HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd. No. 1988-ORDINANCE NO. 832
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE,
CALIFORNIA, RESCINDING EXISTING CHAPTER 64
OF TITLE 15 OF THE LAKE ELSINORE MUNICIPAL
CODE (ORDINANCE N0. 791) AND ADDING A NEW
CHAPTER 64 TO TITLE 15 TO SAID CODE WHICH
SHALL BE KNOWN;IAS "FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION."
SECTION ONE: STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION
The Legislature of the State of California has in
Government Code Sections 65302, 65560 and 65800 conferred upon
local government units authority to adopt regulations designed to
promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its
citizenry.
SECTION TWO: FINDINGS OF FACT
A. The flood hazard areas of the City of Lake Elsinore
are subject to periodic inundation which results in
loss of life and property, health and safety hazards,
disruption of commerce and governmental services,
extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection
and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of
which adversely affect the public health, safety and
general welfare.
B. These flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect
of obstructions in areas of special flood hazards
which increase flood heights and velocities, and when
inadequately anchored, .damage uses in other areas.
Uses that are inadequately floodproofed, elevated or
otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute
to the flood loss.
SECTION THREE: STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
It is the purpose of this ordinance to promote the public
health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and
private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by
provisions designed:
A. To protect human life and health;
B. To minimize expenditure of public money for costly
flood control projects;
C. To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts
associated with flooding and generally undertaken at
the expense of the general public;
D. To minimize prolonged business interruptions;
E. To minimize damage to public facilities and utilities
such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and
sewer lines, streets and bridges located in areas of
special flood hazard;
F. To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for
the second use and development of areas of special
flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight
areas;
G. To insure that potential buyers are notified that
property is in an area of special flood hazard; and
H. To insure that those who occupy the areas of special
flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.
I. To comply with recent changes to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (F.E.M.A.) Floodplain Management
Criteria, and to assure continued City participation
in the National Flood Insurance Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE, COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
The existing Chapter 64 of Title 15 of the Lake Elsinore
Municipal Code, Ordinance No. 791, is hereby rescinded in its
entirety and a new Chapter 64 of Title 15, as contained in Exhibit
"A", attached hereto and made a part hereof, is hereby added to
said Code, and shall be known and may be cited as the "Flood
Damage Prevention" Ordinance.
SECTION FOUR:
This ordinance shall take effect as provided by law.
AND PASSED UPON FIRST READING this 26th day of
April, 1988, upon the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Buck, Dominguez, Starkey, Washburn,
Winkler
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTENTIONS: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED UPON SECOND READING this
10th day of May, 1988, upon the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERSS Buck, Dominguez, Starkey, Washburn, Winkler
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTENTIONS: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ATTEST:
Vicki Lynne asad, City Jerk
(SEAL)
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
ohn R. Harper, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) SS:
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE )
I, Vicki Lynne Kasad, City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore,
DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance had its first reading
on April 26, 1988, and had its second reading on May lo, 1988, and
was passed by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BUCK, DOMINGUEZ, STARKEY,
WASHBURN, WINKLER
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
I~ N KAS~D,~ LERK
CITY OF I,AK ELSINORE
(SEAL)
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) SS:
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE)
I, Vicki Lynne Kasad, City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore,
DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and
correct copy of Ordinance No. 832, of said Council, and that the same
has not been amended or repealed.
DATED: May 12, 1988
CKI LYNNE SAD, CITY C ERK
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE
(SEAL)
CHAPTER 15.64
FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION
Sections:
15.64.010 Statutory Authorization
15.64.020 Findings of Fact
15.64.030 Statement of Purpose
15.64.040 Methods of Reducing Flood Losses
15.64.050 Definitions
15.64.060 General Provisions
15.64.070 Administration - Establishment of
Development Permit
15.64.080 Designation of Floodplain Administrator
15.64.090 Duties and Responsibilities of Floodplain
Administrator
15.64.100 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction -
Standards of Construction
15.64.110 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction -
Standards for Utilities
15.64.120 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction -
Standards for Subdivisions -
15.64.130 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction -
Staridards for Manufactured Homes
15.64.140 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction -
Floodways
15.64.150 Variance Procedure - Appeal Board
15.64.160 Conditions for Variances
15.64.010 Statutory Authorization. The legislature of the State
of California has in Government Code Sections 65302, 65560 and
65800 conferred upon local government units authority to adopt
regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and
general welfare of its citizenry. Therefore, the City Council of
the City of Lake Elsinore does ordain as follows:
15.64.020 Findinas of Fact.
A. The flood hazard areas of the City of Lake Elsinore are
subject to periodic inundation which results in loss of life
and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of
commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public
expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment
of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public
health, safety and general welfare.
B. These flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect of
obstructions in areas. of special flood hazards which increase
flood heights and velocities, and when inadequately anchored,
damage uses in other areas. Uses that are inadequately
floodproofed, elevated or otherwise protected from flood
damage also contribute to the flood loss.
15.64.030 Statement of Purpose. It is the purpose of this
ordinance to promote the public health, safety, and general
welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood
conditions in specific areas by provisions designed:
A. To protect human life and health;
B. To minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood
control projects;
C. To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated
with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the
general public;
D. To minimize prolonged business interruptions;
EXHTBTT "A"
E. To minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as
water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines,
streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard;
F. To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the
second use and development of areas of special flood hazard
so as to minimize future flood blight areas;
G. To insure that potential buyers are notified that property is
in an area of special flood hazard; and
H. To--insure that -those who occupy the areas of-special flood
hazard assume responsibility for their actions.
15.64.040 Methods of Reducina Flood Losses. In order to
accomplish its purposes, this ordinance includes methods and
provisions for:
A. Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to
health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards,
or which result in damaging increases in erosion or flood
heights or velocities;
B. Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including
facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood
damage at the time of initial construction;
C. Controlling .the alteration of natural floodplains, stream
channels, and natural protective barriers, which help
accommodate or channel flood waters;
D. Controlling filling, grading, dredging, and other development
which may increase flood damage; and,
E. Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers
which will unnaturally divert flood waters or which may
increase flood hazards in other areas.
15.64.050 Definitions.
A. Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in
this ordinance shall be interpreted so as to give them the
meaning they have in common usage and to give this ordinance
its most reasonable application.
1. "A~oeal" means a request for a review of the Floodplain
Administrator's interpretation of any provision of this
ordinance or a request for a variance.
2. "Area of shallow floodina" means a designated AO or AH
Zone on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The base
flood depths range from one to three feet; a clearly
defined channel does not exist; the path of flooding is
unpredictable and indeterminate; and velocity flow may be
evident.
3. "Area of special flood hazard" - See "Special flood
hazard area."
4. "Base flood" means the flood having a one percent chance
of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (also
called the "100-year Flood").
5. "Basement" means any area of the building having its
floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.
6. "Breakawav walls" are any type of walls, whether solid or
lattice, and whether constructed of concrete, masonry,
wood, metal, plastic or any other suitable building
material which is not part of the structural support of
the building and which is designed to break away under
abnormally high tides or wave action without causing any
damage to the structural integrity of the building on
which they are used or any buildings to which they might
be carried by flood waters. A breakaway wall shall have
a safe design loading resistance of not less than ten and
no more than twenty pounds per square foot. Use of
breakaway walls must be certified by a registered
engineer or architect and shall meet the following
conditions:
a. Breakaway wall collapse shall result from a water
load less than that which would occur during the base
flood; and
b. The elevated portion of the building shall not incur
any structural damage due to the effects of wind and
water loads acting simultaneously in the event of the
base flood.
7. "Development" means any man-made change to improved or
unimproved real estate, including but not limited to
buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling,
grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations.
8. "Flood or floodina" means a general and temporary
condition of partial or complete inundation of normally
dry land areas from (1) the overflow of flood waters, (2)
the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface
waters from any source, and/or (3) the collapse or
subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other
body of water as a result of erosion or undermining
caused by waves or currents of water exceeding
anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an
unusually high water level in a natural body of water,
accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated
force of nature, such as flash flood or an abnormal tidal
surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable
event which results in flooding as defined in this
definition.
9. "Flood Boundarv and Floodwav Map" means the official map
on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency or
Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the
areas of flood hazard and the floodway.
10. "Flood Insurance Rate Map FIRM " means the official map
on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency or
Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the
areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones
applicable to the community.
11. "Flood Insurance Studv" means the official report
provided by the Federal- Insurance Administration that
includes flood profiles, the FIRM, the Flood Boundary and
Floodway Map, and the water surface elevation of the base
flood.
12. "Floodplain or flood-prone area" means any land area
susceptible to being inundated by water from any source
(see definition of "Flooding").
13. "Floodplain manaaement" means the operation of an overall
program of corrective and preventive measures for
reducing- flood- damage, including but not limited to
emergency preparedness plans, flood control works and
floodplain management regulations.
14. "Floodplain manaaement reaulations" means zoning
ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes,
health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such as
floodplain ordinance, grading ordinance and erosion
control ordinance) and other applications of police
power. The term describes such state or local
regulations in any combination thereof, which provide
standards for the purpose of flood damage prevention and
reduction.
15. "Floodproofina" means any combination of structural and
nonstructural additions, changes, or adjustments to
structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real
estate or improved real property, water and sanitary
facilities, structures and their contents.
16. "Floodwav" 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 foot. Also referred to as "Regulatory
-floodway."
17. "Functionally dependent use" means a use which cannot
perform its intended purpose unless it is located or
carried out in close proximity to water. The term
includes only docking facilities, port facilities that
are necessary for the loading and unloading of
passengers, but does not include long-term storage or
related manufacturing facilities.
18. "Highest adjacent arade" means the highest natural
elevation of the ground surface prior to construction
next to the proposed walls of a structure.
19. "Lowest floor" means the lowest floor of the lowest
enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished or
flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of
vehicles, building access or storage in an area other
than a basement area is not considered a building's
lowest floor; provided, that such enclosure is not built
so as to render the structure in violation of the
applicable non-elevation design requirements of this
ordinance.
20. "Manufactured home" means a structure, transportable in
one 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 180 consecutive days.
21. "Manufactured home park or subdivision" means a parcel
(or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more
manufactured home lots for sale or rent.
22. "Mean sea .level" means, for purposes of the National
Flood Insurance Program, the National Geodetic Vertical
Datum (NGVD) of 1929 or other datum, to which base flood
elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance Rate
Map are referenced.
23. "New construction" means, for floodplain management
purposes, structures for which the "start of
construction" commenced on or after the effective date of
a floodplain management regulation adopted by this
community.
24. "One hundred year flood" or "100-year flood" means a
flood which has a one percent annual probability of being
equaled or exceeded. It is identical to the "base
flood", which will be the term used throughout this
ordinance.
25. "Person" means an individual or his agent, firm,
partnership, association or corporation, or agent of the
aforementioned groups, or this state or its agencies or
political subdivisions.
26. "Remedy a violation" means to bring the structure or
other development into compliance with state or local
floodplain management regulations, or, if this is not
possible, to reduce the impacts of its noncompliance.
Ways that impacts may be reduced include protecting the
structure or other affected development from flood
damages, implementing. the enforcement provisions of the
ordinance or otherwise deterring future similar
violations, or reducing federal financial exposure with
regard to the structure or other development.
27. "Riverine" means relating to, formed by, or resembling a
river (including tributaries),-stream, brook, etc.
28. "Special flood hazard area SFHA " means an area having
special flood or flood-related erosion hazards, and shown
on an FHBM or FIRM as Zone A, AO, Al-30, A99, or AH.
29. "Start of Construction" includes substantial improvement,
and means the date the building permit was issued,
provided the .actual start of construction, repair,
reconstruction, placement, or other improvement was
within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start
means either 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 fora 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.
30. "Structure" means a walled and roofed building, including
a gas or liquid storage tank, that is principally above
ground, as well as a manufactured home.
31. "Substantial improvement" means any repair, reconstruc-
tion, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which
equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the
structure either:
a. Before the improvement or repair is started; or
b. If the structure has been damaged, and is being
restored, before the damage occurred.
For the purposes 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:
c. Any project for improvement of a structure to comply
with existing state or local health, sanitary, or
safety code specifications which are solely necessary
to assure safe living conditions; or
d. Any alteration of a structure listed on the National
Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of
Historic Places.
32. "Variance" means a grant of relief from the requirements
of this ordinance which permits construction in a manner
that would otherwise be prohibited by this ordinance.
33. "Violation" means the failure of a structure or other
development to be fully compliant with the community's
floodplain management regulations. A structure or other
development without the elevation certificate, other
certifications, or other evidence of compliance required
in this ordinance is presumed to be in violation until
such time as that documentation is provided.
15.64.060 General Provisions.
A. Lands To Which This Ordinance Applies. This ordinance shall
-apply to all--areas of -special flood hazards within the
jurisdiction of the City of Lake Elsinore.
B. Basis for Establishina the Areas of Special Flood Hazard.
The areas of special flood hazard identified by .the Federal
Emergency Management Agency or the Federal Insurance
Administration in a scientific and engineering report
entitled "Flood Insurance Study for City of Lake Elsinore,
California" dated November 19, 1987, with an accompanying
Flood Insurance Rate Map is hereby adopted by reference and
declared to be a part of this ordinance. This flood
Insurance Study is on file at City Hall, 130 South Main
Street, Lake Elsinore. This Flood Insurance Study is the
minimum area of applicability of this ordinance and may be
supplemented by studies for other areas which allow
implementation of this ordinance and which are recommended to
the City Council by the Floodplain Administrator.
C. Compliance. No structure or land shall hereafter be
constructed, located, extended, or altered without full
compliance with the terms of this ordinance and other
applicable regulations. Violations of the provisions of this
ordinance by failure to comply with any of its requirements
(including violations of conditions and safeguards
established in connection with conditions) shall constitute a
misdemeanor. Nothing herein shall prevent the City Council
from taking such lawful action as is necessary to prevent or
remedy any violation.
D. Abrogation and Greater Restrictions. This ordinance is not
intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing
easements, covenants, or deed restrictions. However, where
this ordinance and another ordinance, easement, covenant, or
deed restriction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the
more stringent restrictions shall prevail.
E. Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of
this ordinance, all provisions shall be:
1. Considered as minimum requirements;
2. Liberally construed in favor of the governing body; and,
3. Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers
granted under state statutes.
F. Warning and Disclaimer of Liabilitv. The degree of flood
protection required by this ordinance is considered
reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific
and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will
occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by
man-made or natural causes. This ordinance does not imply
that land outside the areas of special flood hazards or uses
permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or
flood damages. This ordinance shall not create liability on
the part of the City , any officer or employee thereof, or
the Federal Insurance Administration, for any flood damages
that result from reliance on this ordinance or any
administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
G. Severability. This ordinance and the various parts thereof
are hereby declared to be severable. Should any section of
this ordinance be declared by the courts to be
unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect
the validity of the ordinance as a whole, or any portion
thereof other than the section so declared to be
unconstitutional or invalid.
15.64.070 Administration -Establishment of Development Permit.
A Development Permit shall be obtained before construction or
development begins within any area of special flood hazards
established in Section 15.64.060.B. Application for a
Development Permit shall be made on forms furnished by the
Floodplain Administrator and may include;°but not be limited to:
plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location,
dimensions, and elevation of the area in question; existing or
proposed structures, fill, storage of materials, drainage
facilities; and the location of the foregoing. Specifically, the
following information is required:
A. Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the
lowest floor (including basement) of all structures; in Zone
AO elevation of highest adjacent grade and proposed elevation
of lowest floor of all structures.
B. Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any
structure will be floodproofed;
C. All appropriate certifications listed in Section 15.64.090.D.
of this ordinance; and
D. Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be
altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.
15.64.080 Desianation of the Floodplain Administrator. The Chief
Building Official is hereby appointed to administer and implement
this ordinance by granting or denying development permits in
accordance with its provisions.
15.64.090 Duties and Responsibilities of the Floodplain
Administrator. The duties and responsibilities of the floodplain
administrator shall include, but not be limited to:
A. Permit review.
1. Review all development permits to determine that the
permit requirements of this ordinance have been
satisfied;
2. All other required state and federal permits have been
obtained;
3. The site is reasonably safe from flooding.
4. The proposed development does not adversely affect the
carrying capacity of areas where base flood elevations
have been determined but a floodway has not been
designated. For purposes of this ordinance, "adversely
affects" means that the cumulative effect of the proposed
development when combined with all other existing and
anticipated development will not increase the water
surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at
any point.
B. Use of Other Base Flood Data. When base flood elevation data
has not been provided in accordance with Section
15.64.060.B., the Floodplain Administrator shall obtain,
review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and
floodway data available from a Federal, State or other
source, in order to administer Section 15.64.100. Any such
information shall be submitted to the City Council for
adoption.
C. Whenever a watercourse is to be altered or relocated:
1. Notify adjacent communities and the California Department
of Water Resources prior to such alteration or relocation
of a watercourse, and .submit evidence of such
notification to the Federal Insurance Administration;
2. Require that the flood carrying capacity of the altered
or relocated portion of said watercourse is maintained.
D. Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available
as needed:
1: The "certification required in° Section 15.64,100.0.1.
(floor elevations);
2. The certification required in Section 15.64.100.0.2.
(elevations in areas of shallow flooding);
3. The certification required in Section 15.64.100.C.3.c.
(elevation or floodproofing of nonresidential
structures);
4. The certification required in Section 15.64.100.C.4.a. or
15.64.100.C.4.b. (wet floodproofing standard);
5. The certification elevation required in Section
15.64.120.B. (subdivision standards); and
6. The certification required in Section 15.64.140.A.
(floodway encroachments).
E. Make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location
of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards (for
example, where there appears to be a conflict between a
mapped boundary and actual field conditions). The person
contesting the location of .the boundary shall be given a
reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as
provided in Section 15.64.150.
F. Take action to remedy violations of this ordinance as
specified in Section 15.64.060.0. herein.
15.64.100 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction - Standards of
Construction. In all areas of special flood hazards the
following standards are required:
A. Anchoring
1. All new construction and substantial improvements shall
be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral
movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and
hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.
2. All manufactured homes shall meet the anchoring standards
of Section 15.64.130.
S. Construction Materials and Methods.
1. All new construction and substantial improvements shall
be constructed with materials and utility equipment
resistant to flood damage.
2. All new construction and substantial improvements shall
be constructed using methods and practices that minimize
flood damage.
3. All new construction and substantial improvements shall
be constructed with electrical, heating, ventilation,
plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other service
facilities that are designed and/or located so as to
prevent water from entering or accumulating within the
components during conditions of flooding.
4. Require within Zones AH or AO, adequate drainage paths
around structures on slopes to guide flood waters around
and away from proposed structures.
C. Elevation and Floodproofing
1. New construction and substantial improvement of any
structure shall have the lowest floor, including
basement, elevated to at least one foot above the base
flood elevation. Nonresidential structures may meet the
standards in Section 15.64.100.0.3. Upon the completion
--of-the -structure --the-.elevation- of -the lowest -floor
including basement shall be certified by a registered
professional engineer or surveyor, or verified by the
City Building Inspector to be properly elevated. Such
certification or verification shall be provided to the
Floodplain Administrator.
2. New construction and substantial improvement of any
structure in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor,
including basement, elevated above the highest adjacent
grade at least one foot above the depth number specified
in feet on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth
number is specified. Nonresidential structures may meet
the standards in Section 15.64.100.0.3. Upon the
completion of the structure the elevation of the lowest
floor including basement shall be certified by a
registered professional engineer or surveyor, or verified
by a City Building Inspector to be properly elevated.
Such certification or verification shall be provided to
the Floodplain Administrator.
Nonresidential construction shall be either be elevated
in conformance with Section 15.64.100.0.1. or .2. or
together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities:
a. Be floodproofed so that below the base flood level
the structure is watertight with walls substantially
impermeable to the passage of water;
b. Have structural components capable of resisting
hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of
buoyancy; and
c. Be certified by a registered professional engineer or
architect that the standards of this subsection are
satisfied. Such certifications shall be provided to
the Floodplain Administrator.
Require, for all new construction and substantial
improvements, that fully enclosed areas below the lowest
floor that 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. Either a minimum of two openings having a total net
area of not less than one square inch for every
square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding
shall be provided. 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; or
b. Be certified to comply with a local floodproofing
standard approved by the Federal Insurance
Administration.
5. Manufactured homes shall also meet the standards in
Section 15.64.130.
15.64.110 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction - Standards for
Utilities.
A. All new and replacement water supply and sanitary sewage
systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate
infiltration of flood waters into the system and discharge
from systems into flood waters.
B. On-site waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid
impairment to them or contamination from then during
flooding.
15.64.120 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction - Standards for
Subdivisions.
A. All preliminary subdivision proposals shall identify the
flood hazard area and the elevation of the base flood.
B. All final subdivision plans will provide the elevation of
proposed structure(s) and pads. If the site is filled above
the base flood, the final pad elevation shall be certified by
a registered professional engineer or surveyor and provided
to the Floodplain Administrator.
C. All subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need
to minimize flood damage.
D. All subdivision proposals shall have public utilities and
facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems
located and constructed to minimize flood damage.
E. All subdivisions shall provide adequate drainage to reduce
exposure to flood hazards.
15.64.130 Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction - Standards for
Manufactured Homes. All new and replacement manufactured homes
and additions to manufactured homes shall:
A. Be elevated so that the lowest floor is at least one foot
above the base flood elevation; and
B. Be securely anchored to a permanent foundation system to
resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement.
15.64.140 Floodways. .Located within area of special flood hazard
established in Section 15.64.060.B. are areas designated as
floodways. Since the floodway is an extremely hazardous area due
to the velocity of flood waters which carry debris, potential
projectiles, and erosion potential, the following provisions
apply:
A. Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction,
substantial improvements, and other development unless
certification by a registered professional engineer or
architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall
not result in any increase in flood levels during the
occurrence of the base flood discharge.
B. If Section 15.64.140.A. is satisfied, all new construction
and substantial improvements shall comply with all other
applicable flood hazard reduction provisions of Section
15.64.100. through 15:64.140.
15.64.150 Variance Procedure - Appeal Board.
A. The City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore shall hear and
decide appeals and requests for variances from the
requirements of this ordinance.
B. The City Council shall hear and decide appeals when it is
alleged there is an error in any requirement, decision, or
determination made by the Floodplain Administrator in the
enforcement or administration of this ordinance.
C. In passing upon such applications, the City Council shall
consider all technical evaluations, all relevant factors,
standards specified in other sections of this ordinance, and:
1. The danger that materials may be swept onto other lands
to the injury of others;
2. The danger of life and property due to flooding or
erosion damage;
3. The susceptibility of the proposed facility and its
contents to flood damage and the-effect of such .damage. on
the individual owner;
4. The importance of the services provided by the proposed
facility to the community;
5. The necessity to the facility of a waterfront location,
where applicable;
6. The availability of alternative locations for the
proposed use which are not subject to flooding or erosion
damage;
7. The compatibility of the proposed use with existing and
anticipated development;
8. The relationship of the proposed use to the comprehensive
plan and floodplain management program for that area;
9. The safety of access to the property in time of flood for
ordinary and emergency vehicles;
10. The expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise,
and sediment transport of the flood waters expected at
the site; and,
11. The costs of providing governmental services during and
after flood 'conditions, including maintenance and repair
of public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas,
electrical, and water system, and streets and bridges.
D. Generally, variances may be issued for new construction and
substantial improvements to be erected on a lot of one-half
acre or less in size contiguous to and surrounded by lots
with existing structures constructed below the base flood
level, providing items 15.64.150.0.1. through 15.64.150.0.11.
have been fully considered. As the lot size increases beyond
one-half acre, the technical justification required for
issuing the variance increases.
E. Upon consideration of the factors of Section 15.64.150.0. and
the purposes of this ordinance, the City Council may attach
such conditions to the granting of variances as it deems
necessary to further the purposes of this ordinance.
F. The Floodplain Administrator shall maintain the records of
all appeal actions and report any variances to the Federal
Insurance Administration upon request.
15.64.160 Conditions for Variances.
A. Variances may be issued for the reconstruction,
rehabilitation or restoration of structures listed in the
National Register of Historic Places or the State Inventory
of Historic Places, without regard to the procedures set
forth in the remainder of this section.
B. Variances shall not be issued within any designated floodway
if any increase in flood levels during the base flood
discharge would result.
C. Variances shall only be issued upon a determination that the
variance is the minimum
hazard, to afford relief.
D. Variances shall only b.
Council that:
1. A showing of good and
2. A determination that
result in exceptional
necessary, considering the flood
a issued upon findings by the City
sufficient cause;
failure to grant the variance would
hardship to the applicant; and
A determination that-the granting of a variance will not
result in increased flood heights, additional threats to
public safety, extraordinary public expense, create
nuisances, cause fraud on or victimization of, the
public, or conflict with existing local laws or
ordinances.
E. Variances may be issued for new construction and substantial
improvements and for other development necessary for the
conduct of a functionally dependent use provided that the
provisions of Sections 15.64.160.A. through 15.64.160. D. are
satisfied and that the structure or other development is
protected by methods that minimize flood damages during the
base flood and create no additional threats to public safety.
F. Any applicant to whom a variance is granted shall be given
written notice that the structure will be permitted to be
built with a lowest floor elevation below the regulatory
flood elevation and that the cost of flood insurance will be
commensurate with the increased risk resulting from the
reduced lowest floor elevation. A copy of the notice shall
be recorded by the Floodplain Board in the office of the
Riverside County Recorder and shall be recorded in a manner
so that it appears in the chain of title of the affected
parcel of land.