Weldon Spring City Zoning Code

Reducing flood impacts by absorbing peak flows and slowing the velocity of floodwaters;

Benefitting the community economically by minimizing encroachment on natural watercourses and the need for costly engineering solutions; by reducing property damage and threats to safety of watershed residents; by contributing to the scenic beauty and environment of the community, and thereby preserving the character of the community, improving the quality of life of its residents, and increasing the value of their property;

Providing infiltration of stormwater and runoff, and reducing impervious surfaces;

Stabilizing banks of natural watercourses;

Reducing sediment and erosion along natural watercourses;

Removing pollutants from stormwater;

Restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the water resources;

Maintaining base flows of natural watercourses;

Contributing organic matter that is a source of food and energy for the aquatic ecosystem;

Providing tree canopy to shade natural watercourses;

Providing habitat to a wide array of wildlife by maintaining diverse interconnected riparian vegetation;

Furnishing recreational opportunities; and

Allowing areas for natural watercourses to meander naturally reducing infrastructure and property damage.

This Article shall apply to all proposed development except for that development which meets waiver or adjustment criteria as provided in this Article.

This Article shall apply to surface mining operations except that this Article's standards in Section 405.205.5 shall not apply to active surface mining operations that are operating in compliance with Missouri Department of Natural Resources surface mining permit.

Except as provided in Section 405.205.6(A) and Section 405.205.6(B)(5), this Article shall not apply to land used primarily for agricultural or farming purposes.

All natural watercourses depicted on the most current United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S) 7.5 Minute Series (Topographic) Maps for the City of Weldon Spring, Missouri, shall be left in their natural state.

All natural watercourses left in their natural state shall be flanked with vegetated buffers meeting the requirements of this Article.

Within such vegetated buffers, there shall be no clearing, grading, construction or disturbance of vegetation except as permitted by Section 405.205.6 of this Article.

Development along natural watercourses that are left in their natural state shall have residential, commercial or industrial improvements, parking areas, driveways and in all subdivisions, except those with lots three (3) acres or larger in size, lot lines set back from the top of the existing stream bank or the 10-year, twenty-four (24) hour or 15-year, twenty (20) minute water surface elevation where no established top-of-bank can be determined, all as provided by this Article. In the case of subdivision plats, except those with lots three (3) acres or larger in size, the watercourse and the above-mentioned setback area shall be preserved and made the responsibility of the subdivision trustees. In the case of a subdivision with lots three (3) acres or larger in size, site plan, commercial, industrial or private site, the watercourse and the above-mentioned setback area shall be preserved and made the responsibility of the property owner(s). Permanent vegetation and existing ground elevation and grades within the above-mentioned setback area shall be left intact and undisturbed, except as permitted by this Article.

A location or vicinity map;

Field-surveyed natural watercourses which are left in their natural state;

Field-surveyed vegetated buffers adjacent to natural watercourses which are left in their natural state;

Proposed clearing or grading limits;

Limits of the 100-year flood plain and floodway as identified on the official FIRM.

Twenty-five (25) feet along all natural watercourses left in their natural state.

Drain fields from on-site sewage disposal and treatment systems (i.e., septic systems) — one hundred (100) feet;

Raised septic systems — two hundred fifty (250) feet.

Clearing of existing vegetation;

Soil disturbance by grading, stripping, or other practices;

Filling or dumping;

Drainage by ditching;

Installation or removal of berms or dams across natural watercourses that are not depicted on the most current United States Geological Survey 7.5 Minute Series (Topographic) Maps for the City of Weldon Spring, Missouri, that cause the impoundment of stormwater.

Roads, bridges and utilities (including sanitary and storm sewers). The right-of-way shall be the minimum width needed to allow for maintenance access and installation. The angle of the right-of-way or utility crossing shall be perpendicular to the natural watercourse or vegetated buffer in order to minimize clearing requirements. Plats, area plans, and site plans shall include only the minimum number possible of such crossings.

Paths, including hard-surfaced trails.

Show the boundaries of any vegetated buffer on the subject property;

Provide a note to reference any vegetated buffer stating: "There shall be no clearing, grading, construction or disturbance of vegetation except as permitted by Section 405.205.6 of the Ordinances of the City of Weldon Spring.