Chapter 14.05
GENERAL INFORMATION
Sections:
14.05.010 Statutory authorization.
14.05.030 Statement of purpose.
14.05.040 Methods of reducing flood losses.
14.05.050 Floodplain administrator designated.
14.05.070 Flood insurance study and flood insurance rate maps adopted.
14.05.010 Statutory authorization.
In ARS 48-3610, the Arizona State Legislature enabled the town of Sahuarita to assume the powers and duties for floodplain management and adopt regulations in conformance with ARS 48-3609 designed to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the town council of the town of Sahuarita, Arizona, does adopt this Title 14. [Ord. 2020-147 § 4; Ord. 2011-059 § 4.]
14.05.020 Findings of fact.
A. The flood hazard areas of the town are subject to periodic inundation which may result 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.
B. Flood losses may be exacerbated by the cumulative effect of obstructions in special flood hazard areas which increase flood height and velocities. Inadequate anchoring of structures and encroachment into the floodplain contribute to flood loss. In addition, uses that are inadequately floodproofed, elevated or otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to the flood loss. [Ord. 2020-147 § 4; Ord. 2011-059 § 4.]
14.05.030 Statement of purpose.
It is the purpose of this title to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed:
A. To protect human life and health;
B. To minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;
C. To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;
D. To minimize prolonged business interruptions;
E. To 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;
F. To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize blight areas caused by flooding;
G. To ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard;
H. To ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions; and
I. To participate in and maintain eligibility for flood insurance and disaster relief. [Ord. 2020-147 § 4; Ord. 2011-059 § 4.]
14.05.040 Methods of reducing flood losses.
To accomplish its purposes, this title includes methods and provisions for:
A. Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities;
B. Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;
C. Controlling the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel flood waters;
D. Controlling filling, grading, dredging and other development which may increase flood damage; and
E. Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers that will unnaturally divert flood waters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas. [Ord. 2020-147 § 4; Ord. 2011-059 § 4.]
14.05.050 Floodplain administrator designated.
The town engineer is designated as the floodplain administrator for the town and continues to serve as the community point of contact on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) issues for county, state and federal officials. [Ord. 2020-147 § 4; Ord. 2011-059 § 1; Ord. 2006-15 § 1. Formerly 14.05.020.]
14.05.060 Authority.
The town of Sahuarita provides the floodplain management responsibilities under the NFIP, and is the entity responsible for floodplain administration within and outside of the FEMA floodplain. [Ord. 2020-147 § 4; Ord. 2011-059 § 2; Ord. 2006-15 § 3. Formerly 14.05.040.]
14.05.070 Flood insurance study and flood insurance rate maps adopted.
Those public records entitled “Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Pima County, Arizona and Incorporated Areas” dated September 28, 2012, with accompanying flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) dated June 16, 2011, and all subsequent amendments and/or revisions, three copies of which shall be kept on file in the office of the town clerk, are hereby adopted by reference, as the basis for establishing the special flood hazard areas for floodplain management in the town of Sahuarita. The special flood hazard areas documented in the flood insurance study and flood insurance rate maps are the minimum area of applicability of the floodplain management regulations and may be supplemented by studies for other areas as allowed in the regulations. [Ord. 2020-147 § 4; Ord. 2011-059 § 3; Ord. 2006-15 § 2. Formerly 14.05.030.]