ACCESSORY STRUCTURE OR USE - a structure or use on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal structure or use.
APPLICANT - a landowner or developer who undertakes construction or development within areas of Township that are subject to flooding.
BASE FLOOD - a flood which has a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (also called the “100-year flood” or “1% annual chance flood”).
BASE FLOOD DISCHARGE - the volume of water resulting from a base flood as it passes a given location within a given time, usually expressed in cubic feet per second (cfs).
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE) - the elevation shown on the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) for Zones AE, AH, A1-30 that indicates the water surface elevation resulting from a flood that has a 1% or greater chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT - any area of the building having its floor below ground level on all sides.
BUILDING - a combination of materials to form a permanent structure having walls and a roof. Included shall be all manufactured homes and trailers to be used for human habitation.
COMPLETELY DRY - refers to a space within a structure that will remain totally dry during flooding; the structure is designed and constructed to prevent the passage of water and water vapor.
CUMULATIVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE - flood-related damages sustained by a structure on 2 separate occasions during a period of 10 years for which the cost of repairs at the time of each such flood event, on average, equals or exceeds 25% of the market value of the structure before the damages occurred.
DEVELOPER - an individual, public or private association or corporation, partnership, association, municipality or political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, public utility, institution, authority, firm, trust, estate, receiver, guardian, personal representative, successor, joint venture, joint stock company, fiduciary; department, agency or instrumentality of state, federal or local government, or an agent or employee thereof; or any other legal entity who undertakes construction or development within areas of the Township that are subject to flooding.
DEVELOPMENT - any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to the construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, expansion, or alteration of buildings or other structures; the placement of manufactured homes; streets, and other paving; utilities; filling, grading and excavation; mining; dredging; drilling operations; storage of equipment or materials; and the subdivision of land.
EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION - a manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is completed before the effective date of the floodplain management regulations adopted by the Township.
EXPANSION TO AN EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION - the preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads).
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FLOOD/FLOODING - a temporary inundation of normally dry land areas.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM) - the official map on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) and the risk premium zones applicable to the Township.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS) - the official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that includes flood profiles, the flood insurance rate map (FIRM), the flood boundary and floodway map, and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR - the administrative officer lawfully charged with the duty of administering and enforcing the provisions of this Chapter.
FLOODPLAIN AREA - a relatively flat or low land area which is subject to partial or complete inundation from an adjoining or nearby stream, river or watercourse; and/or any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation of surface waters from any source.
FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE - a standard municipal form issued to the applicant by the Township prior to the commencement of development and/or construction work in the identified floodplain area.
FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATION - a standard municipal form completed by an applicant prior to undertaking development and/or construction work in the identified floodplain area.
FLOODPROOF - any work or activity that involves structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures that reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.
FLOODPROOFING - any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures that reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.
FLOODWAY - the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than 1 foot.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE - the highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
HISTORIC STRUCTURES - any structure that is:
A. Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register; or
B. Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district; or
C. Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
D. Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation that have been certified either:
(1) By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior or
(2) Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
IDENTIFIED FLOODPLAIN AREA - this term is an umbrella term that includes all of the areas within which the Township has selected to enforce floodplain regulations. It will always include the area identified as the special flood hazard area (SFHA) on the flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) and flood insurance study (FIS), but may include additional areas identified by the Township (please refer to Part 4, § 8-401 and § 8-402 of this Chapter for areas that the Township has included in the identified floodplain area).
LAND DEVELOPMENT - any of the following activities:
A. The improvement of 1 lot or 2 or more contiguous lots, tracts or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(1) A group of 2 or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or
(2) The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among 2 or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
B. A subdivision of land.
C. Development in accordance with Section 503(1.1) of the Municipalities Planning Code.
LETTER OF MAP AMENDMENT (LOMA) - an amendment to the currently effective FEMA map which establishes that a property is not located in a special flood hazard area (SFHA). A LOMA is issued only by FEMA.
LETTER OF MAP REVISION (LOMR) - An official amendment to the currently effective FEMA map. It is issued by FEMA and changes flood zones, delineations, and elevations.
LOWEST FLOOR - the lowest floor of the lowest fully enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished, flood resistant partially enclosed area, used solely for parking of vehicles, building access, and incidental storage, in an area other than a basement area is not considered the lowest floor of a building, provided that such space is not designed and built so that the structure is in violation of the applicable non-elevation design requirements of this Chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME - a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis, and is designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when attached to the required utilities. The term includes park trailers, travel trailers, recreational and other similar vehicles which are placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION - a parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into 2 or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP) - the program of flood insurance coverage and floodplain management administered under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (and any amendments thereof) and applicable federal regulations promulgated in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter B.
NEW CONSTRUCTION - structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after June 16, 2016 and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures. Any construction started after March 16, 1988 and before June 16, 2016 is subject to the ordinance in effect at the time the floodplain development compliance certificate was issued, provided the start of construction was within 180 days of issuance of the floodplain development compliance certificate.
NEW MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION - a manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including at a minimum, the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is completed on or after the effective date of floodplain management regulations adopted by the Township.
NORTH AMERICAN VERTICAL DATUM OF 1988 (NAVD88) - the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 is the vertical control datum of orthometric height established for vertical control surveying in the United States of America based upon the General Adjustment of the North American Datum of 1988.
PERSON - an individual, public or private association or corporation, partnership, association, municipality or political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, public utility, institution, authority, firm, trust, estate, receiver, guardian, personal representative, successor, joint venture, joint stock company, fiduciary; department, agency or instrumentality of state, federal or local government, or an agent or employee thereof; or any other legal entity who undertakes construction or development within areas of the Township that are subject to flooding.
POST-FIRM STRUCTURE - is a structure for which construction or substantial improvement occurred after the Township’s initial flood insurance rate map (FIRM) dated March 16, 1988 and, as such, would be required to be compliant with the regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
PRE-FIRM STRUCTURE - is a structure for which construction or substantial improvement occurred on or before the Township’s initial flood insurance rate map (FIRM) dated March 16, 1988 and, as such, would not be required to be compliant with the regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE - a vehicle which is:
A. Built on a single chassis; and
B. Not more than 400 square feet, measured at the largest horizontal projections; and
C. Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and
D. Not designed for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreation, camping, travel, or seasonal use.
REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER - an individual currently licensed and registered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to engage in the practice of engineering.
REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR - an individual currently licensed and registered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to engage in the practice of land surveying.
REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION - the base flood elevation (BFE) or estimated flood height as determined using simplified methods plus a freeboard safety factor of 1-1/2 feet.
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA (SFHA) - means an area in the floodplain subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year. It is shown on the FIRM as zone A, AO, A1-A30, AE, A99, or AH.
START OF CONSTRUCTION - includes substantial improvement and other proposed new development and means the date the floodplain development compliance certificate was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, placement, or other improvement was within 180 days after the date of the floodplain development compliance certificate and shall be completed within 12 months after the date of issuance of the floodplain development compliance certificate unless a time extension is granted, in writing, by the Floodplain Administrator. The actual start means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement of a manufacture home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading, and filling; nor does it include the installation of streets and walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers, or foundations or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory structures, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure. For a substantial improvement, the actual start of construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
STRUCTURE - a walled and roofed building, including a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground, as well as a manufactured home.
SUBDIVISION - the division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into 2 or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development. Provided, however, that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling, shall be exempted.
SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONS TO MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS - any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of an existing manufactured home park or manufactured home subdivision, where such repair, reconstruction, or improvement of the streets, utilities, and pads will equal or exceed 50% of the value of the streets, utilities, and pads before the repair, reconstruction, or improvement is started.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE - damage from any cause sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% or more of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT - any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, of which the cost equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement. This term includes structures which have incurred substantial damage or cumulative substantial damage regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions.
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER - a registered professional engineer appointed by the Township to provide municipal engineering services.
UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE (UCC) - the statewide building code adopted by The Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1999 applicable to new construction in all municipalities whether administered by the Township, a third party or the Department of Labor and Industry. Applicable to residential and commercial buildings, the code adopted The International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Building Code (IBC), by reference, as the construction standard applicable with the state floodplain construction. For coordination purposes, references to the above are made specifically to various sections of the IRC and the IBC.
VARIANCE - A grant of relief by the Township from the terms of a floodplain management regulation.
VIOLATION - means the failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the Township’s floodplain management regulations. A structure or other development without the elevation certificate, other certifications, or other evidence of compliance required in 44 CFR § 60.3(b)(5), (c)(4), (c)(10), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(4), or (e)(5) is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided.
(Ord. 6-6-2016, 6/6/2016, § 8-902)