Plumstead Township City Zoning Code
PART 22
FLOODPLAIN USE REGULATIONS
§ 27-2201 Establishment of Floodplain Zoning District.
[Ord. 2015-02, 1/27/2015]
1.
The identified floodplain area shall be:
A.
Any areas of Plumstead Township classified as special flood hazard areas (SFHAs) in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) dated March 16, 2015, and issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the most recent revision thereof, including all digital data developed as part of the Flood Insurance Study.
B.
For areas abutting streams and watercourses where the 100-year floodplain (1% annual chance flood) has not been delineated by a Flood Insurance Study, the applicant shall submit a floodplain identification study. The study, prepared by a registered professional engineer expert in the preparation of hydrologic and hydraulic studies, shall be used to delineate the 100-year floodplain. The floodplain study shall be subject to the review and approval of the Township. All areas inundated by the 100-year flood shall be included in the floodplain area.
2.
The above-referenced FIS and FIRMs, and any subsequent revisions and amendments are hereby adopted by Plumstead Township and declared to be a part of this chapter.
§ 27-2202 Description and Special Requirements of Identified Floodplain Area.
[Ord. 2015-02, 1/27/2015]
The identified floodplain area shall consist of the following specific areas/districts:
1.
The Floodway Area/District identified as floodway in the FIS which represents the channel of a watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without any increase in the water surface elevation at any point. This term shall also include floodway areas which have been identified in other available studies or sources of information for those special floodplain areas where no floodway has been identified in the FIS.
A.
Within any floodway area, no encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, or other development shall be permitted unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic and hydraulic analysis performed in accordance with standard engineering practice that the proposed encroachment would not result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
B.
No new construction or development shall be allowed, unless a permit is obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection Regional Office.
2.
The AE Area/District shall be those areas adjacent to the floodway and identified as an AE Zone on the FIRM included in the FIS prepared by FEMA for which base flood elevations have been provided.
3.
The A Area/District shall be those areas identified as an A Zone on the FIRM included in the FIS prepared by FEMA and for which no 1% annual chance flood elevations have been provided. For these areas, elevation and floodway information from other federal, state, or other acceptable source shall be used when available. Where other acceptable information is not available, the elevation shall be determined by hydrologic and hydraulic engineering techniques. Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses shall be undertaken only by registered professional engineers or others of demonstrated qualifications, who shall certify that the technical methods used correctly reflect currently accepted technical concepts. Studies, analyses, computations, etc., shall be submitted in sufficient detail to allow a thorough technical review by the Township.
4.
For areas adjoining streams, ponds, and lakes not included in the FIS prepared by FEMA, the applicant shall be required to determine the elevation and area of the floodplain with hydrologic and hydraulic engineering techniques. Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses shall be undertaken only by registered professional engineers or others of demonstrated qualifications, who shall certify that the technical methods used correctly reflect currently accepted technical concepts. Studies, analyses, computations, etc., shall be submitted in sufficient detail to allow a thorough technical review by the Township. All areas inundated by the 100-year flood shall be included in the floodplain area.
§ 27-2203 Floodplain Zoning District Provisions.
[Ord. 2015-02, 1/27/2015]
All uses, activities and development occurring within a floodplain district shall be undertaken in strict compliance with the provisions of the chapter, all other applicable codes and ordinances, such as Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development, and Chapter 8, Floodplains, of the Township Code. (In addition, all such uses, activities and development shall be undertaken only in compliance with federal or state law, including Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. § 1344.)
§ 27-2204 Uses Permitted in Floodplain.
[Ord. 2015-02, 1/27/2015]
The following uses and no others are permitted by right within the Floodplain District, provided that they comply with requirements of Chapter 8, Floodplains, of the Township Code, are not prohibited by any other ordinance and do not require structures, fill or storage of materials and equipment.
1.
Utilities, public facilities and improvements such as railroads, streets, bridges, transmission lines, pipelines, municipally owned water supply and sewage treatment plants, and other similar or related uses.
2.
Agricultural uses such as general farming, nurseries, horticulture and forestry.
3.
Public and private recreational uses and activities such as parks, picnic grounds, golf courses, boat launching, hiking, wildlife and nature preserves, hunting and fishing areas.
4.
Yards in excess of the minimum front, side and rear yard area established by this chapter.
5.
Stream crossing for utilities, driveways, and streets.