A.
No encroachment, alteration, or improvement of any
kind shall be made to any watercourse until all adjacent municipalities
which may be affected by such action have been notified, and until
all required permits or approvals have been first obtained from the
commonwealth. In addition, the Federal Insurance Administrator and
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Bureau
of Community Planning, shall be notified prior to any alteration or
relocation of any watercourse.
B.
Where a flood-prone area has been identified which
includes a floodway area, the following provisions apply:
(1)
Within any designated floodway (FW) area, no new construction,
development, use, activity, or encroachment of any kind, shall be
allowed, except where the effect of such proposed activity on flood
heights is fully offset by accompanying improvements.
(2)
Within any designated flood-fringe (FF) area, new
construction and other development, uses and activities shall be allowed,
provided that they are undertaken in strict compliance with the provisions
contained in this chapter and any other applicable codes, ordinances
and regulations.
C.
Where a flood-prone area has been identified, which
does not include a floodway area, the following provisions apply:
(1)
Within any area designated "FP", new construction
and other development, uses, and activities shall be allowed, provided
that they, together with all other existing and anticipated construction,
development, uses, and activities, will not increase the elevation
of the one-hundred-year flood more than one foot at any point, and
that the proposed construction, development, use, or activity will
be undertaken in strict compliance with the provisions contained in
this chapter, as well as any other applicable codes, ordinances, and
regulations.
(2)
Within any area designated "FA" or "FO", new construction,
and other development, uses and activities, shall be allowed, provided
that they are undertaken in strict compliance with the provisions
contained in this chapter, as well as any other applicable codes,
ordinances and regulations.
A.
Residential structures.
(1)
Within any FW, FF, FP, or FA area, the lowest floor
(including basement of any new or improved residential structures)
shall be at least 1 1/2 feet above the one-hundred-year flood elevation,
or be designed and constructed so that the space enclosed by such
structure shall remain either completely or essentially dry during
any flood up to that height.[1]
(2)
Within any FO area, the lowest floor (including basement)
shall be at least 1 1/2 feet plus an additional number of feet equal
to the depth number specified in the Flood Insurance Study, above
the crown of the nearest street.
B.
Nonresidential structures.
(1)
Within any FW, FF, FP, or FA area, the lowest floor
(including basement) shall be at least 1 1/2 feet above the one-hundred-year
flood elevation, or be designed and constructed so that the space
enclosed by such structure shall remain either completely or essentially
dry during any flood up to that height.
(2)
Within any FO area, the lowest floor (including basement)
shall be at least 1 1/2 feet plus an additional number of feet
equal to the depth number specified in the Flood Insurance Study,
above the crown of the nearest street, or be designed and constructed
so that the space enclosed by such structure shall remain either completely
or essentially dry during any flood up to that height.
(3)
Any structure, or part thereof, which will not be
completely or adequately elevated, shall be designed and constructed
to be completely or essentially dry in accordance with the standards
contained in the publication entitled "Flood-proofing Regulations"
(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June, 1972), or some other equivalent
standard, for that type of construction.
The following minimum standards shall apply
for all construction proposed to be undertaken within any identified
flood-prone area:
A.
Fill. If fill is used, it shall:
(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,
unless substantiated data justifying steeper slopes are submitted
to and approved by the Building Permit Officer.
(5)
Be used to the extent to which it does not adversely
affect adjacent properties.
B.
Drainage facilities. Storm drainage facilities shall
be designed to convey the flow of surface water without damage to
persons or property. The system shall insure drainage at all points
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.
Sanitary sewer facilities. All new or replacement
sanitary sewer facilities and private package sewage treatment plants
(including all pumping stations and collector systems) shall be designed
to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems
and discharges from the systems into the flood waters. In addition,
they should be located and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood
damage and impairment.
D.
Water facilities. All new or replacement water facilities
shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters
into the system, and be located and constructed to minimize or eliminate
flood damages.
E.
Streets. The finished elevation of proposed new streets
shall be no more than one foot below the regulatory flood elevation.
F.
Utilities. All utilities such as gas lines, electrical
and telephone systems being placed in flood-prone areas should be
located, elevated (where possible) and constructed to minimize the
change of impairment during a flood.
G.
Storage. No materials that are buoyant, flammable,
explosive, or in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal,
or plant life, shall be stored below the regulatory flood elevation.
H.
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 flood water.
I.
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.
J.
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 floor elevation shall be made of metal or other water-resistant
material.
K.
Paints and adhesives.
(1)
Paints or other finishes used at or below the regulatory
flood elevation shall be of a "marine" or water-resistant quality.
(2)
Adhesives used at or below the regulatory flood elevation
shall be of a "marine" or water-resistant quality.
(3)
All wooden components (doors, trim, cabinets, etc.)
shall be finished with a "marine" or water-resistant paint or other
finishing material.
L.
Electrical systems and components.
(1)
Electric Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning
and ventilating systems, and other electrical equipment or apparatus
shall not be located below the Regulatory Flood Elevation.
(2)
Electrical distribution panels shall be at least three
feet above the one-hundred-year flood elevation.
(3)
Separate electrical circuits shall serve lower levels
and shall be dropped from above.
M.
Plumbing.
(1)
Water heaters, furnaces, and other mechanical equipment
or apparatus shall not be located below the regulatory flood elevation.
(2)
No part of any on-site sewage disposal system shall
be located within any identified flood-prone area.
(3)
Water supply systems and sanitary sewage systems shall
be designed to prevent the infiltration of flood waters into the system
and discharges from the system into flood waters.
(4)
All gas and soil supply systems shall be designed
to prevent the infiltration of flood waters into the system and discharges
from the system into flood waters. Additional provision shall be made
for the drainage of these systems in the event that flood water infiltration
occurs.
[Added 5-23-1985 by Ord. No. 85-7]
A.
The provisions of this section shall be applicable,
in addition to any other applicable provisions of this chapter, or
any other ordinance, code, or regulation.
B.
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management
Act,[1] 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 materials or substances, or which will be
used for any activity requiring the maintenance of a supply (more
than 500 gallons or other comparable volume, or any amount of radioactive
substances) of any of the following materials or substances on the
premises, shall be subject to the provisions of this section, in addition
to all other applicable provisions:
(1)
Acetone.
(2)
Ammonia.
(3)
Benzene.
(4)
Calcium carbide.
(5)
Carbon disulfide.
(6)
Celluloid.
(7)
Chlorine.
(8)
Hydrochloric acid.
(9)
Hydrocyanic acid.
(10)
Magnesium.
(11)
Nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen.
(12)
Petroleum products (gasoline, fuel oil, etc.).
(13)
Phosphorus.
(14)
Potassium.
(15)
Sodium.
(16)
Sulphur and sulphur products.
(17)
Pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides
and rodenticides).
(18)
Radioactive substances, insofar as such substances
are not otherwise regulated.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 679.101
et seq.
C.
Within any Floodway Area (FW), any structure of the kind described in Subsection B above shall be prohibited.
D.
Additional criteria.
(1)
Where permitted within any Flood-Fringe Area (FF), Shallow Floodplain Area (FO), or General Floodplain Area (FA), any structure of the kind described in Subsection B above shall be:
(2)
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), or with some other equivalent watertight
standard.
E.
Except for a possible modification of the freeboard
requirements involved, no variance shall be granted for any of the
other requirements of this section.
A.
Floodway Areas (FW). No mobile home shall be located
within any designated Floodway Area (FW).
B.
Within Flood-fringe (FF), Floodplain (FP), and FO Areas. For individual mobile homes to be located outside of mobile home parks; for new mobile home parks or expansion thereof; or for improvements to such parks, the requirements of Subsection C shall apply in addition to the following:
(1)
The stands or lots shall be elevated on compacted
fill, or on pilings so that the lowest floor of the mobile home will
be 1 1/2 feet above the elevation of the one-hundred-year flood.
(2)
Adequate surface drainage is provided.
(3)
Adequate access for a hauler is provided.
(4)
Where pilings are used for elevation, the lots shall
be large enough to permit steps; piling foundations shall be placed
in stable soil no more than 10 feet apart; reinforcement shall be
provided for pilings that will extend for six feet or more above the
ground level.
C.
Any FA area. For any mobile home to be located in
an FA area, the following requirements shall apply:
(1)
All mobile homes and any additions thereto shall be
anchored to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement by providing
over-the-top top and frame ties to ground anchors in accordance with
the American National Standards Institute and National Fire Protection
Association Standards as specified in the Standard for the Installation
of Mobile Homes Including Mobile Home Park Requirements (NFPA No.
501A-1974) (ANSI A119.3-1975), as amended, for Mobile Homes in Hurricane
Zones or other appropriate standards such as the following:
(a)
Over-the-top ties shall be provided at each
of the four corners of the mobile home, with two additional ties per
side at intermediate locations for units 50 feet or more in length,
and one additional tie per side for units less than 50 feet in length.
(b)
Frame ties shall be provided at each corner
of the mobile home, with five additional ties per side at intermediate
locations for units 50 feet or more in length, and four additional
ties per side for units less than 50 feet in length.
(c)
All components of the anchoring system shall
be capable of carrying a force of 4,800 pounds.
(2)
An evacuation plan shall be prepared and filed with
the Borough of Jim Thorpe and with the county and state disaster preparedness
authorities.
