§ 153.03 DEFINITIONS.
   The words used in this chapter which are not expressly defined in this section shall be given their usual customary meaning, with consideration being given to the context in which they appear. The following terms are expressly defined herein and, for purposes of this chapter, shall mean:
   AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING. A designated AO ZONE on the flood insurance rate map for the township with base flood depths from 1 to 3 feet where a clearly defined channel or watercourse does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate, and where flood water velocity flow may be evident.
   AO ZONE. A special flood hazard area with sheet flow, ponding, or shallow flooding. Base flood depths are provided on the community's FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM).
   BASE FLOOD. The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year and shall be based upon a flood which is representative of large floods known to have occurred generally in the area and is reasonably characteristic of what can be expected to occur in a particular stream, channel, or watercourse.
   DEVELOPMENT. Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, the erection of buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, or drilling operations.
   AREAS OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD. The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year. SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA is synonymous in meaning with the phrase, AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD.
   THE FLOOD PREVENTION DISTRICT. Commonly called an overlay district, which is an approach to applying special restrictions to areas with unique characteristics. Properties within these districts retain their underlying zoning classification but are subject to additional requirements specified in this chapter.
   FLOOD or FLOODING. A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of land which is, in its normal state, dry and unsubmerged, from the overflow of inland waters or the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any surface.
   FLOOD BOUNDARY and FLOOD-WAY MAP. The map (or maps) prepared by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development which indicates the location of the floodway and the flood-way fringe areas within the township, a copy of which is available for examination in the office of the Township Clerk.
   FLOOD FRINGE. The portion of the floodplain lying on either side of the floodway.
   FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP. That map (or maps) prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency which classifies the floodplain into various zones for purposes of determining flood insurance premium rates within the township, a copy of which is available for examination at the office of the Township Clerk.
   FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY. That study (or studies) prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency which examines, evaluates, and determines flood hazards, and if appropriate, corresponding water-surface elevations for the township, and contains flood-profile studies as well as a flood-hazard boundary and floodway map and the water-surface elevation of the base flood.
   FLOODPLAINS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BASE FLOOD. That area which is inundated by the base flood. This is the floodplain area which shall be regulated by the standards and criteria of this ordinance and shall be determined with reference to the flood boundary and floodway and the flood insurance study.
   FLOOD PROOFING. Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improves real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures, and their contents.
   FLOODWAY. The channel of the watercourse and those portions of the adjoining floodplains which carry and discharge the flood waters of the base flood, as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and as indicated in the flood boundary and floodway map.
   NEW CONSTRUCTION. All structures, including the placement of mobile homes, for which construction is started or commenced on or after the effective date of this chapter.
   OBSTRUCTION. Any dam, dike, wall, wharf, embankment, levee, pile abutment, projection, excavation, bridge, conduit, culvert, building, wire, fence, rock, gravel, refuse, fill, structure, or other matter, in, along, across, or projecting into any channel, watercourse, or flood-hazard area which may impede, retain or change the direction of the flow of water or that is placed where the flow of water might carry the same downstream to damage life or property.
   SUBSTANTIAL. IMPROVEMENT. Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure either:
      (1)   Before the improvement or repair is started; or
      (2)   If the structure has been damaged, and is being restored, before the damage occurred.
   For purposes of this definition SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT shall be considered to occur when the first alteration of any structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not include any project for improvement to comply with existing state or city health, sanitary, or safety code requirements which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions or to any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the State of Michigan Register of Historic Places.
   WATERCOURSE. Any natural or artificial watercourse, stream, channel, creek, ditch, canal, conduit, culvert, drain, waterway, gully, ravine, or wash in which water flows in a definite direction or course, either continuously or intermittently, and which has a definite channel, bed, and banks, and shall include any adjacent tracts subject to inundation by reason of overflow of flood water.
(Ord. passed 3-25-2008)