Sugar Hill › Stream Buffer Protection Ordinance
Preamble and enacting clause
§ preamble
Preamble and enacting clause
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Sugar Hill find that buffers adjacent to streams provide numerous benefits including:
•Protecting, restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical and biological integrity of streams and their water resources
•Removing pollutants delivered in urban stormwater
•Reducing erosion and controlling sedimentation
•Protecting and stabilizing streams banks
•Providing for infiltration of stormwater runoff
•Maintaining base flow of streams
•Contributing organic matter that is a source of food and energy for the aquatic ecosystem
•Providing tree canopy to shade streams and promote desirable aquatic habitat
•Providing riparian wildlife habitat
•Furnishing scenic value and recreational opportunity
•Providing opportunities for the protection and restoration of greenspace WHEREAS, the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District recommends the adoption of a Stream Buffer Protection Ordinance equivalent to or better than their Model Stream Buffer Protection Ordinance; and, WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council finds that the purpose of the following Stream Buffer Protection Ordinance is to protect the health, safety, environment, convenience, order, prosperity and the general welfare of the present and future inhabitants of the City of Sugar Hill; to minimize public and private losses due to erosion, siltation and water pollution; and to maintain stream water quality by provisions designed to:
•Create buffer zones along the streams of the City of Sugar Hill for the protection of water resources; and
•Minimize land development within such buffers by establishing buffer zone requirements and by requiring authorization for any such activities.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Sugar Hill adopt the following as the Stream Buffer Protection Ordinance of the City of Sugar Hill.