Enclosed areas, of new construction or substantially improved structures, which are below the regulatory flood protection elevation:
(A) Shall not be designed or used for human habitation, but shall only be used for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance equipment used in connection with the premises. Access to the enclosed area shall be the minimum necessary to allow for parking of vehicles (garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment (standard exterior door), or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator). The interior portion of such enclosed area shall not be partitioned or finished into separate rooms, except to enclose storage areas;
(B) Shall not be temperature-controlled or conditioned;
(C) Shall be constructed entirely of flood resistant materials below the regulatory flood protection elevation; and
(D) Shall include, in Zones A, AO, AE, AH and A99, measures to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on wails by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. To meet this requirement, the openings must either be certified by a professional engineer or architect or meet the following minimum design criteria;
(1) Provide a minimum of two openings on different sides of each enclosed area subject to flooding;
(2) The total net area of all openings must be at least one square inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding;
(3) If a building has more than one enclosed area, each area must have openings to allow floodwaters to automatically enter and exit;
(4) The bottom of all required openings shall be no higher than one foot above the higher of the interior or exterior adjacent grade;
(5) Flood openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other opening coverings or devices, provided they permit the automatic flow of floodwaters in both directions; and
(6) Foundation enclosures made of flexible skirting are not considered enclosures for-regulatory purposes, and, therefore, do not require flood openings. Masonry or wood underpinning, regardless of structural status, is considered an enclosure and requires openings as outlined above.
(E) Property owners shall be required to execute and record a non-conversion agreement prior to issuance of a building permit declaring that the area below the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation shall not be improved, finished or otherwise converted to habitable space; The City of Goldsboro will have the right to inspect the enclosed area. The City of Goldsboro will conduct annual inspections. This agreement shall be recorded with the Wayne County Register of Deeds and shall transfer with the property in perpetuity.
(F) Release of restrictive covenant. If a property which is bound by a non-conversion agreement is modified to remove enclosed areas below Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation, then the owner may request release of restrictive covenant after staff inspection and submittal of confirming documentation.
(Ord. 2018-24, passed 5-21-18)