Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/03/2012

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communities that successfully implement the higher regulatory standards found in the CRS is lower flood -insurance premiums for the property owners in the community. CRS discounts on flood insurance range from five to 45 percent and are based on the classification the community receives based on the effectiveness of their local program. Activities that increase the community's public safety, reduce property damage, avoid economic disruption and loss,,and protect the environment may be counted for CRS credit. Additionally, the program encourages innovative ways to prevent or reduce flood damage. FLOCOWAY FRINGE (2000) floodplain areas and the newly projected floodplain, the county discovered there would be an estimated $333 million in additional damages under maximum build out. In response to these findings, the county revised its zoning code and land -use regulations based on the pro- jected change in the floodplain. A new minimum base flood elevation for future development (one foot above the level to which flood waters are expected to rise) and set of stream setback requirements limit development to areas outside of the floodplain and protects against losses from future flooding. 100 YEAR FL ELEVATION ft STREAM CHANNEL FLOODWAY FLO00PLAIN CROSS-SECTION �_` F1.04DWAY FRINGE FLOO7WAY FLOOOWAY FLODWAY FRINGE N VIEW 'ETU- o 00 00 015 FL000WAY FRINGE Forsyth County, North Carolina ® In order for property owners to be eligible for flood insurance through the NFIP, community floodplain ordinances must restrict all building in the floodway and must require all habitable structures to be raised above the too -year flood elevation. Charlotte -Mecklenburg, North Carolina In Charlotte -Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, planners have used their current land -use zoning regulations to analyze maximum build out of future development and how the potential development will affect current floodplain designations. Comparing the potential flood damages that would likely occur under the maximum build -out scenario with both the current SENSITIVE AREAS ORDINANCES Many communities have areas of special environmental sensitivity, such as wet- lands, frequently flooded areas, aquifer recharge zones, fish and wildlife habitat corridors, and geologically sensitive areas. To guard these features some communities adopt sensitive area ordinances (SAOs) to limit development on or near sensitive lands. SAOs may be stand-alone ordi- nances or added to the zoning code as an overlay. Iowa City, Iowa Iowa City adopted its current SAO in 2005. With respect to flood hazard areas, the SAO establishes a 50-foot buffer between development activity and the Iowa River floodway; a 3o-foot buffer between devel- opment and floodways of tributaries to the Iowa River; and 15-foot buffers on either side of an assumed 3o-foot-wide stream corridor for blue -line tributaries without a delineated floodway. The SAO increased distances between development activity and bodies of water and remains an effective means of preserving flood storage areas, reducing the likelihood of flood damage to structures, and providing opportunities for recreational traits and open space. In 2010 Iowa City incorporated new floodplain management standards into its zoning ordinance. According to Julie Tallman, Iowa City's developmental regulation spe- cialist, "having been employed at City Hall since 1993, it is my opinion that the combi- nation of our SAO and the new floodplain regulations have strengthened our ability to preserve the natural functions and beauty of the surrounding landscape, reduce•the potential risk to structures, and protect our population." STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ORDINANCES A number of communities use stormwa- ter management ordinances (SWMOs) to regulate the amount of stormwater runoff that can leave new developments. SWMOs often require higher runoff standards in watersheds and basins with a propensity to flood. Additionally, the SWMO may require higher standards for best management practices (BMPs) and higher standards for protecting natural and beneficial functions of water courses that far exceed the state or federal standards. This may include provi- sions such as stream buffers, which pro- hibit disturbing vegetation along the banks of a watercourse. In many states this buffer is regulated as part of the state's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program. BUILDING CODES Communities can also incorporate higher standards into their building codes to promote flood resiliency. Requiring new buildings to be constructed on flow -through ZONINGPRACTICE 4.12 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION I page 4