The Legislature of the State of New Jersey has in N.J.S.A. 40:48-1.
et seq. delegated the responsibility to local government units to
adopt regulations designed to promote public health, safety, and general
welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the Township Committee of the
Township of Woolwich, Gloucester County, New Jersey does hereby ordain
as follows.
A.
The flood hazard areas of the Township of Woolwich 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 hazard which increase flood heights and
velocities, and when inadequately anchored, causes damage in other
areas. Uses that are inadequately flood proofed, 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 private and public 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 insurance 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; and
H.
Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume
responsibility for their actions.
In order to accomplish its purpose, 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; and
E.
Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers which
will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards
in other areas.