11197-25 Amending Chapter 6, Article 9, of the South Bend Municipal Code to Update the Regulations for Flood Damage Prevention

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otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to the flood loss. In order to minimize the threat of such damages and to achieve the purposes hereinafter set forth,these regulations are adopted. (3) Statement of Purpose It is the purpose of this ordinance to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to: (a) Protect human life and health. (b) Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects. (c) Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public. (d) Minimize prolonged business interruptions. (e) Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric,telephone,and sewer lines, streets, and bridges located in floodplains. (f) Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood prone areas in such a manner as to minimize flood blight areas. (g) Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions. (h) Minimize the impact of development on adjacent properties within and near flood prone areas. (i) Ensure that the flood storage and conveyance functions of the floodplain are maintained. (j) Minimize the impact of development on the natural, beneficial values of the floodplain. (k) Prevent floodplain uses that are either hazardous or environmentally incompatible. (1) Meet community participation requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. (4) Methods of Reducing Flood Loss In order to accomplish its purposes,these regulations include methods and provisions for: (a) 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. (b) Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities, which serve such uses,be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction. (c) Controlling the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel flood waters. (d) Controlling filling, grading, dredging, excavating, and other development which may increase flood damage. (e) Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers, which will unnaturally divert floodwaters, or which may increase flood hazards in other areas. Sec. 6-38.2.—Definitions Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in these regulations shall be interpreted so as to give them meaning they have in common usage and to give these regulations the most reasonable application. (1) Accessory Structure means a structure with a floor area of 400 square feet or less that is on the same parcel of property as a principal structure and the use of which is incidental to the use of the principal structure; an accessory structure specifically excludes structures used for human habitation. (a) Accessory structures are considered walled and roofed where the structure includes at least two outside rigid walls and a fully secured roof (b) Examples of accessory structures include but are not necessarily limited to two-car detached garages (or smaller), carports, storage and tool sheds, and small boathouses. 2