These regulations, in combination with the flood provisions
of the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) N.J.A.C. 5:23 (hereinafter
"Uniform Construction Code," consisting of the Building Code, Residential
Code, Rehabilitation Subcode, and related codes, and the New Jersey
Flood Hazard Area Control Act (hereinafter "FHACA"), N.J.A.C. 7:13,
shall be known as the Floodplain Management Regulations of City of
Perth Amboy (hereinafter "these regulations").
These regulations, in combination with the flood provisions
of the Uniform Construction Code and FHACA shall apply to all proposed
development in flood hazard areas established in Section 231-102 of
these regulations.
The purposes and objectives of these regulations are to promote
the public health, safety and general welfare and to minimize public
and private losses due to flood conditions in specific flood hazard
areas through the establishment of comprehensive regulations for management
of flood hazard areas, designed to:
A. Protect human life and health.
B. Prevent unnecessary disruption of commerce, access, and public service
during times of flooding.
C. Manage the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels and
shorelines;
D. Manage filling, grading, dredging and other development which may
increase flood damage or erosion potential.
E. Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will
divert floodwater or increase flood hazards.
F. Contribute to improved construction techniques in the floodplain.
G. Minimize damage to public and private facilities and utilities.
H. Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and
development of flood hazard areas.
I. Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding.
J. Ensure that property owners, occupants, and potential owners are
aware of property located in flood hazard areas.
K. Minimize the need for future expenditure of public funds for flood
control projects and response to and recovery from flood events.
L. Meet the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program for
community participation set forth in Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations,
Section 59.22.
Pursuant to the requirement established in N.J.A.C. 5:23, the
Uniform Construction Code, that the City of Perth Amboy administer
and enforce the State building codes, the City Council of the City
of Perth Amboy does hereby acknowledge that the Uniform Construction
Code contains certain provisions that apply to the design and construction
of buildings and structures in flood hazard areas. Therefore, these
regulations are intended to be administered and enforced in conjunction
with the Uniform Construction Code.
Improvements defined as ordinary building maintenance and minor work projects by the Uniform Construction Code including non-structural replacement-in-kind of windows, doors, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, decks, walls, partitions, new flooring materials, roofing, etc. shall be evaluated by the Floodplain Administrator through the floodplain development permit to ensure compliance with the Substantial Damage and Substantial Improvement Section
231-103.14.
The degree of flood protection required by these regulations
is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific
and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur.
Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes. Enforcement
of these regulations does not imply that land outside the special
flood hazard areas, or that uses permitted within such flood hazard
areas, will be free from flooding or flood damage.
The provisions of these regulations shall not be deemed to nullify
any provisions of local, State, or Federal law.
No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, re-located
to, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the
terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations. Violation
of the provisions of this chapter by failure to comply with any of
its requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards
established in connection with conditions) shall constitute a violation
under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5. Any person who violates this chapter or fails
to comply with any of its requirements shall be subject to a fine
of not more than $1250.
Each day in which a violation of an ordinance exists shall be
considered to be a separate and distinct violation subject to the
imposition of a separate penalty for each day of the violation as
the Court may determine except that the owner will be afforded the
opportunity to cure or abate the condition during a thirty-day period
and shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing before the court
for an independent determination concerning the violation. Subsequent
to the expiration of the thirty-day period, a fine greater than $1250
may be imposed if the court has not determined otherwise, or if upon
reinspection of the property, it is determined that the abatement
has not been substantially completed.
Any person who is convicted of violating an ordinance within
one year of the date of a previous violation of the same ordinance
and who was fined for the previous violation, shall be sentenced by
a court to an additional fine as a repeat offender. The additional
fine imposed by the court upon a person for a repeated offense shall
not be less than the minimum or exceed the maximum fine fixed for
a violation of the ordinance, but shall be calculated separately from
the fine imposed for the violation of the ordinance.
Any person who has unlawfully disposed of solid waste in a floodway
or floodplain who fails to comply with this chapter or fails to comply
with any of its requirements shall upon conviction thereof be fined
not more than $2,500 or up to a maximum penalty by a fine not exceeding
$10,000 under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.
These regulations supersede any ordinance in effect in flood
hazard areas. However, these regulations are not intended to repeal
or abrogate any existing ordinances including land development regulations,
subdivision regulations, zoning ordinances, stormwater management
regulations, or building codes. In the event of a conflict between
these regulations and any other ordinance, code, or regulation, the
more restrictive shall govern.