(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 citizens. Therefore, the City of Oxford, County of Butler, State of Ohio does ordain as follows:
(b) Findings of Fact.
(1) The flood hazard areas of the City of Oxford 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 that increase flood heights and velocities in areas of special flood hazards 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. In order to minimize the threat of such damages and to achieve the purposes hereinafter set forth, these regulations are adopted.
(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, 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 protect property and minimize future flood blight areas;
(7) 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 that 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 flood waters;
(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.
(6) Minimize the impact of development on adjacent properties within and near flood prone areas;
(7) Ensure that the flood storage and conveyance functions of the floodplain are maintained;
(8) Minimize the impact of development on the natural, beneficial values of the floodplain;
(9) Prevent floodplain uses that are either hazardous or environmentally incompatible; and
(10) Meet community participation requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program.
(Ord. 3128. Passed 10-19-10.)
(Ord. 3128. Passed 10-19-10.)