1145.01 STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION; FINDINGS OF FACT; PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES.

   (a)   Statutory Authorization. Article XVIII, Section 3, of the Ohio Constitution grants municipalities the legal authority to adopt land use and control measures for promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of its residents. Therefore, Council does ordain as follows:

   (b)   Findings of Fact:

      (1)   The flood hazard areas of the City are subject to periodic inundation which may result in loss of life and property, health, and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare.

      (2)   These flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in areas of special flood hazards which increase flood heights and velocities and when inadequately anchored, damage uses in other areas. Uses that are inadequately flood proofed, elevated, or otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to the flood loss.

   (c)   Statement of Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to:

      (1)   Protect human life and health.

      (2)   Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects.

      (3)   Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally.

      (4)   Minimize prolonged business interruptions.

      (5)   Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets, and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard.

      (6)   Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for proper use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight areas.

      (7)   Ensure that potential buyers are aware that property is in an area of special flood hazard.

      (8)   Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.

      (9)   Minimize the impact of development on adjacent properties within and near flood prone areas.

      (10)   Ensure that the flood storage and conveyance functions of the floodplain are maintained.

      (11)   Minimize the impact of development on the natural, beneficial values of the floodplain.

      (12)   Prevent floodplain uses that are either hazardous or environmentally incompatible.

      (13)   Meet community participation requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program.

   (d)   Methods of Reducing Flood Losses. In order to accomplish its purposes, this chapter includes methods and provisions for:

      (1)   Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water hazards or which result in damaging increases in flood heights or velocities.

      (2)   Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities that serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction.

      (3)   Controlling the alteration of natural flood plains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers that help accommodate or channel flood waters

      (4)   Controlling filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage.

      (5)   Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers that will unnaturally divert flood waters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.

         (Ord. 2007-021. Passed 5-15-07.)