Ventura Municipal Code § 24.530.010 Chapter description

8 Editor’s note(s): Section 70 of Ord. No. 2021-017 , adopted December 13, 2021, amended Chapter 24.530 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Chapter 24.530 pertained to the same subject matter, consisted of Sections 24.530.010 through 24.530.140, and derived from the 1971 Code, and Ord. No. 2004-017, adopted August 2, 2004.

This chapter establishes a floodplain overlay zone development permit procedure. This chapter is intended to regulate development within areas of the coastal zone that are subject to flood hazards in order to protect public health and safety, to protect property, and to preserve the natural environmental characteristics of the areas to which these provisions apply. The provisions of this chapter shall apply and be deemed enacted and effective as of September 22, 1986. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 70, 12-13-21)

Floodplain overlay zone development permits are required for development or redevelopment within any area of the coast zone identified on the Official Floodplain Overlay Zone Map as being within the floodplain overlay zone. Any such area may be designated by the notation “FP” on the official zoning district map. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 70, 12-13-21)

An application for a floodplain overlay zone development permit shall be reviewed and acted upon by the director at a public hearing pursuant to Section 24.500.060, with the following additional requirement:

Notice shall be provided to adjacent communities, the Ventura County flood control district, the state coordinating agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency at least two weeks prior to a public hearing. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 70, 12-13-21)

A floodplain overlay zone development permit shall be obtained before construction activity or any other development is initiated on a site in any area of the coastal zone that is within the FP overlay zone. Application for a floodplain overlay zone development permit shall be carried out as follows:

A. Plans. Application for a floodplain overlay zone development permit shall be on forms furnished by the planning division, and shall include all of the information required by Section 12.440.020.

B. Other Permits. Applications for a floodplain overlay zone development permit shall be made at the same time as, and reviewed in conjunction with, other applications for other discretionary land use permits or other approvals required for the project. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 70, 12-13-21)

Before the decision-making authority may grant a floodplain overlay zone development permit, it must make all of the following findings:

A. Public notice has been given of the proposed development as required by law;

B. There are no practicable alternatives or sites for the proposed project outside of the floodplain;

C. No significant impacts on the floodplain will result from the proposed project;

D. There is no significant possibility that, as a result of the proposed project, materials may be swept onto other lands to the injury of others, or clog bridges crossing rivers;

E. There is no significant danger to life and property due to flooding or erosion damage as a result of the proposed project;

F. The importance of the services provided by the proposed project or use to the community offsets any potential risk;

G. Access to the property in times of flood will be safe for ordinary and emergency vehicles;

H. The expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise, and sediment transport of the flood waters, and, if applicable, the effects of wave action expected at the site, are acceptable; and

I. The costs of providing governmental services during and after flood conditions, including maintenance and repair of public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems, and streets and bridges, are acceptable. (Ord. No. 2021-017, § 70, 12-13-21)