As used in this chapter, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
APPEAL
A request for a review of the Borough Clerk's interpretation
of any provision of this chapter or a request for variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
A designated AO Zone on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
The base flood depths range from one to three feet; a clearly defined
channel does not exist; the part of flooding is unpredictable and
indeterminate; and velocity flow may be evident.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to
a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year. It is shown
on the FIRM as Zone V, VE, V1-30, A, AO, A1-A30, AE, A99, or AH.
[Amended 8-19-2019 by Ord. No. 19-09]
BASEMENT
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below
ground level) on all sides.
BASE FLOOD
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE)
The flood elevation shown on a published Flood Insurance
Study (FIS), including the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). For Zones
AE, AH, AO, and A1-30, the elevation represents the water surface
elevation resulting from a flood that has a 1% or greater chance of
being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
[Added 8-19-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-09]
BREAKAWAY WALL
A wall that is not part of the structural support of the
building and is intended through its design and construction to collapse
under specific forces without causing damage to the elevated portion
of the building or supporting foundation system.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures, dredging,
filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or storage
of equipment or materials located within the area of special flood
hazard.
ELEVATED BUILDING
A nonbasement building:
[Amended 8-19-2019 by Ord. No. 19-09]
(1)
Built, in the case of a building in an area of special flood
hazard, to have the top of the elevated floor, or, in the case of
a building in a coastal high-hazard area, to have the bottom of the
lowest horizontal structural member of the elevated floor, elevated
above the base flood elevation plus freeboard ground level by means
of pilings, columns (posts and piers), or shear walls parallel to
the flow of the water; and
(2)
Adequately anchored so as not to impair the structural integrity
of the building during a flood of up to the magnitude of the base
flood.
(a)
In an area of special flood hazard, "elevated building" also
includes a building elevated by means of fill or solid foundation
perimeter walls with opening(s) sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded
movement of floodwaters.
(b)
In areas of coastal high hazard, "elevated building" also includes
a building otherwise meeting the definition of "elevated building,"
even though the lower area is enclosed by means of breakaway walls.
EROSION
The process of gradual wearing away of land masses.
[Added 8-19-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-09]
EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction
of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes
are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities,
the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the
pouring of concrete pads) is completed before the effective date of
the floodplain management regulations adopted by a community.
[Added 8-19-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-09]
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
The official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration
has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk-premium
zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The official report provided in which the Federal Insurance
Administration has provided flood profiles as well as the flood boundary
floodway map and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
FLOOD or FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete
inundation of normally dry land area from the overflow of inland or
tidal waters and/or the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of
surface waters from any source.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
Zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes,
health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such as a floodplain
ordinance, grading ordinance and erosion control ordinance) and other
applications of police power. The term describes such state or local
regulations, in any combination thereof, which provide standards for
the purpose of flood damage prevention and reduction.
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.
[Added 8-19-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-09]
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
0.2 feet.
FREEBOARD
A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood
level for purposes of floodplain management. Freeboard tends to compensate
for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights
greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway
conditions, such as wave action, bridge openings, and the hydrological
effect of urbanization of the watershed.
[Added 8-19-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-09]
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior
to construction next to the proposed or existing walls of a structure.
[Added 8-19-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-09]
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 preliminarily determined by the
Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
(3)
Individually listed on the 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:
(a)
By an approved state program as determined by
the Secretary of Interior; or
(b)
Directly by the Secretary of 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 the
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 to render the structure in violation
of other applicable nonelevation design requirements of 44 CFR 60.3.
[Amended 8-19-2019 by Ord. No. 19-09]
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. The
term "manufactured home" does not include a recreational vehicle.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after the effective date of a floodplain regulation adopted
by a community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.
NEW MANUFACTURED HOME PARK or SUBDIVISION
A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction
of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes
are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities,
the construction of streets and either final site grading or the pouring
of concrete pads) is completed on or after the effective date of the
floodplain management regulations adopted by the municipality.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is built on a single chassis, 400 square
feet or less when measured at the longest horizontal projections,
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 a temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or
seasonal use.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
[For other than new construction or substantial improvements
under the Coastal Barrier Resource Act (P.L. 97-348).] 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 a slab or footing,
the installation of piles and the construction of columns, or any
work beyond the state of excavation; or the placement of a manufactured
home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land
preparation, such as clearing, grading and filing; nor does it include
installation of streets 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 building, such as garages or sheds, not occupied as dwelling
units or not part of the main structure.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building, a manufactured home or gas
or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.
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 improvement
of a structure, the cost of which 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,
regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not,
however, include either:
(1)
Any project for the improvement of a structure
to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary
or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local
code enforcement officer and which are the minimum necessary to assure
safe living conditions; or
(2)
Any alteration of an historic structure, provided
that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation
as an historic structure.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief from the requirements of this chapter which
permits the construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited
by this chapter.
VIOLATION
The failure of a structure or other development to be fully
compliant with this chapter. A new or substantially improved structure
or other development without the elevation certificate, other certifications,
or other evidence of compliance required in 44 CFR 60.3(b)(5), (c)(4),
(c)(10), (e)(2), (e)(4), or (e)(5) is presumed to be in violation
until such time as that documentation is provided.
[Added 8-19-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-09]