(A) Steep slopes are those slopes in excess of 15% (15 feet vertical distance over 100 feet horizontal distance).
(1) When a lot contains steep slopes, the lot shall meet one of the following conditions:
(a) The lot must contain a minimum of contiguous area of slopes less than 15% equal to or greater than the minimum required lot area for the zoning district in which the lot is located. (Note: no non-contiguous areas and slopes less than 15% may be totaled to achieve the required minimum area. Furthermore, no areas of over 15% slope may be included in the minimum area); or
(b) The lot area must be at least three acres (not including floodplains, wetlands or slopes in excess of 25%) and have a width of at least 225 feet.
(2) When a lot complies with division (A)(1)(a) above, all development (excluding septic systems) shall occur in that area not in excess of 15%. When development is to occur in a steep slope area (i.e., 15% to 25%) the requirements of division (A)(3) below and division (A)(1)(b) above shall be met.
(3) (a) When a building site’s natural grade exceeds 15% over a minimum building site area of 80 feet by 70 feet and/or when a steep slope over 15% will be disturbed, a site plan shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for review.
(b) The site plan shall:
1. Include lot lines, a scale bar and north arrow, existing and proposed contours at two-foot intervals for all slopes to 25% and five-foot intervals for slopes over 25%, proposed site improvements, alterations, certification of ownership and acknowledgment of plan signed by owner or developer; and
2. Address sedimentation and erosion control measures and site drainage.
(c) The Zoning Officer may require the drawings to be prepared by a registered land surveyor, registered landscape architect or professional or engineer.
(B) No building shall be constructed or placed and no re-grading shall occur on areas with a slope of 25% or greater. If trees or other vegetation are removed from areas of 25% or greater slope, they shall be replaced with new trees and vegetation that serve the same purposes. This section shall not apply to areas that were re-graded prior to the enactment of this chapter and clearly did not have a naturally-occurring steep slope.
(Ord. 126, passed 3-18-2010; Ord. 161, passed 4-18-2019)