(A) The purpose of this ordinance is to reduce the hazard to public health and safety caused by excessive storm water runoff, to enhance economic objectives, and to protect, conserve and promote the orderly development of land and water resources within the regulatory area. This ordinance regulates:
(1) Storm water drainage improvements related to development of lands located within the corporate limits of the City and all areas within one and one half (1/2) miles of the corporate limits as existing now or in the future.
(2) Drainage control systems installed during new construction and grading of lots and other parcels of land.
(3) Erosion and sediment control systems installed during new construction of grading of lots and other parcels of land.
(4) The design, construction and maintenance of storm water drainage facilities and systems.
(5) Existing storm water drainage systems where the inclusion of improvements is feasible.
(B) (1) It is recognized that drainage systems serving the City of Mt. Vernon and adjacent areas may not have sufficient capacity to receive and convey storm water runoff resulting when land changes from open or agricultural use to a more urbanized use. It is further recognized that deposit of sediment from developments during and after construction can reduce capacities of storm sewers and drainage systems and result in damages to receiving lakes and streams.
(2) Therefore, it shall be the policy of the City Council that the storage and controlled release of storm water runoff shall be required of all new development, any redevelopment and other new construction in the regulated areas as stipulated elsewhere in this Ordinance. The release rate of storm water from developed lands shall not exceed the release rate from the land area in its undeveloped state.
(C) Because topography and the availability and adequacy of outlets for storm runoff vary with almost every site, the requirements for storm drainage tend to be an individual matter for any project. It is recommended that each proposed project be discussed with the City Engineer’s office at the earliest practical time in the planning stage.
(Prior Code, Art. 20, § 20-1)