As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
APPEAL
A request for a review of the Borough Engineer's interpretation
of any provision of this Article or a request for a variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
A designated AO or VO Zone on the Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM). The base flood depths range from one (1) to three (3) feet;
a clearly defined channel does not exist; the path of flooding is
unpredictable and indeterminate; and, velocity flow may be evident.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to
a one-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
BASE FLOOD
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below
ground level) on all sides.
BREAKAWAY WALL
A wall that is not part of the structural support of the
building and is intended through its design and construction to collapse
under specific lateral loading forces without causing damage to the
elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation system.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining,
dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations
located within the area of special flood hazard.
ELEVATED BUILDING
A nonbasement building built, in the case of a building,
in an area of special flood hazard, to have the top of the elevated
floor or, in the case of a building in a coastal high-hazard area,
to have the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the
elevated floor elevated above the ground level by means of piling,
columns (posts and piers) or shear walls parallel to the flow of the
water and adequately anchored so as not to impair the structural integrity
of the building during a flood of up to the magnitude of the base
flood. In an area of special flood hazard, "elevated building" also
includes a building elevated by means of fill or solid foundation
perimeter walls with openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded
movement of floodwaters. In areas of coastal high hazard, "elevated
building" also includes a building otherwise meeting the definition
of "elevated building" even though the lower area is enclosed by means
of breakaway walls.
FLOOD OR FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete
inundation of normally dry land areas from:
(1)
The overflow of inland or tidal waters; and/or
(2)
The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters
from any source.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
The Official Map on which the Federal Insurance Administration
has delineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk
premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The Official Report provided in the Federal Insurance Administration
has provided flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary - Floodway
Map and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
FLOODWAY
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent
land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood
without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than
two-tenths (0.2) foot.
LOWEST FLOOR
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area, including the
basement. An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable solely
for the parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area
other than a basement is not considered a building's "lowest
floor," provided that such enclosure is not built so to render the
structure in violation of other applicable nonelevation design requirements.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure, transportable in one (1) or more sections, which
is built on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without
a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. For
floodplain management purposes, the term "manufactured home" also
includes park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles
placed on a site for greater than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive
days. For insurance purposes, the term "manufactured home" does not
include park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after the effective date of this Article.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
For other than new construction or substantial improvements
under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (P.L. 97-348), includes substantial
improvement and means the date the building permit was issued, provided
the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, placement
or other improvement was within one hundred eighty (180) days of the
permit date. The actual start means either the first placement of
permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring
of a 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.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building, a manufactured home or a gas
or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure,
the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market
value of the structure either before the improvement or repair is
started or, if the structure has been damaged and is being restored,
before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition, "substantial
improvement" is considered to occur when the first alteration of any
wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences,
whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of
the structure. The term does not, however, include either:
(1)
Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing
state or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which
are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
(2)
Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register
of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief from the requirements of this Article which
permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited
by this Article.