These regulations, in conjunction with the Uniform Construction Code, provide minimum requirements for development located in flood hazard areas, including the subdivision of land and other developments; site improvements and installation of utilities; placement and replacement of manufactured homes; placement of recreational vehicles; new construction and alterations, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation or additions of existing buildings and structures; substantial improvement of existing buildings and structures, including repair of substantial damage; installation of tanks; temporary structures and temporary or permanent storage; utility and miscellaneous Group U buildings and structures; and certain building work exempt from permit under the Uniform Construction Code; and other buildings and development activities.
The Township of Stafford was accepted for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program on September 14, 1979. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) floodplain management regulations encourage that all federal, state, and local regulations that are more stringent than the minimum NFIP standards take precedence in permitting decisions. The FHACA requires that the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map, most recent preliminary FEMA mapping and flood studies, and Department delineations be compared to determine the most restrictive mapping. The FHACA also regulates unstudied flood hazard areas in watersheds measuring 50 acres or greater in size and most riparian zones in New Jersey. Because of these higher standards, the regulated flood hazard area in New Jersey may be more expansive and more restrictive than the FEMA special flood hazard area. Maps and studies that establish flood hazard areas are on file at the Stafford Township Municipal Building, 260 East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. The following sources identify flood hazard areas in this jurisdiction and must be considered when determining the best available flood hazard data area:
A. 
Effective flood insurance study. Special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a scientific and engineering report entitled "Flood Insurance Study, Ocean County, New Jersey 'All Jurisdictions'" dated September 26, 2006, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) identified in Table 114-11(A) whose effective date is September 26, 2006, are hereby adopted by reference.
Table 114-11(A)
Map Panel No.
Effective Date
Revision Letter
Map Panel No.
Effective Date
Revision Letter
34029C0485G
9/29/2006
34029C0508G
9/29/2006
34029C0491G
9/29/2006
34029C0509G
9/29/2006
34029C0492G
9/29/2006
34029C0511G
9/29/2006
34029C0494G
9/29/2006
34029C0512G
9/29/2006
34029C0501G
9/29/2006
34029C0513G
9/29/2006
34029C0502G
9/29/2006
34029C0514G
9/29/2006
34029C0503G
9/29/2006
34029C0516G
9/29/2006
34029C0504G
9/29/2006
34029C0518G
9/29/2006
34029C0506G
9/29/2006
34029C0508G
9/29/2006
34029C0485G
9/29/2006
34029C0509G
9/29/2006
34029C0491G
9/29/2006
B. 
Federal best available information. Stafford Township shall utilize federal flood information as listed in the table below[1] that provides more detailed hazard information, higher flood elevations, larger flood hazard areas, and results in more restrictive regulations. This information may include, but is not limited to, preliminary flood elevation guidance from FEMA (such as advisory flood hazard area maps, work maps or Preliminary FIS and FIRM). Additional federal best available studies issued after the date of this chapter must also be considered. These studies are listed on FEMA's Map Service Center. This information shall be used for floodplain regulation purposes only.
[1]
Editor's Note: Codified as adopted.
C. 
Other best available data. Stafford Township shall utilize high-water elevations from flood events, groundwater flooding areas, studies by federal or state agencies, or other information deemed appropriate by the Township of Stafford. Other best available information may not be used which results in less restrictive flood elevations, design standards, or smaller flood hazard areas than the sources described in § 114-11A and B, above. This information shall be used for floodplain regulation purposes only.
The local design flood elevation (LDFE) is established in the flood hazard areas determined in § 114-11, above, using the best available flood hazard data sources, and the Flood Hazard Area Control Act minimum statewide elevation requirements for lowest floors in A, Coastal A, and V Zones, ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities as specified by the building code, plus additional freeboard as specified by this chapter. At a minimum, the local design flood elevation shall be as follows:
A. 
For a delineated watercourse, including AE Zones, the elevation associated with the best available flood hazard data area determined in § 114-11, or as described by N.J.A.C. 7:13, plus two feet of freeboard; or
B. 
For any undelineated watercourse (where mapping or studies described in § 114-11A and B above are not available) that has a contributary drainage area of 50 acres or more, the applicants must provide one of the following to determine the local design flood elevation:
(1) 
A copy of an unexpired NJDEP flood hazard area verification, plus additional two feet of freeboard to comply with this chapter; or
(2) 
A determination of the flood hazard area design flood elevation using Method 5 or Method 6 (as described in N.J.A.C. 7:13) which includes two feet of freeboard and is sealed and submitted according to §§ 114-35 and 114-36.
C. 
AO zones. For Zone AO areas on the municipality's FIRM (or on preliminary flood elevation guidance from FEMA), the local design flood elevation is determined from the FIRM panel as the highest adjacent grade plus the depth number specified plus two feet of freeboard. If no depth number is specified, the local design flood elevation is three feet above the highest adjacent grade.
D. 
Class IV critical facilities. For any proposed development of new and substantially improved flood design Class IV critical facilities, the local design flood elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation with an additional two feet of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.
E. 
Class III critical facilities. For proposed development of new and substantially improved flood design Class III critical facilities in coastal high hazard areas, the local design flood elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation with an additional two feet of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.