Ord 2020-087/amending Chapter 39 of the SM Code regarding Flood Damage Prevention by providing for enhances flood damage prevention and mitigation standards

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(5) Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets, and bridges located in special flood hazard areas; (6) Help maintain a stable tax base for the city by providing for the organized development of all areas in such a manner as to minimize future areas of flooding; and (7) Ensure that potential property owners are notified that property is in a special flood hazard area. Sec. 39.014. Methods of reducing flood losses. To accomplish its purpose, this article uses the following methods: (1) Restricts or prohibits uses that are dangerous to health, safety or property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities; (2) Requires that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage throughout their intended life span; (3) Controls the alteration of natural floodplains, their protective barriers and stream channels, which help accommodate or channel floodwaters; (4) Prevents the construction of barriers which will divert floodwaters and subject other lands to greater flood hazards; and (5) Controls development which would cause greater erosion or potential flood damage such as grading, dredging, filling, and excavation. Sec. 39.015. Definitions. In this chapter: Adjacent Natural Grade means the highest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground within the area between the building and the property line or, when the property line is more than five feet from the building, between the building and a line five feet from the building. Appeal means a request to the director for a review of the floodplain administrator's interpretation of any provision of this article.