[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;
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.