1512ORDINANCE NO. t 5~•~
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS B AND D OF ARTICLE 5 OF
ORDINANCE 1282 REGARDING FLOOD CONTROL REGULATIONS.
WHEREAS, existing flood control regulations provide that new
construction and substantial improvements of any residential
structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement),
elevated to or above the base flood elevation; and
WHEREAS, the existing regulations should be modified to
increase the elevation of the lowest floor;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. Article 5, Section B of Ordinance 1282, codified
as Section 12.52.180 of the West Memphis Municipal Code, is
hereby amended to read as follows:
Specific Standards.
In all areas of special flood hazards where base flood
elevation data has been provided as set forth in (1) Article
3, Section B, (II} Article 4, Section B(8}, or (III) Article
5, Section C(4), the following provisions are required;
(1} Residential Construction. New construction and
substantial improvement of any residential structure shall
have the lowest floor (including basement), elevated to at
least two (2) feet above the base flood elevation as defined
in Section 1.2.52.210. A registered professional engineer,
architect, or land surveyor shall submit a certification to
the floodplain administrator that the standard of this
subsection as proposed in Article 4, Section C(1)a., is
satisfied.
(2) Nonresidential Construction. New construction and
substantial improvements of any commercial, industrial or
other nonresidential structure shall either have the lowest
floor (including basement) elevated to or above the base
flood level or, together with attendant utility and sanitary
facilities, be designed so that below the base flood 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 and effects of buoyancy. A registered
professional engineer or architect shall develop and/or
review structural design, specifications, and plans for the
construction, a.nd shall certify that the design and methods
of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of
practice as outlined in this subsection. A record of such
certification which includes the specific elevation (in
relation. to mean sea level) to which such structures are
floodproofed shall be maintained by the floodplain
administrator.
(3) Enclosures. New construction and substantial
improvements, with 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. 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.
b. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one
foot above grade.
c. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves or
other coverings or devices provided that they permit the
automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
(4) Manufactured Homes.
a. Require that all manufactured homes to be placed with
zone A, shall be installed using methods and practices which
minimize flood damage. For the plxrpose of this requirement,
manufactured homes must be elevated and anchored to resist
flotation, collapse or lateral movement. Methods of
anchoring may include, but are not limited to, use of the
over-the-top or frame ties to ground anchors. This
requirement is in addition to applicable state and local
anchoring requirements for resisting wind forces.
b. All manufactured homes shall be in compliance with
Article 5, Section B (1).
c. Require that all manufactured homes to be placed or
substantia.l.ly improved within Zones Al-30, AH and AE on the
commtanity's FIRM be elevated on a permanent foundation such
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that the lowest floor of the manufactured home is at least
two (2) feet above the base flood elevation as defined in
Section 12.52.210; and be securely anchored to an adequately
anchored foundation system in accordance with the provision
of this subsection.
SECTION 2. Article 5, Section D of Ordinance 1282, codified
as Section 12.52.200 of the West Memphis Municipal Code, is
hereby amended to read as follows:
Standards of shallow flooding (AD/AH Zones).
Located within the areas of special flood hazard established
in Article 3, Section B, are areas designated as shallow
flooding. These areas have special flood hazards associated
with base flood depths of 1 to 3 feet where a clearly defined
channel does not exist and 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 above the highest adjacent grade at least
two (.2) feet higher than the depth number specified in feet
on the community's FIRM (at least two feet if no depth number
is specified), except as noted in Section 12.52.210.
2. All new construction and substantial improvements of
nonresidential structures:
(i) Have the lowest; floor (including basement)
elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as
~ the depth number specified in feet on the community's FIRM
(at least two feet if no depth number is specified), or;
(ii) Together with attendant utility and sanitary
facilities be designed so that below the base flood 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
submit a certification to the
the standards of this Section,
Section C(1)a., are satisfied.
engineer or architect shall
Floodplain Administrator that
as proposed in Article 4,
4. Require within Zones AH or AO adequate drainage paths
around structures on slopes, to guide flood waters around and
away from proposed structures.
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SECTION 3. Article 5, Section D of Ordinance 1282, is hereby
amended to add the following to be codified as Section 12.52.210
of the West Memphis Municipal Code:
For the purpose of Section 12.52.180 A and Section 12.52.200
A, the following definition of the base flood elevation shall
apply:
~, A. For areas annexed into the City since the last FIRM update
and for which County FIRMS are not specific enough, the
~„ developer must determine the base flood elevation to the
satisfaction of the City Engineer. In general, base flood
elevations acceptable t. oHUD will also be applicable to the
City.
B. For areas within the 10 Mile Bayou Drainage Basin that
will be affected by the City's Flood Protection Pumping
Station, until .new FIRMS are received, the City Engineer
shall determine the new base flood elevations based on the
information developed. for the Pumping Station. This
determination shall be used only in determining the base
elevation for the two foot elevated requirement. For purposes
of HUD and insurance requirements, the base flood elevations
shown on the current FIRM shall be in effect.
C. For areas not covered in A or B above, the latest FIRMS
shall be used in determining the two foot elevated
requirements.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 11a±F~ day of ~~~~, 199Z,.
SPONSORED BY:
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