The Maryland General Assembly, in Md. Code Ann., Land Use Article,
Title 4, has established as policy of the state that the orderly development
and use of land and structures requires comprehensive regulation through
the implementation of planning and zoning control, and that planning
and zoning controls shall be implemented by local government in order
to, among other purposes, secure the public safety, promote health
and general welfare, and promote the conservation of natural resources.
Therefore, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Havre de Grace
does hereby adopt the following floodplain management regulations.
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health,
safety and general welfare, and to:
A. Protect human life, health and welfare;
B. Encourage the utilization of appropriate construction practices in
order to prevent or minimize flood damage in the future;
C. Minimize flooding of water supply and sanitary sewage disposal systems;
D. Maintain natural drainage;
E. Reduce financial burdens imposed on the community, its governmental
units and its residents by discouraging unwise design and construction
of development in areas subject to flooding;
F. Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding
and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
G. Minimize prolonged business interruptions;
H. Minimize damage to public facilities and other utilities such as
water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets
and bridges;
I. Reinforce that those who build in and occupy special flood hazard
areas should assume responsibility for their actions;
J. Minimize the impact of development on adjacent properties within
and near flood-prone areas;
K. Provide that the flood storage and conveyance functions of floodplains
are maintained;
L. Minimize the impact of development on the natural and beneficial
functions of floodplains;
M. Prevent floodplain uses that are either hazardous or environmentally
incompatible; and
N. Meet community participation requirements of the National Flood Insurance
Program as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 44
CFR 59.22.
This chapter shall apply to all special flood hazard areas within the jurisdiction of the City of Havre de Grace and identified in §
78-5.
This chapter is not intended to repeal or abrogate any existing
regulations and ordinances, including subdivision regulations, zoning
ordinances, building codes, or any existing easements, covenants,
or deed restrictions. In the event of a conflict between this chapter
and any other ordinance, the more restrictive shall govern.
Should any section or provision of this chapter be declared
by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall
not affect the validity of the chapter as a whole, or any part thereof
other than the part so declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.