(a) Methods of Reducing Flood Loss. 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.
(b) Lands to Which These Regulations Apply. These regulations shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the City of Tiffin as identified in Section 1191.03(c), including any additional areas of special flood hazard annexed by City of Tiffin.
(Ord. 06-7. Passed 4-3-06.)
(c) Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard. For the purposes of these regulations, the following studies and/or maps are adopted:
(1) "Flood Insurance Study, Seneca County, Ohio and Incorporated Areas" and "Flood Insurance Rate Map, Seneca County, Ohio and Incorporated Areas", both effective May 3, 2011.
(2) Any hydrologic and hydraulic engineering analysis authorized by a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio which has been approved by the City of Tiffin as required by Section 1191.06(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 these regulations. Such maps and/or studies are on file at the Engineer's office of the City of Tiffin.
(Ord. 11-13. Passed 3-7-11.)
(d) Abrogation and Greater Restrictions. These regulations are not intended to repeal any existing ordinances including Subdivision Regulations, Zoning or Building Codes. In the event of a conflict between these regulations and any other ordinance, the more restrictive shall be followed. These regulations shall not impair any deed restriction, covenant or easement but the land subject to such interests shall also be governed by the regulations.
(e) Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of these regulations, 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 these regulations may be in conflict with a state or Federal law, such state or Federal law shall take precedence over these regulations.
(f) Warning and Disclaimer of Liability. The degree of flood protection required by these regulations 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 man-made or natural causes. These regulations do not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazard or uses permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damage. These regulations shall not create liability on the part of the City of Tiffin, any officer or employee thereof, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for any flood damage that results from reliance on these regulations or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
(g) Severability. Should any section or provision of these regulations 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. (Ord. 06-7. Passed 4-3-06.)