Santa Maria Municipal Code Art. 2 Administration

A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard or areas of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) established in Section 9-68.107. Application for a development permit shall be made on forms furnished by the floodplain administrator 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 structures, fill, storage of materials, drainage facilities; and the location of the foregoing. Specifically, the following information is required:

(a) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level of the lowest floor (including basement) of all structures; in zones AO or VO, elevation of existing grade and proposed elevation of lowest habitable floor of all structures;

(b) Proposed elevation in relation to mean sea level to which any structure will be flood proofed;

(c) All appropriate certifications listed in Section 9-68.203(d) of this chapter; and

(d) Description of the extent to which any watercourse will be altered or relocated as a result of proposed development.

(Ord. 88-13 § 2, eff. 6/21/88; Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20)

The Director of Community Development is appointed to administer and implement this chapter by granting or denying development permit applications in accordance with its provisions.

(Ord. 88-13 § 2, eff. 6/21/88; Ord. 2010-10, eff. 12/2/10; Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20)

The duties and responsibilities of the floodplain administrator shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) Permit review:

(1) Review all development permits to determine that the permit requirements of this chapter have been satisfied,

(2) All other required State and Federal permits have been obtained,

(3) The site is reasonably safe from flooding,

(4) The proposed development does not adversely affect the flood-carrying capacity of areas where base flood elevations have been determined but a floodway has not been designated. For purposes of this chapter, "adversely affects" means that the cumulative effect of the proposed development when combined with all other existing and anticipated development will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot any point;

(b) Use of other base flood data: When base flood elevation data has not been provided in accordance with Section 9-68.107, the floodplain administrator 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 Article 3 of this chapter. Any such information shall be submitted to the City Council for adoption;

(c) Whenever a watercourse is to be altered or relocated:

(1) Notify adjacent communities and the California Department of Water Resources prior to such 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 the watercourse is maintained,

(3) Within six months, notify the Federal Emergency Management Agency of changes to the community's base flood elevations;

(d) Obtain and maintain for public inspection and make available as needed:

(1) The certification required in Section 9-68.301 (c) (1) (floor elevations),

(2) The certification required in Section 9-68.301 (c) (2) (elevations in areas of shallow flooding),

(3) The certification required in Section 9-68.301 (c) (3) (C) (elevation or flood proofing of nonresidential structures),

(4) The certification required in Section 9-68.301 (c) (4) (A) or 9-68.301 (c) (4) (B) (wet flood proofing standard);

(5) The certified elevation required in Section 9-68.303 (b) (subdivision standards),

(6) The certification required in Section 9-68.305 (a) (floodway encroachments),

(7) The reports required in Section 9-68.306 (d) (mudflow standards);

(e) Make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special food hazards or areas of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) (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 as provided in Article 4;

(f) Take action to remedy violations of this chapter as specified in Section 9-68.108.

(Ord. 88-13 § 2, eff. 6/21/88; Ord. 2016-05 § 21, eff. 3/2/16; Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20)