In accordance with the administrative regulations promulgated
by the PADCED to implement the Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management
Act,[1] the activities indicated in Subsections A and B shall be prohibited within any Floodplain Conservation District unless a special permit has been issued by the Floodplain Administrator. In order to apply for a special permit, a Floodplain Appeal must first be obtained, as provided for in Article VI.
B.
The construction of a new manufactured home park or manufactured
home subdivision, or substantial improvement to an existing manufactured
home park or manufactured home subdivision.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 679.101 et seq.
Applicants for special permits shall provide five copies of
the following items:
A.
A completed special permit application form.
B.
A small scale map showing the vicinity of the proposed site.
C.
A plan of the entire site, clearly and legibly drawn at a scale of
one inch being equal to 100 feet or less, showing the following:
(1)
North arrow, scale and date;
(2)
Topography based upon the North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of
1988, showing existing and proposed contours at intervals of one foot;
(3)
All property and lot lines, including dimensions, and the size of
the site expressed in acres or square feet;
(4)
The location of all existing streets, drives, other accessways, and
parking areas, with widths, pavement types and construction, and elevations;
(5)
The location of any existing bodies of water or watercourses, buildings,
structures and other public or private facilities, including railroad
tracks and facilities, and any other natural and man-made features
affecting, or affected by, the proposed activity or development;
(6)
The location of the floodplain boundary line, information and spot
elevations showing the BFE, and information concerning the flow of
water including direction and velocities;
(7)
The location of all proposed buildings, structures, utilities, and
any other improvements; and
(8)
Any other information which the Floodplain Administrator or the Township
Engineer consider necessary for adequate review and consideration
of the application.
D.
Plans for all proposed buildings, structures and other improvements,
clearly and legibly drawn at suitable scale showing the following:
(1)
Sufficiently detailed architectural or engineering drawings, including
floor plans, sections, and exterior building elevations, as appropriate;
(2)
For any proposed building, the elevation of the lowest floor (including
basement) and, as required, the elevation of any other floor;
(3)
Complete information concerning flood depths, pressures, velocities,
impact and uplift forces, and other factors associated with the BFE;
(4)
Detailed information concerning any proposed floodproofing measures;
(5)
Cross-section drawings for all proposed streets, drives, other accessways,
and parking areas, showing all rights-of-way and pavement widths;
(6)
Profile drawings for all proposed streets, drives, and vehicular
accessways including existing and proposed grades; and
(7)
Plans and profiles of all proposed sanitary and storm sewer systems,
water supply systems, and any other utilities and facilities.
E.
The following additional data and documentation:
(1)
Certification from the applicant that the site upon which the activity
or development is proposed is an existing separate and single parcel,
owned (or equitably owned) by the applicant or the client he represents;
(2)
Certification from a registered professional engineer, architect,
or landscape architect that the proposed construction has been adequately
designed to protect against damage from the BFE;
(3)
A statement, certified by a registered professional engineer, architect,
landscape architect, or other qualified person which contains a complete
and accurate description of the nature and extent of pollution that
might possibly occur from the development during the course of a BFE,
including a statement concerning the effects such pollution may have
on human life;
(4)
A statement certified by a registered professional engineer, architect,
or landscape architect, which contains a complete and accurate description
of the effects the proposed development will have on BFE elevations
and flows;
(5)
A statement, certified by a registered professional engineer, architect,
or landscape architect, which contains a complete and accurate description
of the kinds and amounts of any loose buoyant materials or debris
that may possibly exist or be located on the site below the BFE and
the effects such materials and debris may have on BFE elevations and
flows;
(6)
The appropriate component of the PADEP's "Planning Module for
Land Development";
(7)
Where any excavation or grading is proposed, a plan meeting the requirements
of the PADEP to implement and maintain erosion and sedimentation control;
(8)
Any other applicable permits such as, but not limited to, a permit
for any activity regulated by the PADEP under Section 302 of Act 1978-166;
and
(9)
An evacuation plan which fully explains the manner in which the site
will be safely evacuated before or during the course of a base flood.
Upon receipt of an application for a special permit by the Floodplain Administrator the following procedures shall apply in addition to those of Article IX:
A.
Upon receipt of a completed application, one copy shall promptly
be forwarded to the Montgomery County Planning Commission by registered
or certified mail for its review and recommendations. A copy shall
also be forwarded to the Township Planning Commission and to the Township
Engineer for review and comment.
B.
If an incomplete application is received, the Floodplain Administrator
shall notify the applicant in writing, stating in what respect the
application is deficient.
C.
If the Floodplain Administrator decides to deny an application, he/she
shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the reasons for the denial.
D.
If the Floodplain Administrator receives a completed application,
he/she shall promptly mail written notification, together with a copy
of the application and all other pertinent information, to the PADCED,
by registered or certified mail.
E.
Before issuing a special permit, the Floodplain Administrator shall
allow the PADCED 30 days to review the application.
F.
If the PADCED decides to deny an application, it shall notify the
Floodplain Administrator and the applicant, in writing, of the reasons
for the denial, and the Floodplain Administrator shall not issue a
special permit.
G.
If the PADCED recommends approval of the application subject to conditions,
he/she shall notify the Floodplain Administrator and the applicant,
in writing, and the Floodplain Administrator shall have the option
of including any, all, or none of said conditions if and when it issues
the special permit.
H.
If the Floodplain Administrator does not receive communication from
the PADCED during the thirty-day review period, he/she may issue a
special permit to the applicant.
A.
In addition to the requirements of Article VII of this chapter, the following minimum requirements shall also apply to any proposed development requiring a special permit. If there is any conflict between any of the following requirements and those in Article VII of this chapter, or in any other code, ordinance, or regulation, the more restrictive provision shall apply.
B.
No application for a special permit shall be approved unless it can
be determined that the structure or activity will be located, constructed
and maintained in a manner which will:
C.
All 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 the Floodplain Administrator, Township Engineer and the
PADCED.
