(a) Development Permits. A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard as established in Section 1456.03(b). Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the Clerk-Treasurer and may include, but not be limited to, plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions and elevations of the area in question, existing or proposed structures, fill, storage of materials, drainage facilities and the location of the foregoing. Specifically, the following information is required:
(1) The elevation, in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including the basement) of all structures;
(2) The elevation, in relation to mean sea level, to which any structure has been floodproofed;
(3) Certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing methods for any nonresidential structure meet the floodproofing criteria in Section 1456.05(b)(2); and
(4) A description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of the proposed development.
(b) Authority of Clerk-Treasurer. The Clerk-Treasurer is hereby appointed to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying development permit applications in accordance with its provisions.
(c) Duties and Responsibilities of Clerk-Treasurer. The duties of the Clerk-Treasurer shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Permit review.
A. He shall review all development permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied.
B. He shall 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.
C. He shall review all development permits 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 damage to adjacent properties because of rises in flood stages attributed to physical changes of the channel and the adjacent overbank areas.
1. If it is determined that there is no adverse effect and the development is not a building, then the permit shall be granted without further consideration.
2. If it is determined that there is an adverse effect, then technical justification (i. e. a registered professional engineer) for the proposed development shall be required.
3. If the proposed development is a building, then the provisions of this chapter shall apply.
(2) Use of other base flood data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with Section 1456.03(b), the Clerk-Treasurer shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation data available from a Federal, State or other source, in order to administer Section 1456.05(b).
(3) Information to be obtained and maintained.
A. He shall obtain and record the actual elevation, in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest habitable floor (including the basement) of all new or substantially improved structures and determine and record whether or not the structure contains a basement;
B. For all new or substantially improved floodproofed structures, he shall:
1. Obtain and record the actual elevation, in relation to mean sea level, to which the structure has been floodproofed; and
2. Maintain the floodproofing certifications required in Section 1456.04(a)(3).
C. He shall maintain for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of this chapter.
(4) Alteration of watercourses.
A. He shall notify adjacent communities and the State Department of Insurance prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration.
B. He shall require that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of such watercourse so that the flood carrying capacity is not diminished.
(5) Interpretation of FHBM boundaries. He shall 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.
(Ord. 77-65. Passed 10-13-77.)