The following are definitions which shall be used in making reasonable interpretations of the provisions contained in the Articles I and II of this chapter, being §§ 173-1 through 173-14 and 173-15 through 173-19 of this chapter:
BASE FLOOD
The flood which has been selected to serve as the basis upon which the floodplain management provisions of this and other articles have been prepared; for purposes of this chapter, the one-hundred-year flood, as referenced in the current Trappe Borough Flood Insurance Study, prepared by the Federal Insurance Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION
The one-hundred-year flood elevation, as referenced in the Borough of Trappe Flood Insurance Study, prepared by the Federal Insurance Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Within the General Floodplain and Flood Insurance Rate Map, the base flood elevation shall be established as described in § 340-135 of Chapter 340, Zoning.
BASEMENT
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.
CONSTRUCTION
The construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, extension, expansion, alteration or relocation of a building or structure, including the placement of manufactured homes.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, the placement of manufactured/mobile homes, streets and other paving, utilities, mining, dredging, filling, grading, excavation or drilling operations, or the storage of materials or equipment.
FLOOD
A temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas.
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. Such measures are set forth in floodproofing regulations published by the Office of the Chief Engineers, U.S. Army, publication number EP 1165 2 314 (June, 1972 and as subsequently amended). Floodproofing measures for all new construction and substantial improvements of structures shall satisfy the requirements of the completely dry spaces (W1) and essentially dry spaces (W2) classes referenced in these regulations. In said publication, where reference is made to "below" (or above) the "BFD" (base flood datum), it shall be interpreted as meaning below (or above) the base flood elevation.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
A. 
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of 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 area 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/MOBILE HOME
A transportable, single-family dwelling intended for permanent occupancy, office or place of assembly, contained in one or more sections, built on a permanent chassis, which arrives at a site completed and ready for occupancy except for minor or incidental unpacking and assembly operations, and constructed so that it may be used with or without a permanent foundation. The term includes park trailers, travel trailers, recreational and other similar vehicles which are placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction as herein defined commenced on or after May 5, 1975. This term does not apply to any work on a structure existing before the effective date of this chapter.
NEW STRUCTURE
Structures for which the "start of construction" as herein defined commenced on or after May 5, 1975 and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD
A flood that has one chance in 100 or a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any one year. For the purposes of this chapter, the one-hundred-year flood (base flood) as defined by the Federal Insurance Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Flood Insurance Study, Trappe Borough.
REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION (RFE)
The one-hundred-year flood elevation plus a freeboard safety factor of 1 1/2 feet.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
Includes substantial improvement, 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 of the permit date. The actual start means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on the 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
Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground, including, but not limited to, buildings, factories, sheds, cabins, manufactured homes, modular homes and other similar items.
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 repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals 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," as defined herein, regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:
A. 
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 local code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
B. 
Any alteration of a "historic structure," provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's contained designation as a "historic structure."
A. 
The degree of flood protection sought by the provisions of this chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on acceptable engineering methods of study. Larger floods may occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes such as ice jams and bridge openings restricted by debris. This chapter does not imply that areas outside the Floodplain Conservation District, or that land uses permitted within such district, will be free from flooding or flood damages.
B. 
This chapter shall not create liability on the part of Trappe Borough or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damages that result from reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.