Chambersburg Borough Council updates flood plain map [Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pa.]

Nov. 30--Chambersburg Borough Council voted Monday to adopt their revised Flood Insurance Rate Map for the first time since July 17, 1978 -- with little impact to homeowners unless someone wants to build in the flood plain.

Based on the recent flood insurance study completed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the new map lays out the floodway, floodplain, 100-year floodplain and 500-year floodplain for the borough, said Phil Wolgemuth, planning and zoning administrator.

"The only new floodplain areas are small tributaries into the Conococheague that have been added," Wolgemuth said.

These areas are located in the south end of the borough near Mill Road and also near Hollywell Avenue, he said.

The 1978 map included 448.5 acres within the 100 and 500 year floodplain whereas the new 2012 map includes 446.6 acres within the floodplain, Wolgemuth said.

Council also adopted new regulations regarding construction and development within the floodway.

Construction and development is prohibited within the floodway but existing structures within can remain, Wolgemuth said.

"If we got a permit for that, we'd deny it," he said.

Development will be regulated within the 100-year floodplain, known as the special flood hazard areas, Wolgemuth said.

New construction within the area measured 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse will be prohibited unless a permit is obtained from the Department of Environmental Protection, he said.

Additionally, a land use permit will be required for any construction within the special flood hazard areas, Wolgemuth said.

The lowest floor of any residential and non-residential structure, including basements, must be at least one-and-a-half feet above the 100-year base flood elevation, he said.

Wolgemuth, as the zoning officer, is appointed to administer and enforce these ordinances and any issues will be brought up to the Zoning Hearing Board.

Individuals seeking to find out exactly where the floodplain lies on their property must hire a land surveyor because the borough does not delineate floodplains on properties, Wolgemuth said.

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Samantha Cossick can be reached at scossick@publicopinionnews.com and 262-4762 or follow her on Twitter at @SCossickPO.

Flood Insurance Rate Map definitions:

- Floodway: The channel of the Conococheague Creek or Falling Spring Creek and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot.

- Floodplain: A relatively flat or low land area which is subject to partial or complete flooding from the Conococheague Creek or Falling Spring Creek.

- 100-Year Floodplain: Areas subject to inundation by the 1 percent annual chance flood, which is the flood that has a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Now known as the Special Flood Hazard Areas.

- 500-Year Floodplain: Areas subject to inundation by the 2 percent annual flood chance flood, which is the flood that has a 2 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Known as the Other Floods Area.

Source: Phil Wolgemuth, planning and zoning administrator.

See the map

http://www.borough.chambersburg.pa.us/pdf/FEMA/2012%20FEMA%20Floodplain%20Map%20with%20Aerial%20Photography%20(2).pdf

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