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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd.1083.09-16-1991 BILL N0. 91-158 ORDINANCE N0. I �U� AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12 OF THE CITY CODE KNOWN AS THE "FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS" BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI , AS FOLLOWS : ARTICLE l . Section 12-2 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri , entitled "Definitions" is hereby repealed in its entirety and a new Section 12-2 entitled "Definitions" is hereby enacted in lieu thereof , in words and figures, to read as follows : Sec. 12-2 . Definitions . Unless specifically defined in this section, the words and phrases used in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable application in carrying out the purpose and intent of these regulations. For purposes of this chapter therefore, the following definitions shall apply: Actuarial or risk premium rates means those rates established by the administrator pursuant to individual community studies and investigations which are undertaken to provide flood insurance in accordance with section 1307 of the act and the accepted actuarial principles. "Risk premium rates" include provisions for operating costs and allowances. Appeal means a request for a review of the administrator ' s interpretation of any provision of these regulations or a request for a variance . Area of special flood hazards means the land in the floodplain within the city which is subject to one ( 1 ) percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year . Base flood means the flood having a one ( 1 ) percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year . Development means any manmade 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. Existing construction ( for the purposes of � determining rates ) structures for which the "start of construction" commenced before the effective date of the flood insurance rate map (FIRM) or before January l, 1975, for FIRM' s effective before that date. "Existing � construction" may also be referred to as "existing structures . " Existing manufactured home parks or manufactured home subdivision means a parcel or contiguous parcels of land divided into two ( 2 ) or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lot on which the manufactured home is to be affixed ( including at a minimum the installation of utilities, either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads and the construction of streets) is completed before the effective date of these regulations. Expansion to an existing manufactured home park or manufactured home subdivision means the preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed ( including at a minimum the installation of utilities, either final site grading or pouring of concrete pads or the construction of street) . Flood or flooding means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from: ( 1 ) The overflow of inland or tidal waters, or ( 2 ) The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source . Flood insurance rate map (FIRM) and flood hazard boundary map (FHBM) means the official maps of the city on which the flood insurance study has delineated the flood hazard boundaries and the zones establishing the insurance rates applicable to the city. Flood insurance study is 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 elevation of the base flood . Floodway or regulatory floodway means 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 one ( 1 ) foot . Floodway fringe is that area of the floodplain, outside of the floodway, that on the average is likely to be flooded once every one hundred ( 100 ) years ( i . e . , that -2- has a one ( 1 ) percent chance of flood occurrence in any one ( 1 ) year ) . � Freeboard means 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 that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway conditions, such as wave action, clogged bridge openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed . Habitable floor means any floor useable for living purposes which includes working, sleeping, eating, cooking or recreation, or a combination thereof . A floor used only for storage purposes is not a habitable floor . Historic structure means any structure that is: { a) Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of Interior ) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register . (b) Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district . (c) Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior . ( d ) Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either : ( 1 ) By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior or ( 2 ) Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs . Highest adjacent grade means the highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure . Manufactured home means a structure, transportable in one ( 1) 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 -3- floodplain management purposes the term "manufactured home" also includes park trailers, travel trailers, and other � similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than one hundred eighty ( 180 ) consecutive days . For insurance purposes the term "manufactured home" does not include park trailers, travel trailers, and other similar vehicles. Manufactured home park or subdivision means a parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two ( 2 ) or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale . Mean sea level means the average height of the sea for all stages of the tide . New construction means, for the purposes of determining insurance rates , structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of an initial FIRM or after December 31 , 1974 , whichever is later , and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures . For floodplain management purposes, "new construction" means structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of a floodplain management regulation adopted by a community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures . Start of construction for other than new construction or substantial improvements under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, Public Law 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 one hundred eighty ( 180 ) days of the permit date . The actual start means 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 staqe 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, 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 structures . 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. Structure means a walled and roofed building that is principally aboveground, as well as a manufactured home , -4- and a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally aboveground . ` Substantial damage means damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before damaged condition would equal or exceed fifty_ ( 50 ) percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. Substantial improvement means any reconstruction , rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty ( 50 ) percent of the market value of the structure before the "start of construction" of the improvement . This term includes structures which have incurred "substantial damage" , regardless of the actual repair work performed . This term does not , however , include either : ( 1 ) 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 or ( 2 ) Any alteration of a "historic structure" , provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure ' s continued designation as a "historic structure" . Variance is a grant or relief to a person from the requirements of this chapter which permits construction in a manner otherwise prohibited by this chapter where specific enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship. ARTICLE 2 . Section 12-44 ( d ) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cape Girardeau , Missouri , is hereby repealed in its entirety and a new Section 12-44( d ) is hereby enacted in lieu thereof , in words and figures , to read as follows : Sec. 12-44 . Variances . (d ) Variances may be issued for the repair or rehabilitation of historic structures upon a determination that the proposed repair or rehabilitation will not preclude the structure ' s continued designation as a historic structure and the variance is the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure . ARTICLE 3 . Section 12-67 ( 3 ) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cape Girardeau , Missouri , is hereby repealed in its entirety and a new Section 12-67 ( 3 ) is hereby enacted in lieu thereof , in words and figures , to read as follows : -5- Sec. 12-67 , Specific standards. ( 3 ) Required for all new construction and substantial improvements. That 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 meet or exceed the following minimum criteria: A minimum of two ( 2 ) openings having a total net area of not less than one ( 1 ) square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided. The bottoms of all openings shall be no higher than one ( 1 ) foot above grade . Openings may be equipped with screens , louvers , valves, or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters . ARTICLE 4 . If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof . ARTICLE 5 . It is the intention of the governing body and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of this ordinance shall become and be made a part of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri , and the sections of this Code may be renumbered to accomplish such intention. ARTICLE 6 . This ordinance shall be in full force and effect ten days after its passage and approval . PASSED AND APPROVED THIS I(�� DAY OF , 19�. L�" _ e : — ^--- . l's��. 7—� ,.{t Francis E. Rhodes, Mayor ATTEST: �� /f , , , x-t.,� Ju e A. Da e Dep t City Clerk -6-