(A) Generally. The Floodplain (FO) Overzone is designed to protect certain areas which have been designated as being susceptible to periodic inundation which may result in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, destruction or disruption of commercial and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety and general welfare.
(B) Purpose. The designation of these areas and the regulations imposed on this overzone are designed to:
(1) Protect human life and health;
(2) Provide for public awareness of the flooding potential;
(3) Minimize public and private property damage;
(4) Protect individuals from buying lands and structures which are unsuited for intended purposes because of flood hazards;
(5) Minimize surface and ground water pollution and erosion of the floodplain soils which will adversely affect human, animal or plant life;
(6) Minimize the expenditure of money for costly flood control projects; and
(7) Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water, natural gas and sanitary sewer lines, mains and facilities; electric, telephone and cable television lines and facilities; streets and bridges; and storm sewer facilities and structures.
(C) Establishment of Floodplain Overzone.
(1) The boundaries of the Floodplain Overzone shall be determined by scientific and engineering studies prepared by the Federal Insurance Administration employing customarily accepted scientific and engineering practices of flood protection and the results thereof shall be located on the official zoning map. The Floodplain Overzone includes all areas designated as special flood hazard areas on the National Flood Insurance Program Flood Boundaries and Floodway Map, City of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, dated 8-16-2007, or an approved subsequent amendment to that map. Where interpretation is needed in order to allow a property owner, surveyor or other individual to locate the exact boundaries of the Floodplain Overzone as shown on the official zoning map, the city’s Director of Storm Water Management (Floodplain Administrator) shall initially make the interpretation based on flood profile information.
(2) Where Floodplain Overzone areas are designated, regulations for these areas shall be in addition to the regular zoning district requirements. The floodplain district shall overlay regular zoning districts. The regulations of these areas shall be established by the flood damage prevention ordinance as adopted by the City Council and as codified in Ch. 151 of this code of ordinances.
(D) Specific standards. In all areas of special flood hazard where an applicant wishes to establish a permitted use, he or she must conform to the following requirements when relevant:
(1) All encroachment, including fill, new construction and substantial improvements are prohibited unless permitted by the city’s Department of Storm Water Management and other appropriate agency having jurisdiction;
(2) Permits for any new construction or substantial improvement for residential construction shall be obtained from the city’s Director of Storm Water Management (Floodplain Administrator) and shall comply with all standards, regulations and requirements, including but not limited to, any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than one foot above the base flood elevation;
(3) Permits for any new construction or substantial improvement for non residential construction shall be obtained from the city’s Director of Storm Water Management (Floodplain Administrator) and shall comply with all standards, regulations and requirements, including, but not limited to, any non-residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, flood-proofed below an elevation one above the base flood elevation and elevated no lower than one foot above the base flood elevation or have compliance certified as specified in the city flood damage prevention ordinance.
(Ord. 06-2008, passed 6-16-2008, § 2.9.2)