17.120.030 Administration.
(1) Designation of the Administrator. The community development director, or his/her designee, is hereby appointed to administer, implement, and enforce these standards by granting or denying development permit applications in accordance with their provisions. The duties of the community development director shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Review all development permits to determine that:
(i) The permit requirements of these standards have been satisfied;
(ii) All necessary permits have been obtained from those federal, state, or local government agencies from which prior approval is required.
(iii) The site is reasonably safe from flooding;
(iv) Notify Federal Insurance Administrator when annexations occur in the special flood hazard area.
(2) Use of Other Base Flood Data. When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with SMC 17.120.020(2), Basis for Establishing the Areas of Special Flood Hazard, the community development director shall obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state, or other source in order to administer SMC 17.120.050, Specific Standards.
(3) Information to Be Obtained and Maintained.
(a) Where base flood elevation data is provided through the flood insurance study or otherwise required, these data shall be obtained and a record made of the actual (as-built) elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the lowest floor, including basement, of all new or substantially improved structures, and whether or not the structure contains a basement.
(b) For all new or substantially improved floodproofed nonresidential structures where base flood elevation data is provided through the FIS or FIRM, or as otherwise required:
(i) Obtain and maintain the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the structure was floodproofed.
(ii) Maintain the floodproofing certifications required in subsection (7)(c) of this section.
(c) Maintain for public inspection all records pertaining to the provisions of these standards.
(d) Records of all variance actions; include justification for their issuance.
(e) Improvement and damage calculations.
(4) Alteration of Watercourses. Whenever a watercourse is to be altered or relocated:
(a) Notify adjacent communities and the Washington State Department of Ecology prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Insurance Administrator through appropriate notification means.
(b) Assure that the flood-carrying capacity of the altered or relocated portion of said watercourse is maintained.
(5) Interpretation of FIRM Boundaries. Make interpretations, where needed, as to 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 location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation. Such appeals shall be granted consistent with the standards of Section 60.6 of the Rules and Regulations of the NFIP.
(6) Development Permit Required. A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard. The permit shall be for all structures, including manufactured homes (as set forth in the definitions of this code), and for all development, including fill and other activities.
(7) Application for Development Permit. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the community development director, who acts as the city’s floodplain administrator, and shall include all of the permit submittal requirements of the underlying permit including, but not limited to: plans drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions, and elevations of the area in question; existing or proposed structures; fill; storage of materials; drainage facilities; and the location of the foregoing. In addition, the following information is required:
(a) Elevation, in relation to mean sea level, of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures recorded on a current elevation certificate with Section B completed by the floodplain administrator;
(b) Elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any nonresidential structure has been floodproofed;
(c) Certification by a registered professional engineer or architect that the floodproofing methods for any nonresidential structure meet the floodproofing criteria in SMC 17.120.050(2);
(d) Description of the extent to which a watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of the proposed development; and
(e) Any other such information that may be reasonably required by the floodplain administrator in order to review the application.
(8) Changes to Special Flood Hazard Area.
(a) A community’s base flood elevations may increase or decrease resulting from physical changes affecting flooding conditions. As soon as practicable, but not later than six months after the date such information becomes available, a community, or project proponent, shall notify FEMA of the changes by submitting technical or scientific data in accordance with this chapter. Such a submission is necessary so that upon confirmation of those physical changes affecting flooding conditions, risk premium rates and floodplain management requirements will be based upon current data.
(b) If a CLOMR application is made, then the project proponent shall also supply the full CLOMR documentation package to the floodplain administrator to be attached to the floodplain development permit, including all required property owner notifications. Once a CLOMR has been approved, the project proponent shall follow up with the LOMR application once the project is complete. (Ord. 1486 § 2 (Exh. B), 2020; Ord. 1089 §§ 3 – 6, 2000; Ord. 929 Ch. 10(F)(3), 1995).