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 by the municipality
and until all required permits or approvals have been first obtained
from the Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, the
Federal Insurance Administrator and Pennsylvania Department of Community
and Economic Development, Strategic Planning and Operations Office,
shall be notified prior to any alteration or relocation of any watercourse.
[Amended 12-12-2000 by Ord. No. 9-00; 3-1-2011 by Ord. No. 1-11]
B.
Any new construction, development, uses or activities
allowed within any identified floodplain area shall be undertaken
in strict compliance with the provisions contained in this chapter
and any other applicable codes, ordinances and regulations.
[Amended 12-12-2000 by Ord. No. 9-00]
A.
Within any FW (floodway area), the following provisions
apply:
B.
Within any FA (general floodplain area), the following
provisions apply:
(1)
No new construction or development shall be located
within the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of
any watercourse unless a permit is obtained from the Department of
Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waterways Engineering.
C.
Within
any FF (flood-fringe area), the following provisions apply.
[Added 3-1-2011 by Ord. No. 1-11]
(1)
No
new construction or development shall be located within the area measured
50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse, unless a
permit is obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection
regional office.
(2)
In
FF (flood-fringe area) without a designated floodway, no new development
shall be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that the cumulative
effect of all past and projected development will not increase the
BFE by more than one foot.
A.
Residential structures. Within any FW, FF or FA, the
lowest floor (including basement) of any new or substantially improved
residential structure shall be at least 1 1/2 feet above the one-hundred-year
flood elevation.
B.
Nonresidential structures.
(1)
Within any FW, FF or FA, the lowest floor (including
basement) of any new or substantially improved nonresidential structure
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)
Any nonresidential structure, or part thereof, made
watertight below the regulatory flood elevation shall be floodproofed
in accordance with the W1 or W2 space classification standards contained
in the publication entitled "Flood-Proofing Regulations," published
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (June 1972, as amended March 1992)
or with some other equivalent standard. All plans and specifications
for such floodproofing shall be accompanied by a statement certified
by a registered professional engineer or architect which states that
the proposed design and methods of construction are in conformance
with the above-referenced standards.
[Amended 3-1-2011 by Ord. No. 1-11]
C.
Space below lowest floor.
[Added 7-22-1997 by Ord. No. 3-97]
(1)
Fully enclosed space below the lowest floor (including
basement) is prohibited.
(2)
Partially enclosed space below the lowest floor (including
basement) which will be used solely for the parking of vehicle, building
access or incidental storage in an area other than a basement shall
be designated and constructed to allow for the automatic entry and
exit of floodwaters for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic forces
on exterior walls. The term "partially enclosed space" also includes
crawl spaces. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be
certified by a registered professional engineer or architect, or meet
or exceed the following minimum criteria:
(a)
A minimum of two openings having a net total
area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed
space.
(b)
The bottom of all openings shall be one foot
above grade.
(c)
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers,
etc., or other coverings or devices, provided that they permit the
automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
D.
Accessory structures. Structures accessory to a principal
building need not be elevated or floodproofed to remain dry but shall
comply, at a minimum, with the following requirements:
[Added 7-22-1997 by Ord. No. 3-97]
(1)
The structure shall not be designed or used for human
habitation but shall be limited to the parking of vehicles or to the
storage of tools, materials and equipment related to the principal
use of activity.
(2)
Floor area shall not exceed 600 square feet.
(3)
The structure will have a low damage potential.
(4)
The structure will be located on the site so as to
cause the least obstruction to the flow of floodwaters.
(5)
Power lines, wiring and outlets will be at least 1
1/2 feet above the one-hundred-year-flood elevation.
(6)
Permanently affixed utility equipment and appliances
such as furnaces, heaters, washers, dryers, etc., are prohibited.
(7)
Sanitary facilities are prohibited.
(8)
The structure shall be adequately anchored to prevent
floatation or movement and shall be designed to automatically provide
for the entry and exit of floodwaters for the purpose of equalizing
hydrostatic forces on exterior walls. Designs for meeting this requirement
must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or
architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
(a)
There shall be a minimum of two openings having
a net total area of not less than one square inch for every square
inch for every square foot of enclosed space.
(b)
The bottom of all openings shall be no more
than one foot above grade.
(c)
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers,
etc., or other coverings or devices, provided that they permit the
automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
The following standards shall apply for all
construction and development proposed within any identified floodplain
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 is 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. 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 the adjacent properties.
C.
Water and sanitary sewer facilities and systems.
(1)
All new or replacement water 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 sewage 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.
D.
Other utilities. All other utilities, such as gas
lines and 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 § 121-26, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood elevation and/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 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.
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.
A.
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Flood Plain 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 dangerous materials or substances or which
will be used for any activity requiring the maintenance of a supply
(more than 550 gallons or other comparable volume or any amount of
radioactive substances) of any of the following dangerous materials
or substances on the premises shall be subject to the provisions of
this section, in addition to all other applicable provisions:
[Amended 12-12-2000 by Ord. No. 9-00]
(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.
B.
Within any FW (floodway area), any structure of the kind described in Subsection A above shall be prohibited.
C.
Where permitted within any FF (flood-fringe area), any structure of the kind described in Subsection A above shall be:
D.
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 Floodproofing Regulations (United States
Army Corps of Engineers, June 1972) or with some other equivalent
watertight standard.
[Amended 12-12-2000 by Ord. No. 9-00]
A.
Within any FW (floodway area), manufactured homes
shall be prohibited.
B.
Where permitted within any floodplain area, all manufactured
homes, and any improvements thereto, shall be:[1]
[Added 3-1-2011 by Ord.
No. 1-11]
All subdivision proposals and development proposals containing
at least 50 lots or at least five acres, whichever is the lesser,
in flood hazard 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
or letter of map revision. Submittal requirements and processing fees
shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
