The ordinance shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard
within the jurisdiction of Socorro County unincorporated areas.
The areas of special flood hazard within the City of Socorro,
Socorro County, New Mexico, identified by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency in the current scientific and engineering report entitled,
"The Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Socorro County," dated May 2,
2016, with accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated May 2, 2016,
and any revisions thereto are hereby adopted by reference and declared
to be a part of this chapter.
A floodplain development permit shall be required to ensure
conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
No structure or land shall hereafter be located, altered, or
have its use changed without full compliance with the terms of this
chapter and other applicable regulations.
This chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair
any existing easements, covenants, or deed restrictions. However,
where this chapter and another ordinance, easement, covenant, or deed
restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent
restrictions shall prevail.
In the interpretation and application of this chapter, all provisions
shall be:
A. Considered as minimum requirements;
B. Liberally construed in favor of the governing body; and
C. Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under
state statutes.
The degree of flood protection required by this chapter is considered
reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific and
engineering considerations. On rare occasions greater floods can and
will occur, and flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural
causes. This chapter does not imply that land outside the areas of
special flood hazards or uses permitted within such areas will be
free from flooding or flood damages. This chapter shall not create
liability on the part of the community or any official or employee
thereof for any flood damages that result from reliance on this chapter
or any administrative decision lawfully made hereunder.