Staff outlines MS4 audit findings and proposed post‑construction BMPs; town must amend UDO

Planning staff presented results of the town's MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) audit and outlined required changes to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Staff said the audit requires the town to adopt more specific post‑construction standards rather than broad references, to conduct an annual meeting reviewing ordinances and inspection procedures, and to add technical standards for new or redeveloped gas stations (including infiltration requirements and hydrocarbon filtration in inlets).

The staff presentation listed candidate BMPs for inclusion in the UDO: rain gardens/bioretention areas, underground detention, infiltration basins, vegetated swales, permeable pavements, preservation of mature trees, conservation easements and alternative curb/gutter designs. Staff said they will work with engineer Dykstra to craft technical standards and asked commissioners to select a shortlist of BMPs the town should standardize. "We need to determine in general which best management practices the town would like to see," staff said. The commission discussed feasibility for St John’s generally flat topography and asked staff to return draft BMP language for review and public hearing scheduling.

Staff also noted that the town may adopt the Indiana Stormwater Quality Manual but must provide more specific local implementation standards. The next steps are drafting ordinance text, coordinating with engineering review, holding required public hearings for UDO amendments, and hosting the required annual stormwater program meeting.