9-1-3: DEFINITIONS:
As used in this Chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section:
BASE FLOOD: A flood magnitude with a one percent (1%) statistical chance of being equalled or exceeded during any year; however, the occurrence of such an event does not diminish the chance of its recurring again at any time.
BUILDING: A structure that is principally aboveground and is enclosed by walls and a roof. The term includes a gas or liquid storage tank, a manufactured home or a prefabricated building. The term also includes recreational vehicles and travel trailers to be installed on a site for more than one hundred eighty (180) days.
COMPENSATORY STORAGE: An artificially excavated volume of storage within the base flood area used to balance the loss of natural flood storage capacity when artificial fill or structures are placed within the floodplain. The uncompensated loss of natural floodplain storage can increase off-site floodwater elevations and flows.
DEVELOPMENT: Any manmade change to real estate, including:
   A.   Construction, reconstruction or placement of a building or any addition to a building valued at more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00);
   B.   Installing a manufactured home on a site, preparing a site for a manufactured home or installing a travel trailer on a site for more than one hundred eighty (180) days;
   C.   Installing utilities, construction of roads or similar projects;
   D.   Construction or erection of levees, walls, fences, bridges or culverts;
   E.   Drilling, mining, filling, dredging, grading, excavating or other nonagricultural alterations of the ground surface;
   F.   Storage of materials; or
   G.   Any other activity that might change the direction, height or velocity of flood or surface waters.
Development does not include maintenance of existing buildings and facilities such as reroofing; resurfacing roads or gardening, plowing and similar agricultural practices that do not involve filling, grading or construction of levees.
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT: A separate permit which is required by the provisions of this Title for any development activity (as defined above) that is proposed in a special flood hazard area.
FEMA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FIA: Federal Insurance Administration.
FLOOD: A temporary increase in normal water level (surface water elevation) that results in water inundating areas adjacent or near to the usual channel or lake or the inundation of other depressional areas.
FLOOD BASE ELEVATION, REGULATORY: The elevation of the water level having a one percent (1%) probability of being equalled or exceed in any given year, also known as the 100-year flood elevation. The flood base elevation at any location is as defined in Section 9-1-6 of this Chapter.
FLOOD FRINGE, REGULATORY: That portion of the regulatory flood plain which is immediately adjacent to the floodway. Although this area is prone to flooding, it is not used to transport flood water flows. The highest elevation of the regulatory flood fringe is coterminous to the highest elevation of the flood plain.
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM): An official map of the Village, issued or approved by the Administrator of the Federal Insurance Administration, on which the areas having special flood hazard have been drawn and designated as Zone A.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM): The official map on which the FIA has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY: The official report provided in which the Federal Insurance Administration has provided flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary-Floodway Map and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
FLOOD PLAIN, REGULATORY: The continuous SFHA adjacent to a lake, stream or stream bed, the elevation of which is greater than the normal water level (surface water elevation) or pool elevation, but equal to or lower than the flood base elevation. Natural depressions and storm water retention or detention areas which periodically are inundated by storm water shall be considered regulatory flood plain. Also, any land of higher elevation than the flood base elevation, but having an area less than the minimum lot size established for the zone in which it is located and surrounded by lands having an elevation equal to or less than the flood base elevation shall be considered flood plain. The flood plain comprises both the regulatory floodway and the regulatory flood fringe.
FLOOD PROFILE GRAPHIC: A representation of the elevations of the water surface of the 100-year flood along the water courses of the Village.
FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION (FPE): An elevation of two feet (2') above the regulatory flood base elevation which provides free-board protection against ice jams, waves and debris in the event of periodic flooding.
FLOODWAY: That portion of the SFHA required to store and convey the base flood. The floodway for the SFHAs of the Des Plaines River and Mill Creek shall be as delineated on the Flood Boundary and Floodway Map prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and dated August 4, 1980. The floodway for each of the remaining SFHAs of the Village shall be according to the best data available to the Illinois State Water Survey Floodplain Information Repository.
FLOODWAY ENCROACHMENT LINES: The lateral boundaries of the floodway which separate it from the flood fringes.
FLOODWAY, REGULATORY: That portion of the regulatory flood plain immediately adjacent to a lake, stream or stream bed which conveys base flood water flows when channel capacities are exceeded without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one-tenth of a foot (0.1'). Channel capacities are exceeded when storm water results in a water elevation greater than the surface water elevation.
RIVERINE: Relating to, formed by or resembling a river (including tributaries), stream, creek or brook.
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA (SFHA): Those lands within the jurisdiction of the Village that are subject to inundation by the base flood. The SFHAs of the Village are generally identified as such on the Flood Insurance Rate Map of the Village prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and dated August 4, 1980. The SFHAs of those parts of unincorporated Lake County that are within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the Village or that may be annexed into the Village are generally identified as such on the Flood Insurance Rate Map prepared for Lake County by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and dated February 4, 1981.
STRUCTURE: Anything constructed, erected or placed which required location in or on the ground or is attached to anything in or on the ground.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT: Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure either:
   A.   Before the improvement or repair is started; or
   B.   If the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred.
The term does not however, include either:
   C.   Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing State or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
   D.   Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR: That official or employee of the Village charged with the administration of the Wadsworth Zoning Ordinance, Title 10 of this Code, as provided therein.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: The Zoning Board of Appeals as established by the Wadsworth Zoning Ordinance, Title 10 of this Code, and as appointed by the Village President pursuant to the regulations therein. (Ord. 257, 7-11-1988)