A.
The
flood hazard areas of the City of Glendale are subject to periodic
inundation which results in loss of life, property, health and safety
hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary
public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment
of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health,
safety and general welfare.
B.
These
flood looses are caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in
flood plains causing increases in flood heights and velocities, and
by the occupancy in flood hazard areas by uses vulnerable to floods
or hazards to other lands which are inadequately elevated, floodproofed,
or otherwise unprotected from flood damages.
A.
It
is the purpose of this Chapter 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:
1.
To protect human life and health;
2.
To minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control
projects;
3.
To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with
flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
4.
To minimize prolonged business interruptions;
5.
To minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water
and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges
located in flood plains;
6.
To 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
future flood blight areas;
7.
To insure that potential home buyers are notified that property is
in a flood area; and
8.
To insure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard
assume responsibility for their actions.
A.
In
order to accomplish its purposes, this Chapter includes methods and
provisions for:
1.
Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to health, safety,
and property due to water or erosion or to 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 flood plains, stream channels,
and natural protective barriers, which are involved in the accommodation
of flood waters.
4.
Controlling filling, grading, dredging, and other developments which
may increase erosion or flood damage.
5.
Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers which
will unnaturally divert floodway waters or which may increase flood
hazards in other areas.
