A.Â
Alteration or relocation of watercourse.
(1)Â
No encroachment, alteration,
or improvement of any kind shall be made to any watercourse until
all adjacent municipalities which may be affected by such action have
been notified by the municipality and until all required permits or
approvals have first been obtained from the Department of Environmental
Protection regional office.
(2)Â
No encroachment, alteration,
or improvement of any kind shall be made to any watercourse unless
it can be shown that the activity will not reduce or impede the flood-carrying
capacity of the watercourse in any way.
(3)Â
In addition, FEMA and the
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development shall
be notified prior to any alteration or relocation of any watercourse.
B.Â
The Township has a right to and
shall be given an opportunity to review and preliminarily endorse
any elevation certificate, prior to an applicant's submission of such
elevation certificate to FEMA for approval. The applicant shall submit
plans and an otherwise complete elevation certificate for Township
review, and the Township may complete the "community information"
section of the elevation certificate. Where an applicant submits an
application to FEMA for a letter of map amendment (LOMA), a letter
of map revision (LOMR), or a conditional letter of map amendment or
revision (CLOMA or CLOMR), the applicant shall, within 30 days of
receipt of an approval from FEMA:
C.Â
Technical or scientific data
shall be submitted by the applicant to FEMA for a letter of map revision
(LOMR) as soon as practicable but within six months of any new construction,
development, or other activity resulting in changes in the base flood
elevation. The situations when a LOMR or a conditional letter of map
revision (CLOMR) are required are:
(1)Â
Any development that causes
a rise in the base flood elevations within the floodway; or
(2)Â
Any development occurring
in Zones Al-30 and Zone AE without a designated floodway which will
cause a rise of one foot or more in the base flood elevation; or
(3)Â
Alteration or relocation
of a stream (including but not limited to installing culverts and
bridges).
D.Â
Any new construction, development,
uses or activities allowed within any identified floodplain area shall
be undertaken in strict compliance with the provisions contained in
this chapter and any other applicable codes, ordinances and regulations.
A.Â
Residential structures.
(1)Â
In AE, A1-30, and AH Zones,
any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest
floor (including basement) elevated up to, or above, the regulatory
flood elevation (base flood elevation plus two feet of freeboard).
(2)Â
In A Zones, where there are no base flood elevations specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation determined in accordance with § 183-18D of this chapter.
(3)Â
The design and construction
standards and specifications contained in the 2009 International Building
Code (IBC) and in the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC), or
the most recent revisions thereof, and ASCE 24 and 34 Pa. Code (Chapters
401 through 405, as amended) shall be utilized.
B.Â
Nonresidential structures.
(1)Â
In AE, Al-30 and AH Zones,
any new construction or substantial improvement of a nonresidential
structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated
up to or above the regulatory flood elevation (base flood elevation
plus two feet of freeboard) or be designed and constructed so that
the space enclosed below the regulatory flood elevation:
(2)Â
In A Zones, where no base flood elevations are specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated or completely floodproofed up to or above the regulatory flood elevation determined in accordance with § 183-18D of this chapter.
(3)Â
Any nonresidential structure,
or part thereof, made watertight below the regulatory flood elevation
shall be floodproofed in accordance with the W1 or W2 space classification
standards contained in the publication entitled "Flood-Proofing Regulations"
published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (June 1972, as amended
March 1992) or with some other equivalent standard. All plans and
specifications for such floodproofing shall be accompanied by a statement
certified by a registered professional engineer or architect which
states that the proposed design and methods of construction are in
conformance with the above-referenced standards.
(4)Â
The design and construction
standards and specifications contained in the 2009 International Building
Code (IBC) and in the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC), or
the most recent revisions thereof, and ASCE 24 and 34 Pa. Code (Chapters
401 through 405, as amended) shall be utilized.
C.Â
Space below the lowest floor.
(1)Â
Fully enclosed space below
the lowest floor (excluding basements) which will be used solely for
the parking of a vehicle, building access, or incidental storage in
an area other than a basement shall be designed and constructed to
allow for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters for the purpose
of equalizing hydrostatic forces on exterior walls. The term "fully
enclosed space" also includes crawl spaces.
(2)Â
Designs for meeting this
requirement must either be certified by a registered professional
engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
(a)Â
A minimum of two openings
having a net total area of not less than one square inch for every
square foot of enclosed floor space;
(b)Â
The bottom of all openings
shall be no higher than one foot above grade; and
(c)Â
Openings may be equipped
with screens, louvers, etc., or other coverings or devices, provided
that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
D.Â
Historic structures. See § 183-35, definition of "substantial improvement," for requirements for the substantial improvement of any historic structures.
E.Â
Accessory structures. Structures
accessory to a principal building which comply with all of the following
criteria need not be elevated or floodproofed to remain dry:
(1)Â
The structure shall not be
designed or used for human habitation but shall be limited to the
parking of vehicles or to the storage of tools, material, and equipment
related to the principal use or activity.
(2)Â
Floor area shall not exceed
200 square feet.
(3)Â
The structure will have a
low damage potential.
(4)Â
The structure will be located
on the site so as to cause the least obstruction to the flow of floodwaters.
(5)Â
Power lines, wiring, and
outlets will be elevated to the regulatory flood elevation.
(6)Â
Permanently affixed utility
equipment and appliances such as furnaces, heaters, washers, dryers,
etc., are prohibited.
(7)Â
Sanitary facilities are prohibited.
(8)Â
The structure shall be adequately
anchored to prevent flotation or movement and shall be designed to
automatically provide for the entry and exit of floodwater for the
purpose of equalizing hydrostatic forces on the walls. Designs for
meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered
professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following
minimum criteria:
(a)Â
A minimum of two openings
having a net total area of not less than one square inch for every
square foot of enclosed space;
(b)Â
The bottom of all openings
shall be no higher than one foot above grade; and
(c)Â
Openings may be equipped
with screens, louvers, etc., or other coverings or devices, provided
that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
The following minimum standards shall apply for all construction
and development proposed within any identified floodplain area:
A.Â
Fill. If fill is used, it shall:
(1)Â
Extend laterally at least
15 feet beyond the building line from all points;
(2)Â
Consist of soil or small
rock materials only; sanitary landfills, residual waste, or any material
which would require environmental permitting by the state or federal
government to remain on site or to be disposed of elsewhere shall
not be permitted;
(3)Â
Be compacted to provide the
necessary permeability and resistance to erosion, scouring, or settling;
(4)Â
Be no steeper than one foot
vertical to two feet horizontal, unless substantiated data justifying
steeper slopes are submitted to and approved by the Floodplain Administrator;
and
(5)Â
Be used to the extent to
which it does not adversely affect adjacent properties.
B.Â
Drainage facilities. Storm drainage
facilities shall be designed to convey the flow of stormwater runoff
in a safe and efficient manner. The system shall insure proper drainage
along streets and provide positive drainage away from buildings. The
system shall also be designed to prevent the discharge of excess runoff
onto adjacent properties.
C.Â
Water and sanitary sewer facilities
and systems.
(1)Â
All new or replacement water
supply and sanitary sewer facilities and systems shall be located,
designed and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damages and
the infiltration of floodwaters.
(2)Â
Sanitary sewer facilities
and systems shall be designed to prevent the discharge of untreated
sewage into floodwaters.
(3)Â
No part of any on-site sewage
system shall be located within any identified floodplain area except
in strict compliance with all state, county and township prevailing
regulations for such systems. If any such system is permitted, it
shall be located so as to avoid impairment to it, or contamination
from it, during a flood.
(4)Â
The design and construction
provisions of the UCC and FEMA No. 348, Protecting Building Utilities
from Flood Damages, and the International Private Sewage Disposal
Code shall be utilized.
D.Â
Other utilities. All other utilities,
such as gas lines, electrical and telephone systems, shall be located,
elevated (where possible) and constructed to minimize the chance of
impairment during a flood.
E.Â
Streets. The finished elevation
of all new streets shall be no more than one foot below the regulatory
flood elevation.
F.Â
Storage. All materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive, or, in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, and not listed in § 183-25, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood elevation or floodproofed to the maximum extent possible.
G.Â
Placement of buildings and structures.
All buildings and structures shall be designed, located, and constructed
so as to offer the minimum obstruction to the flow of water and shall
be designed to have a minimum effect upon the flow and height of floodwater.
H.Â
Anchoring.
(1)Â
All buildings and structures
shall be firmly anchored in accordance with accepted engineering practices
to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement.
(2)Â
All air ducts, large pipes,
storage tanks, and other similar objects or components located below
the regulatory flood elevation shall be securely anchored or affixed
to prevent flotation.
I.Â
Floors, walls and ceilings.
(1)Â
Wood flooring used at or
below the regulatory flood elevation shall be installed to accommodate
a lateral expansion of the flooring, perpendicular to the flooring
grain, without causing structural damage to the building.
(2)Â
Plywood used at or below
the regulatory flood elevation shall be of a marine or water-resistant
variety.
(3)Â
Walls and ceilings at or
below the regulatory flood elevation shall be designed and constructed
of materials that are water-resistant and will withstand inundation.
(4)Â
Windows, doors, and other
components at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be made
of metal or other water-resistant material.
J.Â
Paints and adhesives.
(1)Â
Paints and other finishes
used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be of marine
or water-resistant quality.
(2)Â
Adhesives used at or below
the regulatory flood elevation shall be of a marine or water-resistant
variety.
(3)Â
All wooden components (doors,
trim, cabinets, etc.) used at or below the regulatory flood elevation
shall be finished with a marine or water-resistant paint or other
finishing material.
L.Â
Equipment. Water heaters, furnaces,
air-conditioning and ventilating units, and other electrical, mechanical
or utility equipment or apparatus shall not be located below the regulatory
flood elevation.
M.Â
Fuel supply systems. All gas
and oil supply systems shall be designed to prevent the infiltration
of floodwaters into the system and discharges from the system into
floodwaters. Additional provisions shall be made for the drainage
of these systems in the event that floodwater infiltration occurs.
N.Â
Uniform Construction Code coordination.
The standards and specifications of the latest adopted Pennsylvania
versions of the International Building Code and International Residential
Code, as amended, shall apply to the above and other sections and
subsections of this chapter, to the extent that they are more restrictive
and supplement the requirements of this chapter.
A.Â
In accordance with the Pennsylvania
Flood Plain Management Act, and the regulations adopted by the Department
of Community and Economic Development as required by the Act, any
new or substantially improved structure which will be used for the
production or storage of any of the following dangerous materials
or substances; or will be used for any activity requiring the maintenance
of a supply of more than 550 gallons, or other comparable volume,
of any of the following dangerous materials or substances on the premises;
or will involve the production, storage, or use of any amount of radioactive
substances shall be subject to the provisions of this section, in
addition to all other applicable provisions. The following is a list
of materials and substances that are considered dangerous to human
life:
Acetone
|
Ammonia
|
Benzene
|
Calcium carbide
|
Carbon disulfide
|
Celluloid
|
Chlorine
|
Hydrochloric acid
|
Hydrocyanic acid
|
Magnesium
|
Nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen
|
Pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides)
|
Petroleum products (gasoline, fuel oil, etc.)
|
Phosphorus
|
Potassium
|
Radioactive substances, insofar as such substances are not otherwise
regulated
|
Sodium
|
Sulphur and sulphur products
|
All subdivision proposals and development proposals containing
at least 50 lots or at least five acres, whichever is the lesser,
in identified floodplain areas where base flood elevation data are
not available, shall be supported by hydrologic and hydraulic engineering
analyses that determine base flood elevations and floodway information.
The analyses shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer
in a format required by FEMA for a conditional letter of map revision
or letter of map revision. Submittal requirements and processing fees
shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
A.Â
Within any floodway area/district,
manufactured homes shall be prohibited.
B.Â
Within any identified floodplain
areas, manufactured homes shall be prohibited within the area measured
50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.
C.Â
Where permitted within any identified
floodplain area, all manufactured homes, and any improvements thereto,
shall be:
D.Â
Installation of manufactured
homes shall be done in accordance with the manufacturer's installation
instructions as provided by the manufacturer. Where the applicant
cannot provide the above information, the requirements of Appendix
E of the 2009 International Residential Building Code or the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development's Permanent Foundations
for Manufactured Housing, 1984 Edition, draft or latest revision thereto,
and 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405 shall apply.
E.Â
Consideration shall be given
to the installation requirements of the 2009 IBC, and the 2009 IRC
or the most recent revisions thereto and 34 Pa. Code, as amended,
where appropriate and/or applicable to units where the manufacturer's
standards for anchoring cannot be provided or were not established
for the units' proposed installation.