As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
The land in the floodplain within a City subject to a 1%
or greater chance of flooding in a given year. This area may be designated
as Zone A, AE, AH, AO or A1-99.
BASE FLOOD
The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded
in any given year.
BASEMENT
That portion of a building having its floor subgrade (below
ground level) on all sides.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining,
dredging, filling, paving, excavation or drilling operations located
within the area of special flood hazard.
FLOOD BOUNDARY AND FLOOD MAP (FBFM)
An official map of the City published by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency as part of a riverine flood insurance study. The
FBFM delineates a regulatory floodway along watercourses studied in
detail in the flood insurance study.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
An official map of the City published by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency which has delineated both the areas of special flood
hazard and the risk premium zones applicable to the City.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. The report contains flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary-Floodway
Map and the water surface elevations of the base flood.
FLOOD or FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete
inundation of normally dry land areas from:
(1)
The overflow of inland or tidal waters.
(2)
The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters
from any source.
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.
FLOODWAY
The same meaning as "regulatory floodway."
FLOOR
The top surface of an enclosed area in a building, including
basement, i.e., top of slab in concrete slab construction or top of
wood flooring in wood frame construction.
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE
A use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it
is located or carried out in close proximity to water, such as a docking
or port facility necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo
or passengers, shipbuilding and ship repair. The term does not include
long-term storage, manufacture, sales or service facilities.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface, prior
to construction, next to the proposed walls of a structure.
LOWEST FLOOR
Lowest level, including basement or cellar, of the lowest
enclosed area. An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure usable solely
for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other
than a basement is not considered a building's lowest structure in
violation of the applicable nonelevation design requirements of this
article.
MEAN SEA LEVEL
For purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program, the
National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929, or other datum, to
which base flood elevations shown on a city's Flood Insurance Rate
Map are referenced.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the "start of construction" commenced
on or after the effective date of this article.
REGULATORY FLOODWAY
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a flood insurance study or by other agencies as provided in §
240-38C(2) of this article.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
The initiation, excluding planning and design, of any phase
of a project or physical alteration of the property, and shall include
land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; installation
of streets and/or walkways; excavation for a basement, footings, piers
or foundations or the erection of temporary forms. It also includes
the placement and/or installation on the property of accessory buildings
(garages, sheds), storage trailers and building materials. For manufactured
homes, the "actual start" means affixing of the manufactured home
to its permanent site.
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 is being restored, before
the damage occurred.
(2)
For the purposes of this definition, substantial improvement
is considered to commence 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 building, fire, health, sanitary or safety code specifications
which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
(b)
Any alteration of a structure or contributing structure listed
on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of
Historic Places.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief from the requirements of this article which
permits construction or use in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited
by this article.