1331.01 PURPOSE, GENERAL STANDARDS, APPLICABILITY AND INTERPRETATION.

   (a)   Purpose. It is the purpose of the regulations established in this Chapter to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, by doing the following:

      (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.

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

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

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

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

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

   (b)   General Standards. In order to accomplish its purposes, these regulations include 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 flood waters;

      (4)   Controlling filling, grading, dredging, excavating, 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.

   (c)   Applicability and Interpretation.

      (1)   These regulations shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the City of Shaker Heights as identified in this Chapter, including any additional areas of special flood hazard annexed by City.

      (2)   In the event of conflict between any provision of this Chapter and another provision of any other chapter of this Building Code, or any other provision of the Codified Ordinances, or Federal and State laws, the specific shall control over the general and the more restrictive shall govern over the less restrictive.

      (3)   The provisions of this Chapter shall not impair any deed restriction covenant or easement but the land subject to such interests shall also be governed by these provisions.

      (4)   In the interpretation and application of the provisions of this Chapter, all provisions shall be:

         A.   Considered as minimum requirements;

         B.   Liberally construed in favor of the City; and,

         C.   Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under state law.

            (Ord. 10-125. Enacted 11-22-10.)