Submission and review of an environmental impact report on any private development proposal or public project which may affect to any significant degree the quality of the environment in the town or in surrounding areas is required to achieve the following objectives:
(A) Availability of information. To ensure that complete information on the environmental effects of the proposed project is available to the Town Council, the Planning and Environmental Commission and the general public;
(B) Environmental protection a criterion. To ensure that long term protection of the environment is a guiding criterion in project planning, and that land use and development decisions, both public and private, take into account the relative merits of possible alternative actions;
(C) Review and evaluation procedure. To provide procedures for local review and evaluation of the environmental effects of proposed projects prior to granting of permits or other authorizations for commencement of development;
(D) Avoid geologic hazard areas. To ensure that buildings are not constructed in geologic hazard areas, by way of illustration, floodplains, avalanche paths, rockfall areas, where such hazard cannot practically be mitigated to the satisfaction of the Planning and Environmental Commission and the Town Council; and
(E) Protect water quality. To ensure that the quality of surface water and ground water within the town will be protected from adverse impacts and/or degradation due to construction activities.
(Ord. 8(1973) § 16.100; Ord. 19(1976) § 14; Ord. 37(1980) § 10; Ord. 29(2005) § 31)