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City of Somers Point, NJ
Atlantic County
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These regulations, in conjunction with the Uniform Construction Code, provide minimum requirements for development located in flood hazard areas, including the subdivision of land and other developments; site improvements and installation of utilities; placement and replacement of manufactured homes; placement of recreational vehicles; new construction and alterations, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation or additions of existing buildings and structures; substantial improvement of existing buildings and structures, including repair of substantial damage; installation of tanks; temporary structures and temporary or permanent storage; utility and miscellaneous Group U buildings and structures; and certain building work exempt from permit under the Uniform Construction Code;[1] and other buildings and development activities.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 100, Construction Codes, Uniform.
A. 
The City of Somers Point was accepted for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program on November 17, 1982.
B. 
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) floodplain management regulations encourage that all federal, state, and local regulations that are more stringent than the minimum NFIP standards take precedence in permitting decisions. The FHACA requires that the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map, most recent preliminary FEMA mapping and flood studies, and Department delineations be compared to determine the most restrictive mapping. The FHACA also regulates unstudied flood hazard areas in watersheds measuring 50 acres or greater in size and most riparian zones in New Jersey. Because of these higher standards, the regulated flood hazard area in New Jersey may be more expansive and more restrictive than the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Maps and studies that establish flood hazard areas are on file at the Construction Official's office located at 741 Shore Road, Somers Point, NJ 08244.
C. 
The following sources identify flood hazard areas in this jurisdiction and must be considered when determining the best available flood hazard data area:
(1) 
Effective flood insurance study. Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a scientific and engineering report entitled, "Flood Insurance Study, City of Somers Point, New Jersey, Atlantic County," dated May 17, 1982, and the accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) identified in Table 146-2.2(A), whose effective date is November 17, 1982, are hereby adopted by reference.
Table 146-2.2(A)
Map Panel #
Effective Date
Suffix
Map Panel #
Effective Date
Revision Letter
3400170001
11/17/1982
B
3400170002
11/17/1982
B
(2) 
Federal best available information. The City of Somers Point shall utilize federal flood information as listed in the table below that provides more detailed hazard information, higher flood elevations, larger flood hazard areas, and results in more restrictive regulations. This information may include but is not limited to preliminary flood elevation guidance from FEMA (such as Advisory Flood Hazard Area Maps, Work Maps or Preliminary FIS and FIRM). Additional Federal Best Available studies issued after the date of this chapter must also be considered. These studies are listed on FEMA's Map Service Center. This information shall be used for floodplain regulation purposes only.
Table 146-2.2(B)
Map Panel #
Preliminary Date
34001C0429G
01/30/2015
34001C0409G
01/30/2015
34001C0417G
01/30/2015
34001C0428G
01/30/2015
34001C0436G
01/30/2015
34001C0437G
01/30/2015
(3) 
Other best available data. The City of Somers Point shall utilize high water elevations from flood events, groundwater flooding areas, studies by federal or state agencies, or other information deemed appropriate by the City of Somers Point. Other "best available information" may not be used which results in less restrictive flood elevations, design standards, or smaller flood hazard areas than the sources described in § 146-2.2C(1) and (2), above. This information shall be used for floodplain regulation purposes only.
A. 
The local design flood elevation (LDFE) is established in the flood hazard areas determined in § 146-2.2, above, using the best available flood hazard data sources, and the Flood Hazard Area Control Act[1] minimum statewide elevation requirements for lowest floors in A, Coastal A, and V zones, ASCE 24 requirements for critical facilities as specified by the building code, plus additional freeboard as specified by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.A.C. 7:13.
B. 
At a minimum, the local design flood elevation shall be as follows:
(1) 
For a delineated watercourse, the elevation associated with the best available flood hazard data area determined in § 146-2.2 above plus two feet of freeboard or as described by N.J.A.C. 7:13 as of December 2023; or
(2) 
For any undelineated watercourse [where mapping or studies described in § 146-2.2C(1) and (2) above are not available] that has a contributory drainage area of 50 acres or more, the applicants must provide one of the following to determine the local design flood elevation:
(a) 
A copy of an unexpired NJDEP Flood Hazard Area Verification plus two feet of freeboard and any additional freeboard as required by ASCE 24-14; or
(b) 
A determination of the Flood Hazard Area Design Flood Elevation using Method 5 or Method 6 (as described in N.J.A.C. 7:13) plus two feet of freeboard and any additional freeboard as required by ASCE 24-14. Any determination using these methods must be sealed and submitted according to §§ 146-5.2 and 146-5.3.
(3) 
AO Zones. For Zone AO areas on the municipality's FIRM (or on preliminary flood elevation guidance from FEMA), the local design flood elevation is determined from the FIRM panel as the highest adjacent grade plus the depth number specified plus two feet of freeboard. If no depth number is specified, the local design flood elevation is three feet above the highest adjacent grade.
(4) 
Class IV critical facilities. For any proposed development of new and substantially improved Flood Design Class IV Critical Facilities, the local design flood elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation with an additional three feet of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.
(5) 
Class III critical facilities. For proposed development of new and substantially improved Flood Design Class III Critical Facilities in coastal high-hazard areas, the Local Design Flood Elevation must be the higher of the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood elevation or the flood hazard area design flood elevation with an additional two feet of freeboard in accordance with ASCE 24.