The provisions of this chapter are enacted to regulate construction of proposed structures within local flood hazard areas that are not within a designated Floodplain Safety (FP) Overlay District or Floodway (FW) Land Use District.
(a)
No person, except as provided in this chapter, shall commence with a disturbance of land (e.g., grading or land clearing) and/or construction activity which has the potential to affect a discernible water course without first obtaining approval to assure that said disturbance and/or construction activity will not increase the velocity or alter the direction or point of discharge of a local drainage course in such a manner that it negatively effects the proposed structure(s) or other properties downstream.
(b)
A Pre-Construction Flood Hazard Inspection shall be conducted by the Building Official or the City Engineer prior to approval of any development permit, except where a land use application has previously been approved authorizing such land disturbing or construction activity.
(c)
The reviewing authority shall determine, upon visual inspection of the site, whether there is evidence of a discernible watercourse which could effect or could be affected by the proposed improvements or land disturbing activity.
(1)
If the reviewing authority determines no such evidence exists, it shall be indicated in writing that the site has passed the pre-construction Flood Hazard Inspection.
(2)
If evidence of a discernible watercourse exists, the reviewing authority shall require a Flood Hazard Development Review by the City Engineer which will provide further review of the site and the proposed improvements.
(d)
All Pre-Construction Flood Hazard Inspections referred to the City Engineer shall be subject to the provisions of the Flood Hazard Development Review prior to issuance of any development permit or approval of a land disturbing activity.