[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Franklin 6-1-1987; amended in its entirety 2-1-2010 by Ord. No. 07-10. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Wetlands — See Ch. 300.
Zoning — See Ch. 305.
Site plan review — See Ch. 402.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 403.
A. 
Certain areas of the City of Franklin, New Hampshire, are subject to periodic flooding, causing serious damages to properties within these areas. Relief is available in the form of flood insurance as authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. Therefore, the City of Franklin, New Hampshire, has chosen to become a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program, and agrees to comply with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-488, as amended) as detailed in this Floodplain Development Ordinance.
B. 
This chapter, adopted pursuant to the authority of RSA 674:16, shall be known as the "City of Franklin Floodplain Development Ordinance." The regulations in this chapter shall overlay and supplement the regulations in the City of Franklin Zoning Ordinance[1] and shall be considered part of the Zoning Ordinance for purposes of administration and appeals under state law. If any provision of this chapter differs or appears to conflict with any provision of the Zoning Ordinance or other ordinance or regulation, the provision imposing the greater restriction or more stringent standard shall be controlling.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 305, Zoning.
C. 
The following regulations in this chapter shall apply to all lands designated as special flood hazard areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its Flood Insurance Study for the County of Merrimack, N.H., dated April 19, 2010, or as amended, together with the associated Flood Insurance Rate Maps [FIRM] dated April 19, 2010, or as amended, which are declared to be a part of this chapter and are hereby incorporated by reference.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
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. The area is designated as Zone A or AE on the FIRM.
BASE FLOOD
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade below ground level on all sides.
BUILDING
See "structure."
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or drilling operations or storage of equipment or materials.
FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
The official map of a community on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS)
An examination, evaluation and determination of flood hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations, or an examination, evaluation and determination of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) and/or flood-related erosion hazards.
FLOOD or FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
A. 
The overflow of inland or tidal waters; or
B. 
The usual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOODPLAIN or FLOOD-PRONE AREA
Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source. (See definition of "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
See "regulatory floodway."
FUNCTIONAL DEPENDENT USE
A use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it is located or carried out in close proximity to water. The term includes only docking facilities, port facilities that are necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers and ship building and ship repair facilities, but does not include long-term storage or related manufacturing facilities.
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:
A. 
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;
B. 
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;
C. 
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
D. 
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either:
(1) 
By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(2) 
Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
LOWEST FLOOR
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage, in an area other than a basement is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable nonelevation design requirements of this chapter.
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 connected to the required utilities. For floodplain management purposes the term "manufactured home" also includes park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than 180 consecutive days. For insurance purposes the term "manufactured home" does not include park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
MEAN SEA LEVEL
The National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929, North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988, or other datum to which base flood elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Maps are referenced.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
For the purposes of determining insurance rates, structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of an initial FIRM or after December 31, 1974, whichever is later, and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures. For floodplain management purposes, "new construction" means structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of a floodplain management regulation adopted by a community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD
See "base flood."
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is built on a single chassis; 400 square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projection; designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.
REGULATORY 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 a designated height.
RIVERINE
Relating to, formed by or resembling a river (including tributaries), stream, brook, etc.
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA
See "area of special flood hazard."
START OF CONSTRUCTION
Includes substantial improvement and means the date the building permit was issued, provided that the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, placement or other improvement was within 180 days of the permit date. 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.
STRUCTURE
For floodplain management purposes, a walled and roofed building, including a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground, as well as 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 combination of repairs, reconstruction or improvements to a structure in which the cumulative cost equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure. The market value of the structure should be the appraised value of the structure prior to the start of the initial repair or improvement or, in the case of damage, the value of the structure prior to damage occurring. For the purposes of this definition, "substantial improvement" is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not, however, include any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions or any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
VIOLATION
The failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the community's floodplain management regulations. A structure or other development without the elevation certificate, other certifications, or other evidence of compliance required under § 170-7, 170-9B(2), or 170-5C and D of this chapter is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided.
WATER SURFACE ELEVATION
The height, in relation to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929, North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988, or other datum, where specified, of floods of various magnitudes and frequencies in the floodplains.
A. 
The Building Inspector shall review all building permit applications for new construction or substantial improvements to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding. If a proposed building site is in a flood-prone area, all new construction and substantial improvements shall be:
(1) 
Designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy;
(2) 
Constructed with materials resistant to flood damage;
(3) 
Constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damages; and
(4) 
Constructed with electrical heating, ventilation, plumbing and air-conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.
B. 
The Building Inspector shall review proposed developments to assure that all necessary permits have been received from those governmental agencies from which approval is required by federal or state law, including Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. § 1334. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to certify these assurances to the Building Inspector.
A. 
In riverine situations, prior to the alteration or relocation of a watercourse, the applicant for such authorization shall notify the Wetlands Bureau of the New Hampshire, Department of Environmental Services, and submit copies of such notification to the Building Inspector in addition to the copies required by RSA 482-A: 3. Further, the applicant shall be required to submit copies of said notification to those adjacent communities as necessary, as determined by the Building Inspector, including notice of all scheduled hearings before the Wetlands Bureau.
B. 
Within the altered or relocated portion of any watercourse, the applicant shall submit to the Building Inspector certification provided by a registered professional engineer assuring that the flood-carrying capacity of the watercourse has been maintained.
C. 
Along watercourses with a designated regulatory floodway, no encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development are allowed within the floodway unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic and hydraulic analyses performed in accordance with standard engineering practices that the proposed encroachment would not result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the base flood discharge.
D. 
Along watercourses that have not had a regulatory floodway designated, no new construction, substantial improvements or other development (including fill) shall be permitted within Zone AE on the FIRM, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the community.
E. 
The Building Inspector shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any floodway data available from federal, state, or other sources as criteria for requiring that all development located in Zone A meet the following floodway requirement: "No encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development are allowed within the floodway that would result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the base flood discharge."
Where new and replacement water and sewer systems (including on-site systems) are proposed in flood-prone areas, the applicant shall provide the Building Inspector with assurance that new and replacement sanitary sewage systems will be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the systems and discharges from the systems into floodwaters, and on-site waste disposal systems will be located to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during periods of flooding.
A. 
For all new or substantially improved structures located in Zones A or AE, the applicant shall furnish the following information to the Building Inspector:
(1) 
The as-built elevation (in relation to NGVD) of the lowest floor (including basement) and include whether or not such structures contain a basement.
(2) 
If the structure has been floodproofed, the as-built elevation in relation to NGVD) to which the structure was floodproofed.
(3) 
Any certification of floodproofing.
B. 
The Building Inspector shall maintain the aforementioned information for public inspection, and shall furnish such information upon request.
The Building Inspector shall not grant a building permit until the applicant certifies that all necessary permits have been received from those governmental agencies from which approval is required by federal or state law, including Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. § 1334.
A. 
In special flood hazard areas the Building Inspector shall determine the one-hundred-year flood elevation in the following order of precedence according to the data available:
(1) 
In Zones A1-30, AH, AE, V1-30 and VE refer to the elevation provided in the community's Flood Insurance Study and accompanying FIRM.
(2) 
In A Zones, the Building Inspector shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any one-hundred-year flood elevation data available from federal or state agencies, development proposals submitted to the community (e.g., subdivisions, site plans, etc.) or other source.
B. 
The Building Inspector's one-hundred-year-flood elevation determination will be used as criteria for requiring, in Zones A and AE, that:
(1) 
All new construction and substantial improvements of residential structures have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the one-hundred-year-flood level;
(2) 
All new construction and substantial improvements of nonresidential structures have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the one-hundred-year-flood level or, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, shall:
(a) 
Be floodproofed so that below the one-hundred-year-flood elevation, the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water;
(b) 
Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy; and
(c) 
Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of this subsection.
(3) 
All manufactured homes to be placed or substantially improved within special flood hazard areas shall be elevated on a permanent foundation such that the lowest floor of the manufactured home is at or above the base flood level and be securely anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement. Methods of anchoring may include, but are not limited to, use of over-the-top or frame ties to the ground anchors. This requirement is in addition to applicable state and local anchoring requirements for resisting wind forces.
(4) 
Recreational vehicles placed on sites within Zones A1-30, AH and AE shall either be on the site for fewer than 120 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use or meet all standards of § 170-9B(3) of the chapter. A recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick-disconnect-type utilities and security devices, and has no permanently attached additions.
(5) 
For all new construction and substantial improvements, fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are subject to flooding are permitted, provided that the enclosed areas meet the following requirements: the enclosed area is unfinished or flood resistant, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage; the area is not a basement; and the area shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. Designs for meeting these requirements must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect or must meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
(a) 
A minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided.
(b) 
The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade.
(c) 
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers or other coverings or devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
A. 
Any order, requirement, decision or determination of the Code Enforcement Officer made under this chapter may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment as set forth in RSA 676.5.
B. 
If the applicant, upon appeal, requests a variance as authorized by RSA 674:33,1(b), the applicant shall have the burden of showing in addition to the usual variance standards under state law that:
(1) 
The variance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety or extraordinary public expense.
(2) 
If the requested variance is for activity within a designated regulatory floodway, no increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge will result.
(3) 
The variance is the minimum necessary, considering the flood hazard, to afford relief.
C. 
The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall notify the applicant, in writing, that the issuance of a variance to construct below the base flood level will result in increased premium rates for flood insurance up to amounts as high as $25 for $100 of insurance coverage and such construction below the base flood level increases risks to life and property. Such notification shall be maintained with a record of all variance actions.
D. 
The community shall maintain a record of all variance actions, including its justification for their issuance, and report such variances issued in its annual or biennial report submitted to FEMA's Federal Insurance Administrator.