10.10A.110 Review of geologic hazard reports

A. The city shall review any proposed land use which requires preparation of a geologic hazards report under this chapter to determine the possible risks to the safety of persons, property and city infrastructure from geologic hazards. B. Prior to consideration of any request for rezoning of property, preliminary plat approval, or site plan approval, the required geologic hazard reports shall be submitted to the city for review. C. The city will act diligently in reviewing each submitted geologic hazard report. D. All direct costs associated with the review of geologic hazard reports shall be paid by the applicant through the application fee. E. The city shall retain a copy of each geologic hazard report in the department’s project file. F. The city shall determine whether the report complies with all of the standards set forth in this chapter, including the following: 1. That suitable geologic hazard reports have been prepared by qualified professionals. 2. That the proposed land use does not present an unreasonable risk to the health, safety, and welfare of persons or property, including buildings, storm drains, public streets, culinary water facilities, utilities or critical facilities, whether off-site or on-site, or to the aesthetics and natural functions of the landscape, such as slopes, streams, other waterways, drainage, or wildlife habitat, whether off-site or on-site, because of the presence of geologic hazards or because of modifications to the site due to the proposed land use. 3. That the proposed land use demonstrates that, consistent with the state of the practice, the identified geologic hazards can be mitigated to a level where the risk to human life and damage to property are reduced to an acceptable and reasonable level in a manner which will not violate applicable federal, state, or local statutes, ordinances or regulations. Mitigation measures should consider, in their design, the intended aesthetic functions of other governing ordinances. The applicant must include with the geologic hazards reports a mitigation plan that defines how the identified hazards or limitations will be addressed without impacting or adversely affecting offsite areas. Implementation of mitigation measures must be reasonable and practical, especially if such measures require on-going maintenance by property owners. G. The city may set other requirements that it deems necessary to mitigate any geologic hazards and to ensure that the purposes of this chapter are met. These other requirements may include, without limitation, the following: 1. Additional or more detailed studies to understand or quantify the hazard or determine whether mitigation measures recommended in the report are adequate; 2. Specific mitigation requirements, establishing buildable and non-buildable areas, limitations on slope grading and controls on grading, or re-vegetation; 3. Grading plans prepared by a licensed professional engineer which include the following, as required by the DRC: (a) Maps of existing and proposed contours; (b) Present and proposed slopes for each graded area; (c) Existing and proposed drainage patterns; (d) Location and depth of all proposed cuts and fills; (e) Description of methods to be employed to achieve stabilization and compaction; (f) Location and capacities of proposed drainage, structures, and erosion control measures based on maximum runoff for a 100-year storm; (g) Location of existing buildings or structures on or within 100 feet of the site, or which may be affected by proposed grading and construction; and (h) Plan for monitoring and documentation of testing, field inspections during grading, and reporting to the city. 4. Installation of monitoring equipment and seasonal monitoring of surface and subsurface geologic conditions, including ground-water levels; and 5. Other requirements such as time schedules for completion of the mitigation and phasing of development. H. All information shall be submitted as an original signed, wet-stamped document for the city’s use, such as, making additional copies as deemed necessary, distribution to the public, review by other professionals or use by other parties that have an interest in the property. All information shall also be submitted in a digital format as directed by the city for use in the city’s infrastructure database, GIS, CADD archives or other digital platform for city business, or for recordation at the Salt Lake County Recorder’s office. I. As a condition of approval of any development of sensitive lands which requires a geologic hazards report, the city may also set additional requirements as it deems necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its residents, protect the city’s infrastructure and financial health, and minimize potential adverse effects of geologic hazards to public health, safety, and property. J. The city may require a qualified professional to be on site, at the developer’s cost, during certain phases of development and construction, particularly during grading phases and the construction of retaining walls. For any real property being developed based on a geologic or geotechnical report which has been accepted by the city, no final inspection shall be completed, certificate of occupancy issued or performance bond released until the geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist who signed and approved such report certifies in writing that the completed improvements and structures conform to the descriptions and requirements contained in such report. K. An applicant may appeal any decision made under the provisions of this chapter only after the city has issued a written review of a report. Any such appeal shall set forth the specific grounds or issues upon which the appeal is based. The appeal shall be submitted in writing to the director within 30 days of the city’s issuance of the written review or other decision. The city’s board of adjustment shall serve as the appeal authority for any technical dispute.