Definitions

For the purpose of this article, and this ordinance generally, the following terms shall have these meanings:

• • A. Special flood hazard areas: Those areas of special flood hazard identified as "A" zones (Al-30) and "V" and V1-30 zones by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through a report entitled "The Flood Insurance Study for the Town of Warren, R.I." dated December 1982 with accompanying Flood Insurance Rates Maps (FIRM), effective date June 1, 1983, and any subsequent revisions thereto, and in addition, any regulatory floodway lines or maps designated through the process described in section 32-100 (B2) herein, are adopted by reference and declared to be part of this ordinance without the need to revise this ordinance.

  • B. Base flood elevation: The one hundred-year flood elevation or level as designated on a FIRM or a FHBM.

  • C. Flood fringe land: The continuous land adjacent to and higher than special flood hazard areas, the elevation of which is no greater than one (1) foot above the adjacent base flood elevation, and for the purposes of the flood provisions within this zoning ordinance, shall be subject only to provisions dealing with storage of bulk materials and anchoring of customary yard features in flood fringe lands.

  • D. Development: Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavating or drilling operations.

  • E. Regulatory floodway: 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 of that flood more than one (1) foot at any point.

  • F. Substantial improvements: As defined in Rhode Island State Building Code Rules and Regulations for Construction in Flood Hazard Areas, dated July 1, 1977, and any amendments thereto.

  • G. Nonconforming structure: For the purpose of this article, a nonconforming structure shall mean:

    • 1. A residential structure with the lowest habitable floor (including basement) below the one hundred-year base flood elevation; or

    • 2. A nonresidential structure which has not been flood proofed to that level.

  • H. Recreational vehicle: A vehicle, which is:

    • 1. Built on a single chassis;

    • 2. Four hundred (400) square feet when measured at the largest horizontal projections;

    • 3. Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light duty truck; and

    • 4. Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.

• I. Freeboard: A factor of safety expressed in feet above the base flood elevation of a flood hazard area for purposes of floodplain management. Freeboard compensates for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights such as wave action, bridge openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed.

• J. Building Height: For the purposes of this article, building height for any property or structure located in a special flood hazard area shall be measured from base flood elevation, and where freeboard, as defined in this section, is being utilized or proposed, such freeboard area, not to exceed five (5) feet, shall be excluded from the building height calculation.

(Amd. of 6-11-19)