§ 20-79. Standards for areas of shallow flooding (Zones AO/AH and other areas not designated as special flood hazard area).

(a)

Located within the areas of special flood hazard established in section 20-27 are areas designated as shallow flooding. These areas have special flood hazards associated with flood depths of one to three feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable, and where velocity flow may be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow; therefore, the following provisions apply:

(1)

All new construction and substantial improvements of residential structures have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated a minimum of 2.0 feet above the base flood elevation caused by discharges resulting from a fully developed watershed or the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified in feet on the community's FIRM (at least 2.0 feet if no depth number is specified), whichever is greater.

(2)

All new construction and substantial improvements of nonresidential structures shall:

a.

Have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated a minimum of 2.0 feet above the base flood elevation caused by discharges resulting from a fully developed watershed or the highest adjacent grade at least 2.0 feet higher than the depth number specified in feet on the community's FIRM (at least 2.0 feet if no depth number is specified), whichever is greater; or

b.

Together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, be designed so that below the base specified flood depth in Zone AO, or below the base flood elevation in Zone AH, level the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water and with structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads of effects of buoyancy.

(3)

A registered professional engineer or architect shall submit a certification to the floodplain administrator that the standards of this section, as proposed in section 20-51, are satisfied.

(4)

Require within zone AH or AO adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes, to guide flood waters around and away from proposed structures.

(b)

Located within areas not designated as special flood hazard area on the community's FIRM are areas that may be susceptible to potential flood damage resulting from shallow or concentrated flooding. For these areas, adequate drainage shall be provided to prevent flood damages to all new and substantially improved structures.

(Ord. No. 08-44, § 1(11-54), 9-2-2008)