS). Once the construction site has been stabilized and all temporary erosion and sediment control measures have been removed, a notification shall be sent to the Hancock County Surveyor, requesting a termination inspection. The Hancock County Surveyor, or representative, shall inspect the construction site to verify that the completed project is fully stabilized and meets the requirements of the Hancock County Stormwater Ordinance and its technical standards as well as the terms and conditions of the approval. Once the applicant receives a signed copy of the termination inspection checklist confirming compliance, they must forward a copy to IDEM along with the required IDEM NOT form. Permits issued under this scenario will expire five years from the date of issuance. If construction is not completed within five years, an updated permit application must be submitted to Hancock County Surveyor and an updated NOI must be resubmitted to IDEM at least 90 days prior to expiration. Figure 1-2018 is a flowchart summarizing the plan review/permit approval process and can be found at the end of this chapter.
(2) Within other jurisdictional areas. For projects located within other jurisdictional areas, but impacting Hancock County regulated drains, the project site owner must submit two copies of the construction plans (which include drainage plans), erosion and sediment control plans, and a stormwater drainage technical report to the Hancock County Surveyor. Additionally, a digital copy of the construction plans is required in a format approved by the Hancock County Surveyor. If the project must go through a scheduled meeting, all information must be submitted at least 30 days prior to its regularly scheduled meeting. The Hancock County Surveyor shall furnish the applicant a written list of objections to the plans and supporting data submitted by the applicant. This list of objections, if any, will be related only to the project's impact on Hancock County regulated drains. A resubmittal from the applicant addressing the list of objections shall be provided to the Hancock County Surveyor at least ten days prior to any required scheduled meeting. Plans in substantial compliance with the requirements of this chapter and the technical standards that need to go through a scheduled meeting shall be placed on the agenda. If the Hancock County Surveyor approves the project, the applicant must satisfactorily address all issues listed in the conditional approval to obtain construction approval. This approval does not alleviate the applicant's responsibility to comply with this chapter, policy, or resolution requirements of the local jurisdictional entity.
(Ord. 2005-12C, passed 12-12-05; Am. Ord. 2018-11-A, passed 12-5-18; Am. Ord. 2022-10A, passed 10-4-22)