Wake Forest Unified Development Ordinance - July 2022

Erosion, Flood, Stormwater & Watershed Standards 12.4 Flood Damage Prevention

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d. Subdivisions approved after May 2, 2006, may not plat lots for development located within the Special Flood Hazard Area unless all of the following exemptions are met: i. The Special Flood Hazard Area affects a maximum area of 10% or less of the total acreage of the subdivision; ii. There is no reason for the formation of a homeowner’s association other than to retain ownership and maintenance responsibility for the Special Flood Hazard Area (e.g., covenant, other common areas); and iii. The Special Flood Hazard Area is placed in a permanent conservation easement at plat recordation. 2. Non-Residential Construction: New construction and substantial improvement of any commercial, industrial, or other non-residential structure shall have the reference level, including basement, elevated no lower than the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation. Structures located in A, AE, and X (Future) Zones may be floodproofed to the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation in lieu of elevation provided that all areas of the structure, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, below the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation are watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water, using structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and the effect of buoyancy. A Professional Engineer, Professional Land Surveyor or Registered Architect shall certify that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certification shall be provided to the Floodplain Administrator as set forth in Section 15.7.3.E along with the operational and maintenance plans. 3. Elevated Buildings: In new construction or substantial improvements of elevated buildings, fully-enclosed areas below the lowest floor shall conform to the following standards: a. Such enclosed areas shall not be designed or used for human habitation, but shall only be used for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance equipment used in connection with the premises. b. Access to the enclosed area shall be the minimum necessary to allow for parking of vehicles (garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment (standard exterior door), or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator). The interior portion of such enclosed area shall not be finished or partitioned into separate rooms, except to enclose storage areas. c. Such enclosed areas shall be constructed entirely of flood resistant materials below the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation. d. In Zones A, AE and X (Future), such enclosed areas shall include flood openings to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. To meet this requirement, the openings must either be certified by a professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum design criteria: i. Provide a minimum of two (2) flood openings on different sides of each enclosed area subject to flooding; ii. The total combined area of all flood openings must be at least one (1) square inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding;

Town of Wake Forest Unified Development Ordinance – July 19, 2022

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