The purpose of this article is to establish a district to meet the needs of water ways in the town to carry the abnormal flow of water at times of flood; to prevent encroachments into the district which might increase flood height, decrease the capacity for floodwater storage and consequently, increase the potential for loss of life and damage to property in the areas of greatest flood hazard. The floodplain districts are those as identified by the Federal Insurance Administration in a scientific and engineering report entitled "The Flood Insurance Study for the Town of Griffith" dated December 1979, with the accompanying flood insurance rate maps and flood boundary-floodway maps along with any subsequent revisions to the text or maps are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter. The flood insurance study is on file in the office of the clerk treasurer.

Permitted uses in the F-1 district are subject to the following additional general limitations:

(a)

No filling of land shall be permitted, except where authorized by the plan commission and with any conditions as may be stipulated to protect the public interest.

(b)

The natural drainage grade shall not be substantially altered.

(c)

Any structure permitted shall be placed on the lot so as to offer a minimum obstruction to the flow of water and shall be firmly anchored to prevent the structure from floating or swept away by the flood water and thus threatening to further restrict bridge openings and other restricted sections of the stream.

The following listed uses and no others are permitted uses in an F-1 district:

(a)

Open space uses, including farming, grazing and live stock raising, gardens, orchards and nurseries; provided, that such uses are auxiliary to permitted uses in an adjoining district.

(b)

Boat docks and fishing piers (public or private), including the selling or leasing of fishing and boating equipment and bait.

(c)

Any other use customarily accessory or incidental to the above uses.

In an F-1 district, the following uses may be allowed as variances by ordinance of the BZA of the town only in accordance with the limiting conditions and procedures as set forth in article XX, Use Variances:

(a)

Artificial lake of three acres or more.

(b)

Campground; only if plans have first been approved by the Indiana Board of Health and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

(c)

Country club or golf course.

(d)

Outdoor commercial recreational enterprise.

(e)

Private camp.

(f)

Private recreational development.

(g)

Public or commercial sewage disposal plant and pump station.

(h)

Riding stable and trails.

Areas lying outside of and adjacent to the floodplain districts, as shown on the zoning map of the town shall be subject to the following regulations:

(a)

No building or structure shall be erected and no existing building or structure shall be moved unless the main floor of such building or structure is above the highest recorded flood level for the Little Calumet River, plus five feet and receives prior approval by the town engineer.

(b)

No basement floor or other floor shall be constructed below or at a lower elevation than the main floor.

(c)

Foundations of structures shall be designed to withstand flood conditions at the site.

The town engineer is hereby designated to administer the provisions of the floodplain district. The administrator shall review all development and subdivision proposals for compliance with these provisions and report to the plan commission any and all proposals that have potential flood impacts.

Other than those permitted and use variances listed all development shall be prohibited in the floodplain district.

Any building, structure or use of land in the floodplain district which is not in conformance with this chapter constitutes a nonconforming use. All applications to repair, extend or enlarge a nonconforming use shall be forwarded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for review and comment. All terms and conditions imposed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall be incorporated into the issuance of any local permit.

Applications for variances to the provisions of this chapter shall be forwarded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for review and comment. All terms and conditions imposed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources shall be incorporated into the issuance of any local permit.