[Ord. No. 678 §12.0, 2-1-1988; Ord. No. 920 §2, 12-15-2003]
As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have these
prescribed meanings:
ACTUARIAL OR RISK PREMIUM RATES
Those rates established by the Administrator pursuant to
individual community studies and investigation which are undertaken
to provide flood insurance in accordance with Section 1307 of the
Act and the accepted actuarial principles. "Risk premium rates" include provisions for operating costs and allowances.
APPEAL
A request for a review of the Floodplain Administrator's
interpretation of any provision of this Chapter or a request for a
variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
A designated AO or AH Zone on a community's Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM) with one percent (1%) or greater annual chance of
flooding to an average depth of one (1) to three (3) feet where a
clearly defined channel is unpredictable and where velocity flow may
be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
The land in the flood plain within a community subject to
one percent (1%) or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
BASE FLOOD
The flood having one percent (1%) chance of being equalled
or exceeded in any given year.
DEVELOPMENT
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.
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION
For the purposes of determining rates, structures for which
the "start of construction" commenced before the
effective date of the FIRM or before January 1, 1975, for FIRM's effective
before that date. "Existing construction" may also
be referred to as "existing structures".
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.
2.
The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters
from any source.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
An official map of a community, on which the Flood Insurance
Study has delineated the Flood Hazard Boundaries and the zones establishing
insurance rates applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. The report contains flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary
Floodway Map and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
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.
FLOODWAY FRINGE
Area of the flood plain, outside of the floodway, that on
the average is likely to be flooded once every one hundred (100) years
(i.e., that has a one percent (1%) chance of flood occurrence in any
one (1) year).
FREEBOARD
A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood
level for purposes of flood plain 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 wave action, clogged bridge
openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior
to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
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. For
flood plain management purposes the term "manufactured home" also includes park trailers, travel trailers, and other similar
vehicles placed on a site for greater than one hundred eighty (180)
consecutive days. For insurance purposes the term "manufactured
home" does not include park trailers, travel trailers, and
other similar vehicles.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the "start of construction or
substantial improvement" is commenced on or after the effective
date of the FIRM.
OVERLAY DISTRICT
A district in which additional requirements act in conjunction
with the underlying zoning district(s). The original zoning district
designation does not change.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
(For other than new construction or substantial improvements
under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (Pub. L. 97-348) includes
substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was
issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction,
placement, or other improvement was within one hundred eighty (180)
days of the permit date. The "actual start" means
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.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building that is principally above ground,
as well as a manufactured home, and a gas or liquid storage tank that
is principally above ground.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure,
the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market
value of the structure either:
1.
Before the improvement or repair is started, or
2.
If the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before
the damage occurred.
For the purpose 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 either:
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1.
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Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing,
State or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which
are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions, or
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2.
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Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register
of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
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VARIANCE
A grant of relief to a person from the requirements of this
Chapter which permits construction in a manner otherwise prohibited
by this Chapter where specific enforcement would result in unnecessary
hardship.