Source: https://ecode360.com/6921384
Timestamp: 2020-08-11 01:36:31
Document Index: 780657132

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 89', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86', '§ 86']

§ 86-1 Statutory authorization.
§ 86-2 Findings of fact.
§ 86-3 Statement of purpose.
§ 86-4 Methods of reducing flood losses.
§ 86-5 Word and phrases.
§ 86-6 Lands to which this chapter applies.
§ 86-7 Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard.
§ 86-8 Penalties for noncompliance.
§ 86-9 Abrogation and greater restrictions.
§ 86-10 Interpretation.
§ 86-11 Warning and disclaimer of liability.
§ 86-12 Establishment of development permit.
§ 86-13 Designation of local administrator.
§ 86-14 Duties and responsibilities of administrator.
§ 86-15 Appeal Board; variance procedure.
§ 86-16 Conditions for variances.
§ 86-17 General standards for flood hazard reduction.
§ 86-18 Specific standards for flood hazard reduction.
§ 86-19 Floodways.
Township of Little Falls, NJ / The Code
Chapter 86 Flood Damage Prevention
Ord. No. 1378
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Little Falls 10-15-2007 by Ord. No. 1029.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 86, Flood Damage Prevention, adopted 12-18-1995 by Ord. No. 753 as Secs. 36-1 through 36-6 of the 1995 Revised General Ordinances, as amended.
The Legislature of the State of New Jersey has, in N.J.S.A. 40:48-1, et seq., delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt regulations designed to promote public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the Township Council of the Township of Little Falls, New Jersey, does ordain as follows.
The flood hazard areas of the Township of Little Falls are subject to periodic inundation which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare.
A designated AO, AH, or VO Zone on a community's Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) with a 1% annual or greater chance of flooding to an average depth of one to three feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and where velocity flow may be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow.
A nonbasement building built in the case of a building in an area of special flood hazard to have the top of the elevated floor elevated above the ground level by means of piling, columns (posts and piers), or shear walls parallel to the flow of the water; and adequately anchored so as not to impair the structural integrity of the building during a flood up to the magnitude of the base flood. In an area of special flood hazard "elevated building" also includes a building elevated by means of fill or solid foundation perimeter walls with openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded movement of floodwaters.
For other than new construction or substantial improvements under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (P.L. 97-348), includes substantial improvements and means the date the building permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, placement, or other improvement was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site such as the pouring of a slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation, or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling, nor does it include the installation of streets and/or walkways, nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings or piers, or foundations or the erection of temporary forms, nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds, not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure. For a substantial improvement, the actual start of construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
A grant or relief from the requirements of this chapter that permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this chapter.
This chapter shall apply to all special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the Township of Little Falls, Passaic County, New Jersey.
The areas of special flood hazard for the Township of Little Falls, Community No. 340401, are identified and defined on the following documents prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:
A scientific and engineering report "Flood Insurance Study, Passaic County, New Jersey (All Jurisdictions)" dated September 28, 2007.
Flood Insurance Rate Map for Passaic County, New Jersey (All Jurisdictions) as shown on index and panel numbers 0194, 0213, 0214, 0251, 0252, whose effective date is September 28, 2007.
The above documents are hereby adopted and declared to be a part of this chapter. The Flood Insurance Study and maps are on file at 225 Main Street, Little Falls, NJ 07424.
No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations. Violation of the provisions of this chapter by failure to comply with any of its requirements (including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with conditions) shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person who violates this chapter or fails to comply with any of its requirements shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the penalty stated in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article 1, for each violation, and in addition shall pay all costs and expenses involved in the case. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Township of Little Falls from taking such other lawful action as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.
This chapter shall not create liability on the part of the Township of Little Falls, any officer or employee thereof or the Federal Insurance Administration for any flood damages that result from reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in § 86-7. An application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the Construction Official 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:
Certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing methods for any nonresidential structure meet the floodproofing criteria in § 86-18B; and
Review all development permits to determine if the proposed development is located in the floodway, and assure that the encroachment provisions of § 89-19A are met.
Use of other base flood and floodway data. When base flood elevation and floodway data has not been provided in accordance with § 86-7, Basis for establishing the areas of special flood hazard, the Construction Official shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other source, in order to administer § 86-18A, Specific standards for flood hazard reduction, Residential construction, and § 86-18B, Specific standards for flood hazard reduction, Nonresidential construction.
Maintain the floodproofing certifications required in § 86-12C.
Interpretation of firm boundaries. The Construction Official 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). The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in §§ 86-15 and 86-16.
The Planning Board, as established by the Township of Little Falls, shall hear and decide appeals and requests for variances from the requirements of this chapter.
Those aggrieved by the decision of the Planning Board, or any taxpayer, may appeal such decision to the Superior Court of New Jersey as provided by New Jersey Statutes Annotated.
Generally, 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, providing the items in § 86-15D have been fully considered. As the lot size increases beyond the 1/2 acre, the technical justification required for issuing the variance increases.
A determination that the granting of a variance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety, extraordinary public expense, create nuisances, cause fraud on or victimization of the public as identified in § 86-15D, or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances.
Subdivision proposals shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage;
Enclosure openings. All new construction and substantial improvements having fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement and which are subject to flooding shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect or must meet or exceed the following minimum criteria: A minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other covering or devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
In all areas of special flood hazards where base flood elevation data have been provided as set forth in § 86-7, Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard, or in § 86-14B, Use of other base flood and floodway data, the following standards are required:
Require within any AO Zone on the municipality's FIRM that all new construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet (at least two feet if no depth number is specified); and require adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide floodwaters around and away from proposed structures.
Require within any AO Zone on the municipality's FIRM that all new construction and substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial or other nonresidential structure shall either have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet (at least two feet if no depth number is specified); and require adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide floodwaters around and away from proposed structures; or together with the attendant utilities and sanitary facilities, shall:
Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the applicable provisions of this subsection. Such certification shall be provided to the official as set forth in § 86-14C(2).
Manufactured homes shall be anchored in accordance with § 86-17A(2).
Located within areas of special flood hazard established in § 86-7 are areas designated as floodways. Since the floodway is an extremely hazardous area due to the velocity of floodwaters which carry debris, potential projectiles, and erosion potential, the following provisions apply:
If Subsection A is satisfied, all new construction and substantial improvements must comply with §§ 86-17, 86-18 and 86-19.