The following minimum standards shall apply for all construction
and development proposed within any identified floodplain area:
A. Fill: If fill is used, it shall:
[Amended 2-2-2017 by Ord.
No. 359]
(1) Extend laterally at least 15 feet beyond the building line from all
points;
(2) Consist of soil or small rock materials only. Sanitary landfills
shall not be permitted;
(3) Be compacted to provide the necessary permeability and resistance
to erosion, scouring, or settling;
(4) Be no steeper than one vertical to two horizontal feet unless substantiated
data justifying steeper slopes are submitted to, and approved by the
Floodplain Administrator;
(5) Be used to the extent to which it does not adversely affect adjacent
properties; and
(6) A hydrologic and hydraulic analysis be performed in accordance with
standard engineering practice.
B. Drainage facilities. Storm drainage facilities shall be designed
to convey the flow of stormwater runoff in a safe and efficient manner.
The system shall ensure proper drainage along streets and provide
positive drainage away from buildings. The system shall also be designed
to prevent the discharge of excess runoff onto adjacent properties.
C. Water and sanitary sewer facilities and systems.
(1) All new or replacement water supply and sanitary sewer facilities
and systems shall be located, designed and constructed to minimize
or eliminate flood damages and the infiltration of floodwaters.
(2) Sanitary sewer facilities and systems shall be designed to prevent
the discharge of untreated sewage into floodwaters.
(3) No part of any on-site waste disposal system shall be located within
any identified floodplain area except in strict compliance with all
state and local regulations for such systems. If any such system is
permitted, it shall be located so as to avoid impairment to it, or
contamination from it, during a flood.
(4) The design and construction provisions of the UCC and FEMA No. 348,
"Protecting Building Utilities From Flood Damages," and "The International
Private Sewage Disposal Code," shall be utilized.
D. Other utilities. All other utilities such as gas lines, electrical
and telephone systems shall be located, elevated (where possible)
and constructed to minimize the chance of impairment during a flood.
E. Streets. The finished elevation of all new streets shall be no more
than one foot below the regulatory flood elevation.
F. Storage. All materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive, or in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, and not listed in §
180-25, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the Regulatory Flood Elevation or floodproofed to the maximum extent possible.
G. Placement of buildings and structures. All buildings and structures
shall be designed, located, and constructed so as to offer the minimum
obstruction to the flow of water and shall be designed to have a minimum
effect upon the flow and height of floodwater.
H. Anchoring.
(1) All buildings and structures shall be firmly anchored in accordance
with accepted engineering practices to prevent flotation, collapse,
or lateral movement.
(2) All air ducts, large pipes, storage tanks, and other similar objects
or components located below the regulatory flood elevation shall be
securely anchored or affixed to prevent flotation.
I. Floors, walls and ceilings.
(1) Wood flooring used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall
be installed to accommodate a lateral expansion of the flooring, perpendicular
to the flooring grain without causing structural damage to the building.
(2) Plywood used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be
of a "marine" or "water-resistant" variety.
(3) Walls and ceilings at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall
be designed and constructed of materials that are water-resistant
and will withstand inundation.
(4) Windows, doors, and other components at or below the regulatory flood
elevation shall be made of metal or other water-resistant material.
J. Paints and adhesives.
(1) Paints and other finishes used at or below the regulatory flood elevation
shall be of marine or water-resistant quality.
(2) Adhesives used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be
of a "marine" or "water-resistant" variety.
(3) All wooden components (doors, trim, cabinets, etc.) used at or below
the regulatory flood elevation shall be finished with a marine or
water-resistant paint or other finishing material.
K. Electrical components.
(1) Electrical distribution panels shall be at least three feet above
the base flood elevation.
(2) Separate electrical circuits shall serve lower levels and shall be
dropped from above.
L. Equipment. Water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioning and ventilating
units, and other electrical, mechanical or utility equipment or apparatus
shall not be located below the regulatory flood elevation.
M. Fuel supply systems. All gas and oil supply systems shall be designed
to prevent the infiltration of floodwaters into the system and discharges
from the system into floodwaters. Additional provisions shall be made
for the drainage of these systems in the event that floodwater infiltration
occurs.
N. Uniform Construction Code Coordination. The standards and specifications
contained in 34 Pa. Code (Chapters 401 through 405, as amended) and
not limited to the following provisions shall apply to the above and
other sections and subsections of this chapter, to the extent that
they are more restrictive and supplement the requirements of this
chapter.
(1) International Building Code (IBC) 2009 or the latest edition thereof
adopted by the State of Pennsylvania: Secs. 801, 1202, 1403, 1603,
1605, 1612, 3402, and Appendix G.
(2) International Residential Building Code (IRC) 2009 or the latest
edition thereof adopted by the State of Pennsylvania: Secs. R104,
R105, R109, R322, Appendix E, and Appendix J.
Within any identified floodplain area, any structure of the kind described in Subsection A, below, shall be prohibited. If a variance is obtained in accordance with the criteria in Article
VIII, then the following provisions apply: (Subsections B, C, and D).
A. In accordance with the Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management Act, and the regulations adopted by the Department of Community
and Economic Development as required by the Act, any new or substantially
improved structure which: will be used for the production or storage
of any of the following dangerous materials or substances; or, will
be used for any activity requiring the maintenance of a supply of
more than 550 gallons, or other comparable volume, of any of the following
dangerous materials or substances on the premises; or, will involve
the production, storage, or use of any amount of radioactive substances;
shall be subject to the provisions of this section, in addition to
all other applicable provisions. The following list of materials and
substances are considered dangerous to human life:
(11)
Nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen.
(12)
Petroleum products (gasoline, fuel oil, etc.).
(16)
Sulphur and sulphur products.
(17)
Pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides).
(18)
Radioactive substances, insofar as such substances are not otherwise
regulated.
B. Within any identified floodplain area, any new or substantially improved structure of the kind described in Subsection
A, above, shall be prohibited within the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.
C. Within any floodway area, any structure of the kind described in Subsection
A, above, shall be prohibited. Where permitted within any identified floodplain area, any new or substantially improved residential structure of the kind described in Subsection
A, above, shall be elevated to remain completely dry up to at least 1 1/2 feet above base flood elevation and built in accordance with §§
180-22,
180-23 and
180-24.
D. Where permitted within any identified floodplain area, any new or substantially improved nonresidential structure of the kind described in Subsection
A above, shall be built in accordance with §§
180-22,
180-23 and
180-24, including:
(1) Elevated, or designed and constructed to remain completely dry up
to at least 1 1/2 feet above base flood elevation; and
(2) Designed to prevent pollution from the structure or activity during
the course of a base flood.
E. Any such structure, or part thereof, that will be built below the
regulatory flood elevation shall be designed and constructed in accordance
with the standards for completely dry floodproofing contained in the
publication "Flood-Proofing Regulations (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
June 1972, as amended March 1992), or with some other equivalent watertight
standard.
All subdivision proposals and development proposals in Identified
Floodplain Areas where base flood elevation data are not available,
shall be supported by hydrologic and hydraulic engineering analyses
that determine base flood elevations and floodway information. The
analyses shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer in
a format required by FEMA for a Conditional Letter of Map Revision
and Letter of Map Revision. Submittal requirements and processing
fees shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
Within any identified floodplain area, recreational vehicles shall be prohibited. If a variance is obtained in accordance with the criteria in Article
VIII, then the following provisions apply:
A. Recreational vehicles in Zones A, A1-30, AH and AE must:
(1) Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days;
(2) Be fully licensed and ready for highway use; and
(3) Be removed from the floodplain when a flood warning is issued.