§ 147-6. Establishing the Local Design Flood Elevation (LDFE).

[Added 3-28-2022 by Ord. No. 007-2022]

   The Local Design Flood Elevation (LDFE) is established in the flood hazard areas determined in § 147-5, above, using the best available flood hazard data sources, and the Flood Hazard Area Control Act minimum Statewide elevation requirements for lowest floors in A, Coastal A, and V zones, ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities as specified by the building code, plus additional freeboard as specified by this chapter.

At a minimum, the Local Design Flood Elevation shall be as follows:

   A.   For a delineated watercourse, the elevation associated with the Best Available Flood Hazard Data Area determined in § 147-5, above plus one foot or as described by N.J.A.C. 7:13 of freeboard; or

   B.   For any undelineated watercourse (where mapping or studies described in 147-5(B) and 147-5(C) above are not available) that has a contributary drainage area of 50 acres or more, the applicants must provide one of the following to determine the Local Design Flood Elevation:

      (1)   A copy of an unexpired NJDEP Flood Hazard Area Verification plus one foot of freeboard and any additional freeboard as required by ASCE 24-14; or

      (2)   A determination of the Flood Hazard Area Design Flood Elevation using Method 5 or Method 6 (as described in N.J.A.C. 7:13) plus one foot of freeboard and any additional freeboard as required by ASCE 24-14. Any determination using these methods must be sealed and submitted according to § 147-16(C).

   C.   AO Zones - For Zone AO areas on the municipality's FIRM (or on preliminary flood elevation guidance from FEMA), the Local Design Flood Elevation is determined from the FIRM panel as the highest adjacent grade plus the depth number specified plus one foot of freeboard. If no depth number is specified, the Local Design Flood Elevation is three feet above the highest adjacent grade.

   D.   Class IV Critical Facilities - For any proposed development of new and substantially improved Flood Design Class IV Critical Facilities, the Local Design Flood Elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500 year) flood elevation or the Flood Hazard Area Design Flood Elevation with an additional 2 feet of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.

   E.   Class Ill Critical Facilities - For proposed development of new and substantially improved Flood Design Class III Critical Facilities in coastal high hazard areas, the Local Design Flood Elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500 year) flood elevation or the Flood Hazard Area Design Flood Elevation with an additional one foot of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.