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HomeMy Public PortalAboutOrd. 1095ORDINANCE N0. ~~g5 AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUPdCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD ADDING CHAPTER 12-1/2 TO THE CODE OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD RELATING TO FLOOD DAPSAGE PREVENTION THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD HEREBY DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Chapter 12-1/2 hereby is added to the Code of the City of Lynwood to read as follows: CHAPTER 12-1/2 FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION Sec. 12-1/2-1. Statutory Authorization The Constitution of the State of California has in article XI, section, 11 delegated the responsibility to local governmental units to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry. This chapter is enacted in the exercise of that responsibility. Sec. 12-1/2-2. Findings of Fact (1) The flood hazard areas of Lynwood are subject to periodic inundation which may result in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety and general welfare. (2) These flood losses may be caused in part by the cumulative effect of obstructions in areas of special flood hazards which increase flood heights and velocities, and when inadequately anchored, damage uses in other areas. Uses that are inadequately floodproofed, elevated or otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to the flood loss. Sec. 12-1/2-3. Statement of Purpose It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed: (a) To protect human life and health; (b) To minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects; (c) To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public; (d) To minimize prolonged business interruptions; (e) To minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard; (f) To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the second use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight areas; (g) To insure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard; and, (h) To insure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assurtie responsibility for their actions. Sec. 12-1/2-4. Methods of Reducing Flood Losses In order to accomplish its purposes, this chapter includes methods and provisions for: (1) Restricting or prohibiting uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging in- creases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities; (2) Requiring that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial con- struction; (3) Controlling the alteration of natural flood plains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which help accomodate or channel flood waters; (4) Controlling filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage; and, (5) Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally divert flood waters or cahich may increase flood hazards in other areas. Sec. 12-1/2-5. Definitions Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable application. (a) "Appal" means a request for a review of the Build- ing Official's interpretation of any provisions of this ordinance or a request for a variance. (b). "Area of shallow flooding" means a designated AO or VO Zone on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The base flood depths range from one to three feet; a clearly defined channel does not exist; the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate; and, velocity flow may be evident. -2- (c) "Area of special flood hazard" means the land in the flood plain within a community subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. This area is designated as Zone A, AO, AH, Al-30, V0, and V1-30 on the FIRM. (d) "Base flood" means the flood having a one percent chance of being equalled or exceeded in any given year. (e) "Development" means any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations located within the area of special flood hazard. (f) "Existing mobile home park or mobile home subdivision" means a parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more mobile home lots for rent or sale for which the construction of facilities for servic- ing the lot on which the mobile home is to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities, either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads, and the construction of streets) is completed before the effective date of this ordinance. (g) "Expansion to an existing mobile home park or mobile home subdivision" means-the preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the mobile homes are to be affixed (including the installation of utilities, either final site grading or pouring of concrete pads, or the con- struction of streets). (h) "Flood" or "flooding" means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from: (1) The overflow of inland or tidal waters and/or (2) The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source. (i) "Flood Boundary Floodway Map" means the official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the areas of flood hazard and the floodway. (j) "Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)" means the official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community. (k) "Flood Insurance Study" means the official report provided by the Federal Insurance Administration that includes flood profiles, the FIRM, the Flood Boundary Floodway Map, and the water surface eleva- tion of the base flood. -3- (1) "Floodway" means 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 more than one (1) foot. The floodway is delineated on the Flood Boundary Floodway Map. (m) "Habitable floor" means any floor usable for living purposes, which includes working, sleeping, eating, cooking or recreation, or a combination thereof. A floor used only for storage purposes is not a "habit- able floor". (n) "Mobile home" means a structure that is transport- able in one or more sections, built on a permanent chassis, and designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. It does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers. (o) "New construction" means structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of this chapter. (p) "Pdew mobile home park or mobile home subdivision" means a parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more mobile home lots for rent or sale for which the construction of facilities or servicing the lot (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities, either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads, and the construction of streets) is completed on or after the effective date of this chapter. (q) "Start of construction" means the first placement of permanent construction of a structure (other than a mobile home) on a site, such as the pouring of slabs or footings or any work beyond the stage of excavation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grad- ing, and filling, nor does it include the installa- tion of streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the prop- erty of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not as part of the main structure. For a structure (other than a mobile home) without a basement or poured footings, the "start of construction" includes the first permanent framing or assembly of the structure or any part thereof on its piling or foundation. For mobile homes not within a mobile home park or mobile home subdivision, "start of construction" means the affixing of a mobile home to its permanent site. For mobile homes within mobile home parks or mobile home subdivisions, "start of construction" is the date on which the construction of facilities for ser- vicing the site on which the mobile home is to be affixed (including), at a minimum, the construc- tion of streets, either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads, and installation of utilities) is completed. -4- (r) "Structure" means a walled and roofed building or mobile home that is principally above ground. (s) "Substantial improvement" means any repair, recon- struction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the structure either: (1) before the improvement or repair is started, or (2) if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition "sub- stantial improvement" is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceil- ing, floor, or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not, however, include either: (1) any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions, or (2) any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places. (t) "Variance" means a grant of relief from the require- ments of this chapter which permits construction in a manner that would otherwide be prohibited by this chapter. Sec. 12-1/2-6. Lands to Which this Chapter Ap lies This chapter shall apply to all areas of special flood hazards within the jurisdiction of the City of Lynwood. Sec. 12-1/2-7. Basis for Establishin the Areas of Special Flood Hazard The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Insurance Administration in a scientific and engineering report entitled "The Flood Insurance Study for the City of Lynwood" dated October, 1979, with an accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Map is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter. The Flood Insurance Study is on file at the office of the City Engineer. Sec. 12-1/2-8. Compliance No structure or land shall hereafter be constructed, located, extended, converted, or altered without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations. -5- Sec. 12-1/2-9. Abrogation and Greater Restrictions This chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, or impair any existing esasments, covenants, or deed restrictions. However, where this chapter and another chapter, ordinance, easement, covenant, or deed re- striction conflict or overlap, whichever imposes the more stringent restrictions shall prevail. Sec. 12-1/2-10. Interpretation In the interpretation and application of this chapter, all provisions shall be: (a) Considered as minimum requirements; (b) Liberally construed in favor of the governing body; and, (c) Deemed neither to limit nor repeal any other powers granted under state statutes. Sec. 12-1/2-11. Warning and Disclaimer of Liability The degree of flood protection required by this chapter is considered reasonable for regulatory purposes and is based on scientific and engineering considerations. Larger floods can and will occur on rare occasions. Flood heights may be increased by man-made or natural causes. This chapter does not imply that land outside the areas of special flood hazards or uses permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damages. This chapter shall not create liability on the part of the City of Lynwood, any officer or employee thereof, or the Federal Insurance Administration, for any flood damages that result reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made hereunder. Sec. 12-1/2-12. Establishment of Development Permit A Development Permit shall be obtained before construc- tion or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 12-1/2-7. Appli- cation for a Development Permit shall be made on forms furnished by the Building Official and may include, but not be limited to; plans in duplicate drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions, and elevation of the area in question; existing or proposed struc- tures, fill, storage of materials, drainage facilities; and the location of the foregoing. Specifically, the following information is required: (1) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest habitable floor (including basement) of all structures; in Zone AO elevation of exist- ing grade and proposed elevation of lowest habitable floor of all structures; (2) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any structure will be floodproofed; -6- (3) Certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing methods for any nonresidential structure meet the floodproofing criteria in Section 12-1/2-15(c)(3); and, (4) Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development. Sec. 12-1/2-13. Designation of the Buildin Official The Building Official is hereby appointed to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying Develop- ment Permit applications in accordance with its provisions. Sec. 12-1/2-14. Duties and Responsibilities of the Buildin Official Duties of the Building Official shall include, but not limited to: (a) Permit Review. (1) Review all Development Permits to determine that the requirements of this chapter have been satis- fied. (2) Review all Development Permits to determine if the proposed development adversely affects the flood carrying capacity of the area of special flood hazard. For purposes of this chapter, "adversely affects" means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when com- bined with all other existing and anticipated development will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point. (b) Use of Other Base Flood Data. When base flood elevation data has not been pro- vided in accordance with Section 12-1/2-7 the Building Officials shall obtain, review, and rea- sonably utilize any base flood elevation data avail- able from a federal, state or other source, in order to adminsiter Section 11-1/2-15. (c) Information to be Obtained and Maintained. Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed for Flood Insurance Policies: (1) the certified elevation required in Section (2) the certification required in Section (3) the floodproofing certification required in Section 12-1/2-15(c)(3); and, (4) the certified elevation required in Section 12-1/2-18. -7- (d) Alteration of Watercourses. (1) Notify adjacent communities and the Los Angeles Flood Control District prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administration. (2) Require that the flood carrying capacity of the altered or relocated portion of said water- course is maintained. (e) Interpretation of FIRM Boundaries. Make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazards (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions). The person contesting the loca- tion of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as pro- vided in Section 12-1/2-20. Sec 12-1/2-15. Standards of Construction In all areas of special flood hazards the following standards are required: (a) Anchoring. (1) All new construction and substantial improve- ments shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure. (2) All mobile homes shall meet said anchoring standards. (b) Construction Materials and Methods. (1) All new construction and substantial improve- ments shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage. (2) All new construction and substantial improve- ments shall be constructed using methods and practices that minimize flood damage. (c) Elevation and Floodproofing. (1) New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest habitable floor, including basement, elevated to or above the base flood elevation. Nonresidential struc- tures may meet the standards in Section 12-1/2- 15(c)(3). Opon completion of the structure the elevation of the lowest habitable floor including basement shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor and provided to the official set forth in Section 12-1/2-14(c)(3). -8- (2) New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AO shall have the low- est floor, including basement, elevated to or above the depth number specified on the FIRM. If there is no depth number on the FIRM, the lowest floor, including basement, shall be elevated one foot above the crown of the nearest street. Ponresidential structures may meet the standards in Section 12-1/2-15(c)(3). Upon the completion of the structure a registered professional engineer shall certify that the elevation of the structure meets this standard and provided to the official set forth in Section 12-1/2-14(c)(3). (3) Nonresidential construction shall either be elevated in conformance with Section 12-1/2-15(c)(1) or (2) or together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities: (a) be floodproo£ed so that below the base flood level 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 effects of buoyancy; and (c) be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certification shall be provided to the official as set forth in Section 12-1/2- 14(c)(3). (4) Mobile homes shall meet the above standards and also standards in Section 12-1/2-19. Sec. 12-1/2-16. Standards for Storage of Materials and Equipment The storage or processing of materials that are in time of flooding buoyant, flammable, explosive, or could be injurious to human, animal or plant life is prohibited. Storage of other material or equipment may be allowed if not subject to major damage by floods and firmly anchored to prevent flotation or if readily removable from the area within the time available after flood warning. Sec. 12-1/2-17. Standards for Utilities All new and replacement water supply and sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infil- tration of flood waters into the system and discharge from systems into flood waters. On-site waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid impairment to them or contamina- tion from them during flooding. Sec. 12-1/2-18. Standards for Subdivisions All preliminary subdivision proposals shall identify the flood hazard area and the elevation of the base flood. All -9- final subdivision plans will provide the elevation of proposed structure(s) and pads. If the site is filled above the base flood, the final pad elevation shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor and provided to the official as set forth in Section 12-1/2-14(c)(3). All subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage. All subdivision proposals shall have public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems located and constructed to minimize flood damage. All subdivision proposals shall have adequate drainage provided to reduce exposure to flood damage. Sec. 12-1/2-19. Standards for Mobile Homes and Mobile Home (a) Anchoring. All mobile homes and additions to mobile homes shall be anchored to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement by one of the following methods: (1) by providing an anchoring system designed to withstand horizontal forces of 25 pounds per square foot and up lift forces of 15 pounds per square foot; (2) by providing over-the-top and frame ties to ground anchors. Specifically: (a) over-the-top ties be provided at each of the four corners of the mobile home, with two. additional ties per side at intermediate locations, with mobile homes less than 50 £eet long require only one additional tie per side; (b) frame ties be provided at each corner of the home with five additional ties per side at intermediate points, with mobile homes less than 50 feet long require only four additional ties per side; and, (c) all components of the anchoring system be capable of carrying a force of 4,800 pounds. (b) Mobile Home Parks and Mobile Home Subdivisions. The following standards are required for (a) mobile homes nor places in mobile home parks or subdivisions, (b) new mobile home parks or subdivisions, (c) ex- pansions to existing mobile home parks or subdivisions and, (d) repair, reconstruction, or improvements to existing mobile home parks or subdivisions that equals or exceeds 50 percent of the value of the streets, utilities and pads before the repair, reconstruction or improvement commenced. (1) Adequate surface drainage and access for a hauler shall be provided. -10- (2) All mobile homes shall be placed on pads or lots elevated on compacted fill or on pilings so that the lowest floor of the mobile home is at or above the base flood level. If elevated on pilings: (a) the lots shall be large enough to permit steps; (b) the pilings shall be placed in stable soil no more than ten feet apart and, (c) reinforcement shall be provided for pilings more than six feet above the ground level. Sec. 12-1/2-20. Variances - Appeal Board (a) The Planning Commission shall hear and decide appeals and requests for variances from the requirements of this chapter. (b) The Planning Commission shall hear and decide appeals when it is alleged there is an error in any require- ment, decision, or determination made by the Building Official in the enforcement or administration of this chapter. (c) Those aggrieved by the decision of the Planning Commission, or any taxpayer, may appeal such decision to the City Council. (d) In passing upon such applications, the Planning Commission or City Council shall consider all tech- nical evaluations, all relevant factors, standards specified in other sections of this ordinance, and: (1) the danger that materials may be swept onto other lands to the injury of others; (2) the danger to life and property due to flooding or erosion damage; (3) the susceptibility of the proposed facility and its contents to flood damage and the effect of such damage on the individual owner; (4) the importance of the services provided by the proposed facility to the community; (5) the necessity to the facility of a waterfront location, where applicable; (6) the availability of alternative locations, for the proposed use which are not subject to flooding or erosion damage; (7) The compatability of the proposed use with exist- ing and anticipated development; (8) the relationship of the proposed use to the comprehensive plan and flood plain management program for that area; -11- (9) the safety of access to the property in times of flood for ordinary and emergency vehicles; (10) the expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise, and sediment transport of the flood waters and the effects of wave action, if applicable, expected at the site; and, (11) the costs of providing governmental services during and after flood conditions, including maintenance and repair of public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water system, and streets and bridges. (e) Generally, variances may be issued for new construc- tion and substantial improvements to be erected on a lot of one-half acre or less in size contiguous to and surrounded by lots with existing structures con- structed below the base flood level, providing items (1-11) of subsection (d) hereof have been fully con- sidered. As the lot size increases beyond the one- half acre, the technical justification required for issuing the variance increases. (f) Upon consideration of the factors of subsection (d) and the purposes of this chapter, the Planning Commission or City Council may attach such conditions to the granting of variances as it deems necessary to further the purposes of this chapter. (g) The Building Official shall maintain the records of all appeal actions and report any variances to the Federal Insurance Administration upon request. Sec. 12-1/2-21. Conditions for Variances (a) Variances may be issued for the reconstruction, re- habilitation or restoration of structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the State Inventory of Historic Places, without regard to the procedures set forth in the remainder of this section. (b) Variances shall not be issued within any designated floodway if any increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge would result. (c) Variances shall only be issued upon a determination that the variance is the minimum necessary, consider- ing the flood hazard, to afford relief. (d) Variances shall only be issued upon: (1) a showing of good and sufficient cause; (2) a determination that failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional hardship to the applicant; and -12- (3) a determination that the granting of a vari- ance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety, extraordinary public expense, create nuisances, cause fraud on or victimization of the public, or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances. (c) Any applicant to whom a variance is granted shall be given written notice that the structure will be permitted to be built with a lowest floor elevation below the base flood elevation and that the cost of flood insurance will be commensurate with the increased risk resulting from the reduced lowest floor elevation. SECTION 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or place, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitu- tional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdic- tion, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or its application to other persons or places. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions, or the application thereof to any person or place, be declared invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION 3. The City Council hereby finds and determines that the continued threat of flood damage to persons and property within certain specified areas of the City constitutes an immediate danger to the health and safety of the citizens of Lynwood and regulations to minimize such damage are required as soon as possible. Therefore, this Ordinance is an urgency ordinance and shall take effect immediately upon adoption. SECTIOPd 4. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to certify as to the passage of this Ordinance and to give notice thereof by causing copies of this Ordinance to be posted in three public places within the City. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Lynwood at a regular meeting held on the 4th day of March, 1980. .-- ~, .. , -.=. MAYO -0 TAE CITY OF LYNWOOD ATTEST: .~ e i .~2 CI~''Y CLERK OF THEW IT OF LYNWOOD ~"~~ -13- STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ss. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) I, LAURENE COFFEY, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the said City Council held on the 4th day of March, 1980 by the following roll call vote: AYES: BYORK, GREEN, HIGGINS, ROWS, MORRIS. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ~ ~ CITY CLERK OF THE CI T, OF LYNWOOD -14- STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ss. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, do hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. ~qg~ adopted by the City Council of the City of Lynwood, and that same was passed on the date and by the vote therein stated. Dated this c,t.h day of March 1980. G~ __ ~,C.aa~-~i ~8-' -~~~ LAURENE COF'~'EY / City Clerk of the City of Lynwood