A.
The McHenry County Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan, adopted
by the McHenry County Board on June 16, 1997, states, "To provide
a consistent level of protection and to provide equity throughout
the County, a program for consistent Countywide regulation and enforcement
should be developed with standards established at the Countywide level
and, where appropriate, modified at the watershed level to meet watershed
specific needs. A Countywide regulatory program would involve development
of a Countywide watershed development ordinance that applies to both
incorporated and unincorporated areas. . . . [T]he watershed development
ordinance should be comprehensive and specify standards for stormwater
drainage and detention, floodplain management, soil erosion and sedimentation
control, and stream and wetland protection in a single document."
B.
McHenry County has determined that uniform and consistent enforcement
by municipalities that adopt the standards of the Stormwater Management
Ordinance will enhance the effectiveness of the program. The county
also understands that local conditions may sometimes require additional
or more restrictive standards to meet the purpose of this chapter.
In those instances where the requirements of this chapter are not
stipulated in a municipal ordinance or are more restrictive than municipal
requirements, this chapter shall prevail. In some cases, the requirements
of this chapter are more restrictive than federal or state minimum
standards. A municipality has the right to enact more restrictive
standards than the minimum standards of this chapter.
A.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the powers granted to the City
of Crystal Lake (hereinafter the "City") by 65 ILCS 5/1-2-1, 11-12-12,
11-30-2, 11-30-8, 11-31-2 and 615 ILCS 5/5 et seq., including 5/18g.
B.
This chapter establishes minimum standards and may be superseded
by more restrictive federal, state, or other local regulations.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish reasonable rules
and regulations for floodplain, watershed and stormwater management
in order to:
A.
Protect and preserve the quality and environmental values of land
and water resources in the City;
B.
Encourage development in a manner that promotes the orderly, sustainable
and cost-effective utilization of land and water resources;
C.
Minimize the impact of development on flood hazards, erosion, and
water quality;
D.
Minimize the need for additional expenditure of public funds for
flood control projects, repairs to flood-damaged public facilities
and utilities, and flood-related emergency operations;
E.
Minimize additional disruption of governmental services and the economy
due to flooding and drainage problems;
F.
Maintain eligibility for the NFIP by equaling or exceeding federal
floodplain development regulations (the NFIP is codified as 44 CFR
59-79, as amended), thereby making federally subsidized flood insurance
available to residents in participating communities;
G.
Protect the hydrologic, hydraulic, water quality, aquatic habitat,
recreation and other beneficial functions of streams, ponds, lakes,
wetlands, and flood storage areas;
H.
Protect the quantity and quality of groundwater resources;
I.
Meet the requirements of The Rivers, Lakes and Streams Act, Resources,
615 ILCS 5/1 et. seq.;
J.
Minimize harm due to periodic flooding, including loss of life and
property and threats and inconveniences to public health, safety and
welfare;
K.
Protect buildings and improvements to buildings from flood damage;
L.
Facilitate the permitting of sound maintenance of channels and existing
stormwater management systems; and
M.
Require the regular, planned maintenance of new stormwater management
systems.
