The city finds that:
(1) The constitution and laws of the State of Michigan authorizes local units of government to provide stormwater management services and systems that will contribute to the protection and preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare and to the protection of our natural resources.
(2) Water bodies, roadways, structures, and other property within and downstream of city are at times subjected to flooding.
(3) Land development alters the hydrologic response of watersheds, which may result in increased stormwater runoff rates volumes, and duration, increased flooding, increased stream channel erosion, and increased sediment transport and deposition.
(4) Stormwater runoff produced as a consequence of land development contributes to increased quantities of water-borne pollutants.
(5) Increases of stormwater runoff, soil erosion, and nonpoint source pollution have occurred as a result of land development, and have impacted the water resources of the Grand River Watershed.
(6) Increased stormwater runoff rates and volumes, and the sediments and pollutants associated with stormwater runoff from future development projects within the city will, absent reasonable regulation and control, adversely affect the city water bodies and water resources, and those of downstream communities.
(7) Stormwater runoff, soil erosion, and nonpoint source pollution can be controlled and minimized by the regulation of stormwater runoff from development.
(8) Impervious surfaces allow less water to percolate into the soil, thereby decreasing groundwater recharge and stream baseflow.
(9) Adopting the standards, criteria and procedures contained in this chapter and implementing the same will address many of the deleterious effects of stormwater runoff.
(10) Substantial economic losses can result from adverse impacts on the waters of the city and the watershed.
(11) Improper design and construction of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) can increase the velocity of stormwater runoff thereby increasing stream bank erosion and sedimentation.
(12) The regulation of stormwater runoff discharges from land development activities is necessary in order to control and minimize increases in stormwater runoff rates and volumes, stream channel erosion, and nonpoint source pollution associated with stormwater runoff.
(13) The regulation of land development by means of stormwater management policy and procedures and effective site planning will produce development that is compatible with the natural functions of the land or an entire watershed and thereby mitigate the adverse effects of excessive stormwater runoff from development.
(Ord. No. 203, 10-17-2016)