[Amended 6-11-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-06; 9-24-2009 by Ord. No.
2009-06A]
The Legislature of the State of New Jersey has in N.J.S.A. 40:48-1
et seq. and N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. delegated the responsibility
to local government units to adopt regulations designed to promote
the public health, safety and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore,
the Township Committee of the Township of Franklin, County of Hunterdon,
New Jersey, does ordain as follows.
A.
The flood hazard areas of the Township of Franklin
are subject to periodic inundation which results in loss of life and
property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental
services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and
relief and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect
the public health, safety and general welfare.
B.
These flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect
of obstructions in areas of special flood hazards which increase flood
heights and velocities and, when inadequately anchored, damage uses
in other areas. Uses that are inadequately floodproofed, elevated
or otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to the flood
loss.
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote
the public health, safety and general welfare and to minimize public
and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions
designed to:
A.
Protect human life and health.
B.
Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood
control projects.
C.
Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated
with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general
public.
D.
Minimize prolonged business interruptions.
E.
Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities,
such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines,
streets and bridges, located in areas of special flood hazard.
F.
Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the
second use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as
to minimize future flood-blight areas.
G.
Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property
is in an area of special flood hazard.
H.
Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special
flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.
In order to accomplish its purposes, this chapter
includes methods and provisions for:
A.
Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous
to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards or
which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights
or velocities.
B.
Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including
facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage
at the time of initial construction.
C.
Controlling the alteration of natural floodplains,
stream channels and natural protective barriers which help accommodate
or channel floodwaters.
D.
Controlling filling, grading, dredging and other development
which may increase flood damage.
E.
Preventing or regulating the construction of flood
barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase
flood hazards in other areas.
