(a) Statutory Authorization. Whereas, 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. Now therefore, Council of the City of Oberlin, State of Ohio, a majority of those elected thereto concurring, ordains 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 service, 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 floodproofed, 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 undertaken at the expense of the general public;
(4) Minimize prolonged business interruptions;
(5) Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines and streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard;
(6) Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the 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; and
(8) Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.
(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 which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;
(3) Controlling the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel floodwaters;
(4) Controlling filling, grading, dredging and other development which may increase flood damage; and
(5) Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert flood waters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.
(Ord. 01-80AC. Passed 9-4-01.)