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24 Revised 10/03/2019 Ordinance Language Commentary 6.42 Height of Structures. All structures in residential districts in cities, except churches and nonresidential agricultural structures, must not exceed 25 feet in height. 6.43 Lowest Floor Elevation. A. Determining elevations. Structures must be placed at an elevation consistent with the applicable floodplain regulatory elevations. Where these controls do not exist, the elevation to which the lowest floor, including basement, is placed or flood-proofed must be determined as follows: (1) For lakes, by placing the lowest floor at a level at least three feet above the highest known water level, or three feet above the ordinary high water level, whichever is higher (see Figure 9); (2) For rivers and streams, by placing the lowest floor at least three feet above the highest known flood elevation. If highest known flood elevation is not available, by placing the lowest floor at least three feet above the ordinary high water level (see Figure 9), or by conducting a technical evaluation to establish a flood protection elevation. Technical evaluations must be done by a qualified engineer or hydrologist consistent with Minnesota Rules, parts 6120.5000 to 6120.6200. B. Methods for placement. (1) In addition to the lowest floor, all service utilities must be elevated or water-tight to the elevation determined in part A. (2)If elevation methods involving fill would result in filling in the SIZ, then structures must instead be elevated through floodproofing methods in accordance with 6.43(B)(3) below; (3) If the structure is floodproofed, then it must be built to resist hydrostatic pressure through elevation methods such as blocks, pilings, filled stem walls, elevated concrete pad, internally flooded enclosed areas, or through other accepted engineering practices consistent with FEMA technical bulletins 1, 2 and 3. Figure 9. Lowest Floor Elevation 6.42. Height standards only apply to residential districts in cities (MR 6120.3300 Subp. 3.G.). 6.43. These provisions apply to areas where there are no mapped floodplains or floodplain studies for determining elevations. If ALL shoreland areas in a community have been mapped/have studies, these provisions may be omitted. 6.43.B(2) Optional. Do not allow fill to raise structures in the SIZ, only elevation through floodproofing. This minimizes land alteration and vegetation removal in a highly sensitive area.