For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APPEAL. A request for a review of the Zoning Administrator’s interpretation of any provision of this chapter or a request for a variance.
APPURTENANT STRUCTURE. A structure on the same parcel of property as the principal structure, the use of which is incidental to the use of the principal structure.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING. A designated AO or AH Zone on a community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with a 1% or greater annual chance of flooding to an average depth of one to three feet where a clearly defined channel is unpredictable and where velocity flow may be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow.
BASE FLOOD. The flood having 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT. Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.
DEVELOPMENT. Any human-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or storage of equipment or materials.
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION. (For the purposes of determining rates) structures for which the “start of construction” commenced before the effective date of the FIRM or before 1-1-1975, for FIRMs effective before that date. EXISTING CONSTRUCTION may also be referred to as EXISTING STRUCTURES.
EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION. A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including a minimum, the installation of utilities, the construction of streets and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is complete before the effective date of the floodplain management regulations adopted by a community.
EXPANSION TO AN EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISIONS. The preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including the installation of utilities, the construction of streets and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads).
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; and
(2) The usual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOOD FRINGE. The area of the floodplain, outside of the floodway, that on the average is likely to be flooded once every 100 years (i.e., that has a 1% chance of flood occurrence in any one year).
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM). An official map of a community, on which the Flood Insurance Study has delineated the flood hazard boundaries and the zones establishing insurance rates applicable to the community.
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 elevation of the base flood.
FLOODPLAIN. Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source. (See definition of FLOODING.)
FLOODWAY or REGULATORY FLOODWAY. The channel of a river or other water course and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface more than one foot.
FREEBOARD. A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of floodplain management. FREEBOARD tends to compensate for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway conditions, such as wave action, clogged bridge openings and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE. The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of structure.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE. Any structure that is:
(1) Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of 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 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 states without approved programs.
VARIANCES. A grant of relief to a person from the requirements of this chapter which permits construction in a manner otherwise prohibited by this chapter where specific enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship.
VIOLATION. A failure of a structure or other development to be fully complaint with the community’s floodplain management regulations.
(1976 Code, § 14-112) (Ord. 1421, passed 4-18-2011)