FLOODPLAIN COMMUNICATOR WINTER 2024 - RE-ISSUE

Reminder: NJDEP Updates Local Design Flood Elevation (LDFE) Worksheet

The Bureau of Flood Engineering and Climate Resilience has recently updated the Local Design Flood Elevation Worksheets within our model Floodplain Development Permit and Floodplain Administrator Guidebook. These updates have been made to align the worksheets with the new NJDEP Inland Flood Protection Rule flood elevation requirements. With these current updates, the Bureau continues to support our local Floodplain Administrators in their efforts on determination of accurate Local Design Flood Elevations, which are fundamental to designing NIP compliant projects.

Floodplain Management 

Borough of Fair Haven’s is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered thru Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA). The Borough is continuing compliance of local building and land use actions to mitigate flood damage and assist residents in savings and discounts on their flood insurance policies. Regulating the flood zone and protecting properties from flood damage is a collaborative effort between our Floodplain Manager, Zoning Officer, Building Department, Emergency Management, and Department of Public Works and Engineering (DPW).  FEMA mapping identifies and assesses flood hazards within the Borough. The Borough’s ordinance includes current FEMA compliant Floodplain Development Protection as found in Chapter XXII Flood Damage Prevention. Official copy can be found on the Borough website.

Fair Haven Flood Ordinance https://ecode360.com/35380286

Mapping

FEMA mapping idetifies and assesses flood hazards within the Borough

• FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Welcome!
• | The National Flood Insurance Program (floodsmart.gov)
• Know Your Zone – Monmouth County Sheriff's Office (mcsonj.org)
• MONMOUTH COUNTY FLOOD MAPS (monmouthcountylib.org)
• FEMA Community Rating System (monmouthcountylib.org)
• Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts (noaa.gov)

NJDEP Permits
Floodplain, coastal and wetland development is also regulated by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Bureau of Watershed and Land Management. The Floodplain Manager will assist in identifying likely NJDEP permits needed, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to contact NJDEP to verify, apply for, and receive all proper permits prior to the start of the project.  A list of all NJDEP permits and fees for all Divisions can be found here NJDEP| Watershed & Land Management | Flood Hazard Areas. If you are not sure of the land and watershed conditions on and around your property NJDEP offers an online GeoWeb to assist. *This mapping is for informational purposes only and does not constitute the presence or absence of wetlands of other environmental features present on or around the project site.

Flood Insurance
Flood insurance is available to anyone living in one of the participating NFIP communities. Homes and businesses in high-risk flood areas with mortgages from government-backed lenders are required to have flood insurance. You can get a quote or file a claim directly through the NFIP's Flood Smart website. 

Local Review & Permits
Listed below is the local review & permitting process for development in the floodplain:

You must complete an Application for Development Permit (Zoning Permit) and submit to the  Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer will evaluate the application for adherence to the Zoning Code and approve or deny the application based on the need for variances.  

If the property is located in a regulated flood zone, the application will be routed to the Municipal Floodplain Manager for review and to obtain a Floodplain Development Permit. A Floodplain Development Permit is required for any fill, new construction, substantial improvement, or any other development in a regulated flood zone. The Floodplain Manager will also note additional relevant municipal and state reviews and permits that the applicant must adhere to; the applicant must contact relevant state agencies to determine if additional permitting is needed.

FAIR HAVEN floodplain-development-permit-v3_final-20230631.pdf

Once Zoning and Floodplain approvals are complete, the applicant will be directed to submit plans to the Building Department for their construction permits. 

Depending on the size and nature of the project, the Boro’s Engineering Department may require a set of plans to review for conformance to site grading and stormwater regulations. 

Only when Zoning, Building, Floodplain Management, and Engineering have all reviewed applications and plans and granted relevant permits can construction begin. This includes relevant permits from the NJDEP.

A final inspection is completed by the Building Department and an As-Built survey is approved by the Engineering Department. The As-Built should match the project specs as presented in the approved plan.

A CO will be issued when all departments are satisfied with the project.  

Protecting Your Property from a Hazard
Read FEMA's Guide to Citizen Preparedness for tips on how to protect your property from a hazard. The Design Manual for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Structures (FEMA Publication No. 114-9/86) is available online and details the retrofitting alternatives such as: the raising or relocation of a structure, the use of levees or flood walls, the sealing of a structure and the protection of utilities. Some of the preceding measures may not be practical in certain circumstances, but our qualified licensed N.J. Construction Officials are prepared to guide your decision.  Refer to FEMA's Coastal Construction Manual for construction and design practices in coastal communities.