Agenda - Planning Commission - 01/09/2014

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of years, could in many cases support the cost of elevating the home to achieve the premium reduction. Another provision of Biggert-Waters could also have profound impacts on some urban neighborhoods in flood -prone areas. Once a pre -FIRM property is sold, or its flood insurance has lapsed, the subsidized rates disappear and actuarial rates apply with no transition period. This could well increase the difficulty of selling such properties by making them less attractive. While the Northeast is the first region to feel the full impact of the Biggert-Waters reforms, it will not be the last. The changes will take effect nationwide, and with each major flood disaster, newABFEs will compound that impact. What happens now in New York and New Jersey is merely a harbinger of changes to come elsewhere. RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGE New York City officials have unquestionably responded with the most aggressive search for solutions. This effort is driven in large part by the challenge posed by dense urban develop- ment and the need to maintain the vibrancy of waterfront neighborhoods in the face of the changes that will inevitably be generated by both the remapping and flood insurance reform. Unlike some coastal communities, New York cannot simply elevate or relocate all its waterfront properties to escape the implications of these changes. In many cases, the neighborhoods would become physically unattractive and economically nonviable as a result. For high rises and many other multistory buildings, elevation is not a viable option; wet or dry floodproofing is more likely (see box). The first problem facing many home own- ers in NewYorkCity under the new flood maps was the same one facing Klaus Jacob in his modest home in Piermont—the inability under existing zoning to elevate their homes because of height restrictions. Confronted with new flood insurance rates and unable to make adjust- ments that would reverse those increases, such property owners are caught between a federal rock and a locally regulated hard place. In a city known for high rises, however, planners wasted little time in confronting this dilemma. By Janu- ary 31., 201.3, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed Executive Order No. 23o, suspending the height limits for home owners seeking to comply with NFIP rules. Since then, the planning department has developed a text amendment for the city council to codify the needed changes, while also Category I Structures that represent a low hazard to human life In the event of failure (e.g. storage) Category II (1-2 family homes) Category II all others (e.g. apartment building) Category III - Structures that represent a substantial hazard to human life In the event of failure (e.g. secondary school facilities) E Q Category IV Structures designed as essential (and emergency) '; facilities (e.g. hospital) 8 DFE A -ZONE . BFE BFE ® e ®.. BEE+2 BFE RRHR BB9B88 laiP'nF El 08888BB B 8 8888BBBH B BBBBBBB8 8 AEI ;B B B BBB. B V-Zone: AU utilities/ equipment required to be placed above DFE + 1. AU flood damage resistant D materials to be used below OFE + 1. BB BB8888 BEE+1 { BFE DFE DEE BFE+1 A -Zone: Minimum elevation of floodproofing to be at BFE + 2. BFE DEE PERP DFE PAR DFE PERP DFE PAR DEEPERP DFE PAR V-ZONE 019E1190E 88HBHB 0Bee0e fIRRfF8 R3EBbB80 8 88BBBBBB B EBEIR088 BBB_BeeeB 8'8-H8 B'8B8 B B B MM 08 0 88M88Ji_8 B 88 9ODHB ramfltS raies hot o crag.tla ral rarrr aatapnea fn parr r anzn addressing other issues such as low-grade park- ing and streetscape mitigations, and took these out for public review at ql community boards in areas affected by flooding, emphasizing in part BFE+1 BFE 2 BEE +2 BFE+1 -, BFE how these changes would help residents lower their flood insurance premiums. The community boards offered nearly unanimous approval. The city planning commission approved the changes TYPES OF FLOODPROOFING There are basically two kinds of floodproofing: wet and dry. Both are workable options for pro- tecting buildings and contents from flooding, but by design they have very different implica- tions for building use: Wet floodproofing allows water to enter and leave a structure without the use of me- chanical equipment. This cannot work with basements because water would accumulate below the base flood elevation without a means of release. The idea is to equalize water pressure inside and outside through openings in the walls. This effectively renders lower levels unusable for most purposes, as living and working space needs to be above the area where wet floodproofing is used. Dry floodproofing uses water barriers such as sealant, aquarium glass, or other flood shields to protect a lower level from infiltration by water during a flood. In some cases, this may include the use of removable panels on windows that can be put in place during a flood emergency but otherwise kept in storage. This thus allows the use of floodproofed basements and other below -grade structures and retains building access at street grade, though such ac- cess can pose problems during a flood and thus is not allowed in entirely residential buildings. ZONINGPRACTICE 11.13 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION I page 4