[Amended 12-19-1995 by Ord. No. 700-C]
Fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are subject
to flooding shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic
flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit
of floodwaters. Such areas shall be used solely for parking of a vehicle,
building access or storage in an area other than a basement. Designs
for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered
professional engineer or architect or must meet or exceed the following
minimum criteria:
A. A minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than
one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to
flooding shall be provided.
B. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above
grade.
C. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers or other coverings
or devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit
of floodwaters.
Structures existing in any designated floodplain district prior
to February 19, 1980, but which are not in compliance with these provisions,
may continue to remain, subject to the United States Army Corps of
Engineers Flood-Proofing Regulations, as amended, and also subject
to the following:
A. Existing structures located in a designated floodway district shall
not be expanded or enlarged, unless the effect of the proposed expansion
or enlargement on flood heights is fully offset by accompanying improvements.
B. Any modification, alteration, reconstruction or improvement of any
kind to an existing structure, to an extent or amount of less than
25% of its market value, shall be elevated and/or floodproofed to
the greatest extent possible.
C. Any modification, alteration, construction or improvement of any
kind to an existing structure, to an extent or amount of 25% or more
of its market value, shall be considered a substantial improvement
and shall be undertaken only in full compliance with the provisions
of this chapter. This also includes a structure which has been damaged
to an extent whereby the cost of restoring it to its before-damaged
condition would equal or exceed 25% or more of the market value of
the structure before the damage occurred, regardless of the actual
repair work performed.
[Amended 12-19-1995 by Ord. No. 700-C; 2-20-1996 by Ord. No. 703-C]
No variances or special exceptions shall be granted by the Zoning
Hearing Board in the floodplain districts designated by this article.
[Amended 12-16-1986 by Ord. No. 657]
No manufactured home, whether used for residential or commercial
purposes, shall be permitted in the floodplain districts as designated
by this article.
[Amended 12-16-1986 by Ord. No. 657]
The following are special definitions which shall be used in
making reasonable interpretations of the provisions contained in this
article:
100-YEAR FLOOD
A flood that, on the average, is likely to occur once every
100 years (i.e., that has a 1% chance of occurring each year, although
the flood may occur in any year).
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE
A use or structure on the same lot with and incidental or
subordinate to the principal use.
[Added 6-20-2000 by Ord.
No. 732-C]
BASEMENT
Any area of the building having its floor below ground level
on all sides.
[Added 10-17-1995 by Ord.
No. 699-C]
BUILDING
A combination of materials to form a permanent structure
having walls and a roof.
[Added 6-20-2000 by Ord.
No. 732-C]
COMPLETELY DRY SPACE
A space which will remain totally dry during flooding; the
structure is designed and constructed to prevent the passage of water
and water vapor.
DESIGNATED FLOODPLAIN DISTRICTS
Those floodplain districts specifically designated as being
inundated primarily by the 100-year flood. Included would be the areas
identified as floodway districts (FW) and flood-fringe districts (FF).
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made changes to improved or unimproved real property,
including but not limited to construction, reconstruction, renovation,
repair, expansion or alteration of buildings or structures, and including
streets or other paving, filling, grading, excavation, dredging, drilling,
storage of equipment or materials and the subdivision of land.
[Amended 12-19-1995 by Ord. No. 700-C; 6-20-2000 by Ord. No. 732-C]
ESSENTIALLY DRY SPACE
A space which will remain dry during flooding except for
the passage of some water vapor or minor seepage; the structure is
substantially impermeable to the passage of water.
FLOODPLAIN AREA
A relatively flat or low land area which is subject to partial
or complete inundation from an adjoining or nearby stream, river or
watercourse; and/or any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation
of surface waters from any source.
[Added 10-17-1995 by Ord.
No. 699-C]
FLOODPROOFING
Any combination of structural and nonstructural changes or
adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to
real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities,
structures and their contents.
FLOODWAY
The designated area of a floodplain required to carry and
discharge floodwaters of a given magnitude. For the purposes of this
code, the floodway shall be capable of accommodating a flood of the
100-year magnitude.
[Added 10-17-1995 by Ord.
No. 699-C]
HISTORIC STRUCTURE[Added 6-20-2000 by Ord. No. 732-C]
A.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places or preliminarily
determined to meet the requirements for listing in the National Register;
B.
Certified to or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of
the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered
historic district;
C.
Individually listed in a state or local inventory of historic
places.
LOWEST FLOOR
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area, including 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
area is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that
such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation
of the applicable nonelevation design requirements of this article.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure, transportable in one 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 180 consecutive days.
[Amended 12-19-1995 by Ord. No. 700-C]
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction, as herein
defined, commenced on or after February 19, 1980, and includes any
subsequent improvements to such structures.
[Added 12-19-1995 by Ord.
No. 700-C]
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is built on a single chassis; 400 square
feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projection; designed
to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck;
designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary
living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.
[Added 12-19-1995 by Ord.
No. 70-C]
SPECIAL PERMIT
A special approval which is required for hospitals, nursing
homes, jails and new manufactured home parks and subdivisions and
substantial improvements to such parks, when such development is located
in all or a designated portion of a floodplain.
[Added 12-19-1995 by Ord.
No. 700-C]
START OF CONSTRUCTION
Includes substantial improvements and means the date the
building permit was issued, provided that the actual start of construction,
repair, reconstruction, placement or other improvement was within
180 days of the permit date. The "actual start" means either the first
placement of permanent construction of a structure on the site, such
as the pouring of slabs 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, or the installation of sewer, gas and water
pipes or electrical or other service lines from the street.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building, including a gas or liquid storage
tank, as well as a manufactured home.
[Added 12-19-1995 by Ord.
No. 700-C]
VIOLATION
The failure of a structure or other development to be fully
compliant with the community's floodplain management regulations.
A structure or other development without the elevation certificate,
other certifications or other evidence of compliance is presumed to
be in violation until such time as documentation is provided.