The principal purpose of this title is to promote effective, equitable, acceptable, and legal stormwater management measures by establishing reasonable rules and regulations for development within the City. Other purposes of this title include:
A. Managing and mitigating the effects of urbanization on stormwater drainage throughout the City through planning, appropriate engineering practices and proper maintenance.
B. Protecting from, and reducing the existing potential for, loss of human life, health, safety and property from the hazards of flooding damages on a watershed basis.
C. Preserving and enhancing the natural hydrologic and hydraulic functions and natural characteristics of watercourses and floodplains to protect water quality, protect aquatic habitats, reduce flood damages, reduce soil erosion, provide recreational and aesthetic benefits and enhance community and economic development.
D. Controlling sediment and erosion in and from stormwater facilities, developments, agricultural fields, and construction sites and reducing and repairing stream bank erosion.
E. Requiring that planning for development provides for water resource management, taking into account natural features such as vegetation, wildlife, waterways, wetlands, and topography in order to reduce the probability that new development will create unstable conditions susceptible to erosion.
F. Protecting environmentally sensitive areas from deterioration or destruction by private or public actions.
G. Requiring appropriate and adequate provision for site runoff control, especially when the land is developed with a large amount of impervious surface.
H. Requiring the design and evaluation of each site's stormwater management plan consistent with watershed capacities.
I. Encouraging the use of stormwater storage and infiltration of stormwater in preference to stormwater conveyance.
J. Lessening the taxpayers’ burden for flood-related disasters, repairs to flood-damaged public facilities and utilities, and flood rescue and relief operations.
K. Meeting the Illinois Department of Natural Resources-Office of Water Resources floodway permitting requirements delineated in 615 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/18g (“An Act in Relation to the Regulation of the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams of the State of Illinois”), as amended from time to time.
L. Making federally subsidized flood insurance available in the City by fulfilling the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program.
M. Complying with the rules and regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program codified in title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
N. Restricting future development in the floodplain to facilities that will not adversely affect the potential for flood damage.
O. Requiring regular, planned maintenance of stormwater management facilities.
P. Allowing the use of simple technologies whenever appropriate and realistic, but requiring the use of more sophisticated techniques when necessary to ensure the adequacy of stormwater controls.
(Ord. 2421, 6-24-2014, eff. 6-24-2014)