(a) The report entitled, "Flood Insurance Study Defiance County, Ohio and Incorporated Areas" and accompanying "Flood Insurance Rate Map Defiance County, Ohio and Incorporated Areas", as promulgated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with an effective date of March 9, 2021, including all revisions thereto of which the City has received notice, shall be relied on as the primary reference for technical data regarding projected water surface elevations, floodwater velocity and local topography when such information is required for interpretation, implementation or enforcement of any provision of the Codified Ordinances.
(1) Base flood elevations and floodway boundaries produced by FEMA on FIRM maps or within FIS shall take precedence over base flood elevations and floodway boundaries by any other source that reflect a reduced floodway width and/or lower base flood elevations. Other sources of data showing increased base flood elevations and/or larger floodway areas than are shown on FEMA FIRM maps or within FIS shall be reasonably used by the Commissioner.
(2) Where an existing or proposed structure or other development is affected by multiple flood zones, by multiple base flood elevations, or both, the development activity must comply with the provisions of this Chapter applicable to the most restrictive flood zone and the highest base flood elevation affecting any part of the existing or proposed structure: or for other development, affecting any part of the area of development.
(b) Flood Insurance Studies and Flood Insurance Rate Maps pertaining to lands located beyond the corporate limits of the City shall be consulted as the primary reference for technical data regarding projected water surface elevations, floodwater velocity and local topography when the consideration of such information about watershed areas affecting the City is required for the interpretation, implementation or enforcement of any provision of the Codified Ordinances or to establish the appropriate zoning district classification of lands annexed to the City. In the event no Flood Insurance Study or Flood Insurance Rate Map has been issued for a geographic area, reference shall be made to any current Flood Hazard Boundary or Floodway Map pertaining to that area.
(c) In applying Sections 1333.12(a), 1333.16 and 1333.17 of this Chapter in areas of special flood hazard for which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not defined the boundaries of the floodway or projected the water surface elevation of the base flood, the Commissioner shall supplement the Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map (or applicable Flood Hazard Boundary or Floodway Map) with all reasonably available base flood elevation and floodway data to include, without limitation, information derived from:
(1) Flood plain surveys published by the U.S. Geologic Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Soil and Water Conservation Service, and other Federal and State agencies;
(2) Flood plain studies conducted by private firms and filed with the Commissioner to demonstrate compliance with requirements of this Chapter; and,
(3) The conduct of municipal operations including, without limitation, the activities of the Divisions of Water, Water Pollution Control and Engineering. (Ord. 8289. Passed 3-2-21.)