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 municipality, and
until all required permits or approvals have been first obtained from
the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Dams and Waterway
Management. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Bureau
of Community Planning, shall be notified prior to any alteration or
relocation of any watercourse.
[Amended 11-11-2009 by Ord. No. 540]
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.
[Amended 11-11-2009 by Ord. No. 540]
A.
With any FW (Floodway Area), the following provisions apply:
B.
Within any FE (Special Floodplain Area), no new construction or development
shall be allowed 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 elevation of the
one-hundred-year flood more than one foot at any point.
C.
Within any FE (Special Floodplain Area) or FA (General Floodplain
Area), the following provisions apply:
A.
No expansion or enlargement of existing nonconformities (structures
and/or uses) shall be allowed in the floodway that would cause an
increase in the elevation of the one-hundred-year flood.
B.
Any modification, alteration, repair, reconstruction or improvement
of any kind to a nonconformity (structure and/or use) located in the
Floodplain District to an extent or amount of less than 50% of its
market value should be elevated and/or floodproofed to the greatest
extent possible.
C.
The modification, alteration, repair, reconstruction or improvement
of any kind to a nonconformity (structure and/or use) in the Floodplain
District to an extent or amount of 50% or more of its market value
shall be undertaken only in full compliance with the provisions of
this chapter and any other applicable ordinance.
D.
Uses of adjuncts thereof which are or become nuisances shall not
be permitted to continue.
[Added 11-11-2009 by Ord. No. 540]
A.
Residential structures. Within any identified floodplain area, any
new construction or substantial improvement of a residential structure
shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or
above, the regulatory flood elevation. The design and construction
standards and specifications contained in the 2003 IBC (Sections 1612.4,
1603.1.6 and 3403.1) and in the 2003 IRC (Sections R323.1.4, R323.2.1,
and R323.2.2) and ASCE 24 (Sections 2.4 and 2.5, Chapter 5) and 34
Pa. Code (Chapters 401 through 405, as amended) shall be utilized.
B.
Nonresidential structures.
(1)
Within any identified floodplain area, any new construction
or substantial improvement of a nonresidential structure shall have
the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or above, the
regulatory flood elevation, or be designed and constructed so that
the space enclosed by such structure shall remain either completely
or essentially dry during any flood up to that height.
(2)
Any nonresidential structure, or part thereof, having a lowest
floor which is not elevated to at least 1 1/2 feet above the
one-hundred-year flood elevation shall be floodproofed in a completely
or essentially dry manner in accordance with the WI or W2 space classification
standards contained in the publication entitled "Flood-Proofing Regulations"
published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (June 1972, as amended
March 1992) or with some other equivalent standard. All plans and
specifications for such floodproofing shall be accompanied by a statement
certified by a registered professional engineer or architect which
states that the proposed design and methods of construction are in
conformance with the above referenced standards.
C.
Space below the lowest floor.
(1)
Fully enclosed space below the lowest floor (including basement)
is prohibited.
(2)
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:
(a)
A minimum of two openings having a net total area of not less
than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed space.
(b)
The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot
above grade.
(c)
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, etc., or other
coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry
and exit of floodwaters.
(3)
Consideration may be given to the requirements of 34 Pa. Code
(Chapters 401 through 405, as amended) and the 2003 IRC (Sections
R323.2.2 and R323.1.4) and the 2003 IBC (Sections 1612.4, 1612.5,
1202.3.2 and 1203.3.3).
D.
Accessory structures. Structures accessory to a principal building
need not be elevated or floodproofed to remain dry, but shall comply,
at a minimum, with the following requirements:
(1)
The structure shall not be designed or used for human habitation,
but shall be limited to the parking of vehicles, or to the storage
of tools, material, and equipment related to the principal use or
activity.
(2)
Floor area shall not exceed 600 square feet.
(3)
The structure will have a low damage potential.
(4)
The structure will be located on the site so as to cause the
least obstruction to the flow of floodwaters.
(5)
Power lines, wiring, and outlets will be at least 1 1/2
feet above the one-hundred-year flood elevation.
(6)
Permanently affixed utility equipment and appliances such as
furnaces, heaters, washers, dryers, etc., are prohibited.
(7)
Sanitary facilities are prohibited.
(8)
The structure shall be adequately anchored to prevent flotation
or movement and shall be designed to automatically provide for the
entry and exit of floodwater for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic
forces on the walls. Designs for meeting this requirement must either
be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect, or
meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
(a)
A minimum of two openings having a net total area of not less
than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed space.
(b)
The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot
above grade.
(c)
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, etc., or other
coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry
and exit of floodwaters.
[Added 11-11-2009 by Ord. No. 540]
The standards and specifications contained 34 Pa. Code (Chapters
401 through 405), as amended, and not limited to the following provisions,
shall apply to the above and other sections and subsections of this
chapter, to the extent that they are more restrictive and/or supplement
the requirements of this chapter.
