In Section 7-148(c)(7) of the Connecticut General Statutes,
the Legislature of the State of Connecticut delegates to local governmental
units the responsibility of adopting regulations designed to promote
the public health, safety, and general welfare of their citizenry.
Therefore, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Old Saybrook, Connecticut,
does ordain as follows.
A.
The flood hazard areas of the Town of Old Saybrook 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 floodplains causing increases in flood heights and velocities,
and by the occupancy in flood hazard areas by uses vulnerable to floods
or hazardous to other lands which are inadequately elevated, floodproofed,
or otherwise unprotected from flood damages.
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.
Restrict or prohibit 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.
Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which
serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of
initial construction;
C.
Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels and
natural protective barriers which are involved in the accommodation
of floodwaters;
D.
Control filling, grading, dredging and other development which may
increase erosion or flood damage; and
E.
Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will
unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards
to other lands.
The objectives of this chapter are:
A.
To protect human life and health;
B.
To minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control
projects;
C.
To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with
flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
D.
To minimize prolonged business interruptions;
E.
To minimize damage to public facilities and utilities, such as water
and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges,
located in floodplains;
F.
To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use
and development of flood-prone areas in such a manner as to minimize
flood blight areas;
G.
To ensure that potential home buyers are notified that property is
in a flood hazard area; and
H.
To ensure continued eligibility of owners of property in the Town
of Old Saybrook for participation in the National Flood Insurance
Program.
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or
phrase of this chapter should be declared invalid for any reason whatsoever,
such decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this chapter,
which shall remain in full force and effect; and to this end the provisions
of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable.
