[Ord. 2016-522, 3/22/2016]
Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in
this Part shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they
have in common usage and to give this Part its most reasonable application.
[Ord. 2016-522, 3/22/2016]
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to
a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
BASE FLOOD
A flood which has a one percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year (also called the "one-hundred-year flood").
Base flood is the term used throughout this Part.
BASE FLOOD DISCHARGE
The volume of water resulting from a Base Flood as it passes
a given location within a given time, usually expressed in cubic feet
per second (cfs).
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE)
The elevation shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
for Zones AE, AH, A1-30 that indicates the water surface elevation
resulting from a flood that has a 1% or greater chance of being equaled
or exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT
For purposes of floodplain management, any area of the building
having its floor below ground level on all sides.
BUILDING
For purposes of floodplain management, a combination of materials
to form a permanent structure having walls and a roof. Included shall
be all manufactured homes and trailers to be used for human habitation.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to the construction, reconstruction, renovation,
repair, expansion or alteration of buildings or other structures;
mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling
operations or storage of equipment or materials.
FLOOD or FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete
inundation of normally dry land areas from: the overflow of inland
or tidal waters; or the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of
surface waters from any source.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive
measures for reducing flood damage and preserving and enhancing, where
possible, natural resources in flood-prone areas, including but not
limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood control works, floodplain
management regulations, and open space plans.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
This Part and other zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations,
building codes, health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such
as stormwater, grading and erosion control) and other application
of police power which control development in flood-prone areas. This
term describes federal, state or local regulations in any combination
thereof which provide standards for preventing and reducing flood
loss and damage.
FLOODPLAIN or FLOOD-PRONE AREA
A relatively flat or low land area which is subject to partial
or complete inundation from an adjoining or nearby stream, river or
watercourse; and any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation
of surface waters from any source. See "Flooding".
FLOODPROOFING
Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions,
changes, or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood
damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary
facilities, structures and their contents.
FLOODWAY
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent
land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood
without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than
one foot.
GOVERNING BODY
The Borough Council of the Borough of Red Hill, which is
empowered to adopt and implement regulations to provide for the public
health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the Borough.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior
to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
(1)
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places
(a listing maintained by the Department of the Interior) or preliminarily
determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements
for individual listing on the National Register;
(2)
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the
Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered
historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary
to qualify as a registered historic district;
(3)
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places
in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved
by the Secretary of Interior; or
(4)
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places
in communities with historic preservation programs that have been
certified either by an approved state program as determined by the
Secretary of the Interior or directly by the Secretary of the Interior
in states without approved programs.
LOWEST FLOOR
The lowest floor of the lowest fully enclosed area (including
basement). An unfinished, flood resistant partially enclosed area,
used solely for parking of vehicles, building access, and incidental
storage, in an area other than a basement area is not considered the
lowest floor of a building, provided that such space is not designed
and built so that the structure is in violation of the applicable
non-elevation design requirements of this Part.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which
is built on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without
a permanent foundation when attached to the required utilities. The
term includes park trailers, travel trailers and similar vehicles
which are placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days. The
term "manufactured home" does not include a "recreational vehicle".
MINOR REPAIR
The replacement of existing work with equivalent materials
for the purpose of its routine maintenance and upkeep, but not including
the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal
or cutting of any structural beam or bearing support, or the removal
or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts
of a structure affecting the exitway requirements; nor shall minor
repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation
of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas,
oil, waste, vent, or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical
or other work affecting public health or general safety.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
For floodplain management purposes, structures for which
the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date
of floodplain management regulations adopted by the Council, and includes
any subsequent improvements to such structures.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is:
(1)
Built on a single chassis;
(2)
Four hundred square feet or less when measured at the largest
horizontal projection;
(3)
Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty
truck; and
(4)
Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as
temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal
use.
REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION
The base flood elevation (BFE) or estimated flood height
as determined using simplified methods plus a freeboard safety factor
of 1 1/2 feet.
REPETITIVE LOSS
Flood related damages sustained by a structure on two separate
occasions during a ten-year period for which the cost of repairs at
the time of each such flood event, on average, equals or exceeds 25%
of the market value of the structure before the damages occurred.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
Includes substantial improvement and other proposed new development
and means the date the building permit was issued, provided the actual
start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition,
placement, or other improvement was within 180 days from the date
of the permit. The actual start means either the first placement of
permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring
of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of
columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement
of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does
not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading, and filling;
nor does it include the installation of streets and/or walkways; nor
does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers, or foundations
or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation
on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not
occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure. For
a substantial improvement, the actual start of construction means
the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural
part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external
dimensions of the building.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building that is principally above ground;
this includes a gas or liquid storage tank or a manufactured home.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the
cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would
equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the
damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other proposed
new development of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds
50% of the market value of the structure before the "start of construction"
of the improvement. This term includes structures which have incurred
"substantial damage" or "repetitive loss" regardless of the actual
repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:
(1)
Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing
violations of state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications
which have been identified by the Code Official and which are the
minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
(2)
Any alteration of a "historic structure," provided that the
alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation
as a "historic structure".
VIOLATION
For purposes of floodplain management, the failure of a structure
or other development to be fully compliant with the Borough's
flood plain management regulations. A structure or other development
without the elevation certificate, other certifications, or other
evidence of compliance required by federal regulations, including
44 CFR 60.3(b)(5), (c)(4), (c)(10), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(4), or (e)(5)
shall be presumed to be in violation until such time as such documentation
is provided.