ORDINANCE NO.    4579  

Adopted:  9/16/03

Published:  9/23/03

Effective:  9/24/03

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE O, SECTIONS 4-1-O-3, 4-1-O-4, AND 4-1-O-6, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF LENEXA, KANSAS, MORE SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH STREAM SETBACK PROVISIONS, REPEALING THE EXISTING CODE SECTIONS 4-1-O-3, 4-1-O-4, AND 4-1-O-6.

 

            WHEREAS, on March 26, 2002, the City enacted a stream setback ordinance; and

 

            WHEREAS, in the 17 months since that ordinance became effective, the City has identified a number of clarifications that should be made to said ordinance to aid the administration thereof and clarify the original intent of the ordinance; and

           

            WHEREAS, such clarifications include adoption of new Exhibits A and B to said Article as set forth herein.

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF LENEXA, JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS:

 

Section 1. Section 4-1-O-3 is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

4-1-O-3 APPLICABILITY.

 

      A.  This Stream Setback Ordinance shall apply to all land or new development within the Stream Corridor, as defined by this Article and applied to designated Stream Segments identified on the most current map adopted by the City Council by resolution and as Exhibit A* (copy of Exhibit A is available at City Hall) and incorporated herein by reference.  No Development shall occur on a parcel of land that is within or partially within the defined Stream Corridor, except in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that this Article shall not apply to land or to development, which:

 

            1.   is on land covered by an approved, unexpired preliminary plat or preliminary plan, where such approval was given prior to the effective date of this Article; or

 

            2.   if platting is not required prior to issuance of a building permit, is covered by a unexpired building permit issued prior to the effective date of this Article, in accordance with Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the City Code.

 

*As revised on September 2, 2003.

 

      B.  No Development Application shall be approved that proposes development on any parcel of land wholly or partially within the defined Stream Corridor unless the proposed development is in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Article.


 

Section 2. Section 4-1-O-4 is hereby amended to read as follows

 

4-1-O-4 STREAM CORRIDOR.

 

      Stream Corridor widths have been determined by Stream Order, 1 through 3 and by Type, 1 through 5, as shown in Table 1 below.  Type 1 and 2 Stream Segments are categorized as Sensitive Stream Segments, Type 3 Stream Segments are categorized as Restorable Streams and Types 4 and 5 are categorized as Impacted Streams.  The location of designated Stream Segments shall be as delineated on Exhibit A**.  At all designated Stream Segment locations, the Stream Corridor shall consist of three zones, the Streamside Zone, Middle Zone and Outer Zone.  The width of each zone within the Stream Corridor is defined below.  See Exhibit B** (copy of Exhibit B available at City Hall) for an illustration of the Stream Corridor, as defined.

 

Table 1:  Minimum Total Stream Corridor Width*

 

Stream Order

Types 1-2

(Sensitive Streams)

Type 3

(Restorable Streams)

Types 4-5

(Impacted Streams)

1

150 feet

125 feet

100 feet

2

250 feet

200 feet

150 feet

3 +

300 feet

250 feet

200 feet

 

*Note:  Width of the Middle Zone will be expanded, if necessary, to include Floodplains and lands with slope greater than 15%.

 

**As revised on September 2, 2003.

 

      The general guidelines used to determine the width of the three zones for each of the categories of Stream Segments are as follows:

 

      A.  Streamside Zone = 25' from the Edge of the Stream, and measured horizontally from the edge.

 

      B.  Middle Zone = Variable width zone determined by Stream Segment type and Order, and measured horizontally from the outer boundary of the Streamside Zone to the inner boundary of the Outer Zone; provided however, that the minimum width of the Middle Zone on each side of the stream shall be at least half of the minimum total width of the Middle Zone as set forth in Table 1.  The Middle Zone includes a distance that comprises all lands with slope greater than 15% and Floodplains; provided that, these features occur, in part, within the Streamside or Middle Zone.

 

      C.  Outer Zone = 25' from the outer boundary of the Middle Zone, measured horizontally from that boundary.

 

Note:   Where manmade ponds interrupt streams, the Stream Corridor as herein defined shall stop at the pond and resume on the other side thereof.  Where ponds are removed or filled in as part of development, the stream shall be restored through that area and the Stream Corridor buffer shall be created using the typology for adjacent stream sections.

 

Section 3. Section 4-1-O-6 is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

4-1-O-6 REGULATED USES, STRUCTURES AND ACTIVITIES.

 

      A.  General Applicability to Stream Corridor.  No development shall be undertaken on land in a Stream Corridor unless a Development Application has been approved authorizing the applicant to perform the development proposed therein; provided that, no Development Application shall be approved unless the development proposed therein is, in all respects, in conformity with the requirements of this Article.

 

      B.  Uses and activities permitted in the Streamside Zone.

 

            1.   Conservation uses, wildlife sanctuaries, nature preserves, forest preserves, fishing areas, and passive areas of parklands.

 

            2.   Unpaved recreational trails and greenways.

 

            3.   Education/scientific research.

 

            4.   Stream bank stabilization and other storm water BMPs approved by the Public Works Director.

 

            5.   Activities associated with the Restoration and Enhancement of Stream Corridors.

 

            6.   Excavation and fill required to plant any new trees or vegetation.

 

            7.   Installation of water and wastewater facilities, provided that, the owner of the facilities provides information to the City that is sufficient to allow the Public Works Director to determine that the installation of the facilities in Middle Zone is unfeasible.  Feasibility will be determined through consideration of factors, such as geology, topography and the presence of unique habitat in the Stream Corridor.  When installation of such facilities does occur in the Streamside Zone as herein provided, such installation and construction activities must comply with the recommendations contained in the section titled "Resource Protection and Mitigation Measures" for utility construction contained with the Lenexa Streams Inventory, dated December 10, 2001.   Water and wastewater facilities will be permitted to cross the Streamside Zone and Stream as necessary, provided that, the number of crossings is minimized to the greatest extent possible.

 

            8.   Public infrastructure.

 

      C.  Uses and Activities Permitted in the Middle Zone.

 

            1.   All uses and activities permitted in the Streamside Zone.

 

            2.   Paved recreational trails.

 

            3.   Installation of utilities, including water and wastewater facilities.  Such installation shall comply with the recommendations contained in the section titled “Resource Protection and Mitigation Measures” for utility construction contained in the Lenexa Streams Inventory, dated December 10, 2001.

 

      D.  Uses and Activities Permitted in the Outer Zone.

 

            1.   All uses and activities permitted in the Middle Zone.

 

            2.   Passive uses, such as camps, campgrounds, picnic areas and golf courses.

 

            3.   Minor recreational structures and surfaces that are ancillary to passive recreational uses as set forth in subparagraph 2 above; provided that, the total impervious area created by such structure(s) in residential areas shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet per single family residential lot.  Examples of such permitted structures include, but are not limited to, decks, gazebos, picnic tables, playground equipment and small concrete slabs built to accommodate such permitted structures.

 

            4.   Existing agricultural uses that incorporate recognized conservation BMPs.

 

            5.   Fences; provided however, that such fences must be constructed so as not to impede floodwaters.

 

      E.  Single Family Residential – Rear Yard Allowance

 

            The rear yard of a single-family residential use may extend into the Middle Zone and the Outer Zone; provided, however, that the rear of the actual residential structure may not be located nearer than 20' from the outer edge of the Outer Zone and no ancillary structure may be located in the Middle Zone (only those ancillary structures otherwise permitted by this Title may be located in the Outer zone), and further that any development satisfies the open space and setback requirements of this Article.

 


      F.   Uses Subject to Federal and/or State Approval.

 

            The following in-stream activities are regulated and require approval from United States Corp of Engineers or Environmental Protection Agency, the Kansas Department of Heath and Environment or other appropriate federal and state agencies:

 

            1.   dredging,

 

            2.   filling,

 

            3.   excavation,

 

            4.   draining, and

 

            5.   clearing;

 

provided that, the requisite state and/or federal approvals are provided to the City.

 

Section 4:  That this Ordinance shall be construed as follows: 

 

INTERPRETATION

 

            A.        Liberal Construction:  The provisions of this Ordinance shall be liberally construed to effectively carry out its purposes which are hereby found and declared to be in furtherance of the public health, safety, welfare, and convenience.

 

 

            B.        Savings Clause:  The repeal of Ordinance or Code sections, as provided hereinbelow shall not affect any rights acquired, fines, penalties, forfeitures, or liabilities therefor.  Said Ordinance or Code repealed is hereby continued in force and effect after the passage, approval, and publication of the Ordinance for the purposes of such rights, fines, penalties, forfeitures, liabilities, and actions therefor.

 

            C.        Invalidity:  If for any reason any chapter, article, section, subsection, sentence, portion or part of the proposed Ordinance set out, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the Code or other ordinances.

 

Section 5:  That the existing Code Sections 4-1-O-3, 4-1-O-4 and 4-1-O-6 are hereby repealed.

 

Section 6:  That this Ordinance shall become effective upon adoption and publication in the official City newspaper.

 


            APPROVED BY the Governing Body this 16th day of September, 2003.

 

            SIGNED BY the Mayor this 16th day of September, 2003.

 

 

 

_________________________________

                                                                                                            Michael A. Boehm, Mayor

ATTEST:

 

 

                                                                                   

Mary Sue Fry, City Clerk                             

 

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

 

 

                                                                                   

Rebecca A. Yocham, Assistant City Attorney