For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION. The elevation of the REGIONAL FLOOD. The term BASE FLOOD ELEVATION is used in the flood insurance survey.
DEVELOPMENT. Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate including, but not limited to, buildings, manufactured homes and other structures, recreational vehicles, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, or storage of materials or equipment.
FARM FENCE. A fence as defined by M.S. § 344.02, Subd. 1(a)-(d), as they may be amended from time to time. An open type fence of posts and wire is not considered to be a structure under this chapter. Fences that have the potential to obstruct flood flows, such as chain link fences and rigid walls, are not permitted in the Floodplain District.
FLOOD FRINGE. The portion of the floodplain located outside of the floodway. FLOOD FRINGE is synonymous with the term “floodway fringe” used in the flood insurance study for the county and incorporated areas.
FLOODPLAIN. The areas adjoining a watercourse which have been or hereafter may be covered by the regional flood.
FLOODWAY. The bed of a wetland or lake and the channel of a watercourse and those portions of the adjoining floodplain which are reasonably required to carry or store the regional flood discharge.
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 MANUFACTURED HOME does not include the term RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.
OBSTRUCTION. Any dam, wall, wharf, embankment, levee, dike, pile, abutment, projection, excavation, channel modification, culvert, building, wire, fence (with the exception of farm fences), stockpile, refuse, fill, structure, or matter in, along, across, or projecting into any channel, watercourse, or regulatory floodplain which may impede, retard, or change the direction of the flow of water, either in itself or by catching or collecting debris carried by such water.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. A vehicle that is built on a single chassis, is 400 square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projection, is designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light duty truck, and is designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use. For the purposes of this chapter, the term RECREATIONAL VEHICLE is synonymous with the term “travel trailer/travel vehicle.”
REGIONAL FLOOD. A flood which is representative of large floods known to have occurred generally in the state and reasonably characteristic of what can be expected to occur on an average frequency in the magnitude of the 1% chance/100-year recurrence interval. REGIONAL FLOOD is synonymous with the term “base flood” used in the flood insurance study.
REGULATORY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION. An elevation no lower than one foot above the elevation of the regional flood plus any increases in flood elevation caused by encroachments on the floodplain that result from designation of a floodway.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground, including, but not limited to, buildings, factories, sheds, detached garages, cabins, manufactured homes and other similar items.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. Damage of any origin sustained by a structure where the cost of restoring the structure to its before damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. Within any consecutive 365-day period, any reconstruction, rehabilitation (including normal maintenance and repair), repair after damage, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the “start of construction” of the improvement. This term includes structures that have incurred SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:
(1) 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; or
(2) Any alteration of a “historic structure” provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure’s continued designation as a “historic structure.” For the purpose of this chapter, “historic structure” is as defined in 44 C.F.R. part 59.1.
(Ord. 77A, passed 10-5-2016)