This chapter, 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 Franklin was accepted for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program on May 15, 1980. 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 Franklin Township Engineering Department located at 475 Demott Lane, Somerset, New Jersey 08873. 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, Somerset County, New Jersey (All Jurisdictions)," dated November 4, 2016, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) identified in Table 192-13(1), whose effective dates are September 28, 2007, and November 4, 2016, are hereby adopted by reference.
Table 192-13(1)
Map Panel No.
Effective Date
Suffix
Map Panel No.
Effective Date
Suffix
34035C0162
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0252
November 4, 2016
F
34035C0164
November 4, 2016
F
34035C0253
November 4, 2016
F
34035C0166
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0254
November 4, 2016
F
34035C0167
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0260
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0168
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0261
November 4, 2016
F
34035C0169
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0263
November 4, 2016
F
34035C0186
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0265
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0188
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0270
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0189
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0276
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0242
November 4, 2016
F
34035C0277
September 28, 2007
E
34035C0244
November 4, 2016
F
34035C0301
November 4, 2016
F
B. 
Federal best available information. The Township of Franklin shall utilize federal flood information, as listed in the table below, 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.
Table 192-13(2)
Map Panel No.
Preliminary Date
Map Panel No.
Preliminary Date
None as of the date of this chapter
C. 
Other best available data. The Township of Franklin 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 Franklin. 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 § 192-13A and B above. This information shall be used for floodplain regulation purposes only.
D. 
State-regulated flood hazard areas. For state-regulated waters, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) identifies the flood hazard area as the land, and the space above that land, which lies below the "Flood Hazard Area Control Act design flood elevation," as defined in Article II, and as described in the New Jersey Flood Hazard Area Control Act at N.J.A.C. 7:13. A FHACA flood hazard area exists along every regulated water that has a drainage area of 50 acres or greater. Such area may extend beyond the boundaries of the special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) as identified by FEMA. The following is a list of New Jersey State studied waters in this community under the FHACA, and their respective map identification numbers.
Table 192-13D
List of State-Studied Waters
Name of Studied Water
File Name
Map Number
Six Mile Run
D0000006
SX-1
Raritan River
D0000012
R-9
Raritan River
D0000013
R-8
Raritan River
D0000014
R-7
Raritan River
D0000015
R-6
Raritan River
D0000016
R-5
Raritan River
D0000017
R-4
Raritan River
D0000018
R-6
Mile Run
D0000029
ML-1
Millstone River
FHR12001
ML-1
Millstone River
FHR12002
ML-2
Millstone River
FHR12003
ML-3
Millstone River
FHR12004
ML-4
Millstone River
FHR12005
ML-5
Millstone River
FHR12006
ML-6
Millstone River
FHR12007
ML-7
Millstone River
FHR12008
ML-8
Millstone River
FHR12009
ML-9
Millstone River
FHR12010
ML-10
Millstone River
FHR12011
ML-11
Millstone River
H0000044
2
Millstone River
H0000045
1
Millstone River, Van Horn Brook
H0000086
1 of 1
Bedens Brook, Van Horn Brook
H0000119
2
Bedens Brook
H0000120
1
Carters Brook, Carters Brook Tributary
H2000045
55 R
Ten Mile Run, Ten Mile Run Tributary
H2000054
46
Six Mile Run, Six Mile Run Branch Tributary
H2000055
45
Millstone River, Carnegie Creek
H2000059
41
Oakeys Brook
H2000061
39
Carters Brook
H2000090
11
Carters Brook
H2000093
8
Carters Brook, Carters Brook Tributary
H2000094
7
Heathcote Brook Tributary
H2000097
4
Millstone River
H2000099
2
Beden Brook
H0000116p
5
Millstone River
H0000122p
01P
Millstone River
H0000208p
01P
Millstone River
H2000006p
01P
Six Mile Run Branch
H2000014p
14P
Ten Mile Run
H2000018p
18P
Carters Brook
H2000036p
36P
Carters Brook Tributary
H2000037p
37P
Tributary to Heathcote Brook
H2000039p
39P
The local design flood elevation (LDFE) is established in the flood hazard areas determined in § 192-13 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, the elevation associated with the best available flood hazard data area determined in § 192-13 above, plus one foot or as described by N.J.A.C. 7:13 of freeboard; or
B. 
For any undelineated watercourse (where mapping or studies described in § 192-13A and B above are not available) that has a contributory 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 one foot of freeboard and any additional freeboard as required by ASCE 24; 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), plus one foot of freeboard and any additional freeboard as required by ASCE 24. Any determination using these methods must be sealed and submitted according to §§ 192-37 and 192-38.
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 one foot 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 one foot of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.