To ensure that the aforementioned flood damage controls are
being employed in all new construction and improvements within the
Floodplain Conservation District, the Building Code Official shall
provide the applicant information concerning the location of the district
boundaries relative to his proposed construction or improvements and
the water surface elevation of the one-hundred-year flood at the proposed
construction site. The source of this information shall be the Flood
Insurance Study for Upper Gwynedd Township as prepared by the United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Insurance
Administration.
In addition to the permit application requirements normally
required under the Upper Gwynedd Township Building Code, as amended,[1] the Township Building Code Official shall require the
following specific information to be included as part of the application
for a building permit.
A.
For structures to be elevated:
(1)
A plan showing the size of the proposed structures and its relation
to the lot where it is to be constructed.
(2)
A determination of elevations of the existing ground, proposed finished
ground and lowest floors certified by a registered professional engineer,
surveyor or architect.
(3)
Plans showing the method of elevating the proposed structure, including
details of proposed fills, pile structures, retaining walls, foundations,
erosion protection measures, etc. When required by the Building Code
Official, these plans shall be prepared by a registered professional
engineer or architect.
(4)
Plans showing the methods used to protect utilities, including sewer,
water, telephone, electric, gas, etc., from flooding to an elevation
at least 1 1/2 feet above the base flood elevation at the building
site.
B.
For structures to be floodproofed:
(1)
Plans showing details of all floodproofing measures prepared by a
registered professional engineer or architect and showing the size
of the proposed structure and its relation to the lot where it is
to be constructed.
(2)
A determination of elevations of existing ground, proposed finished
ground, lowest floors and floodproofing limits certified by a registered
professional engineer, surveyor or architect.
(3)
A certificate prepared by the registered professional engineer or architect who prepared the plans in Subsection B(1) above that the structures in question, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, are designed so that:
(a)
Below an elevation 1 1/2 feet above the base flood elevation
the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to
the passage of water.
(b)
The structure will withstand the hydrostatic, hydrodynamic,
buoyant, impact and other forces resulting from the flood depths,
velocities, pressures and other factors associated with the base flood.
C.
For structures to be floodproofed in accordance with the W3 and W4
class requirements in the Office of the Chief of Engineers, United
States Army, Publication Number EP 1165-2-314, June 1972, and as subsequently
amended:
(1)
Plans showing details of all floodproofing measures prepared by a
registered professional engineer or architect and showing the size
of the proposed structure and its relation to the lot where it is
to be constructed.
(2)
A determination of elevations of existing ground, proposed finished
ground, lowest floors and floodproofing limits, certified by a registered
professional engineer, surveyor or architect.
(3)
A certificate prepared by the registered professional engineer or architect who prepared the plans in Subsection C(1) above that the structure in question, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, is designed to satisfy the floodproofing requirements of the W3 and W4 classes in the above-referenced publication.
A copy of all applications and plans for construction or development
in the Floodplain Conservation District to be considered for approval
shall be submitted by the Township Building Code Official to the Montgomery
County Conservation District for review and comment prior to the issuance
of a building permit. The recommendations of the Conservation District
shall be considered by the Township Building Code Official for possible
incorporation into the proposed plan.
Prior to the issuance of any building permit, the Township Building
Code Official shall review the application for a permit to determine
if all other necessary governmental permits, such as those required
by state and federal laws, have been obtained, including but not limited
to those required by Act 537, the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act;[1] the Pennsylvania Water Obstruction Act of 1913;[2] and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments
of 1972, Section 404, 33 U.S.C. § 1334. No permit shall
be issued until this determination has been made.
For purposes of implementation of these provisions, "start of construction" shall be considered as defined in Article I of this chapter.
A.
The degree of flood protection sought by the provisions of this chapter
is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on acceptable
engineering methods of study. Larger floods may occur on rare occasions.
Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes, such
as ice jams and bridge openings restricted by debris. This chapter
does not imply that areas outside the Floodplain Conservation District
or that land uses permitted within such district will be free from
flooding or flood damages.
B.
This chapter shall not create liability on the part of Upper Gwynedd
Township or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damages
that result from reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision
lawfully made thereunder.
