Town of Lamoine

Certain areas of the Town of Lamoine, Maine are subject to periodic flooding, causing serious damages to properties within these areas. Relief is available in the form of flood insurance as authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.

Therefore, the Town of Lamoine, Maine has chosen to become a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program, and agrees to comply with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (P.L. 90-488, as amended) as delineated in this Floodplain Management Ordinance.

It is the intent of the Town of Lamoine, Maine to require the recognition and evaluation of flood hazards in all official actions relating to land use in the floodplain areas having special flood hazards.

The Town of Lamoine has the legal authority to adopt land use and control measures to reduce future flood losses pursuant to Title 30-A MRSA, Sections 3001-3007, 4352 and 4401-4407.

The National Flood Insurance Program, established in the aforesaid Act, provides that areas of the Town of Lamoine having a special flood hazard be identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and that floodplain management measures be applied in such flood hazard areas. This Ordinance establishes a Flood Hazard Development Permit system and review procedure for development activities in the designated flood hazard areas of the Town of Lamoine, Maine.

The areas of special flood hazard, Zones AE and VE, are identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a report entitled "Flood Insurance Study - Town of Lamoine, Maine, Hancock County," dated May 2, 1991 with accompanying "Flood Insurance Rate Map" dated May 2, which are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Ordinance.

ARTICLE II - PERMIT REQUIRED

Before any construction or other development (as defined in Article XIV), including the placement of manufactured homes, begins within any areas of special flood hazard established in Article I, a Flood Hazard Development Permit shall be obtained from the Planning Board except as provided in Article VII. This permit shall be in addition to any other permits which may be required pursuant to the codes and ordinances of the Town of Lamoine, Maine.

ARTICLE III - APPLICATION FOR PERMIT

The application for a Flood Hazard Development Permit shall be submitted to the Planning Board and shall include:

A. The name, address and phone number of the applicant, owner, and contractor;

B. An address and a map indicating the location of the construction site;

C. A site plan showing location of existing and/or proposed development, including but not limited to structures, sewage disposal facilities, water supply facilities, areas to be cut and filled, and lot dimensions;

D. A statement of the intended use of the structure and/or development;

E. A statement of the cost of the development including all materials and labor;

F. A statement as to the type of sewage system proposed;

G. Specification of dimensions of the proposed structure and/or development; [Items H-K.3. apply only to new construction and substantial improvements.]

H. The elevation in relation to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of the:

1. base flood at the proposed site of all new or substantially improved structures, which is determined in Zones AE and VE from data contained in the "Flood Insurance Study - Town of Lamoine, Maine," as described in Article I;

2. highest and lowest grades at the site adjacent to the walls of the proposed building;

3. lowest floor, including basement; and whether or not such structures contain a basement; and,

4. level, in the case of non-residential structures only, to which the structure will be floodproofed;

I. A description of an elevation reference point established on the site of all developments for which elevation standards apply as required in Article VI;

J. A written certification by a Professional Land Surveyor, registered professional engineer or architect, that the base flood elevation and grade elevations shown on the application are accurate;

K. The following certifications as required in Article VI by a registered professional engineer or architect:

1. a Floodproofing Certificate (FEMA Form 81-65, 08/99, as amended), to verify that the floodproofing methods for any non-residential structures will meet the floodproofing criteria of Article III.H.4.; Article VI.G.; and other applicable standards in Article VI;

2. a V-Zone Certificate to verify that the construction in coastal high hazard areas, Zone VE, will meet the criteria of Article VI.P.; and other applicable standards in Article VI;

3. a Hydraulic Openings Certificate to verify that engineered hydraulic openings in foundation walls will meet the standards of Article VI.L.2.a.;

4. a certified statement that bridges will meet the standards of Article VI.M.;

5. a certified statement that containment walls will meet the standards of Article VI.N.;

L. A description of the extent to which any water course will be altered or relocated as a result of the proposed development; and,

M. A statement of construction plans describing in detail how each applicable development standard in Article VI will be met.

ARTICLE IV - APPLICATION FEE AND EXPERT'S FEE

A non-refundable application fee of $0 shall be paid to the Town Clerk and a copy of a receipt for the same shall accompany the application.

An additional fee may be charged if the Planning Board and/or Board of Appeals needs the assistance of a professional engineer or other expert. The expert's fee shall be paid in full by the applicant within 10 days after the town submits a bill to the applicant. Failure to pay the bill shall constitute a violation of the ordinance and be grounds for the issuance of a stop work order. An expert shall not be hired by the municipality at the expense of an applicant until the applicant has either consented to such hiring in writing or been given an opportunity to be heard on the subject. An applicant who is dissatisfied with a decision to hire expert assistance may appeal that decision to the Board of Appeals.

ARTICLE V - REVIEW STANDARDS FOR FLOOD HAZARD DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATIONS

The Planning Board shall:

A. Review all applications for the Flood Hazard Development Permit to assure that proposed developments are reasonably safe from flooding and to determine that all pertinent requirements of Article VI (Development Standards) have been, or will be met;

B. Utilize, in the review of all Flood Hazard Development Permit applications the base flood data contained in the "Flood Insurance Study - Town of Lamoine, Maine," as described in Article I.;

C. Make interpretations of the location of boundaries of special flood hazard areas shown on the maps described in Article I of this Ordinance;

D. In the review of Flood Hazard Development Permit applications, determine that all necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state, and local government agencies from which prior approval is required by federal or state law, including but not limited to Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1344;

E. Notify adjacent municipalities, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Maine Floodplain Management Program in the State Planning Office prior to any alteration or relocation of a water course and submit copies of such notifications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

F. If the application satisfies the requirements of this Ordinance, approve the issuance of one of the following Flood Hazard Development Permits, based on the type of development:

1. A two part Flood Hazard Development Permit for elevated structures. Part I shall authorize the applicant to build a structure to and including the first horizontal floor only above the base flood level. At that time the applicant shall provide the Code Enforcement Officer with an Elevation Certificate completed by a Professional Land Surveyor, registered professional engineer or architect based on the Part I permit construction, “as built”, for verifying compliance with the elevation requirements of Article VI, paragraphs F, G, H, or P. Following review of the Elevation Certificate data, which shall take place within 72 hours of receipt of the application, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue Part II of the Flood Hazard Development Permit. Part II shall authorize the applicant to complete the construction project; or,

2. A Flood Hazard Development Permit for Floodproofing of Non-Residential Structures that are new construction or substantially improved non-residential structures that are not being elevated but that meet the floodproofing standards of Article VI.G.1.a.,b., and c. The application for this permit shall include a Floodproofing Certificate signed by a registered professional engineer or architect; or,

3. A Flood Hazard Development Permit for Minor Development for all development that is not new construction or a substantial improvement, such as repairs, maintenance, renovations, or additions, whose value is less than 50% of the market value of the structure. Minor development also includes, but is not limited to: accessory structures as provided for in Article VI.J., mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, storage of equipment or materials, deposition or extraction of materials, public or private sewage disposal systems or water supply facilities that do not involve structures; and non-structural projects such as bridges, dams, towers, fencing, pipelines, wharves, and piers.

For development that requires review and approval as a Conditional Use, as provided for in this Ordinance, the Flood Hazard Development Permit Application shall be acted upon by the Planning Board as required in Article VII.

G. Maintain, as a permanent record, copies of all Flood Hazard Development Permit Applications, corresponding Permits issued, and data relevant thereto, including reports of the Board of Appeals on variances granted under the provisions of Article X of this Ordinance, and copies of Elevation Certificates, Floodproofing Certificates, Certificates of Compliance and certifications of design standards required under the provisions of Articles III, VI, and VIII of this Ordinance.

ARTICLE VI - DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

All developments in areas of special flood hazard shall meet the following applicable standards:

A. All Development - All development shall:

1. be designed or modified and adequately anchored to prevent flotation (excluding piers and docks), collapse or lateral movement of the development resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy;

2. use construction materials that are resistant to flood damage;

3. use construction methods and practices that will minimize flood damage; and,

4. use 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 flooding conditions.

B. Water Supply - All new and replacement water supply systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems.

C. Sanitary Sewage Systems - All new and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed and located to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the system and discharges from the system into flood waters.

D. On Site Waste Disposal Systems - On site waste disposal systems shall be located and constructed to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during floods.

E. Watercourse Carrying Capacity - All development associated with altered or relocated portions of a watercourse shall be constructed and maintained in such a manner that no reduction occurs in the flood carrying capacity of the watercourse.

F. Residential - New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure located within:

1. Zone AE shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least one foot above the base flood elevation.

2. Zone VE shall meet the requirements of Article VI.P.

G. Non Residential - New construction or substantial improvement of any non-residential structure located within:

1. Zone AE shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to at least one foot above the base flood elevation, or together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities shall:

a. be floodproofed to at least one foot above the base flood elevation so that below that elevation 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 the effects of buoyancy; and,

c. be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of this section. Such certification shall be provided with the application for a Flood Hazard Development Permit, as required by Article III.K. and shall include a record of the elevation above mean sea level to which the structure is floodproofed.

2. Zone VE shall meet the requirements of Article VI.P.

H. Manufactured Homes - New or substantially improved manufactured homes located within:

1. Zone AE shall:

a. be elevated such that the lowest floor (including basement) of the manufactured home is at least one foot above the base flood elevation;

b. be on a permanent foundation, which may be poured masonry slab or foundation walls, with hydraulic openings, or may be reinforced piers or block supports, any of which support the manufactured home so that no weight is supported by its wheels and axles; and,

c. be securely anchored to an adequately anchored foundation system to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement. Methods of anchoring may include, but are not limited to:

(1) over-the-top ties anchored to the ground at the four corners of the manufactured home, plus two additional ties per side at intermediate points (manufactured homes less than 50 feet long require one additional tie per side); or by,

(2) frame ties at each corner of the home, plus five additional ties along each side at intermediate points (manufactured homes less than 50 feet long require four additional ties per side).