§ 19-52. Building restrictions.

(a)

In addition to the requirements of division 2 of this article, the following provisions shall apply in coastal high hazard areas:

(1)

All buildings or structures shall be located landward of the reach of the mean high tide.

(2)

All structures shall be elevated so that the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor, exclusive of pilings or columns, is elevated to at least the minimum flood protection elevation, with all space below the lowest horizontal structural member open so as not to impede the flow of water.

(3)

All structures shall be elevated on and securely anchored to adequately anchored pilings or columns to withstand high velocity waters and hurricane wave wash and resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement due to effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components.

(4)

Pilings or columns used as structural support shall be designed and anchored to withstand high velocity water and hurricane wave wash and to resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement due to effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components. For purposes of this section, wind and water loading values are considered as having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (100-year mean recurrence interval).

(5)

No fill shall be used as structural support of any structure.

(6)

There shall be no alteration of the topography prior to development that would increase potential flood damage.

(7)

Breakaway walls are allowed below the base flood elevation but the space enclosed by breakaway walls may be used only for parking of vehicles, building access, or storage.

(8)

If breakaway walls are utilized, the space enclosed by the breakaway walls shall not be used for human habitation.

(9)

No alteration, repair, reconstruction, or improvement to a structure or other obstruction shall enclose or obstruct the space below the lowest floor, except for breakaway walls as provided herein.

(b)

When a floodplain development permit application is filed under the provisions of section 19-17, a registered professional engineer licensed in the State of Texas shall develop or review the structural design, specifications and plans for the construction and shall certify that the design and methods of construction of the structure to be built are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of subsections (a)(2), (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section. In plans for any structure that includes breakaway walls, the breakaway walls must be specifically identified as such when submitted to the city engineer for approval.

(Ord. No. 2018-258 , § 2(Exh. A), 4-4-2018)