Atlantic County, NJ Article 800 Development Within Flood Hazard Areas

§ 86-801 General policies and design principles.

A. The policies and design principles identified in this section apply to any land development and improvements, subject to County review, that are located within a flood hazard area as defined in N.J.A.C. 7:7-9.25. Flood hazard areas include, but are not limited to, those areas defined or delineated as an A or a V Zone by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

B. To assist with identifying County roads or drainage facilities within a flood hazard area, the following maps are provided on the County website. These maps are titled Flood Hazard Areas, County Roadway Depth Below Base Flood Elevation (BFE), NJ Coastal Flooding Exposure (Current), NJ Coastal Flooding Exposure (2050) and NJ Coastal Flooding Exposure (2100).

C. General policies include:

(1) Avoid new development in a flood hazard area. Encroachments within a flood hazard area shall be prohibited unless a certification by a professional engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that an encroachment shall not result in any increase in the base flood elevation.

(2) All development shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage while maintaining the natural and beneficial functions of a flood hazard area.

(3) All development shall provide adequate drainage to reduce exposure to flood hazards.

§ 86-802 Enhanced submission requirements for site plans and subdivisions.

In addition to the submission requirements identified in the site plan and subdivision checklists, an application for land development which is located within a flood hazard area shall include the following information:

A. A note shall be provided on the plan which identifies the flood hazard zone, the base flood elevation (BFE) and Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panel number.

B. Identify lowest floor elevations based on the datum used on the Flood Insurance Rate Map.

C. Identify location of and elevations of all utilities, including heating and electrical equipment.

D. A description of how utilities will be protected from floodwaters.

E. Identify if any structures have a basement or enclosure below the lowest floor and if so include detailed drawings showing foundation openings to allow passage of floodwaters.

F. Description of construction materials to be used below the base flood elevation.

G. An advisory note shall be provided which identifies that development within a flood hazard area may be subject to additional floodplain management regulations.

H. An advisory note shall be added to the final site plan and final plat which identifies that development within a flood hazard area will require an elevation certificate and the need to purchase flood insurance.

§ 86-803 Enhanced transportation infrastructure standards.

A. County roadway and drainage infrastructure. The following provisions apply to County roadway and drainage improvements located within a flood hazard area. Design new infrastructure and adapt existing infrastructure to be resilient to both high- and low-frequency flooding events. Recommended standards include the following:

(1) Require the surface of new streets to be elevated to or above the base flood elevation.

(2) Prohibit any portions of a new driveway or intersection below the 100-year flood elevation.

(3) Size culverts and bridges to a 100-year storm frequency.

(4) Incorporate green infrastructure and low-impact development techniques in both stormwater management and roadway design. Techniques might include bioswales and enhanced roadway infiltration ditches. The Green Infrastructure Manual for New Jersey or NJDEP best management practices should be consulted for stormwater management and roadway design techniques.

(5) Creation of a variable width, naturally vegetated buffer system along all drainageways that also encompasses critical environmental features, such as steep slopes, and wetlands.

§ 86-804 Enhanced building design standards for elevation and floodproofing.

A. Municipal requirements.

(1) County review should ensure that municipal requirements provide sufficient resiliency. If the design flood elevation (DFE) does not adhere to Table 3, a recommendation shall be made to the municipal approving authority to require compliance with these standards.

Table 3
Freeboard Requirements Above Base Flood Elevation
Building Type	Zone X	Zone A	Zone V
Residential structures	+1 foot	+1 foot	+2 feet
Buildings and other structures with school or day-care facilities; and other nonessential facilities	+1 foot	+1 foot	+2 feet
Essential facilities	+1 foot	+2 feet	+3 feet
Buildings and other facilities that manufacture, process, handle, store, use or dispose of hazardous materials	+1 foot	+2 feet	+3 feet

(2) The 2011, Coastal Construction Manual, Fourth Edition (FEMA P-55) prepared by FEMA should be consulted for development located within the coastal areas of Atlantic County.

B. Floodproofing.

(1) Wet floodproofing and flood openings standards.

(a) Flood openings must allow automatic inflow and outflow of water to minimize pressure on walls and must also allow water levels within the enclosure to rise and fall at the same rate as those outside.

(b) One square inch of flood vent are shall be provided per one square foot of enclosed floor area.

(c) Vents must be located on at least two sides of the enclosed area.

(d) The bottom of each vent opening may not be located more than 12 inches above the interior floor or the exterior grade immediately below the opening, whichever is higher.

(e) Screens, grates, grills or other covers or devices must be free moving and must not resist or impede automatic flow of floodwater.

(f) All wet floodproofed areas must use materials designed to withstand contact with floodwaters.

(2) Dry floodproofing standards.

(a) Use for nonresidential buildings or portions of buildings in A or AE Zones.

(b) Dry floodproofing measures are not permitted in the V Zone.

(c) All buildings that use dry floodproofing must provide the required FEMA floodproofing certificate.

(d) Where possible, use automatic or passive floodproofing measures.

§ 86-805 Enhanced parking standards.

A. Surface parking shall be designed to reduce the overall amount of impervious area by utilizing compact car spaces, minimizing stall dimensions, incorporating efficient parking lanes, and banking or phasing parking lot construction to avoid over building parking lots.

B. Utilize permeable pavement or pavers in parking stalls and around perimeters of parking lots to reduce sheet flow and improve on-site stormwater retention.

§ 86-806 Enhanced landscaping standards.

A. Create a variable width, naturally vegetated buffer system along all drainageways that also encompasses critical environmental features such as steep slopes, and wetlands.

B. Minimize clearing and grading of woodlands and native vegetation to the minimum amount needed to build lots, allow access, and provide fire protection.

C. Conserve trees and other vegetation at each site by planting additional vegetation, clustering tree areas, and promoting the use of native plants.

§ 86-807 Enhanced energy and utility resiliency standards.

A. Utility easements shall be located outside flood hazard areas wherever possible.

B. Critical facilities, utilities, backup generators, and other essential buildings or installations should be located outside the 500-year floodplain where possible.

C. Utility transmission lines containing toxic or flammable materials shall be buried to a depth at least below the calculated maximum depth of scour for a 100-year flood, especially in velocity floodplain areas.