Dimensional standards
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- Areas of Major and Minor FloodplainFloodplainLand expected to flood at a stated frequency, where building carries extra conditions. as defined in Section 7.11.2, including FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zone AE and A) and minor floodplains with drainage area of 100 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones. or greater
Uses
Permitted by right14
- Agricultural uses such as general farming, pasturing, grazing, outdoor plant nurseries, horticulture, truck farming, forestry, sod farming, and wild crop harvesting
- Public and private recreational uses such as parks, day camps, picnic grounds, golf courses, boat launching and swimming areas, hiking and horseback riding trails, wildlife and nature preserves, game farms, fish hatcheries and fishing areas
- Accessory residential uses such as gardens, play areas, and loading areas
- Accessory industrial and commercial uses such as parking and loading areas
- Incidental structures not exceeding 840 square feet of floor area associated with permitted or approved special exception uses
- Utility lines, road crossings, and private drives or private access easements
- Low Impact Stormwater Management Best Management Practices
- Alterations of the floodplain associated with permitted or special exception uses
- Non-residential building along north side of Town Branch between Wirt Street SW and Harrison Street SE (subject to conditions)
- Capital Improvement Projects
- Residential uses accessory to single family detached and attached dwellings in Minor Floodplain
- New construction or additions to existing structures in developed areas of Minor Floodplain
- Storm water management facilities in Minor Floodplain
- Alterations including channelization in Minor Floodplain
Conditional / special use6
- Structures, except for mobile homes, accessory to permitted uses
- Temporary uses such as circuses, carnivals and similar activities
- Storage of materials and equipment that are not buoyant, flammable or explosive
- Other uses and activities provided they cause no increase in flood heights and/or velocities
- Channelization and channel modifications of the primary channel in major floodplain not otherwise allowable
- Substantial improvements to historic structures
Prohibited2
- Mobile homes
- Uses or development activities that may adversely affect the capacity of the channel or floodway
Extracted standards
15 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Other
- Structures anchored to prevent flotation
All structures shall be anchored to prevent flotation and shall not cause any increase in the base flood elevation.
- Compatibility with existing and planned development
The proposal is compatible with existing and planned development.
- Expansion of existing structures requires no increase in base flood elevation
Existing structures in the Floodplain Overlay District shall not be expanded or enlarged unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic and hydraulic analyses... that the proposed expansion would not result in any increase in the base flood elevation.
- Expected flood water characteristics should not cause significant damage
The expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise and sediment transport of the flood waters expected at the site should not cause significant damage.
The use is in harmony with the comprehensive plan.
- Major FloodplainFloodplainLand expected to flood at a stated frequency, where building carries extra conditions. excluded from residential density calculations
Areas within the Major Floodplain shall be excluded as part of the land area for residential density calculations (but not for commercial density calculations).
- Materials will not be swept downstream
Materials will not be swept downstream to the injury of others during flood events.
- Maximum incidental structure floor area840 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Incidental structures, not exceeding 840 square feet of floor area, associated with permitted or approved special exception uses in the Floodplain Overlay District.
- Maximum recreational vehicle stay in Major FloodplainFloodplainLand expected to flood at a stated frequency, where building carries extra conditions.30 days
under no circumstances shall recreational vehicles be allowed in Major Floodplain for a period exceeding thirty (30) days.
- Mobile homesManufactured homeA dwelling built in a factory to a federal standard and transported to the site. prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
The placement of any new mobile home within the Floodplain Overlay District is prohibited.
- Modifications totaling 50% or less of market value may be exempt50 pct
The proposed changes to a structure are of an extent or amount totaling fifty (50) percent or less of its market value and such changes are undertaken in conformance with the VA USBC.
- No increase in base flood elevation
All proposed structures shall not increase the 100-year water surface elevations on adjacent properties unless offsite easements are obtained.
- No increase to danger to life and property due to increased flood heights or velocities
There will be no increase to the danger to life and property due to increased flood heights or velocities.
- Non-residential building allowed along north side of Town Branch between Wirt Street SW and Harrison Street SE
Along the north side of Town Branch between Wirt Street SW and Harrison Street SE, a building used solely for non-residential uses may be located within the Floodplain Overlay District provided it is entirely outside of the floodway and meets the following provisions...
- Water supply and sanitation systems designed to prevent disease
Water supply and sanitation systems are designated to prevent disease, contamination, and unsanitary conditions.
From the ordinance
Floodplain areas are primarily intended to remain as open or common areas. These areas may be utilized to provide space for recreational activities.