Fairhaven council adopts revised stormwater rules, sets 400‑sq‑ft trigger with minor edits

The Fairhaven Borough Council voted on Nov. 24 to adopt Ordinance 2025‑19, a revision to the borough's stormwater management regulations that raises the minor‑activity threshold and clarifies procedural definitions.

During the hearing, staff explained the draft increases the trigger from 250 to 400 square feet to reduce permitting burden on homeowners and to better reflect local practice. Staff said the ordinance clarifies the definition of "replacement" so it applies to substantial removals and reinstallation rather than routine repairs, and preserves de‑minimis variance authority for the zoning office.

A resident raised concerns about cost and complexity, urging the council to "streamline" the process before enacting a 400‑sq‑ft trigger, saying that following all steps could be expensive. Staff and council members responded that planners and the zoning office will work to keep the process practical and that two minor editorial changes (capitalization of the defined term and a subsection number update) would be made to the ordinance text before final codification.

Mayor (speaking during the debate) moved to approve the ordinance with the de‑minimis edits; the clerk conducted a roll call and the ordinance was adopted. Staff said the operational execution of requirements and the application process will be administered through the zoning office and that staff will monitor implementation and follow up on questions from the planning board.

Council members and staff emphasized they will continue to track how the regulation affects residents and to make clarifying edits as needed.