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ST. TAMMANY PARISH COUNCIL
                                        
ORDINANCE

                                    
ORDINANCE CALENDAR NO. 2816     ORDINANCE COUNCIL SERIES NO.
COUNCIL SPONSOR: MR. GOULD     PROVIDED BY: COUNCIL OFFICE     
INTRODUCED BY MR. GOULD     SECONDED BY MR. BINDER

ON THE 1ST DAY OF APRIL 2004.

        ORDINANCE TO AMEND PARISH CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 7, DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL, ARTICLE I, SECTION 7-002.00, LIMITING THE PLACEMENT OF FILL ON PROPERTY ADJACENT TO CERTAIN WATERWAYS AND DRAINAGE WAYS.
        
    THE PARISH OF ST. TAMMANY HEREBY ORDAINS that Parish Drainage and Flood Control Regulations, particularly Chapter 7, Article I of the Parish Code, are amended and reenacted to prohibit the placement of any net fill on those lots meeting the criteria set forth therein and located adjacent to certain waterways and drainage ways as follows:

ARTICLE I

IN GENERAL

SEC. 7-001.00 Flooding Roads
    It shall be unlawful for any owner or user of water from artisan wells or other artificial sources of water supply to allow said water to flow or drain into any ditch along a parish road, highway or other public right-of-way without receiving approval from St. Tammany Parish Government and without obtaining a permit from the State of Louisiana, Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Water Resources. It shall be unlawful for any owner or user of water from artisan wells or other artificial sources of water supply to allow said water to flow or drain into any ditch along any public road, highway or public right of way so that such ditch overflows onto a public road or highway.
                        
SEC. 7-002.00 Use of Fill Materials

    A. Adverse Drainage Impact: It shall be prohibited to place fill or construct improvements on any parcel of property so as to cause adverse drainage impacts on any adjacent parcel.

    B. Net Fill: For purposes of this section, “net fill” is defined as the placement of any fill material that results in any increase in the surface elevation of property from its natural or pre-development state. Excavation of existing soil and its replacement with fill is permissible, at the site where a proposed structure is to be built, and at the site of a proposed driveway, provided there is no increase in the surface elevation of the land from its natural or pre-development state. Any increase in the surface elevation of the land from its natural or pre-development state, following adoption of this ordinance, is strictly prohibited in the following areas:

    (1) “Net fill” shall not be permitted on:

        (a) Any lot or parcel of property within unincorporated St. Tammany Parish that is located in Flood Zone A, according to an official survey.

        (b) Any lot or parcel of property within unincorporated St. Tammany Parish that is adjacent to:

            1. Bayou Tete L'Ours or within the Bayou Tete L'Ours drainage basin.
            2. Bayou Monga
            3. Bayou Ponchitalawa
            4. Southwind Creek

                             ORDINANCE CALENDAR NO. 2816

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            5. Prieto Ditch
            6. Abita River
            7. Little Ponchitalawa Creek
            8. C Street Lateral (Tammany Hills S/D)
            9. Parker/Casril/Mire Roads Lateral
            10. Bayou Lacombe
            11. Bayou Castine

        (c) Any lot or parcel of property within unincorporated St. Tammany Parish and located within any “critical drainage area” as delineated by the Department of Engineering on the Department's most current Critical Drainage Area Map.

    C. Procedures and Requirements: Whenever application is made for a building permit to build on property identified in paragraph B of this Section, the following procedures and requirements, in addition to any others, shall be applicable:

    (1) The applicant shall submit to the Department of Engineering an official survey of the property that sets forth all of the information required by the Department of Engineering in the Department's “Existing and Proposed Grade Elevations Form,” including the surface elevation of the property in its natural or pre-development state.

    (2) Whenever a concrete slab or any other structural foundation of a permanent nature is to be constructed, the applicant or builder shall certify, after excavation of the site of the foundation and prior to pouring any concrete, or installing any permanent foundation, that the foundation is ready to be installed and that no “net fill” exists at the site of the foundation. The foundation shall not be poured or installed prior to certification and inspection.

    (3) Prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy, the applicant or builder shall submit an official survey which confirms that no “net fill” exists on the property, otherwise a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued.

    D. Penalties: A violation of this Section shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than ONE HUNDRED ($100.00) DOLLARS nor more than FIVE HUNDRED ($500.00) DOLLARS, or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both such fines and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. In lieu of, or in addition to, the issuance of a misdemeanor summons, violations of the provisions of this chapter may be enforced by imposition of civil penalties and injunctive relief in accordance with the following: Each day that the violation remains shall constitute a separate offense and a civil penalty of not less than ONE HUNDRED ($100.00) DOLLARS nor more than FIVE HUNDRED ($500.00) DOLLARS per day shall be imposed. In addition to penalties provided by the Code, any violation hereof shall also be subject to an action for abatement and removal of any offending fill work and/or ground surface alteration.

    E. Fill Affecting Subsurface Drainage: It shall be unlawful for any owner, contractor, builder or subdivider to use, employ or apply fill in and/or on any lot situated within a subdivision located in the unincorporated limits of the Parish wherein subsurface drainage is installed unless this material is contained within the perimeter of the lot in an adequate manner to prevent runoff of the sand, fill, clay or mixture thereof onto sidewalks, streets or into culverts or onto the property of abutting property owners.

    BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that this Ordinance shall be effective immediately upon final adoption.


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    REPEAL: All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

    SEVERABILITY: If any provision of this Ordinance shall be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions herein which can be given effect without the invalid provision and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.


    WHEREUPON THIS ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED TO A VOTE AND RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING:

MOVED FOR ADOPTION BY__________________, SECONDED BY______________________

YEAS:
        

NAYS:

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

    THIS ORDINANCE WAS DECLARED ADOPTED AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL ON THE _____ DAY OF _______________ 2004; AND BECOMES ORDINANCE COUNCIL SERIES NO. 04- .

                            
                            PATRICIA BRISTER, COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

ATTEST:


DIANE HUESCHEN, COUNCIL CLERK

        
                            
                            KEVIN DAVIS, PARISH PRESIDENT

Published introduction March 25 2004
Published adoption 2004

Delivered to Parish President 2004 at
Returned to Council Clerk 2004 at