[Ord. No. 285 §1, 10-23-2008; Ord. No. 288 §1, 2-26-2009]
Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in
this Chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they
have in common usage and to give this Chapter its most reasonable
application.
AGENCY
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURE
Any structure used exclusively in connection with the production,
harvesting, storage, drying or raising of agricultural commodities.
APPEAL
A request for a review of the Floodplain Administrator's
interpretation of any provision of this Chapter or a request for a
variance.
APPURTENANT STRUCTURE
A structure that is on the same parcel of property as the
principal structure to be insured and the use of which is incidental
to the use of the principal structure.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to
a one percent (1%) or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
BASE FLOOD
The flood having a one percent (1%) chance of being equalled
or exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT
Any area of the structure having its floor subgrade (below
ground level) on all sides.
COMMUNITY
Any State or area or political subdivision thereof which
has authority to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations
for the areas within its jurisdiction.
DEVELOPMENT
Any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate
including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, levees,
levee systems, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation
or drilling operations, or storage of equipment or materials.
ELEVATED BUILDING
For insurance purposes, a non-basement building which has
its lowest elevated floor raised above ground level by foundation
walls, shear walls, posts, piers, pilings or columns.
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION
For the purpose of determining rates, structures for which
the "start of construction" commenced before the effective date of
the FIRM or before January 1, 1975, for FIRMs effective before that
date. "Existing construction" may also be referred
to as "existing structures".
EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction
of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes
are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities,
the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the
pouring of concrete pads) is completed before the effective date of
the floodplain management regulations adopted by a community.
EXPANSION TO AN EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
The preparation of additional sites by the construction of
facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes
are to be affixed (including the installation of utilities, the construction
of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete
pads).
FLOOD ELEVATION DETERMINATION
A determination by the Administrator of the water surface
elevations of the base flood, that is, the flood level that has a
one percent (1%) or greater chance of occurrence in any given year.
FLOOD FRINGE
The area outside the floodway encroachment lines, but still
subject to inundation by the regulatory flood.
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
An Official Map of a community, issued by the Administrator,
where the boundaries of the flood areas having special flood hazards
have been designated as (unnumbered or numbered) A Zones.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
An Official Map of a community on which the Administrator
has delineated both the special flood hazard areas and the risk premium
zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS)
An examination, evaluation and determination of flood hazards
and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations.
FLOOD or FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete
inundation of normally dry land areas from (1) The overflow of inland
or tidal waters, and/or (2) The unusual and rapid accumulation or
runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive
measures for reducing flood damage including, but not limited to,
emergency preparedness plans, flood control works and floodplain management
regulations.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
Zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes,
health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such as floodplain
and grading ordinances) and other applications of Police power. The
term describes such State or local regulations, in any combination
thereof, that provide standards for the purpose of flood damage prevention
and reduction.
FLOODPROOFING
Any combination of structural and non-structural additions,
changes or adjustments to structures that reduce or eliminate flood
damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary
facilities or structures and their contents.
FLOODWAY or REGULATORY FLOODWAY
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
one (1) foot.
FREEBOARD
A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood
level for purposes of floodplain management. Freeboard tends to compensate
for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights
greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway
conditions, such as bridge openings and the hydrological effect of
urbanization of the watershed.
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE
A use that cannot perform its intended purpose unless it
is located or carried out in close proximity to water. This term includes
only docking facilities and facilities that are necessary for the
loading and unloading of cargo or passengers, but does not include
long-term storage or related manufacturing facilities.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior
to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
1.
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;
2.
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;
3.
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
4.
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places
in communities with historic preservation programs that have been
certified either:
a.
By an approved State program as determined by the Secretary
of the Interior; or
b.
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 floodproofing design requirements of this Chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure, transportable in one (1) 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. The
term "manufactured home" does not include a "recreational vehicle".
MAP
The Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM), Flood Insurance Rate
Map (FIRM) or the Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM) for a community
issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
MEAN SEA LEVEL
For purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),
the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929 or other datum
to which base flood elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM) are referenced.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
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 the floodplain management regulations adopted by a community
and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.
NEW MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction
of facilities for servicing the lot on which the manufactured homes
are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities,
the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the
pouring of concrete pads) is completed on or after the effective date
of the floodplain management regulations adopted by the community.
NFIP
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY
Also known as an "eligible community", means
a community in which the Administrator has authorized the sale of
flood insurance.
PERSON
Includes any individual or group of individuals, corporation,
partnership, association or any other entity, including Federal, State
and local governments and agencies.
PRINCIPALLY ABOVE GROUND
At least fifty-one percent (51%) of the actual cash value
of the structure, less land value, is above ground.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is:
1.
Built on a single chassis;
2.
Four hundred (400) square feet or less when measured at the
largest horizontal projections;
3.
Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light
duty truck; and
4.
Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as
temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal
use.
REMEDY A VIOLATION
To bring the structure or other development into compliance
with Federal, State or local floodplain management regulations or,
if this is not possible, to reduce the impacts of this non-compliance.
REPETITIVE LOSS
Flood-related damages sustained by a structure on two (2)
separate occasions during a ten (10) year period for which the cost
of repairs at the time of each such flood event equals or exceeds
twenty-five percent (25%) of the market value of the structure before
the damage occurred.
RISK PREMIUM RATES
Those rates established by the Administrator pursuant to
individual community studies and investigations which are undertaken
to provide flood insurance in accordance with Section 1307 of the
National Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 and the accepted actuarial
principles. "Risk premium rates" include provisions
for operating costs and allowances.
SPECIAL HAZARD AREA
An area having special flood hazards and shown on a FHBM,
FIRM or FBFM as Zones (unnumbered or numbered) A and AE.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
Includes substantial improvement and means the date the building
permit was issued, provided that the actual start of construction,
repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, placement or other
improvements were within one hundred eighty (180) days of the permit
date. The "actual start" means either the first (1st)
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, 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, the installation of streets and/or walkways,
excavation for a basement, footings, piers, foundations, the erection
of temporary forms, nor installation on the property of accessory
structures, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units
or part of the main structure. For a substantial improvement, the "actual start of construction" means the first (1st) 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.
STATE COORDINATING AGENCY
That agency of the State Government or other office designated
by the Governor of the State or by State Statute at the request of
the Administrator to assist in the implementation of the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in that State.
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. "Structure", for insurance purposes, means a walled and roofed building, other
than a gas or liquid storage tank, that is principally above ground
and affixed to a permanent site, as well as a manufactured home on
a permanent foundation. For the latter purpose, the term includes
a building while in the course of construction, alteration or repair
but does not include building materials or supplies intended for use
in such construction, alteration or repair, unless such materials
or supplies are within an enclosed building on the premises.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the
cost of restoring the structure to pre-damaged condition would equal
or exceed fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure
before the damage occurred. The term includes Repetitive Loss buildings
(see definition).
For the purposes of this definition, "repair" is considered to occur when the first (1st) repair or reconstruction
of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building
commences.
The term does not apply to:
1.
Any project for improvement of a building required to comply
with existing health, sanitary or safety code specifications which
have been identified by the Code Enforcement Official and which are
solely necessary to assure safe living conditions, or
2.
Any alteration of a "historic structure" provided that the alteration
will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a "historic
structure", or
3.
Any improvement to a building.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any combination of reconstruction, alteration or improvement
to a building, taking place during a ten (10) year period in which
the cumulative percentage of improvement equals or exceeds fifty percent
(50%) of the current market value of the building. For the purposes
of this definition, an improvement occurs when the first (1st) 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 building. This term includes structures which have incurred
"repetitive loss" or "substantial damage", regardless of the actual
repair work done.
The term does not apply to:
1.
Any project for improvement of a building to comply with existing
health, sanitary or safety code specifications that have been identified
by the Code Enforcement Official and which are solely necessary to
assure safe living conditions; or
2.
Any alteration of a "historic structure", provided that the
alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation
as a "historic structure"; or
3.
Any building that has been damaged from any source or is categorized
as repetitive loss.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief by the community from the terms of a floodplain
management regulation. Flood insurance requirements remain in place
for any varied use or structure and cannot be varied by the community.
VIOLATION
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 by
this Chapter is presumed to be in violation until such time as that
documentation is provided.
WATER SURFACE ELEVATION
The height in relation to the National Geodetic Vertical
Datum (NGVD) of 1929 (or other datum where specified) of floods of
various magnitudes and frequencies in the floodplain.