[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
1.
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Township is hereby appointed to administer and enforce this Part 21 and is referred to herein as the "floodplain administrator." The floodplain administrator may:
A.
Fulfill the duties and responsibilities set forth in these regulations;
B.
Delegate duties and responsibilities set forth in these regulations
to qualified technical personnel, plan examiners, inspectors, and
other employees; or
C.
Enter into a written agreement or written contract with another agency
or private-sector entity to administer specific provisions of these
regulations. Administration of any part of these regulations by another
entity shall not relieve the community of its responsibilities pursuant
to the participation requirements of the National Flood Insurance
Program as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations at 44 CFR
59.22.
2.
In the absence of a designated floodplain administrator, the floodplain
administrator duties are to be fulfilled by the East Coventry Township
Manager.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
A permit shall be required before any construction or development
is undertaken within any identified floodplain area of the Township.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
1.
The floodplain administrator shall issue a permit only after it has been determined that the affected property is located within an identified floodplain area and the proposed work to be undertaken will be in conformance with the requirements of this Part and all other applicable codes and ordinances. If the floodplain administrator determines that the property on which the proposed work is to be undertaken is not located within an identified floodplain area, the floodplain administrator shall issue a letter stating such, and the provisions of this Part 21 shall not apply.
2.
Prior to the issuance of any permit, the floodplain administrator
shall review the application for the permit to determine if all other
necessary government permits required by state and federal laws have
been obtained, such as those required by the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities
Act (Act 1966-537, as amended);[1] the Pennsylvania Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (Act
1978-325, as amended);[2] the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Act (Act 1937-394, as amended);[3] and the United States Clean Water Act, Section 404, 33
U.S.C. § 1344. No permit shall be issued until this determination
has been made.
3.
In the case of existing structures, prior to the issuance of any
development/permit, the floodplain administrator shall review the
proposed cost of improvements or repairs and the pre-improvement market
value of the structure, so that a substantial improvement/substantial
damage determination can be made, in accordance with FEMA's Substantial
Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk Reference.
4.
During the construction period, the floodplain administrator or other
authorized official shall inspect the premises to determine that the
work is progressing in compliance with the information provided on
the permit application and with all applicable municipal laws and
ordinances. He/she shall make as many inspections during and upon
completion of the work as are necessary.
5.
In the discharge of his/her duties, the floodplain administrator shall have the authority to enter any building, structure, premises or development in the identified floodplain area, upon presentation of proper credentials, at any reasonable hour to enforce the provisions of this Part 21.
6.
In the event the floodplain administrator discovers that the work
does not comply with the permit application or any applicable laws
and ordinances, or that there has been a false statement or misrepresentation
by any applicant, the floodplain administrator shall revoke the permit
and report such fact to the Board of Supervisors for whatever action
it considers necessary.
7.
The floodplain administrator shall maintain in perpetuity, or for the lifetime of the structure, all records associated with the requirements of this Part 21, including, but not limited to, finished construction elevation data, permitting, inspection and enforcement.
8.
The floodplain administrator is the official responsible for submitting
a biennial report to FEMA concerning community participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program as requested.
9.
The responsibility, authority and means to implement the commitments
of the floodplain administrator can be delegated by the person identified.
However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the person identified
in this Part as the floodplain administrator.
10.
The floodplain administrator shall consider the requirements of 34
Pa. Code and the 2009 IBC and the 2009 IRC, or the latest revision
thereof as adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
1.
Application for such a permit shall be made, in writing, to the floodplain
administrator on forms supplied by the Township. Such application
shall contain the following:
A.
Name and address of applicant.
B.
Name and address of owner of land on which proposed construction
is to occur.
C.
Name and address of contractor.
D.
Site location, including address.
E.
Listing of other permits required.
F.
Brief description of proposed work and estimated cost, including
a breakout of flood-related cost and the market value of the building
before the flood damage occurred, where appropriate.
G.
A plan of the site showing the exact size and location of the proposed
construction as well as any existing buildings or structures.
2.
If any proposed construction or development is located entirely or
partially within any identified floodplain area, applicants for permits
shall provide all the necessary information in sufficient detail and
clarity to enable the floodplain administrator to determine that:
A.
All such proposals are consistent with the need to minimize flood
damage and conform with the requirements of this Part and all other
applicable codes and ordinances;
B.
All utilities and facilities, such as sewer, gas, electrical and
water systems, are located and constructed to minimize or eliminate
flood damage;
C.
Adequate drainage is provided so as to reduce exposure to flood hazards;
D.
Structures will be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral
movement;
E.
Building materials are flood-resistant;
F.
Appropriate practices that minimize flood damage have been used;
and
G.
Electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and air-conditioning
equipment, and other service facilities have been designed and located
to prevent water entry or accumulation.
3.
Applicants shall file the following minimum information plus any
other pertinent information as may be required by the floodplain administrator
to make the above determination:
A.
A completed permit application form.
B.
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)
Topographic contour lines, if available;
(3)
The location of all existing and proposed buildings, structures,
and other improvements, including the location of any existing or
proposed subdivision and development;
(4)
The location of all existing streets, drives, and other accessways;
and
(5)
The location of any existing bodies of water or watercourses,
identified floodplain areas, and, if available, information pertaining
to the floodway, and the flow of water, including direction and velocities.
C.
Plans of all proposed buildings, structures and other improvements,
drawn at suitable scale, showing the following:
(1)
The proposed lowest floor elevation of any proposed building
based upon the North American Vertical Datum of 1988;
(2)
The elevation of the base flood;
(3)
Supplemental information as may be necessary under 34 Pa. Code,
the 2009 IBC or the 2009 IRC, or the latest revision thereof as adopted
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
The following data and documentation:
(1)
Detailed information concerning any proposed floodproofing measures
and corresponding elevations.
(2)
If available, information concerning flood depths, pressures,
velocities, impact and uplift forces and other factors associated
with a base flood.
(3)
Documentation, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect, to show that the effect of any proposed development within a Floodway Area (see § 27-2132, Subsection 1A) will not increase the base flood elevation at any point.
(4)
Documentation, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect, to show that the cumulative effect of any proposed development within an AE Area/District without floodway (see § 27-2132, Subsection 1B), when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, will not increase the base flood elevation more than one foot at any point within the community.
(5)
A document, certified by a registered professional engineer
or architect, which states that the proposed construction or development
has been adequately designed to withstand the pressures, velocities,
impact and uplift forces associated with the base flood. Such statement
shall include a description of the type and extent of floodproofing
measures which have been incorporated into the design of the structure
and/or the development.
(6)
(7)
The appropriate component of the Department of Environmental
Protection's "Planning Module for Land Development."
(8)
Where any excavation or grading is proposed, a plan, meeting
the requirements of the Department of Environmental Protection, to
implement and maintain erosion and sedimentation control.
4.
Applications for permits shall be accompanied by a fee, payable to
East Coventry Township, based upon the estimated cost of the proposed
construction, as determined by the floodplain administrator, in accordance
with a fee resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
A copy of all plans and applications for any proposed construction
or development in any identified floodplain area to be considered
for approval may be submitted by the floodplain administrator to any
other appropriate agencies and/or individuals (e.g., the Township
Planning Commission and Township Engineer) for review and comment.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
After the issuance of a permit by the floodplain administrator,
no changes of any kind shall be made to the application, permit or
any of the plans, specifications or other documents submitted with
the application without the written consent or approval of the floodplain
administrator. Requests for any such change shall be in writing and
shall be submitted by the applicant to the floodplain administrator
for consideration.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
In addition to the permit, the floodplain administrator shall
issue a placard, or similar document, which shall be displayed on
the premises during the time construction is in progress. This placard
shall show the number of the permit and the date of its issuance and
be signed by the floodplain administrator.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
1.
Work on the proposed construction or development shall begin within
180 days after the date of issuance of the development permit. Work
shall also be completed within 12 months after the date of issuance
of the permit or the permit shall expire, unless a time extension
is granted, in writing, by the floodplain administrator. The issuance
of the development permit does not refer to the zoning approval.
2.
The "actual start of construction" means either 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. For
a substantial improvement, the "actual start of construction" means
the first 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.
3.
Time extensions shall be granted only if a written request is submitted
by the applicant, who sets forth sufficient and reasonable cause for
the floodplain administrator to approve such a request and the original
permit is compliant with the ordinance and FIRM/FIS in effect at the
time the extension is granted.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
1.
Notices. Whenever the floodplain administrator or other authorized municipal representative determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provisions of this Part 21, or of any regulations adopted pursuant thereto, the floodplain administrator shall give notice of such alleged violation as hereinafter provided. Such notice shall:
A.
Be in writing;
B.
Include a statement of the reasons for its issuance;
C.
Allow a reasonable time, not to exceed a period of 30 days, for the
performance of any act it requires;
D.
Be served upon the property owner or his agent, as the case may require;
provided, however, that such notice or order shall be deemed to have
been properly served upon such owner or agent when a copy thereof
has been served with such notice by any other method authorized or
required by the laws of this commonwealth; and
2.
Penalties. Any person who fails to comply with any or all of the requirements or provisions of this Part 21 or who fails or refuses to comply with any notice, order or direction of the floodplain administrator or any other authorized employee of East Coventry Township shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction, shall pay a fine to East Coventry Township of not less than $25 nor more than $600, plus costs of prosecution. In addition to the above penalty, all other actions are hereby reserved, including an action in equity for the proper enforcement of this Part 21. The imposition of a fine or penalty for any violation of, or noncompliance with, this Part 21 shall not excuse the violation or noncompliance or permit it to continue. All such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations and noncompliance within a reasonable time. Any development initiated or any structure or building constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, altered, or relocated in noncompliance with this Part 21 may be declared by the Board of Supervisors to be a public nuisance and abatable as such.
[Added by Ord. 214, 6/12/2017]
1.
Any person aggrieved by any action or decision of the floodplain administrator concerning the administration of the provisions of this Part 21 may appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board. Such appeal must be filed, in writing, within 30 days after the decision, determination or action of the floodplain administrator.
