(a) Lands to Which this Chapter Applies. This Chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the City of Strongsville as identified in Section 1444.05(b), including any additional areas of special flood hazard annexed by the City of Strongsville.
(b) Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard. For the purposes of this Chapter, the following studies and/or maps are adopted:
(1) "Flood Insurance Study Cuyahoga County, Ohio and Incorporated Areas and Flood Insurance Rate Map Cuyahoga County, Ohio and Incorporated Areas, both effective December 3, 2010.
(2) Any hydrologic and hydraulic engineering analysis authored by a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio which has been approved by the City of Strongsville as required by Section 1444.07(c) (Subdivisions and Large Scale Developments). Any revisions to the aforementioned maps and/or studies are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Chapter. Such maps and/or studies are on file at the Office of the City Engineer of the City of Strongsville, 16099 Foltz Parkway, Strongsville, Ohio 44149.
(c) Abrogation and Greater Restrictions. This Chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing easements, covenants, deed restrictions or other Chapters or sections of the Codified Ordinances. However, where this Chapter and another ordinance, easement, covenant, or deed restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions shall prevail.
(d) Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of this Chapter, all provisions shall be:
(1) Considered as minimum requirements;
(2) Liberally construed in favor of the governing body; and
(3) Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under State statutes. Where a provision of this Chapter may be in conflict with a State or Federal law, such State or Federal law shall take precedence over this Chapter.
(e) Warning and Disclaimer of Liability. The degree of flood protection required by this Chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by manmade or natural causes. This Chapter does not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazards or uses permitted within such area will be free from flooding or flood damage. This Chapter shall not create liability on the part of the City, any officer or employee thereof, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for any flood damage that results from reliance on this Chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made hereunder.
(f) Severability. Should any section or provision of this Chapter be declared by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the regulations as a whole, or any part thereof other than the part so declared to be unconstitutional or invalid by a court of last resort.
(Ord. 2010-152. Passed 10-18-10.)
(Ord. 2010-152. Passed 10-18-10.)