§ 15-493. Purposes and intent.

This article is established to implement the requirements of the state-enacted Wekiva River Protection Act and implement the goals and objectives of the comprehensive policy plan. These regulations seek to preserve and enhance the values of the Wekiva River area as well as to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the county. These regulations enacted pursuant to the comprehensive policy plan and F.S. ch. 369 protect this unique scenic natural river area for the following stated purposes:

(1)

To protect and enhance the values of the natural river in the interest of present and future generations;

(2)

To protect the economic value of this scenic resource from unwise and disorderly development which may adversely pollute, destroy or otherwise impair its beneficial use and preservation;

(3)

To prevent ecological and aesthetic damage which may result from overcrowding and overuse or unwise and disorderly development;

(4)

To permit reasonable and compatible uses of land which complement the natural characteristics of the river and further the purposes of this article;

(5)

To limit the intensity of use, density of population and type and amount of development, while still allowing some reasonable use of property, in order to protect and enhance the natural river values and to thereby carefully guide the expenditure of funds for public improvements and services in an orderly fashion, in keeping with the character of the natural river area, the purposes for its designation, and the community as a whole;

(6)

To conserve the river water quantity and prevent further degradation of its quality, purity, clarity and free-flowing condition;

(7)

To provide for the conservation of soil, of river bed and banks and of adjoining uplands;

(8)

To protect the natural floodwater storage capacity of the river floodplain and to prevent flood damages and associated public relief expenditures created by improper construction of structures in the floodplain;

(9)

To protect and enhance fish, wildlife and their habitat;

(10)

To protect boating and recreational values and uses of the river;

(11)

To protect historic values of the river and adjoining uplands;

(12)

To protect individuals from investing funds in structures proposed for location on lands unsuited for such development because of high groundwater, erosion or vulnerability to flood damage; and

(13)

To preserve the rural character of the areas adjacent to the Wekiva River.

(Ord. No. 91-29, § 2(Exh. A), 12-10-91)