In accordance with these directed provisions, this chapter is
specifically adopted pursuant to the authority granted to localities
by Va. Code § 10.1-600 et seq. and Va. Code § 15.2-2280(1).
The purpose of these provisions is to prevent: the loss of life, health,
or property, the creation of health and safety hazards, the disruption
of commerce and governmental services, the extraordinary and unnecessary
expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief, and the
impairment of the tax base by: [44 CFR 59.22(a)(2)]
A. Regulating uses, activities, and development which, alone or in combination
with other existing or future uses, activities, and development, will
cause unacceptable increases in flood heights, velocities, and frequencies;
B. Restricting or prohibiting certain uses, activities, and development
from locating within districts subject to flooding;
C. Requiring all those uses, activities, and developments that do occur
in flood-prone districts to be protected and/or floodproofed against
flooding and flood damage; and
D. Protecting individuals from buying land and structures which are
unsuited for intended purposes because of flood hazards.
These provisions shall apply to all privately and publicly owned
lands within the jurisdiction of Buchanan County and identified as
areas of special flood hazard shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM) or included in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) that are provided
to Buchanan County by FEMA; and identified as areas of special flood
hazard identified by the community.
Records of actions associated with administering this chapter
shall be kept on file and maintained by or under the direction of
the Floodplain Administrator in perpetuity. [44 CFR 59.22(a)(9)(iii)].
To the extent that the provisions are more restrictive, this
chapter supersedes any ordinance currently in effect in flood-prone
districts. To the extent that any other existing law or regulation
is more restrictive or does not conflict, it shall remain in full
force and effect. These regulations are not intended to repeal or
abrogate any existing ordinances, including subdivision regulations,
zoning ordinances, or building codes. In the event of a conflict between this
chapter and any other ordinance, the more restrictive shall govern.
[44 CFR 60.1(b)].
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or
phrase of this chapter shall be declared invalid for any reason whatever,
such decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this chapter.
The remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect; and
for this purpose, the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared
to be severable.