(A) This chapter is enacted pursuant to the police powers granted to the county by 55 ILCS 5/5-1041, 5/5-1113, 5/5-12001 and 5/5-15001.
(B) The purpose of this chapter is to diminish threats to public health and safety, protect property, prevent damage to the environment and promote public welfare by guiding, regulating and controlling the design, construction, use and maintenance of any new development or redevelopment or other activity which disturbs or breaks the topsoil or otherwise results in the movement of earth, and/or changes the stormwater drainage pattern and/or stormwater flows from that which would have occurred if the land had been left in its natural state. This stormwater runoff and resulting soil erosion could result in the inundation of damageable properties, the erosion and destabilization of downstream channels, and the pollution of valuable stream and lake resources. This chapter regulates these activities to minimize adverse impacts.
(C) This chapter is adopted to accomplish the following objectives:
(1) To assure that new development or redevelopment does not increase the drainage or flood hazards, or create unstable conditions susceptible to soil erosion;
(2) To protect new buildings and major improvements to buildings from flood damage due to increased stormwater runoff and soil erosion;
(3) To protect human life and health from the hazards of increased flooding and soil erosion on a watershed basis;
(4) To lessen the burden on the taxpayer for flood control projects, repairs to flood-damaged public facilities and utilities, correction of channel erosion problems, and flood rescue and relief operations caused by stormwater runoff and soil erosion quantities from new development or redevelopment;
(5) To protect, conserve and promote the orderly development of land and soil, water, air, animal and plant resources;
(6) To preserve the natural hydrologic and hydraulic functions of watercourses and floodplains and to protect water quality and aquatic habitats; and
(7) To preserve the natural characteristics of stream corridors in order to manage flood and stormwater impacts, improve water and groundwater quality, reduce soil erosion, protect aquatic and riparian habitat, maintain quality forest resources, provide recreational opportunities, provide aesthetic benefits, enhance community and economic development.
(D) The purpose of this chapter is also to comply with the General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit.
(1993 Code, § 114.01) (Ord. 2000-09, passed 8-16-2000; Ord. 2008-06, passed 6-18-2008)