[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]
A. 
The purpose of this Article is to establish minimal acceptable requirements for the design of vegetated buffers to protect the natural watercourses of all watersheds within the City of Lake Saint Louis which remain in their natural state; to protect the water quality of watercourses, reservoirs, lakes and other significant water resources within these watersheds; to protect riparian and aquatic ecosystems within these watersheds; to provide for the environmentally sound use of land and aquatic resources within these watersheds.
[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]
A. 
Applications.
1. 
This Article shall apply to all proposed development except for that development which meets waiver criteria as provided in Section 425.830.
2. 
This Article shall not apply to land used primarily for agricultural purposes.
B. 
Requirements.
1. 
All natural watercourses depicted on the most current United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) 7.5 Minute Series (Topographic) Maps showing property within the corporate limits of the City shall be left in their natural state. For the purposes of this Article, Lake Saint Louis and Lake Saint Louise shall not be considered natural watercourses and therefore are not subject to the requirements of this Article.
2. 
All natural watercourses left in their natural state shall be flanked with vegetated buffers meeting the requirements of this Article.
3. 
Within such vegetated buffers, there shall be no clearing, grading, construction or disturbance of vegetation except as permitted by Section 425.820, Management And Maintenance Of Vegetated Buffers.
4. 
Development along natural watercourses which are left in their natural state shall have residential lot lines, commercial or industrial improvements, parking areas or driveways set back from the top of the existing stream bank or the fifteen-year, twenty-minute water surface elevation where no established top of bank can be determined, all as provided by this Article.
5. 
In the case of subdivision plats, the watercourse and the above-mentioned setback area shall be preserved and made the responsibility of the subdivision trustees.
6. 
In the case of a site plan, commercial, industrial or private site, the watercourse and the above-mentioned setback area shall be preserved and made the responsibility of the property owner(s).
7. 
Permanent vegetation and existing ground elevation and grades within the above-mentioned setback area shall be left intact and undisturbed, except as permitted by this Article.
[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]
A. 
A vegetated buffer plan shall be submitted in conjunction with a grading plan for any development, and the vegetated buffer should be clearly delineated on the final grading plan.
B. 
The vegetated buffer plan shall contain the following information:
1. 
A location or vicinity map;
2. 
Field-surveyed natural watercourses, which remain in their natural state;
3. 
Field-surveyed vegetated buffers adjacent to natural watercourses, which remain in their natural state;
4. 
Limits of the one-hundred-year floodplain.
C. 
Boundary markers locating the boundaries of vegetated buffers shall be installed prior to final approval of the required clearing and grading plan.
[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]
A. 
A vegetated buffer for a natural watercourse, which remains in its natural state, shall consist of a vegetated strip of land extending along both sides of a natural watercourse.
B. 
The vegetated buffer shall begin at the edge of the bank of the natural watercourse.
C. 
For those sites where vegetation does not exist, developers or owners shall allow the vegetated buffer to succeed naturally.
D. 
The minimum width of the vegetated buffer shall be:
1. 
Fifty (50) feet along the main branch of the Peruque Creek;
2. 
Twenty-five (25) feet along all other natural watercourses left in their natural state.
[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]
A. 
The vegetated buffer shall be managed to enhance and maximize its value and effectiveness. Management includes specific limitations on altering the natural conditions of the buffer. The following practices and activities are permitted only with the express written approval of the Community Development Director or Public Works Director:
1. 
Clearing of existing vegetation;
2. 
Soil disturbance by grading, stripping or other practices;
3. 
Filling or dumping;
4. 
Drainage by ditching, underdrains or other systems;
5. 
Installation of detention/retention ponds.
B. 
The following structures, practices and activities are permitted in the vegetated buffer, with specific design or maintenance features, subject to the review by the Community Development Director or Public Works Director:
1. 
Roads, bridges and utilities.
a. 
The right-of-way shall be the minimum width needed to allow for maintenance access and installation.
b. 
As closely as possible, the angle of the crossing shall be perpendicular to the natural watercourse or vegetated buffer in order to minimize clearing requirements.
c. 
Plats and site plans shall include only the minimum number possible of such crossings.
2. 
Paths, including hard-surfaced trails.
C. 
Buffer restoration projects approved by the Community Development Director or Public Works Director are permitted within the vegetated buffer.
D. 
Water quality monitoring and stream gauging are permitted within the vegetated buffer.
E. 
Individual trees within the vegetated buffer that are in danger of falling, causing damage to dwellings or other structures, or causing blockage of the natural watercourse may be removed.
F. 
Material dredged or removed during development authorized under this Section shall be stored outside the vegetated buffer.
G. 
All plats, all improvement plans, and all site plans shall clearly:
1. 
Show the boundaries of any vegetated buffer on the subject property;
2. 
Provide a note to reference any vegetated buffer stating: "THERE SHALL BE NO CLEARING, GRADING, CONSTRUCTION OR DISTURBANCE OF VEGETATION EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY SECTION 425.820 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF LAKE SAINT LOUIS."
[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]
A. 
The Community Development Director or Public Works Director may grant a waiver allowing the vegetated buffer to be disturbed only in cases of public purpose and necessity or only upon the Community Development Director's or Public Works Director's approval of designed stream bank or site development erosion control measures.
B. 
Appeal of waiver decisions shall be made to the Board of Adjustment in accordance with Section 405.240, Appeal of Administrative Enforcement.