Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 09/21/2015

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(a) Permitted uses. Permitted uses shall be those uses of land or structures listed as permitted uses in the underlying zoning use district. All permitted uses shall comply with the standards for flood fringe permitted uses listed in subsection (b) of this section and the standards for all flood fringe uses listed in subsection (e) of this section. (b) Standards for flood fringe permitted uses. (1) All structures, including accessory structures, must be elevated on fill so that the lowest floor including basement floor is at or above the regulatory flood protection elevation. The finished fill elevation for structures shall be no lower than one foot below the regulatory flood protection elevation and the fill shall extend at such elevation at least 15 feet beyond the outside limits of the structure erected thereon. (2) As an alternative to elevation on fill, accessory structures that constitute a minimal investment and that do not exceed 500 square feet for the outside dimension at ground level may be internally floodproofed in accordance with section 117-183(d)(5)c. The cumulative placement of fill where at any one time in excess of 1,000 cubic yards of fill is located on the parcel shall be allowable only as a conditional use, unless said fill is specifically intended to elevate a structure in accordance with subsection (b)(1) of this section. (4) The storage of any materials or equipment shall be elevated on fill to the regulatory flood protection elevation. The provisions of subsection (e) of this section shall apply. (3) (5) (c) Conditional uses. Any structure that is not elevated on fill or floodproofed in accordance with subsection (b)(1) and (2) of this section or any use of land that does not comply with the standards in subsections (d) and (e) of this section shall only be allowable as a conditional use. An application for a conditional use shall be subject to the standards and criteria and evaluation procedures specified in subsections (d) and (e) of this section and section 117-188(d). (d) Standards for flood fringe conditional uses. (1) Alternative elevation methods other than the use of fill may be utilized to elevate a structure's lowest floor above the regulatory flood protection elevation. These alternative methods may include the use of stilts, pilings, parallel walls, etc., or abovegrade, enclosed areas such as crawl spaces or tuck under garages. The base or floor of an enclosed area shall be considered above grade and not a structure's basement or lowest floor if: the enclosed area is above grade on at least one side of the structure; it is designed to internally flood and is constructed with flood resistant materials; and it is used solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage. The alternative elevation methods noted in this subsection (d)(1) are subject to the following additional standards: a. Design and certification. The structure's design and as -built condition must be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect as being in compliance with the general design standards of the state building code and, specifically, that all electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities must be at or above the regulatory flood protection elevation or be designed to prevent floodwater from entering or accumulating within these components during times of flooding. b. Specific standards for abovegrade, enclosed areas. Abovegrade, fully enclosed areas such as crawl spaces or tuck under garages must be designed to internally flood and the design plans must stipulate: 1. The minimum area of openings in the walls where internal flooding is to be used as a floodproofing technique. When openings are placed in a structure's walls to provide for entry of floodwaters to equalize pressures, the bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one 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. Page 5