(A) Findings of fact. The flood hazard areas of the town 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. Additionally, structures that are inadequately elevated, floodproofed or otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to the flood loss. In order to minimize the threat of such damages and to achieve the purposes hereinafter set forth, these regulations are adopted.
(B) Statement of purpose. 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:
(1) Protect human life and health;
(2) Minimize expenditures of public money for costly flood-control projects;
(3) Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
(4) Minimize prolonged business interruptions;
(5) Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities, such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges, located in floodplains;
(6) 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;
(7) Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions;
(8) Minimize the impact of development on adjacent properties within and near flood-prone areas;
(9) Ensure that the flood storage and conveyance functions of the floodplain are maintained;
(10) Minimize the impact of development on the natural, beneficial values of the floodplain;
(11) Prevent floodplain uses that are either hazardous or environmentally incompatible; and
(12) Meet community participation requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program.
(Ord. 2022-1, passed 3-8-2022)