Duties of the Zoning Official shall include, but not be limited to:
(A) Permit review.
(1) Review all development permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied and whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding;
(2) Review all development permits to determine that all necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state or local governmental agencies from which prior approval is required;
(3) Review all development permits in the area of special flood hazard except in the coastal high hazard area to determine if the proposed development adversely affects the flood-carrying capacity of the area of special flood hazard. For the purposes of this chapter, ADVERSELY AFFECTS means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when combined with all other existing and anticipated development will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point;
(4) Review all development permits in the coastal high hazard area of the area of special flood hazard to determine if the proposed development alters mangrove stands or sand dunes so as to increase potential flood damage; and
(5) Review plans for walls to be used to enclose space below the base flood level in accordance with § 151.67(B)(4).
(B) Use of other base flood data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with § 151.31, the Zoning Official shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation data available from a federal, state or other source, in order to administer these regulations.
(C) Information to be obtained and maintained.
(1) Obtain and record the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the lowest habitable floor (including basement) of all new or substantially improved structures;
(2) For all new substantially improved floodproofed structures:
(a) Verify and record the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level); and
(b) Maintain the floodproofing certifications required in § 151.50(C).
(3) In coastal high hazard areas, (VE and Coastal AE Zones) certification shall be obtained from a registered professional engineer or architect that the structure is designed to be securely anchored to adequately anchored pilings or columns in order to withstand velocity waters and hurricane wave wash; and
(4) Maintain for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of this chapter.
(D) Alteration of watercourses.
(1) Notify adjacent communities, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (Land and Water Resource Division) and the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG), prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
(2) Require that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse so that the flood-carrying capacity is not diminished.
(E) Interpretation of FIRM boundaries. Make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards, for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation.
(F) Upon completion of the applicable portion of construction, the applicant shall provide verification to the Zoning Official of the following as is applicable. Lowest floor elevation shall be verified for:
(1) A structure in Zones A, AE, AO or AH is the top of the lowest floor including basement);
(2) A structure in Zones VE and Coastal AE is the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member (excluding pilings or columns);
(3) A non-residential structure that has been dry floodproofed is the elevation to which the floodproofing is effective. (Note: For insurance purposes, a dry floodproofed, non-residential structure is rated based on the elevation of its lowest floor unless it is floodproofed to one foot above the BFE.);
(4) Verification of the above shall be provided on a FEMA Elevation Certificate, Floodproofing Certificate for Non-Residential Structures Form 086-0-34, and V Zone Design Certificate, as applicable.
(Ord. passed 6-22-1981; Ord. passed 12-19-1988; Ord. passed 5-31-2022)
Editor’s note:
TM Volume 14, page 122; TM Volume 16, page 262, Amended