The town finds that:
(A) Waterbodies, 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 storm water 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 storm water runoff rates and volumes, and the sediments and pollutants associated with storm water runoff from future development projects within the town will, absent reasonable regulation and control, adversely affect the town’s waterbodies and water resources;
(F) Pollutant contributions from illicit discharges within the town will, absent reasonable regulation, monitoring and enforcement, adversely affect the town’s waterbodies and water resources;
(G) Storm water runoff, soil erosion, non-point source pollution and illicit sources of pollution can be controlled and minimized by the regulation of storm water 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 storm water 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. 2013-17, passed 12-2-2013)