The purpose of this Chapter is to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Lima residing within the corporation limits and downstream communities. This Chapter seeks to meet that purpose through the following objectives.
Specific objectives include the following:
(A) To prevent accelerated soil erosion and to control stormwater runoff resulting from Land Disturbance Activities proposed within the City of Lima, both during and after construction.
(B) To assure that property owners control the volume and rate of stormwater runoff originating from their property so that surface water and groundwater quality is protected, soil erosion minimized, and flooding potential reduced.
(C) To preserve and use the natural drainage system for receiving and conveying stormwater runoff and to minimize the need to construct enclosed, below-grade storm drain systems.
(D) To preserve natural infiltration and the recharge of groundwater and to maintain subsurface flows which replenish lakes, streams and wetlands.
(E) To restrict stormwater runoff entering and leaving development sites to non-erosive velocities by requiring temporary and permanent soil erosion control measures.
(F) To assure that soil erosion control and stormwater runoff control systems are incorporated into site planning at an early stage in the planning and design process.
(G) To prevent unnecessary stripping of vegetation and loss of soils, especially adjacent to lakes, streams, watercourses, and wetlands.
(H) To prevent construction activity that may cause mass movement, slumping, or erosion of land surfaces.
(I) To eliminate the need for costly maintenance and repairs to roads, embankments, ditches, streams, lakes, wetlands, and stormwater control facilities which are the result of inadequate soil erosion and stormwater runoff control.
(J) To reduce long-term expenses and remedial projects which are caused by uncontrolled stormwater runoff and soil erosion.
(K) To encourage the design and construction of stormwater control systems which serve multiple purposes, including but not limited to flood prevention, water quality protection, wildlife habitat preservation, education, recreation, and wetlands protection.
(L) To reduce the detrimental impacts of stormwater flows on downstream communities.
(M) To allow for off-site stormwater control facilities and measures if proposals meet the requirements of these regulations.
(N) To assure that all stormwater control facilities will be properly designed, constructed, and maintained.
(O) To provide for enforcement of this Chapter and penalties for violations.
(Ord. 91-06. Passed 3-27-06, Ord. 80-14. Passed 3-24-14)