§ 8.5-1. Statutory authorization, findings of fact, purpose, and objectives.

(a)

Statutory authorization. The Legislature of the State of Florida has authorized and delegated in F.S. ch. 166, the responsibility of local government units to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the Village Council does hereby adopt the following floodplain management regulations.

(b)

Findings of fact.

(1)

The flood hazard areas of the Village are subject to periodic inundation, which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety and general welfare.

(2)

These flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in floodplains causing increases in flood heights and velocities, and by the occupancy in flood hazard areas by uses vulnerable to floods or hazardous to other lands which are inadequately elevated, floodproofed, or otherwise unprotected from flood damages.

(c)

Statement of purpose . It is the purpose of this chapter to save lives, promote the public health, safety and general welfare, and minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to:

(1)

Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to life, health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards, which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights and velocities;

(2)

Require that uses vulnerable to floods including facilities which serve such uses be protected against flood damage throughout their intended life span;

(3)

Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers which are involved in the accommodation of flood waters;

(4)

Control filling, grading, dredging and other development which may increase erosion or flood damage; and

(5)

Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert floodwaters or which may increase flood hazards to other lands.

(d)

Objectives. The objectives of this chapter are to:

(1)

Protect human life, health and to eliminate or minimize property damage;

(2)

Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;

(3)

Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;

(4)

Minimize prolonged business interruptions;

(5)

Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, roadways, and bridges and culverts located in floodplains;

(6)

Maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of flood prone areas in such a manner as to minimize flood blight areas; and

(7)

Ensure that potential homebuyers are notified that property is in a flood hazard area.

(Ord. No. 2009-538, § 3, 11-17-09)