Ravine Overlay District Ordinance

A major recommendation of the Mossville Bluffs Watershed Restoration Plan completed in 2002 was establishment of a ravine overlay district ordinance to protect life and property and minimize environmental degradation. An “overlay district” is a zoning district that is laid over an existing zoning district to add new development provisions in order to protect special features. Therefore, a ravine overlay district ordinance applies to properties near steep slopes that, through processes such as stormwater conveyance and building construction, have negative impacts on nearby ravines.
TCRPC secured funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and developed a model ravine overlay district ordinance under the guidance of the Illinois River Valley Council of Governments’ Stormwater Committee. The City of East Peoria, concerned about the negative effects of new development on steep slopes and ravines, expressed interest in the model ordinance and convened a task force to examine the ordinance. After making modifications, East Peoria adopted a steep slope ordinance in 2005. The ordinance serves to combat erosion of steep slopes and reduce the amount of eroded soil that contributes to sedimentation of the Illinois River.

Click here to download the Model Ravine Overlay District Ordinance (64 KB)