Source: https://ecode360.com/9676835
Timestamp: 2018-05-22 19:35:14
Document Index: 532246976

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 3001', '§ 440', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 1344', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 504', '§ 106', '§ 4451', '§ 4451', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106', '§ 106']

City of Saco, ME Floodplain Management
§ 106-1 Purpose and establishment.
§ 106-2 Permit required.
§ 106-3 Application for permit.
§ 106-4 Application fee and expert's fee.
§ 106-5 Review of standards for flood hazard development permit applications.
§ 106-6 Development standards.
§ 106-7 Conditional use review.
§ 106-8 Certificate of compliance.
§ 106-9 Review of subdivision and development proposals.
§ 106-10 Appeals and variances.
§ 106-11 Enforcement; violations and penalties.
§ 106-12 Validity and severability.
§ 106-13 Conflict with other ordinances.
§ 106-14 Definitions.
§ 106-15 Abrogation.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Saco 3-3-1998; amended in its entirety 12-5-2005. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
Cost recovery — See Ch. 83.
Chapter 106 : Floodplain Management
Certain areas of the City of Saco, Maine are subject to periodic flooding, causing serious damages to properties within these areas. Relief is available in the form of flood insurance as authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.
Therefore, the City of Saco, Maine has chosen to become a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program and agrees to comply with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-488, as amended), as delineated in this Floodplain Management Ordinance.
It is the intent of the City of Saco, Maine to require the recognition and evaluation of flood hazards in all official actions relating to land use in the floodplain areas having special flood hazards.
The City of Saco has the legal authority to adopt land use and control measures to reduce future flood losses pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. §§ 3001 through 3007, 4352, 4401 through 4407, and 38 M.R.S.A. § 440.
The National Flood Insurance Program, established in the aforesaid Act, provides that areas of the City of Saco having a special flood hazard be identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and that floodplain management measures be applied in such flood hazard areas. This chapter establishes a flood hazard development permit system and review procedure for development activities in the designated flood hazard areas of the City of Saco, Maine.
The areas of special flood hazard, Zones A, A1-30, AE, AO, V1-30 and VE, are identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a report entitled "Flood Insurance Study - City of Saco, Maine, York County," dated January 5, 2006, with accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Map dated January 5, 2006, and Flood Boundary and Floodway Map dated, January 5, 2006, which are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.
Before any construction or other development (as defined in § 106-14), including the placement of manufactured homes, begins within any areas of special flood hazard established in § 106-1, a flood hazard development permit shall be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer except as provided in § 106-7. This permit shall be in addition to any other permits, which may be required pursuant to the codes and ordinances of the City of Saco, Maine.
The name, address and phone number of the applicant, owner and contractor.
An address and a map indicating the location of the construction site.
A site plan showing location of existing and/or proposed development, including but not limited to structures, sewage disposal facilities, water supply facilities, areas to be cut and filled and lot dimensions.
A statement of the intended use of the structure and/or development.
A statement of the cost of the development, including all materials and labor.
A statement as to the type of sewage system proposed.
Specification of dimensions of the proposed structure and/or development.
[NOTE: Subsections H through K(3) apply only to new construction and substantial improvements.]
The elevation in relation to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD), or to a locally established datum in Zone A only, of the:
In Zones A1-30, AE, AO, V1-30 and VE from data contained in the Flood Insurance Study - City of Saco, Maine, as described in § 106-1; or
From any base flood elevation data from federal, state, or other technical sources (such as FEMA's Quick-2 model, FEMA 265/July 1995) including information obtained pursuant to §§ 106-6K and 106-9D;
From the contour elevation extrapolated from a best fit analysis of the floodplain boundary when overlaid onto a USGS quadrangle map or other topographic map prepared by a professional land surveyor or registered professional engineer, if the floodplain boundary has a significant correlation to the elevation contour line(s); or
In the absence of all other data, to be the elevation of the ground at the intersection of the floodplain boundary and a line perpendicular to the shoreline which passes along the ground through the site of the proposed building.
Highest and lowest grades at the site adjacent to the walls of the proposed building.
Lowest floor, including basement, and whether or not such structures contain a basement.
A description of an elevation reference point established on the site of all developments for which elevation standards apply as required in § 106-6;
A written certification by a professional land surveyor, registered professional engineer or architect, that the base flood elevation and grade elevations shown on the application are accurate.
The following certifications as required in § 106-6 by a registered professional engineer or architect:
A floodproofing certificate (FEMA Form 81-65, 01-03, as amended) to verify that the floodproofing methods for any nonresidential structures will meet the floodproofing criteria of §§ 106-3H(4), 106-6G and other applicable standards in § 106-6;
A V-Zone certificate to verify that the construction in coastal high-hazard areas, Zones V1-30 and VE, will meet the criteria of § 106-6P and other applicable standards in § 106-6.
A hydraulic opening certificate to verify that engineered hydraulic openings in the foundation walls will meet the standards of § 106-6L(2)(a).
A certified statement that bridges will meet the standards of § 106-6M.
A certified statement that containment walls will meet the standards of § 106-6N;
A statement of construction plans describing in detail how each applicable development standard in § 106-6 will be met.
An application fee as established in the City's Cost Recovery Ordinance[1] shall be paid to the Finance Department, and a copy of a receipt for the same shall accompany the application. Any application reviews, either by City staff or other professionals retained by the City, shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Cost Recovery Ordinance.
Editor's Note: See Ch. 83, Cost Recovery.
An additional fee may be charged if the Code Enforcement Officer and/or Board of Appeals need the assistance of a professional engineer or other expert. The applicant shall pay the expert's fee in full within 10 days after the City submits a bill to the applicant. Failure to pay the bill shall constitute a violation of the chapter and be grounds for the issuance of a stop-work order. An expert shall not be hired by the municipality at the expense of an applicant until the applicant has either consented to such hiring in writing or has been given an opportunity to be heard on the subject. An applicant who is dissatisfied with the decision to hire expert assistance may appeal that decision to the Board of Appeals.
Review all applications for the flood hazard development permit to assure that proposed developments are reasonably safe from flooding and to determine that all pertinent requirements of § 106-6 (Development standards) have been or will be met.
Utilize, in the review of all flood hazard development permit applications, the base flood and floodway data contained in the Flood Insurance Study - City of Saco, Maine, as described in § 106-1. In special flood hazard areas where base flood elevation and floodway data are not provided, the Code Enforcement Officer shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data from federal, state or other technical sources, including information obtained pursuant to §§ 106-3H(1)(b), 106-6K and § 106-9D, in order to administer § 106-6 of this chapter. When the community establishes a base flood elevation in a Zone A by methods outlined in § 106-3H(1)(b), the community shall submit that data to the Maine Floodplain Management Program in the State Planning Office.
Make interpretations of the location of boundaries of special flood hazard areas shown on the maps described in § 106-1 of this chapter.
In the review of flood hazard development permit applications, determine that all necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state and local government agencies from which prior approval is required by federal or state law, including but not limited to Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. § 1344.
Notify adjacent municipalities, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Floodplain Management Program in the State Planning Office prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse and submit copies of such notifications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
A two-part flood hazard development permit for elevated structures. Part I shall authorize the applicant to build a structure to and including the first horizontal floor only above the base flood level. At that time the applicant shall provide the Code Enforcement Officer with a second elevation certificate completed by a professional land surveyor, registered professional engineer or architect based on the Part I permit construction, as built, for verifying compliance with the elevation requirements of § 106-6F, G, H or P. Following review of the elevation certificate data, which shall take place within 72 hours of receipt of the application, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue Part II of the flood hazard development permit. Part II shall authorize the applicant to complete the construction project;
A flood hazard development permit for floodproofing of nonresidential structures that are new construction or substantially improved nonresidential structures that are not being elevated but that meet the floodproofing standards of § 106-6G(1)(a), (b) and (c). The application for this permit shall include a floodproofing certificate signed by a registered professional engineer or architect; or
A flood hazard development permit for minor development for all development that is not new construction or a substantial improvement, such as repairs, maintenance, renovations, or additions whose value is less than 50% of the market value of the structure. Minor development also includes, but is not limited to, accessory structures as provided for in § 106-6J, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials, deposition or extraction of materials, public or private sewage disposal systems or water supply facilities that do not involve structures and nonstructural projects such as bridges, dams, towers, fencing, pipelines, wharves and piers.
For development that requires review and approval as a conditional use permit, as provided for in this chapter, the flood hazard development permit application shall be acted upon by the Planning Board as required in § 106-7.
Maintain, as a permanent record, copies of all flood hazard development permit applications, corresponding permits issued and data relevant thereto, including reports of the Board of Appeals on variances granted under the provisions of § 106-10 of this chapter and copies of elevation certificates, floodproofing certificates, certificates of compliance and certifications of design standards required under the provisions of §§ 106-3, 106-6 and 106-8 of this chapter.
Be designed or modified and adequately anchored to prevent flotation (excluding piers and docks), collapse or lateral movement of the development resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.
Use construction materials that are resistant to flood damage.
Use electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air-conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during flooding conditions.
Include the total cost of all improvements, modifications, additions and reconstruction projects. All costs shall be accrued over the lifetime of the structure. Once the total cost of the project reaches 50% of the building's market value at the time of the first permit application following the effective date of March 3, 1998, the project is considered a substantial improvement. See the definition of "substantial improvement" in § 106-14 below.
[Amended 5-21-2012]
Watercourse carrying capacity. All development shall be constructed and maintained in such a manner that no reduction occurs in the flood-carrying capacity of any watercourse.
Zones A1-30 and AE shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least three feet above the base flood elevation.
Zone AO shall have adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes, to guide floodwater away from the proposed structures.
At least three feet higher than the depth specified in feet on the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map; or
Zone A shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least three feet above the base flood elevation utilizing information obtained pursuant to §§ 106-3H(1)(b), 106-5B or 106-9D.
Zones V1-30 and VE shall meet the requirements of § 106-6P.
Zones A1-30 and AE shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least three feet above the base flood elevation or, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, shall:
Be floodproofed to at least three feet above the base flood elevation so that below that elevation the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water;
Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of this section. Such certification shall be provided with the application for a flood hazard development permit, as required by § 106-3K and shall include a record of the elevation above mean sea level to which the structure is floodproofed.
At least three feet higher than the depth specified in feet on the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map;
At least three feet if no depth number is specified; or
Together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities be floodproofed to meet the elevation requirements of this section and floodproofing standards of § 106-6G(1).
Zone A shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least three feet above the base flood elevation utilizing information obtained pursuant to §§ 106-3H(1)(b), 106-5B or 106-9D; or, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, meet the flood proofing standards of § 106-6G(1).
Zones A1-30 or AE shall:
Be elevated such that the lowest floor (including basement) of the manufactured home is at least three feet above the base flood elevation;
Be securely anchored to an adequately anchored foundation system to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement.
Over-the-top ties anchored to the ground at the four corners of the manufactured home, plus two additional ties per side at intermediate points (manufactured homes less than 50 feet long require one additional tie per side); or
All components of the anchoring system described in § 106-6H(1)(c)[1][a] and [b] shall be capable of carrying a force of 4,800 pounds.
Zone AO shall have the lowest floor (including basement) of the manufactured home elevated above the highest adjacent grade:
At least three feet if no depth number is specified; and
Meet the anchoring requirements of § 106-6H(1)(c).
Be elevated on a permanent foundation, as described in § 106-6H(1)(b) such that the lowest floor (including basement) of the manufactured home is at least three feet above the base flood elevation utilizing information obtained pursuant to §§ 106-3H(1)(b), 106-5B or 106-9D; and
Zones A1-30 and AE shall either:
Be fully licensed and ready for highway use. A recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick-disconnect-type utilities and security devices and has no permanently attached additions; or
Be permitted in accordance with the elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes in § 106-6H(1).
Zones V1-30 and VE shall meet the requirements of either § 106-6I(1)(a) or (b) or § 106-6P.
Accessory structures. Accessory structures, as defined in § 106-14, located within Zones A1-30, AE, AO, AH and A, shall be exempt from the elevation criteria required in § 106-6F and G above, if all other requirements of § 106-6 and all of the following requirements are met:
Be 500 square feet or less and have a value of less than $3,000;
Have hydraulic openings, as specified in § 106-6L(2), in at least two different walls of the accessory structure;
When possible, be constructed and placed on the building site so as to offer the minimum resistance to the flow of floodwaters and be placed further from the source of the flooding than is the primary structure; and
Have only ground fault interrupt electrical outlets. The electrical service disconnect shall be located above the base flood elevation and, when possible, outside the special flood hazard area.
In Zones A1-30 and AE riverine areas, encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement and other development shall not be permitted within a regulatory floodway which is designated on the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map unless a technical evaluation certified by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that such encroachments will not result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
In Zones A1-30, AE, and A riverine areas for which no regulatory floodway is designated, encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvement and other development shall not be permitted in the floodway as determined in § 106-6K(3) unless a technical evaluation certified by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that the cumulative effect of the proposed development, when combined with all other existing development and anticipated development:
Is consistent with the technical criteria contained in Chapter 5 entitled "Hydraulic Analyses," Flood Insurance Study - Guidelines and Specifications for Study Contractors (FEMA 37/January 1995, as amended).
In Zones A1-30, AE and A, riverine areas for which no regulatory floodway is designated, the regulatory floodway is determined to be the channel of the river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas to a distance of 1/2 the width of the floodplain as measured from the normal high-water mark to the upland limit of the floodplain.
Enclosed areas below the lowest floor. New construction or substantial improvement of any structure in Zones A1-30, AE, AO and A that meets the development standards of § 106-6, including the elevation requirements of § 106-6F, G or H, and is elevated on posts, columns, piers, piles, stilts or crawlspaces may be enclosed below the base flood elevation requirements, provided that all the following criteria are met or exceeded:
Enclosed areas are not "basements," as defined in § 106-14.
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves or other coverings or devices, provided that they permit the entry and exit of floodwaters automatically without any external influence or control such as human intervention, including the use of electrical and other nonautomatic mechanical means.
The enclosed area shall not be used for human habitation.
The enclosed areas are usable solely for building access, parking of vehicles or storage.
Bridges. New construction or substantial improvement of any bridge located within Zones A1-30, AE, AO, AH, A, V1-30 and VE shall be designed such that:
When possible, the lowest horizontal member (excluding the pilings or columns) is elevated to at least three feet above base flood elevation; and
The structural design and methods of construction shall meet the elevation requirements of this section and the floodway standards of § 106-6K; and
Containment walls. New construction or substantial improvement of any containment walls located within:
Zones A1-30, AE, AH, A, V1-30 and VE shall:
Have the containment wall elevated to at least three feet above the base flood elevation;
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 provisions of this section. Such certification shall be provided with the application for a flood hazard development permit, as required by § 106-3K.
Zones AO and AH shall have adequate drainage paths around containment walls on slopes, to guide the floodwater away from the proposed walls.
Zone AO shall have the top of the containment wall elevated above the highest adjacent grade:
Shall meet the requirements of § 106-6N(1)(b) and (c).
Wharves, piers and docks. New construction or substantial improvement of wharves, piers, and docks are permitted in Zones A, A1-30, AE, AO, AH, V1-30 and VE, in and over water and seaward of the mean high tide if the following requirements are met:
Wharves, piers, and docks shall comply with all applicable local, state and federal regulations; and
All new construction located within Zones A1-30, AE, A, V1-30 and VE shall be located landward of the reach of mean high tide except as provided in § 106-6P(6).
New construction or substantial improvement of any structure located within Zones V1-30 or VE shall:
The bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor (excluding the pilings or columns) is elevated to three feet above the base flood elevation;
The pile or column foundation and the elevated portion of the structure attached thereto is anchored to resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement due to the effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components; and
Water loading values used shall be those associated with the base flood. Wind loading values used shall be those required by applicable state and local building standards.
Free of obstructions;
Constructed with open wood lattice-work, or insect screening intended to collapse under wind and water without causing collapse, displacement or other structural damage to the elevated portion of the building or supporting piles or columns; or
Constructed with nonsupporting breakaway walls which have a design safe loading resistance of not less than 10 or more than 20 pounds per square foot.
Develop or review the structural design, specifications and plans for the construction, which must meet or exceed the technical criteria contained in the Coastal Construction Manual (FEMA-55/June, 2000); and
Certify that the design and methods of construction to be used are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the criteria of § 106-6P(2).
The use of fill for structural support in Zones A1-30, AE, A, AO, V1-30, V1-30 and VE is prohibited.
Human alteration of sand dunes within Zones V1-30 and VE is prohibited unless it can be demonstrated that such alterations will not increase potential flood damage.
The area below the lowest floor may be used solely for parking vehicles, building access and storage.
Conditional use. Lobster sheds and fishing sheds located seaward of mean high tide shall be exempt from the elevation requirement in § 106-6G and are permitted as a conditional use only upon review and approval by the Planning Board, as provided in § 106-7, and if all the following requirements and those of § 106-6A, K, and L are met:
The conditional use shall be limited to low-value structures, such as metal or wood sheds 200 square feet or less and shall not exceed more than one story.
The structure shall be securely anchored to the wharf or pier to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement due to the effect of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components.
Any mechanical, utility equipment and fuel storage tanks must be anchored and either elevated or floodproofed to three feet above the base flood elevation.
All electrical outlets shall be ground-fault interrupt type. The electrical service disconnect shall be located on shore above the base flood elevation and when possible, outside the special flood hazard area.
The Planning Board shall hear and decide upon applications for conditional uses provided for in this chapter. The Planning Board shall hear, and approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove all applications for conditional uses. An applicant informed by the Code Enforcement Officer that a conditional use permit is required shall file an application for the permit with the Planning Board.
If the Planning Board finds that the application satisfied all relevant requirements of the chapter, the Planning Board must approve the application or approve with conditions within 45 days of the date of the public hearing.
A conditional use permit issued under the provisions of this chapter shall expire if the work or change involved is not commenced within 180 days of the issuance of the permit by the Planning Board.
No land in a special flood hazard area shall be occupied or used and no structure, which is constructed or substantially improved, shall be occupied until a certificate of compliance is issued by the Code Enforcement Officer subject to the following provisions:
For new construction or substantial improvement of any elevated structure the applicant shall submit to the Code Enforcement Officer:
An elevation certificate completed by a professional land surveyor, registered professional engineer or architect for compliance with § 106-6F, G, H or P; and
For structures in Zones V1-30 and VE, certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the design and methods of construction used are in compliance with § 106-6P(2).
Upon determination that the development conforms with the provisions of this chapter, issue a certificate of compliance.
The Planning Board shall, when reviewing subdivisions and other proposed developments that require review under other federal law, state law or local ordinances or regulations and all projects on five or more disturbed acres, or in the case of manufactured home parks divided into two or more lots, assure that:
Any proposed development plan must include a condition of plan approval requiring that structures on any lot in the development having any portion of its land within a special flood hazard area, are to be constructed in accordance with § 106-6 of this chapter. Such requirement will be included in any deed, lease, purchase and sale agreement, or document transferring or expressing an intent to transfer any interest in real estate or structure, including but not limited to a time-share interest. The condition shall clearly articulate that the municipality may enforce any violation of the construction requirement and that fact shall also be included in the deed or any other document previously described. The construction requirement shall also be clearly stated on any map, plat or plan to be signed by the Planning Board or local reviewing authority as part of the approval process.
The Board of Appeals of the City of Saco may, upon written application of an aggrieved party, hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by, or failure to act by, the Code Enforcement Officer or Planning Board in the administration or enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. The Board of Appeals may grant a variance from the requirements of this chapter consistent with state law and the following criteria:
A determination that should a flood comparable to the base flood occur, the granting of a variance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety, public expense or create nuisances, cause fraud or victimization of the public or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances;
A determination that failure to grant the variance would result in undue hardship, which in this section means that:
The need for a variance is due to the unique circumstances of the property and not to the general conditions in the neighborhood;
Variances may be issued for new construction, substantial improvements or other development for the conduct of a functionally dependent use, provided that:
Other criteria of §§ 106-10 and 106-6K are met; and
Variances may be issued for the repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation or restoration of historic structures upon the determination that:
The development meets the criteria of § 106-10A through D above; and
The proposed repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation or restoration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as an historic structure, and the variance is the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure.
Any applicant who meets the criteria of § 106-10A through E shall be notified by the Board of Appeals, in writing, over the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Appeals that:
Reconstructed buildings in areas governed by this Floodplain Management Ordinance may exceed the maximum height requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, without the need for a variance, only if the requirements of § 504-2A of the Zoning Ordinance are met.
[Added 5-21-2012[1]]
Editor's Note: This amendment also redesignated former Subsection G as Subsection H.
An administrative or variance appeal may be taken to the Board of Appeals by an aggrieved party within 30 days after the receipt of a written decision of the Code Enforcement Officer or Planning Board.
If any section or provision of this chapter is declared by the courts to be invalid, such decision shall not invalidate any other section or provision of this chapter.
This chapter shall not in any way impair or remove the necessity of compliance with any other applicable rule, ordinance, regulation, bylaw, permit or provision of law. Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of land, buildings or structures, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
Unless specifically defined below, words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the same meanings as they have at common law and to give this chapter its most reasonable application. Words used in the present tense include the future, the singular number includes the plural, and the plural number includes the singular. The word "may" is permissive; "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary.
A designated AO and AH Zone on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with a one-percent or greater annual 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.
The land in the floodplain having a one-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year, as specifically identified in the Flood Insurance Study cited in § 106-1F of this chapter.
A person certified under 30-A M.R.S.A., § 4451 (including exceptions in § 4451, Paragraph 1) and employed by a municipality to enforce all applicable comprehensive planning and land use laws and ordinances.
A use that, because of its potential impact on surrounding areas and structures, is permitted only upon review and approval by the Planning Board pursuant to § 106-7.
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations or storage of equipment or materials.
Built, in the case of a building in Zone A1-30, AE, A, AO or AH, to have the top of the elevated floor or, in the case of a building in Zone V1-30 or VE, to have the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the elevated floor elevated above the ground level by means of pilings, columns, posts, piers or stilts; and
Adequately anchored so as not to impair the structural integrity of the building during a flood of up to one foot above the magnitude of the base flood.
In the case of Zones A1-30, AE, A, AO or AH, "elevated building" also includes a building elevated by means of fill or solid foundation perimeter walls with hydraulic openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded movement of floodwaters. In the case of Zone V1-30 or VE, "elevated building" also includes a building otherwise meeting the definition of elevated building, even though the lower area is enclosed by means of breakaway walls, if the breakaway walls meet the standards of § 106-6P(2)(b)[3].
An official form (FEMA Form 81-31, 07-00, as amended) that:
The overflow of inland or tidal wate
The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in Subsection A(1)of this definition.
Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source. (See "flooding").
The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damage, including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood control works and floodplain management regulations.
Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and contents.
A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of floodplain management. Freeboard tends to compensate for the many unknown factors, such as wave action, bridge openings and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed, that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway conditions.
For purposes of this chapter, an elevation established for a specific site to which all other elevations at the site are referenced. This elevation is generally not referenced to the North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) or any other established datum and is used in areas where mean sea level data is too far from a specific site to be practically used.
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement area, 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 described in § 106-6L of this chapter.
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. For floodplain management purposes, the term "manufactured home" also includes park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than 180 consecutive days.
For purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program, the North American Vertical Datum of 1988, or other datum, to which base flood elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map are referenced.
All development that is not new construction or a substantial improvement, such as repairs, maintenance, renovations, or additions, whose value is less than 50% of the market value of the structure. It also includes, but is not limited to, accessory structures as provided for in § 106-6J, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials, deposition or extraction of materials, public or private sewage disposal systems or water supply facilities that do not involve structures; and nonstructural projects such as bridges, dams, towers, fencing, pipelines, wharves, and piers.[1]
North American vertical datum, whose standard was established in 1988, and adopted by the National Geodetic Survey in 1991 to replace the NGVD 1929 datum. NAVD 1988 is used by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and has been used on Saco's Flood Insurance Rate Maps since 2006. NAVD 1988 can also be called "Mean Sea Level (MSL)."
When not designated on the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map, it is considered to be the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas to a distance of 1/2 the width of the floodplain, as measured from the normal high water mark to the upland limit of the floodplain.
The date the building permit was issued, provided that the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, placement, substantial improvement 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 slabs 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 basements, 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, or modification of any construction element, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
For floodplain management purposes, a walled and roofed building. A gas- or liquid-storage tank that is principally above ground is also a structure.
Any alteration of an historic structure, provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as an historic structure and a variance is obtained from the community's Board of Appeals.
Any completed project to elevate a building or structure, to a height of one foot or more above the base flood elevation, for which a building permit was issued after March 3, 1998, and prior to May 1, 2012.
[Added 5-21-2012]
The failure of a structure or development to comply with a community's floodplain management regulations.
Editor's Note: The former definition of "National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD)," which immediately followed this definition, was amended 5-21-2012, and is now included as the definition of "North American Vertical Datum (NAVD)."
This chapter repeals and replaces any municipal ordinance previously enacted to comply with the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-488, as amended).