The identified floodplain area shall consist of the following
specific areas:
A. The Floodway District identified as floodway in the FIS and the FIRM
which represents the channel of a watercourse and the adjacent land
areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without
any increase in the water surface elevation at any point. This term
shall also include floodway areas which have been identified in other
available studies or sources of information for those special floodplain
areas where no floodway has been identified in the FIS and FIRM.
(1) Within any floodway area, no encroachments, including fill, new construction,
substantial improvements, or other development, shall be permitted
unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic and hydraulic analysis
performed in accordance with standard engineering practice that the
proposed encroachment would not result in any increase in flood levels
within the Township during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
(2) No new construction or development shall be allowed, unless the appropriate
permit is obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection
Regional Office.
B. The AE District shall be those areas adjacent to the floodway and
identified as an AE Zone on the FIRM included in the FIS prepared
by FEMA for which base flood elevations have been provided.
C. The A District shall be those areas identified as an A Zone on the
FIRM included in the FIS prepared by FEMA and for which no base flood
elevations have been provided. For these areas, elevation and floodway
information from other federal, state, or other acceptable sources
shall be used when available. Where other acceptable information is
not available, the elevation shall be determined by hydrologic and
hydraulic engineering techniques. Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses
shall be undertaken only by professional engineers or others of demonstrated
qualifications, who shall certify that the technical methods used
correctly reflect currently accepted technical concepts. Studies,
analyses, computations, etc., shall be submitted in sufficient detail
to allow a thorough technical review by Warwick Township.
D. For areas adjoining streams, ponds, and lakes not included in the
FIS prepared by FEMA, the applicant shall be required to determine
the elevation and area of the floodplain with hydrologic and hydraulic
engineering techniques. Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses shall be
undertaken only by registered professional engineers or others of
demonstrated qualifications, who shall certify that the technical
methods used correctly reflect currently accepted technical concepts.
Studies, analyses, computations, etc., shall be submitted in sufficient
detail to allow a thorough technical review by the municipality. All
areas inundated by the base flood shall be included in the identified
floodplain area.
The identified floodplain area may be revised or modified by the Board of Supervisors where studies or information provided by a qualified agency or person documents the need for such revision. However, prior to any such change within the A District or AE District, approval must be obtained from FEMA. Additionally, as soon as practicable, but not later than six months after the date such information becomes available, the Township shall notify FEMA of the changes by submitting technical or scientific data. See §
92-22B for situations where FEMA notification is required.
Should a dispute concerning any identified floodplain boundary
arise, an initial determination shall be made by the Floodplain Administrator,
and any party aggrieved by this decision or determination may appeal
to the Zoning Hearing Board. The burden of proof shall be on the appellant.
Prior to development occurring in areas where annexation or
other corporate boundary changes are proposed or have occurred, the
Township shall review flood hazard data affecting the lands subject
to boundary changes. The Township shall adopt and enforce floodplain
regulations in areas subject to annexation or corporate boundary changes
which meet or exceed those in 44 CFR 60.3.