Source: https://ecode360.com/27177532
Timestamp: 2020-03-30 00:58:58
Document Index: 575288764

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 1344', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127', '§ 127']

Township of Bear Creek, PA Floodplain Management
Ch 127 Art XII Floodplain Management
§ 127-112 Statutory authorization.
§ 127-113 Intent.
§ 127-114 Applicability.
§ 127-115 Abrogation and greater restrictions.
§ 127-116 Warning and disclaimer of liability.
§ 127-117 Definitions.
§ 127-118 Designation of Floodplain Administrator.
§ 127-119 Permits required.
§ 127-120 Duties and responsibilities of Floodplain Administrator.
§ 127-121 Application procedures and requirements.
§ 127-122 Review by County Conservation District.
§ 127-123 Review of application by others.
§ 127-124 Changes.
§ 127-125 Placards.
§ 127-126 Start of construction.
§ 127-127 Enforcement.
§ 127-128 Appeals.
§ 127-129 Identification of floodplain areas.
§ 127-130 Description and special requirements of identified floodplain areas.
§ 127-131 Changes in identification of area.
§ 127-132 Boundary disputes.
§ 127-133 Technical provisions.
§ 127-134 Elevation and floodproofing requirements.
§ 127-135 Design and construction standards.
§ 127-136 Development which may endanger human life.
§ 127-137 Special requirements for subdivisions.
§ 127-138 Special requirements for manufactured homes.
§ 127-139 Special requirements for recreational vehicles.
§ 127-140 Prohibited uses.
§ 127-141 Existing structures in identified floodplain areas.
§ 127-142 Variances.
Article XII Floodplain Management
[Amended 10-1-2012 by Ord. No. 1-2012]
The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has, by the passage of the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act of 1978,[1] delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt floodplain management regulations to promote public health, safety, and the general welfare of its citizenry.
The intent of the regulations as set forth in this article to:
It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development anywhere within Bear Creek Township unless a permit has been obtained from the Floodplain Administrator. A permit shall not be required for minor repairs to existing buildings or structures.
The regulations within this article supersede any other conflicting provisions which may be in effect in identified floodplain areas. However, any other ordinance provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent that those provisions are more restrictive. If there is any conflict between any of the provisions of this article, the more restrictive shall apply.
The degree of flood protection sought by the provisions of this article is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on acceptable engineering methods of study. Larger floods may occur or flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes, such as ice jams and bridge openings restricted by debris. This article does not imply that areas outside any identified floodplain areas or that land uses permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damages.
This article shall not create liability on the part of Bear Creek Township or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damages that result from reliance on the provisions of this article or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
A flood which has a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (also called the "one-hundred-year flood").
The lowest floor of the lowest fully enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished, flood-resistant partially enclosed area, used solely for parking of vehicles, building access, and incidental storage, in an area other than a basement area is not considered the lowest floor of a building, provided that such space is not designed and built so that the structure is in violation of the applicable nonelevation design requirements of this article.
Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after November 2, 2012, and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures. Any construction started after September 29, 1978 and before the November 2, 2012 is subject to the ordinance in effect at the time the permit was issued, provided the start of construction was within 180 days of permit issuance.
Includes substantial improvement and other proposed new development and means the date the permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, placement, or other improvement was within 180 days from the date of the permit and shall be completed within 12 months after the date of issuance of the permit unless a time extension is granted, in writing, by the Floodplain Administrator. The "actual start" means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement of a manufacture 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 walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, 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.
Damage from any cause sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceeds 50% or more of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, 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 which have incurred substantial damage or repetitive loss, regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term docs not, however, include 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.
Historic structures undergoing repair or rehabilitation that would constitute a substantial improvement as defined in this chapter, must comply with all ordinance requirements that do not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure. Documentation that a specific ordinance requirement will cause removal of the structure from the National Register of Historic Places or the State Inventory of Historic places must be obtained from the Secretary of the interior or the State Historic Preservation Officer. Any exemption from ordinance requirements will be the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure.
The statewide building code adopted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1999 applicable to new construction in all municipalities whether administered by the municipality,[1] a third party or the Department of Labor and Industry. Applicable to residential and commercial buildings. The code adopted the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Building Code (IBC), by reference, as the construction standard applicable with the state floodplain construction. For coordination purposes, references to the above are made specifically to various sections of the IRC and the IBC.
The failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the applicable floodplain management regulations of Bear Creek Township set forth in this article. A structure or other development without the elevation certificate, other certifications, or other evidence of compliance required in 44 CFR 60.3(b)(5), (c)(4), (c)(10), (d)(3), (e)(4) or (e)(5) and within this article is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided.
The Township Code Enforcement Zoning Officer is hereby appointed to administer and enforce this chapter and is referred to herein as the "Floodplain Administrator." The Floodplain Administrator may: fulfill the duties and responsibilities set forth in these regulations; delegate duties and responsibilities set forth in these regulations to qualified technical personnel, plan examiners, inspectors, and other employees, including but not limited to the Building Code Official; or enter into a written agreement or written contract with another agency or private sector entity to administer specific provisions of these regulations. Administration of any part of these regulations by another entity shall not relieve the community of its responsibilities pursuant to the participation requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations at 44 CFR 59.22.
A permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of Bear Creek Township.
The Floodplain Administrator shall issue a permit only after it has been determined that the proposed work to be undertaken will be in conformance with the requirements of this article and all other applicable codes and ordinances.
Prior to the issuance of any permit, the Floodplain Administrator shall review the application for the permit to determine if all other necessary government permits required by state and federal laws have been obtained, such as those required by the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 1966-537, as amended);[1] the Pennsylvania Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (Act 1978-325, as amended)[2]; the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Act (Act 1937-394, as amended)[3]; and the U.S. Clean Water Act, Section 404, 33 U.S.C. § 1344. No permit shall be issued until this determination has been made.
In the event the Floodplain Administrator discovers that the work does not comply with the permit application or any applicable laws and ordinances, or that there has been a false statement or misrepresentation by any applicant, the Floodplain Administrator shall revoke the permit and report such fact to the Board of Supervisors for whatever action it considers necessary. Any equitable action shall be subject to the obligations set forth in §§ 127-127 and 127-128 herein.
The Floodplain Administrator shall maintain all records associated with the requirements of this article, including but not limited to permitting, inspection and enforcement.
Application for such a permit shall be made, in writing, to the Floodplain Administrator on forms supplied by Bear Creek Township. Such application shall contain the following:
All such proposals are consistent with the need to minimize flood damage and conform to the requirements of this article and all other applicable codes and ordinances.
A completed zoning permit application form.
Documentation, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect, to show that the cumulative effect of any proposed development within an AE Area/District with floodway (see § 127-30B) when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, will not increase the base flood elevation at any point.
Documentation, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect, to show that the cumulative effect of any proposed development within an AE Area/District without floodway (see § 127-130B), when combined with all other existing and anticipated development, will not increase the base flood elevation more than one foot at any point within the community.
Detailed information needed to determine compliance with § 127-135F, Storage, and § 127-136, Development which may endanger human life, including:
The amount, location and purpose of any materials or substances referred to in §§ 127-135F and 127-136 which are intended to be used, produced, stored or otherwise maintained on site.
A description of the safeguards incorporated into the design of the proposed structure to prevent leaks or spills of the dangerous materials or substances listed in § 127-136 during a base flood.
Applications for permits shall be accompanied by a fee, payable to Bear Creek Township based upon the estimated cost of the proposed construction as determined by the Floodplain Administrator.
In addition to the permit, the Floodplain Administrator shall issue a placard which shall be displayed on the premises during the time construction is in progress. This placard shall show the number of the permit the date of its issuance and be signed by the Floodplain Administrator.
Notices. Whenever the Floodplain Administrator or other authorized municipal representative determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provisions of this article, or of any regulations adopted pursuant thereto, the Floodplain Administrator shall give notice of such alleged violation as hereinafter provided. Such notice shall:
Penalties. Any person who fails to comply with any or all of the requirements or provisions of this article or who fails or refuses to comply with any notice, order of direction of the Floodplain Administrator or any other authorized employee of the municipality shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall pay a fine to Bear Creek Township of not less than $25 nor more than $600 plus costs of prosecution. In addition to the above penalties, all other actions are hereby reserved including an action in equity for the proper enforcement of this article. The imposition of a fine or penalty for any violation of, or noncompliance with, this article shall not excuse the violation or noncompliance or permit it to continue and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations and noncompliance within a reasonable time. Any development initiated or any structure or building constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, altered, or relocated, in noncompliance with this article may be declared by the Board of Supervisors to be a public nuisance and abatable as such.
Upon receipt of such appeal, the Zoning Hearing Board convene a hearing in accordance with the procedures set in Article XV, § 127-157.
Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Zoning Hearing Board may seek relief there from by appeal to court, as provided by the laws of this state including the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act.[1]
The identified floodplain area shall be any areas of Bear Creek Township, classified as special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) dated November 2, 2012, and issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the most recent revision thereof, including all digital data developed as part of the Flood Insurance Study.
The above referenced FIS and FIRMs, and any subsequent revisions and amendments are hereby adopted by Bear Creek Township and declared to be a part of this chapter.
The Floodway Area/District Identified as Floodway in the FIS which represents the channel of a watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation by more than one foot at any point. This term shall also include floodway areas which have been identified in other available studies or sources of information for those special floodplain areas where no floodway has been identified in the FIS.
Within any floodway area, encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, or other development shall not be permitted unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic and hydraulic analysis performed in accordance with standard engineering practice that the proposed encroachment would not result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
The A Area/District shall be those areas identified as an A Zone on the FIRM included in the FIS prepared by FEMA and for which no one-percent-annual-chance flood elevations have been provided. For these areas, elevation and floodway information from other federal, state, or other acceptable source shall be used when available. Where other acceptable information is not available, the elevation shall be determined by using the elevation of a point on the boundary of the identified floodplain area which is nearest the construction site.
The identified floodplain area may be revised or modified by the Bear Creek Township Board of Supervisors where studies or information provided by a qualified agency or person documents the need for such revision. However, prior to any such change, approval must be obtained from the FEMA. Additionally, as soon as practicable, but not later than six months after the date such information becomes available, a community shall notify the FEMA of the changes by submitting technical or scientific data.
Should a dispute concerning any identified floodplain boundary arise, an initial determination shall be made by the Bear Creek Township Floodplain Administrator and any party aggrieved by this decision or determination may appeal to the Bear Creek Township Zoning Hearing Board. The burden of proof shall be on the appellant.
Technical or scientific data shall be submitted by Bear Creek Township to FEMA for a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) as soon as practicable but within six months of any new construction, development, or other activity resulting in changes in the BFE. The situations when a LOMR or a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) are required are:
Within any identified floodplain area (see § 127-30), new construction or development shall be located within the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.
Within any identified floodplain area, any new construction or substantial improvements shall be prohibited. If a variance is obtained for new construction or substantial improvements in the identified floodplain area in accordance with the criteria in § 127-142, then the following provisions apply:
In A Zones, where there are no base flood elevations specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation determined in accordance with § 127-30C of this chapter.
The design and construction standards and specifications contained in the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) and in the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) or the most recent revisions thereof and ASCE 24 and 34 Pa. Code (Chapters 401–405, as amended) shall be utilized.
In A Zones, where no Base Flood Elevations are specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated or completely floodproofed up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation determined in accordance with § 127-30C of this chapter.
Historic structures. See the definition of "substantial improvement" in § 127-117B for requirements for the substantial improvement of any historic structures.
Floor area shall not exceed 750 square feet.
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, etc. or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
Consist of soil or small rock materials only: sanitary landfills shall not be permitted;
No part of any new or replacement on-site sewage system shall be located within any identified floodplain area except in strict compliance with all state and local regulations for such systems. If any such system is permitted, it shall be located so as to avoid impairment to it, or contamination from it, during a flood.
Storage. All materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive, or in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, and not listed in § 127-136, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood elevation and/or flood proofed to the maximum extent possible.
Uniform Construction Code coordination. The standards and specifications contained in 34 Pa. Code (Chapters 401–405), as amended, and not limited to the following provisions shall apply to the above and other sections and subsections of this article, to the extent that they are more restrictive and/or supplement the requirements of this article.
International Building Code (IBC) 2009, or the latest edition thereof: Secs. 801, 1202, 1403, 1603, 1605, 1612, 3402, and Appendix G.
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act,[1] and the regulations adopted by the Department of Community and Economic Development as required by the Act, any new or substantially improved structure which: will be used for the production or storage of any of the following dangerous materials or substances; or, will be used for any activity requiring the maintenance of a supply of more than 550 gallons, or other comparable volume, of any of the following dangerous materials or substances on the premises; or, will involve the production, storage, or use of any amount of radioactive substances; shall be subject to the provisions of this section, in addition to all other applicable provisions. The following list of materials and substances are considered dangerous to human life:
Within any identified floodplain area, any structure of the kind described in Subsection A, above, shall be prohibited. If a variance is obtained in accordance with the criteria in Section § 127-142, then the following provisions apply:
Elevated or designed and constructed to remain completely dry up to at least 1 1/2 feet above base flood elevation.
Any such structure, or part thereof, that will be built below the regulatory flood elevation shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the standards for completely dry floodproofing contained in the publication "Flood-Proofing Regulations (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 1972, as amended March 1992), or with some other equivalent watertight standard.
Installation of manufactured homes shall be done in accordance with the manufacturers' installation instructions as provided by the manufacturer. Where the applicant cannot provide the above information, the requirements of Appendix E of the 2009 International Residential Building Code or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Permanent Foundations for Manufactured Housing, 1984 Edition, draft or latest revision thereto, and 34 Pa. Code Chapter 401–405 shall apply.
Consideration shall be given to the installation requirements of the 2009 IBC, and the 2009 IRC or the most recent revisions thereto and 34 Pa. Code, as amended, where appropriate and/or applicable to units where the manufacturers' standards for anchoring cannot be provided or were not established for the proposed unit(s) installation.
Meet the permit requirements for manufactured homes in Section § 127-138.
The development of the following uses and/or activities including new construction, expansion, enlargement, and/or substantial improvement, is hereby prohibited in any area of a designated one-hundred-year floodplain:
Jails, prisons, or any similar detention facility.
Manufactured home park or manufactured home subdivision.
On-lot sewage disposal systems, including the encroachment of such a system within 50 feet of any wetlands.
No expansion or enlargement of an existing structure shall be allowed within any floodway area that would cause any increase in the elevation of the base flood elevation.
Any modification, alteration, reconstruction, or improvement, of any kind to an existing structure, to an extent or amount of 50% or more of its market value, shall constitute a substantial improvement and shall be undertaken only in full compliance with the provisions of this article.
Any modification, alteration, reconstruction, or improvement of any kind that meets the definition of "repetitive loss" shall be undertaken only in full compliance with the provisions of this article.
General. If compliance with any of the requirements of this article would result in an exceptional hardship to a prospective builder, developer or landowner, the Zoning Hearing Board of Bear Creek Township may, upon request, grant relief from the strict application of the requirements.
Requests for variances shall be considered by the Zoning Hearing Board of Bear Creek Township in accordance with the procedures contained in § 127-128 of this article and the following:
No variance shall be granted for any construction, development, use, or activity within any identified floodplain that would cause any increase the BFE.
No variance shall be granted for any use, activity and/or development that is prohibited under § 127-140 of this article.
Except for a possible modification of the regulatory flood elevation requirement involved, no variance shall be granted for any of the other requirements pertaining specifically to development regulated by § 127-136, Development which may endanger human life.
In granting any variance, the Zoning Hearing Board of Bear Creek Township shall attach whatever reasonable conditions and safeguards it considers necessary in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and to achieve the objectives of this article.
Whenever a variance is granted, the Zoning Hearing Board of Bear Creek Township shall notify the applicant in writing that:
In reviewing any request for a variance, the Zoning Hearing Board of Bear Creek Township shall consider, at a minimum, the following:
A complete record of all variance requests and related actions shall be maintained by the Zoning Hearing Board of Bear Creek Township. In addition, a report of all variances granted during the year shall be included in the annual report to the FEMA.