Source: https://www.ecode360.com/10968573
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 12:40:48+00:00

Document:
§ 275-4 Word usage; definitions.
§ 275-6 Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard.
§ 275-7 Interpretation; conflict with other provisions.
§ 275-8 Penalties for offenses.
§ 275-9 Warning; disclaimer of liability.
§ 275-10 Designation of local administrator.
§ 275-12 Duties and responsibilities of local administrator.
§ 275-17 Conditions for variances.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 256.
Environmental quality review — See Ch. 268.
Freshwater wetlands — See Ch. 282.
Stormwater management and erosion control — See Ch. 425.
The Town Board of the Town of Bergen finds that the potential and/or actual damages from flooding and erosion may be a problem to the residents of the Town of Bergen and that such damages may include destruction or loss of private and public housing, damage to public facilities, both publicly and privately owned, and injury to and loss of human life. In order to minimize the threat of such damages and to achieve the purposes and objectives hereinafter set forth, this chapter is adopted.
Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood - control projects.
Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities, such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone, sewer lines, streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard.
A designated AO or VO Zone on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with base flood depths from one foot to three feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate and where velocity flow may be evident.
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a one-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. This area may be designated as Zone A, AE, AH, AO, A1 through 99, V, VO, VE or V1 through 30. It is also commonly referred to as the "base floodplain" or "one-hundred-year floodplain."
A nonbasement building built to have the lowest floor elevated above the ground level by means of fill, solid foundation perimeter walls, pilings, columns (posts and piers) or shear walls.
An official map of a community, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard have been defined but no water surface elevation is provided.
The official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The report contains flood profiles as well as the Flood Boundary Floodway Map and the water surface elevations of the base flood.
The top surface of an enclosed area in a building (including basement), i.e., top of slab in concrete slab construction or top of wood flooring in wood frame construction.
Lowest level, including basement or cellar, of the lowest enclosed area. An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable nonelevation design requirements of this chapter.
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. The term also includes park trailers, travel trailers and similar transportable structures placed on a site for 180 consecutive days or longer and intended to be improved property.
For purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program, the National Geodetic vertical datum (NGVD) of 1929 or other datum, to which base flood elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map are referenced.
As corrected in 1929 is a vertical control used as a reference for establishing varying elevations within the floodplain.
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 a designated height as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a Flood Insurance Study or by other agencies as provided in § 275-12B of this chapter.
The initiation, excluding planning and design, of any phase of a project or physical alteration of the property and shall include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; installation of streets and/or walkways; excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations; or the erection of temporary forms. It also includes the placement and/or installation on the property of accessory buildings (garages, sheds), storage trailers and building materials.
A walled and roofed building, a manufactured home or a gas or liquid storage tank, that is principally above ground.
This chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of the Town of Bergen, Genesee County, New York.
The areas of special flood hazard have been identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Flood Insurance Rate Maps enumerated on Map Index No. 361137B 01-09, dated July 6, 1984.
The above documents are hereby adopted and declared to be a part of this chapter and are filed at the Bergen Town Hall, 13 South Lake Street, Bergen, New York.
In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements, adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety and welfare. Whenever the requirements of this chapter are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully adopted rules, regulations or ordinances, the most restrictive, or that imposing the highest standards, shall govern.
No structure shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted or altered and no land shall be excavated or filled without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and any other applicable regulations. Any infraction of the provisions of this chapter by failure to comply with any of its requirements, including infractions of conditions and safeguards established in connection with conditions of the permit, shall constitute a violation. Any person who violates this chapter or fails to comply with any of its requirements shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined no more than $250 or imprisoned for not more than 15 days, or both. Each day of noncompliance shall be considered a separate offense. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Town of Bergen from taking such other lawful action as necessary to prevent or remedy an infraction. Any structure found not compliant with the requirements of this chapter for which the developer and/or owner has not applied for and received an approved variance under §§ 275-16 and 275-17 will be declared noncompliant and notification sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The degree of flood protection required by this chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes. This chapter does not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazard or that uses permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damages. This chapter shall not create liability on the part of the Town of Bergen, any officer or employee thereof or the Federal Emergency Management Agency for any flood damages that result from reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
The Zoning Enforcement Officer is hereby appointed local administrator to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying development permit applications in accordance with its provisions.
A development permit shall be obtained before the start of construction or any other development within the areas of special flood hazard as established in § 275-6. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the local administrator and may include but not be limited to plans, in duplicate, drawn to scale and 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.
Elevation in relation to mean sea level of the proposed lowest floor (including basement or cellar) of all structures.
Elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure will be floodproofed.
When required, a certificate from a licensed professional engineer or architect that the utility floodproofing will meet the criteria in § 275-13C(1).
Certificate from a licensed professional engineer or architect that the nonresidential floodproofed structure will meet the floodproofing criteria in § 275-14.
Construction stage. Upon placement of the lowest floor, or floodproofing by whatever means, it shall be the duty of the permit holder to submit to the local administrator a certificate of the elevation of the lowest floor, or floodproofed elevation, in relation to mean sea level. The elevation certificate shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a licensed land surveyor or professional engineer and certified by the same. When floodproofing is utilized for a particular building, the floodproofing certificate shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a licensed professional engineer or architect and certified by the same. Any further work undertaken prior to submission and approval of the certification shall be at the permit holder's risk. The local administrator shall review all data submitted. Deficiencies detected shall be cause to issue a stop-work order for the project unless immediately corrected.
Review all development permit applications to determine if the proposed development adversely affects the area of special flood hazard. For the purposes of this chapter, "adversely affects" means physical damage to adjacent properties. An engineering study may be required of the applicant for this purpose.
If there is no adverse effect, then the permit shall be granted consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
If there is an adverse effect, then flood damage mitigation measures shall be made a condition of the permit.
Review all development permits for compliance with the provisions of § 275-13E, Encroachments.
Use of other base flood and floodway data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with § 275-6, Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard, the local administrator shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source, including data developed pursuant to § 275-13D(4), in order to administer § 275-14, Specific standards, and § 275-15, Floodways.
Maintain the floodproofing certifications required in §§ 275-13 and 275-14.
Maintain for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of this chapter, including variances when granted and certificates of compliance.
Notify adjacent communities and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Regional Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region II, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York 10278.
Base flood elevation data established pursuant to § 275-6 and/or § 275-12B, when available, shall be used to accurately delineate the area of special flood hazard.
All floodplain development found ongoing without an approved permit shall be subject to the issuance of a stop-work order by the local administrator. Disregard of a stop-work order shall be subject to the penalties described in § 275-8 of this chapter.
All floodplain development found noncompliant with the provisions of this chapter and/or the conditions of the approved permit shall be subject to the issuance of a stop-work order by the local administrator. Disregard of a stop-work order shall be subject to the penalties described in § 275-8 of this chapter.
It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or to permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises, or both, or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure until a certificate of compliance has been issued by the local administrator stating that the building or land conforms to the requirements of either the development permit or the approved variance.
All other development occurring within the area of special flood hazard area will have upon completion a certificate of compliance issued by the local administrator.
All certifications shall be based upon the inspections conducted subject to Subsection G and/or any certified elevations, hydraulic information, floodproofing, anchoring requirements or encroachment analysis which may have been required as a condition of the approved permit.
All manufactured homes shall be installed using methods and practices which minimize flood damage. Manufactured homes must be elevated and anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement. Methods of anchoring may include, but are not limited to, use of over-the-top or frame ties to ground anchors. This requirement is in addition to applicable state and local anchoring requirements for resisting wind forces.
New and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters.
Base flood elevation data shall be provided for subdivision proposals and other proposed developments (including proposals for manufactured home parks and subdivisions) greater than either 50 lots or five acres.
All proposed development in riverine situations where no flood elevation data is available (unnumbered A Zones) shall be analyzed to determine the effects on the flood-carrying capacity of the area of special flood hazard set forth in § 275-12A(3), Permit review. This may require the submission of additional technical data to assist in the determination.
In all areas of special flood hazard in which base flood elevation data is available pursuant to § 275-12B or 275-13D(4) and no floodway has been determined, the cumulative effects of any proposed development, when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, shall not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point.
In all areas of special flood hazard where floodway data is provided or available pursuant to § 275-12B the requirements of § 275-15, Floodways, shall apply.
Nonresidential construction. New construction and substantial improvements of any commercial, industrial or other nonresidential structure, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, shall either have the lowest floor, including basement or cellar, elevated to or above the base flood elevation, or be floodproofed to the base flood level.
A licensed professional engineer or architect shall develop and/or review structural design, specifications and plans for the construction and shall certify that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice to make the structure watertight, with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water and with structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and the effects of buoyancy.
A licensed professional engineer or licensed land surveyor shall certify the specific elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the structure is floodproofed.
New construction or substantial improvements of structures, including manufactured homes, shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade next to the proposed foundation of the structure.
Located within areas of special flood hazard are areas designated as floodways (see definition § 275-4). The floodway is an extremely hazardous area due to high-velocity floodwaters carrying debris and posing additional threats from potential erosion forces. When floodway data is available for a particular site as provided by §§ 275-6 and 275-12B, all encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other development, are prohibited within the limits of the floodway unless a technical evaluation demonstrates that such encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
The Zoning Board of Appeals as established by the Town Board shall hear and decide appeals and requests for variances from the requirements of this chapter.
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall hear and decide appeals when it is alleged there is an error in any requirement, decision or determination made by the local administrator in the enforcement or administration of this chapter.
The costs of providing governmental services during and after flood conditions, including search and rescue operations, maintenance and repair of public utilities and facilities, such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems and streets and bridges.
Variances may be issued for new construction and substantial improvements to be erected on a lot of 1/2 acre or less in size, contiguous to and surrounded by lots with existing structures constructed below the base flood level, provided that the items in § 275-16D(1) through (12) have been fully considered. As the lot size increases beyond the 1/2 acre, the technical justification required for issuing the variance increases.
Variances may be issued for the reconstruction, rehabilitation or restoration of structures and contributing structures listed on the National Register of Historic Place or the State Inventory of Historic Places without regard to the procedures set forth in this chapter.

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