Towamencin approves ordinance allowing floodplain fencing

Towamencin Townships board of supervisors heard from residents on a couple of issues at the Dec. 11 work session. One item on the agenda was a public hearing regarding an amendment to the zoning code. Previously, homeowners were not permitted to build fences on the floodplain, though many residents had asked for permission to do so. One resident even went ahead and built fencing without permission from the township, said Code Enforcement Officer Bill Webb.

This was one of the first things we discussed when I came to the township, Webb said.

After researching what other municipalities in the region and even around the country did in regard to floodplain fencing, the township decided to allow certain types of fencing to be built.

A lot of townships do allow fencing within the floodplain, with various precautions, Webb said.

Now, fences may be placed within the fringe of the floodway, which Webb defined as the slowest moving part of the floodplain. They may be post and rail fences or split rail fences, though solid wall fences and chain link fences are not permitted.

These types of fencing could cause a damming effect and could cause water to back up, Webb said.

Property owners who are going to add fences within the floodplain are required to sign a document stating that if their fences cause any damages to neighboring properties during a flood, they are liable for those damages. Additionally, if a fence is damaged during a flood, the homeowner would have 10 days to remove the fence.

One resident who wishes to build a fence on her property asked if her fence was damaged in a flood, would she be required to remove the fence completely, or could she simply repair it? The board answered that the fence could either be replaced or repaired, as long as it was done within 10 days.

The same resident wanted to know if homeowners who already had fences on their properties would be equally responsible for any damage caused to other properties in the event of a flood.

What if pre-existing structures damages any part of my property? she asked. What kind of recourse do I have in that regard? Continued...

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Towamencin approves ordinance allowing floodplain fencing