[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.]
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.
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:
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.
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year.
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade below
ground level on all sides.
See "structure."
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.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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.
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.
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete
inundation of normally dry land areas from:
Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from
any source. (See definition of "flooding.")
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.
See "regulatory floodway."
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.
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior
to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
Any structure that is:
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;
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;
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
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places
in communities with historic preservation programs that have been
certified either:
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.
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.
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two
or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
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.
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.
See "base flood."
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.
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.
Relating to, formed by or resembling a river (including tributaries),
stream, brook, etc.
See "area of special flood hazard."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All proposed development in any special flood hazard areas shall
require a permit.
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.
