Source: https://www.ecode360.com/11056791
Timestamp: 2020-07-02 22:36:41
Document Index: 87194992

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131', '§ 131']

Town of Massena, NY Flood Damage Prevention
Town of Massena, NY
Ch 9 Clerk
Ch 12 Continuity of Government
Ch 18 Deputy Supervisor
Ch 23 Economic Development Council
Ch 26 Electric Department Administrative Board
Ch 29 Ethics, Code of
Ch 32 Fixed Asset Policy
Ch 35 Grievance Procedure
Ch 42 Hospital Board of Managers
Ch 44 Hospital Treasurer
Ch 47 Investment Policy
Ch 65 Ordinances and Local Laws, Publication of
Ch 69 Procurement
Ch 75 Receiver of Taxes
Ch 78 Recreation Commission, Joint
Ch 84 Superintendent of Highways
Ch 87 Supervisor
Ch 92 Town Property Policy
Ch 98 Airport
Ch 101 Ambulances
Ch 106 Bingo
Ch 109 Building and Fire Prevention
Ch 112 Burning, Open
Ch 124 Electric Service
Ch 131 Flood Damage Prevention
§ 131-1 Findings.
§ 131-2 Purpose.
§ 131-3 Objectives.
§ 131-4 Word usage and definitions.
§ 131-5 Applicability.
§ 131-6 Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard.
§ 131-7 Interpretation; conflict with other provisions.
§ 131-8 Penalties for offenses.
§ 131-9 Warning and disclaimer of liability.
§ 131-10 Designation of local administrator.
§ 131-11 Development permit.
§ 131-12 Duties of local administrator.
§ 131-13 General standards for flood hazard reduction.
§ 131-14 Specific standards for flood hazard reduction.
§ 131-15 Floodways.
§ 131-16 Zoning Board of Appeals.
§ 131-17 Variances.
Ch 136 Games of Chance
Ch 138 Garage Sales
Ch 169 Peddling and Soliciting
Ch 174 Records
Ch 181 Sewers and Sewage Disposal
Ch 191 Subdivision of Land
Ch 204 Vehicles, Off-Highway
Ch 205 Water
Ch 207 Zoning
Ch A215 Highway Specifications
Ch A216 Personnel Policies
Ch A217 Registry of Operators of Underground Facilities
Ch A218 Cyber Security Citizens' Notification Policy
Town of Massena, NY / Part II: General Legislation
Chapter 131 Flood Damage Prevention
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Massena 3-31-1987 by L.L. No. 1-1987. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Building construction — See Ch. 109.
Sewers and sewage disposal — See Ch. 181.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 191.
Zoning — See Ch. 207.
The Town Board of the Town of Massena finds that the potential and/or actual damages from flooding and erosion may be a problem to the residents of the Town of Massena 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.
Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction.
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 and sewer lines; and streets and bridges, located in areas of special flood hazard.
Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight areas.
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, A1-99, V, VO, VE or V1-30. It is also commonly referred to as the "base floodplain" or the "one-hundred-year floodplain."
The area subject to high-velocity waters, including but not limited to hurricane wave wash. The area is designated on a FIRM as Zone V1-30, VE, VO or V.
FLOOD BOUNDARY - FLOODWAY MAP (FBFM)
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from the overflow of inland or tidal waters or the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
An official map of a community, on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard have been defined but no water surface elevation data 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 the basement, i.e., the top of the slab in concrete slab construction or the top of wood flooring in wood-frame construction.
The lowest level, including the 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 or cellar 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.
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 § 131-12B of this chapter.
The initiation, excluding planning and design, of any phase of a project or physical alteration of the property, including 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.
Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure, excluding land values, either before the improvement or repair is started or, if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition, substantial improvement is considered to commence when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not, however, include either:
This chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazard within the jurisdiction of Massena, New York.
The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Insurance Administration on its Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) or Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) No. 36118200250, dated effective June 17, 1986, are hereby adopted and declared to be a part of this chapter. The FHBM or FIRM is on file at the office of the Town Clerk, Town of Massena, Town Hall, Massena, New York.
This chapter is adopted in response to revisions to the National Flood Insurance Program, effective October 1, 1986, and shall supersede all previous laws adopted for the purpose of establishing and maintaining eligibility for flood insurance.
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 Massena 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 §§ 131-16 and 131-17 will be declared noncompliant, and notification shall be 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 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 Massena, 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 Code 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 area of special flood hazard as established in § 131-6. 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 the 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 § 131-13C(1).
A certificate from a licensed professional engineer or architect that the nonresidential floodproofed structure will meet the floodproofing criteria in § 131-14B.
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 as-built 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 certificate 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.
The duties of the local administrator shall include but not be limited to:
Review all development permit applications to determine if the proposed development adversely affects the areas of special flood hazard. For the purposes of this chapter, "adversely affects" means physical damage to adjacent properties. A hydraulic engineering study may be required of the applicant for this purpose.
Review all development permits for compliance with the provisions of § 131-13E, Encroachments.
Use of other base flood and floodway data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with § 131-6, 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 § 131-13D(4), in order to administer § 131-14, Specific standards for flood hazard reduction, and § 131-15, Floodways.
Obtain and record the actual elevation, in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor, including the basement or cellar, of all new or substantially improved structures and whether or not the structure contains a basement or cellar.
Obtain and record the actual elevation, in relation to mean sea level, to which the structure has been floodproofed.
Maintain the floodproofing certifications required in §§ 131-13 and 131-14.
Notify adjacent communities and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse and shall 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 § 131-6 and/or Subsection B, when available, shall be used to accurately delineate the areas 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 § 131-8 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 § 131-8 of this chapter.
All other development occurring within the area of special flood hazard will have, upon completion, a certificate of compliance issued by the local administrator.
All certificates 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 to be 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 sewerage 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 areas of special flood hazard set forth in § 131-12A(3). 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 § 131-12B or 131-13D(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 § 131-12B, the requirements of § 131-15, Floodways, shall apply.
In all areas of special flood hazard where base flood elevation data has been provided as set forth in § 131-6, Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard, and § 131-12B, Use of other base flood and floodway data, the following standards are required:
Have the lowest floor, including the basement or cellar, elevated to or above the base flood elevation.
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 the basement or cellar, elevated to or above the base flood elevation or be floodproofed to the base flood level.
If the structure is to be elevated, fully enclosed areas below the base flood elevation shall be designed to automatically (without human intervention) allow for the entry and exit of floodwaters for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed architect or meet the following criteria.
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 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.
The local administrator shall maintain on record a copy of all such certifications noted in this section.
New construction or substantial improvements of structures, including manufactured homes, shall have the lowest floor, including the basement, elevated 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 § 131-4, Word usage and definitions.) 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 § 131-12B, 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 that 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 to local governments and the dangers associated with conducting search and rescue operations during periods of flooding.
The costs of providing governmental services during and after flood conditions, including search and rescue operations and maintenance and repair of public utilities and facilities, such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems, and streets and bridges.
The local administrator shall maintain the records of all appeal actions, including technical information, and report variances to the Federal Emergency Management Agency upon request.
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, provided that § 131-16D(1) through (12) has 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 Places or the State Inventory of Historic Places, without regard to the procedures set forth in this chapter.
The criteria of Subsections A, D, E and F of this section are met;
A determination that failure to grant the variances would result in exceptional hardship to the applicant.
A determination that the granting of a variance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety or extraordinary public expense; create nuisances; cause fraud on or victimization of the public; or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances.