As used in this article, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE
A use or structure on the same lot with, and of a nature
customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.
BASE FLOOD
The flood which has been selected to serve as the basis upon
which the floodplain management provisions of this and other ordinances
have been prepared. For the purposes of this and other ordinances,
it shall be the one-hundred-year flood as referenced in the current
Flood Insurance Study and delineated on the Flood Insurance Rate Map
of the Federal Insurance Administration.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION
The one-hundred-year elevation as referenced in the Flood
Insurance Study. Within the approximated floodplain, alluvial soils
floodplain or other similarly documented areas, the one-hundred-year-flood
elevation shall be established nearest to the construction site in
question.
BASEMENT
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below
ground level) on all sides.
BUILDING
A combination of materials to form a permanent structure
having walls and a roof. Included shall be all manufactured homes
and trailers to be used for human habitation.
CONSTRUCTION
The construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, extension,
expansion, alteration or relocation of a building or structure, including
the placement of manufactured homes.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the placement
of manufactured homes, streets and other paving, utilities, filling,
grading, excavation, mining, dredging or drilling operations, or storage
of equipment or materials and the subdivision of land.
FEMA and FIA
The Federal Emergency Management and the Federal Insurance
Administration who have jurisdiction over the National Flood Insurance
Program and its related studies and regulations. FEMA is the parent
agency of FIA.
FLOOD
A temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of
normally dry land areas.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP
The official FIA map which shows special hazard zones and
risk areas for insurance rating purposes. For the purpose of this
chapter, it also delineates floodplain areas.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The examination and determination of flood hazards by FIA.
The flood elevations contained in this study area used for floodplain
management purposes as related to this and other ordinances.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
The application of a program or activities which may consist
of both corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damages.
FLOODPROOFING
Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions,
changes or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood
damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary
facilities, structures and their contents. Such measures are set forth
in Floodproofing Regulations, published by the Office of the Chief
Engineers, United States Army, publication number EP 1165 2 314 (June
1972 and as subsequently amended). Floodproofing measures for all
new construction and substantial improvements of structures shall
satisfy the requirements of the completely dry spaces (W1) and essentially
dry spaces (W2) classes referenced in those regulations. In said publication,
where reference is made to "below" (or above) the "BFD" (base flood
datum), it shall be interpreted as meaning below (or above) the base
flood elevation.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
(1)
Listed individually in the National Register
of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of the
Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior
as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National
Register;
(2)
Certified or preliminarily determined by the
Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance
of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined
by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
(3)
Individually listed on a State Inventory of
Historic Places in states with historic preservation programs which
have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(4)
Individually listed on a local inventory of
historic places in communities with historic preservation programs
that have been certified either:
(a)
By an approved state program as determined by
the Secretary of the Interior; or
(b)
Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in
the states without approved programs.
IDENTIFIED FLOODPLAIN AREA
The floodplain area specifically identified in this chapter
as being inundated by the one-hundred-year flood. Included would be
areas identified as floodway (FW), flood-fringe (FF), approximated
floodplain (FA) and alluvial soils (AS).
LOWEST FLOOR
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement).
An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking
of vehicles, building access or storage, in an area other than a basement
area, is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such
enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation
of the applicable nonelevation design requirement of this chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A building transportable in one or more sections which is
built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used with or without
a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. The
term includes park trailers, travel trailers, recreation and other
similar vehicles which are placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive
days.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after the effective date of the original floodplain management
regulations adopted by the Township of Lower Providence and includes
any subsequent improvements to such structures.
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD
A flood that, on the average, is likely to occur once every
100 years (i.e., that has a one-percent chance of occurring each year,
although the flood may occur in any year).
START OF CONSTRUCTION
Includes substantial improvement and means the date the building
permit was issued, provided that the actual start of construction,
repair, reconstruction, placement or other improvement was within
180 days of the permit date. The "actual start" means either the first
placement of permanent construction of a structure of a site, such
as the pouring of the slab or footings, the installation of piers,
the construction of columns or any work beyond the stage of excavation;
or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent
construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing,
grading and filling, nor does it include the installation of streets
and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for the basement,
footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms;
nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory
buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units
or not part of the main structure. Time extension shall be granted
only if a written request is submitted to the applicant which sets
forth sufficient and reasonable cause for the Building Inspector to
approve such a request.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made object, constructed or erected, having an ascertainable
stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed
to the land (ground improvements excepted).
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the
cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would
equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the
damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
(1)
Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of
a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market
value of the structure either:
(a)
Before the improvement or repair is started;
or
(b)
If the structure has been damaged, and it is
being restored, before the damage occurred.
(2)
For the purpose of this definition "substantial
improvement" is considered to occur when the first alteration of any
wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences,
whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of
the structure. The term does not, however, include either:
(a)
Any project for improvement of a structure to
comply with existing state or local health, sanitary or safety code
specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions;
or
(b)
Any alteration of a structure listed on the
National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic
Places.