The Town of Sellersburg finds that:
(A) Water bodies, roadways, structures, and other property within, and downstream of the town are at times subjected to flooding;
(B) Flooding is a danger to the lives and property of the public and is also a danger to the natural resources of the region;
(C) Land development alters the hydrologic response of watersheds, resulting in increased stormwater runoff rates and volumes, increased flooding, increased stream channel erosion, and increased sediment transport and deposition;
(D) Soil erosion resulting from land-disturbing activities causes a significant amount of sediment and other pollutants to be transported off-site and deposited in ditches, streams, wetlands, lakes, and reservoirs;
(E) Increased stormwater runoff rates and volumes, and the sediments and pollutants associated with stormwater runoff from future development projects within the town will, absent reasonable regulation and control, adversely affect the town's water bodies and water resources;
(F) Pollutant contributions from illicit discharges within the town will, absent reasonable regulation, monitoring, and enforcement, adversely affect the town's water bodies and water resources;
(G) Stormwater runoff, soil erosion, non-point source pollution, and illicit sources of pollution can be controlled and minimized by the regulation of stormwater management;
(H) Adopting the standards, criteria, and procedures contained and referenced in this chapter and implementing the same will address many of the deleterious effects of stormwater runoff and illicit discharges; and
(I) Adopting this chapter is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare, for the conservation of natural resources, and for compliance with state and federal regulations.
(Ord. 2021-OR-003, passed 1-11-21)