WHEREAS, the Protected Hillside Zone areas of this Municipality differ from other areas of the Municipality because the hillsides and unique scenic resources and scenic river areas necessitate different provisions for their development and their protection; and
WHEREAS, the Protected Hillside Zone regulations are established to achieve, among others, the following objectives:
(a) To protect the public and private property owners from the potential damage to human life and safety and property damage that could potentially be caused by increased hillside instability.
(b) To assure access to properties within the Protected Hillside Zone by emergency police and fire vehicles to protect persons and property.
(c) To preserve and protect the unique scenic resources and scenic river habitats in the Protected Hillside Zone.
(d) To preserve and protect the valuable hydrologic systems, fragile hillside and valuable flora and fauna in the Protected Hillside Zone.
(e) To permit, subject to the best available technology, development on Protected Hillside Zone areas while conserving and promoting the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare by minimizing problems due to water runoff and soil erosion problems incurred in adjustment of the topography to meet developmental needs.
(f) To use the best accepted design, landscape architecture, architecture, civil engineering and hydrological engineering to preserve, enhance and promote the existing and future appearance and resources in Protected Hillside Zone areas.
(g) To preserve and enhance the natural beauty of Protected Hillside zones by encouraging the maximum retention of natural topographical features such as natural drainage swales, streams, slope ridge lines, rock outcropping, vistas from and of hillside, trees and other natural plant formations and retain the sense of identity and image that the Protected Hillside Zone areas now impart to the Municipality.
(h) To complement the other actions of this Council including the enactment of an erosion control ordinance, the enactment of a vegetation preservation ordinance and the designation, along with other communities, of the Chagrin River Corridor as a "Scenic Corridor" which should be protected and preserved.
(Ord. 1992-42. Passed 7-8-92.)