Last night, the City Council amended the erosion
and sediment control ordinance which has as its fundamental purpose to protect the waters of the state
from the discharge of sediment and construction related pollutants from
construction sites.
Importantly, the amendment included language empowering the city
to assume full authority, on behalf of the state, to regulate this program within
the city. Bristol was one of a select group of only five
local governments statewide chosen to participate in a pilot program placing
this responsibility fully at the local level.
The advantages of being selected in the pilot program are many to
our development community friends as it eliminates a duplicative review and
approval process that now involves both the city and the state. With state involvement removed a more
efficient, timely, and less costly review and approval process results - and that
is a very good thing indeed.
