[Amended 9-8-1993 by Ord. No. 452; 12-8-1993 by Ord. No.
454]
A. No encroachment, alteration or improvement of any
kind shall be made to any watercourse until all adjacent municipalities
which may be affected by such action have been notified by the Borough
and until all required permits or approvals have been first obtained
from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In addition,
the Federal Insurance Administrator and Pennsylvania Department of
Community and Economic Development, Bureau of Community Planning,
shall be notified by the Borough prior to any alteration or relocation
of any watercourse.
B. Any new construction, development, uses or activities
allowed within any identified floodplain area shall be undertaken
in strict compliance with the provisions contained in this chapter
and any other applicable codes, ordinances and regulations.
C. With any
FW (Floodway Area), the following provisions apply:
[Added 12-9-2009 by Ord. No. 504]
(1) Any
new construction, development, use, activity or encroachment that
would cause any increase in flood heights shall be prohibited.
(2) No
new construction or development shall be allowed, unless a permit
is obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection Regional
Office.
[Amended 9-8-1993 by Ord. No. 452; 12-8-1993 by Ord. No.
454]
A. Within any identified floodplain area, the elevation
of the lowest floor (including basement) of any new or substantially
improved residential structure shall be 11/2 feet or more above the
one-hundred-year-flood elevation. Enclosed areas below the lowest
floor (including basement) are prohibited.
B. Within any identified floodplain area, the elevation
of the lowest floor (including basement) of any new or substantially
improved nonresidential structure shall be 11/2 feet or more above
the one-hundred-year-flood elevation or to be floodproofed up to that
height. Any nonresidential structure or part thereof having a lowest
floor (including basement) which is not elevated to at least 11/2
feet above the one-hundred-year-flood elevation shall be floodproofed
in a completely or essentially dry manner in accordance with the W1
or W2 space classification standards contained in the publication
entitled "Flood-Proofing Regulations," published by the United States
Army Corps of Engineers (June 1972, as amended March 1992), or some
other equivalent standard. All plans and specifications for such floodproofing
shall be accompanied by statements certified by a registered professional
engineer or architect which state that the proposed design and methods
of construction are in conformance with the above-referenced standards.
Enclosed areas below the lowest floor (including basement) are prohibited.
[Amended 2-13-2002 by Ord. No. 481]
C. Partially
enclosed space below the lowest floor (including basement) which will
be used solely for the parking of a vehicle, building access or incidental
storage in an area other than a basement shall be designed and constructed
to allow for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters for the purpose
of equalizing hydrostatic forces on exterior walls. The term “partially
enclosed space” also includes crawl spaces. Designs for meeting
this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional
engineer or architect, or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
[Added 12-9-2009 by Ord. No. 504]
(1) A
minimum of two openings having a net total area of not less than one
square inch for every square foot of enclosed space.
(2) The
bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade.
(3) Openings
may be equipped with screens, louvers, etc., or other coverings or
devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of
floodwaters.
[Amended 12-8-1993 by Ord. No. 454]
The following minimum standards shall apply
for all construction and development proposed within any identified
floodplain area.
A. Fill. If fill is used, it shall:
(1) Extend laterally at least 15 feet beyond the building
line from all points.
(2) Consist of soil or small rock materials only. Sanitary
landfills shall not be permitted.
(3) Be compacted to provide the necessary permeability
and resistance to erosion, scouring or settling.
(4) Be no steeper than one vertical to two horizontal
feet unless substantiated data justifying steeper slopes are submitted
to and approved by the Building Official.
(5) Be used to the extent to which it does not adversely
affect adjacent properties.
B. Drainage facilities. Storm drainage facilities shall
be designed to convey the flood of stormwater runoff in a safe and
efficient manner. The system shall ensure proper drainage along streets
and provide positive drainage away from buildings. The system shall
also be designed to prevent the discharge of excess runoff onto adjacent
properties.
C. Water and sanitary sewer facilities and systems.
(1) All new or replacement water and sanitary sewer facilities
and systems shall be located, designed and constructed to minimize
or eliminate flood damages and the infiltration of floodwaters.
(2) Sanitary sewer facilities and systems shall be designed
to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into floodwaters.
(3) No part of any on-site sewage system shall be located
within any identified floodplain area except in strict compliance
with all state and local regulations for such systems. If any such
system is permitted, it shall be located so as to avoid impairment
to it or contamination from it during a flood.
D. Other utilities. All other utilities such as gas lines,
electrical and telephone systems shall be located, elevated (where
possible) and constructed to minimize the chance of impairment during
a flood.
E. Streets. The finished elevation of all new streets
shall be no more than one foot below the regulatory flood elevation.
F. Storage. All materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive or, in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal or plant life, and not listed in §
137-27, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood elevation and/or floodproofed to the maximum extent possible.
G. Placement of buildings and structures. All building
and structure shall be designed, located and constructed so as to
offer the minimum obstruction to the flow of water and shall be designed
to have a minimum effect upon the flow and height of floodwater.
H. Anchoring.
(1) All buildings and structures shall be firmly anchored
in accordance with accepted engineering practices to prevent flotation,
collapse or lateral movement.
(2) All air ducts, large pipes, storage tanks and other
similar objects or components located below the regulatory flood elevation
shall be securely anchored or affixed to prevent flotation.
I. Floor, walls and ceilings.
(1) Wood flooring used at or below the regulatory flood
elevation shall be installed to accommodate a lateral expansion of
the flooring, perpendicular to the flooring grain, without causing
structural damage to the building.
(2) Plywood used at or below the regulatory flood elevation
shall be of a marine or water-resistant variety.
(3) Walls and ceilings at or below the regulatory flood
elevation shall be designed and constructed of materials that are
water-resistant and will withstand inundation.
(4) Windows, doors and other components at or below the
regulatory flood elevation shall be made of metal or other water-resistant
material.
J. Paints and adhesives.
(1) Paints or other finishes used at or below the regulatory
flood elevation shall be of marine or water-resistant quality.
(2) Adhesives used at or below the regulatory flood elevation
shall be of a marine or water-resistant variety.
(3) All wooden components (doors, trim, cabinets, etc.)
shall be finished with a marine or water-resistant paint or other
finishing material.
K. Electrical components.
(1) Electrical distribution panels shall be at least three
feet above the one-hundred-year-flood elevation.
(2) Separate electrical circuits shall serve lower levels
and shall be dropped from above.
L. Equipment. Water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioning
and ventilating units and other electrical, mechanical or utility
equipment or apparatus shall not be located below the regulatory flood
elevation.
M. Fuel supply systems. All gas and oil supply systems
shall be designed to prevent the infiltration of floodwaters into
the system and discharges from the system into floodwaters. Additional
provisions shall be made for the drainage of these systems in the
event that the floodwater infiltration occurs.
[Amended 9-8-1993 by Ord. No. 452; 12-8-1993 by Ord. No.
454]
A. Within any FW (Floodway Area), manufactured homes
shall be prohibited.
B. Within any FA (General Floodplain Area), manufactured
homes shall be prohibited within the area measured 50 feet landward
from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.
[Amended 2-13-2002 by Ord. No. 481]
C. Where permitted within any identified floodplain area,
all manufactured homes, and any additions thereto, shall be:
(1) Placed on a permanent foundation.
(2) Elevated so that the lowest floor of the manufactured
home is 11/2 feet or more above the elevation of the one-hundred-year
flood.
(3) Anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral
movement.