Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this Article shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage and to give this Article its most reasonable application.
ACTUARIAL OR RISK PREMIUM RATESThose 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.
APPEALA request for a review by the Director of Public Works.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODINGA designated AO or 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 (1) to three (3) feet, where a clearly defined channel is unpredictable and where velocity flow may be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow.
BASE FLOODThe flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE)The water surface elevation of the base flood in relation to a specified datum, usually the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 or the North American Vertical Datum of 1988, and usually expressed in feet above mean seal level (MSL). This elevation is used for regulatory purposes in this Article.
BASEMENTAny area of the structure having its floor below ground level on all sides.
CHESTERFIELD VALLEYThe area roughly bounded by the Missouri River on the north, Eatherton Road on the west, the Missouri Central Railroad on the south, and Bonhomme Creek on the east. Most of this area is encompassed by the Monarch-Chesterfield levee system:
DEVELOPMENTAny man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, building or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operation.
EXISTING CONSTRUCTIONFor the purposes of determining rates, structures for which the start of construction commenced before the effective date of the FIRM or before January 1, 1975, for FIRMs effective before that date. "Existing construction" may also be referred to as "existing structures."
EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISIONA manufactured home park or subdivision for which 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, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is completed before the effective date of the floodplain management regulations adopted by the City of Chesterfield.
EXPANSION TO AN EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISIONThe preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads).
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)An official map of a community on which the flood insurance study has delineated the flood hazard boundaries and the zones establishing insurance rates applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDYThe official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The report contains flood profile as well as the Flood Boundary/Floodway Map and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
FLOOD or FLOODINGA general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
a. The overflow of inland or tidal waters.
b. The unusual or rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOODWAY FRINGEThat 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 has a one-percent chance of flood occurrence in any one (1) year].
FLOODWAY or REGULATORY FLOODWAYThe 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.
FREEBOARDA 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 from a selected size flood and floodway conditions, such as wave action, clogged bridge openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADEThe highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
HISTORIC STRUCTUREAny structure that is:
a. Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of the 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 State inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
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.
LOWEST FLOORThe lowest enclosed area (including basement) of a structure. This definition excludes an enclosure below the lowest floor which is an unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement area, provided that such enclosure is built in accordance with the applicable design requirements specified in Section
405.05.030(C) for enclosures below the lowest floor.
LOWEST SILLThe member forming the lowest side of an opening by which surface water may enter a structure (e.g., window sill, door sill, etc.).
MANUFACTURED HOMEA 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 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.
MARKET VALUE OF A STRUCTUREThe established value of the existing structure, as determined by the St. Louis County Department of Revenue for taxing purposes, prior to any improvements being made or prior to any flooding condition. The value of any land shall not be included in the value of the structure.
NEW CONSTRUCTIONStructures for which the start of construction or substantial improvement is commenced on or after the effective date of the FIRM.
NEW MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISIONA manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for serving the lot on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is completed on or after the effective date of floodplain management regulations adopted by the City of Chesterfield.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLEA vehicle which is:
a. Built on a single chassis.
b. Four hundred (400) square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projections.
c. Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck.
d. Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.
ROADWAYPavement designed and installed for the purpose of conveying vehicular traffic with the intent of providing access to legal land divisions. For the purpose of this Article, the term "roadway" does not refer to private driveway and parking areas.
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAThe land in the floodplain subject to a one-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
START OF CONSTRUCTIONFor other than new construction or substantial improvements under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (Pub. L. 97-3481), includes substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was issued, provided that the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, 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 stage of excavation or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; nor does it include the installation of streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, 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.
STRUCTUREA walled and roofed building that is principally above ground, as well as a manufactured home, and a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGEDamage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before-damage condition would equal or exceed fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTAny repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure 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 purpose of this definition, "substantial improvement" is considered to occur 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 any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing State or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications, or any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historical Places or a State Inventory of Historical Places.
SUPPLEMENTAL PROTECTION AREALand located outside the special flood hazard area and within two hundred (200) feet of the special flood hazard area boundary or 100-year high-water elevation in the Chesterfield Valley as indicated in Section
405.05.010(F).
VARIANCEA grant of relief to a person from the requirements of this Article which permits construction in a manner otherwise prohibited by this Article where specific enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship.
VIOLATIONThe failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the City of Chesterfield's floodplain management regulations. A structure or other development without the elevation certificate, other certifications, or other evidence of compliance required by this Article is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided.