Development standards
The following standards shall apply to any construction or other development located wholly or partly within an area of special flood hazard as defined in section 28-302. Please also refer to the current Rhode Island State Building Code, one and two family dwelling code, plumbing code, mechanical code, and electrical for state standards. The coastal resource management council (CRMC) and/or department of environmental management (RIDEM) may also require special permits for development on the coastal feature.
(1) In a riverine situation, the building official shall notify the following of any alteration or relocation of a watercourse:
a. Adjacent communities.
b. NFIP State Coordinator, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, 645 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920.
c. Risk Analysis Branch, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 1, 99 High Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.
The carrying capacity of the altered or relocated watercourse shall be maintained.
(2) In zones A1-30 and AE, along watercourses that have a regulatory floodway designated on the Bristol County FIRM encroachments are prohibited in the regulatory floodway which would result in any increase in the base flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
(3) The filling or excavation of land may be permitted only under the following conditions:
a. Said action will not encroach upon a watercourse.
b. Said action will not result in an increase in the potential flood level. Where it is determined that said action may result in an increase in the potential flood level, the building official shall require appropriate measures to offset the potential increase. Adequate drainage shall be provided so as to reduce the exposure of the site or any other land to flood hazard.
(4) No outdoor storage of materials or equipment which is likely to cause damage to property, create a potential obstruction to floodwaters, create a potential fire hazard or pollute the waters during flood periods shall be permitted in any special flood hazard area. Such materials or equipment shall include but not necessarily be limited to: lumber and other buoyant materials, water-soluble materials, volatile or flammable materials, acids or poisons.
(5) Provision shall be made for anchoring facilities, equipment or yard features which are capable of movement or flotation in floodwaters. Such items shall include but shall not necessarily be limited to: fences, sheds, animal shelters, tanks, storage boxes, planters, vehicles, boats and other items normally positioned or stored on a site outside of a structure.
(6) The use of flood-resistant materials for structures within an area of special flood hazard as defined in section 28-302.
(7) Construction methods and practices should be used that minimize flood damage.
(8) Electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, air conditioning equipment, and other service facilities designed and/or located to prevent water entry to accumulation.
(9) Onsite waste disposal systems are to be designed to avoid impairment or contamination of the floodway.
(10) New and replacement water supply and sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration.
(11) Base flood elevation data is required for subdivision proposals, land development or development plan review proposals or other development greater than five lots or one acre.
(12) Floodway data. In zones A, A1-30, and AE, along watercourse that have not had a regulatory floodway designated, the best available federal, state, local or other floodway data shall be used to prohibit encroachments in floodways which would result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
(13) Base flood elevations in A zones. In the absence of FEMA BFE data and floodway data, the best available federal, state, local or other BFE or floodway data shall be used as the basis for elevating residential and non-residential structures to or above the base flood level and for floodproofing non-residential structures to or above the base flood level.
(14) In addition to the foregoing, in a V-zone, the following requirements shall apply to any proposed development:
a. The alteration of sand dunes, where existing, is prohibited.
b. All new construction shall be located landward of the reach of mean high tide.
(15) No person shall change from business/commercial to residential use of any structure or property located in the floodway of a special flood hazard area so as to result in a use or expansion that could increase the risk to the occupants.
(Ord. No. 2014-07, 6-25-14)