Critical Facilities and Lodging Facilities Ordinance - Three Management Options
Option A
Option A would apply to critical facilities (including essential services, at-risk populations, and hazardous materials) located within the 100- or 500-year floodplains. With this option, new facilities, or existing facilities completing substantial improvements or modifications, would either:
Existing facilities not making any substantial improvements or modifications could remain in the floodplain without having to complete additional floodproofing.
Hazardous materials facilities would be required to show that materials would be properly contained during a flood.
This option is preferred by the National Flood Insurance Program (according to the Community Rating System Coordinator's Manual), because it would discourage the construction of new critical facilities inside the 100- and 500-year floodplains.
Option B - Preferred Option
Option B would apply only to critical facilities (including essential services, at-risk populations, and hazardous materials) located within the 500-year floodplain. As in Option A above, existing facilities would be allowed to remain in the floodplain without having to implement additional floodproofing measures. New facilities, as well as substantial modifications, improvements, or additions made to existing facilities, would have be constructed with the lowest level of the building placed at least one foot above the 500-year flood elevation. Owners of non-residential structures in this category could choose to flood-proof the structure to a level at least one foot above the 500-year flood elevation, instead of raising the height of the floor.
In cases where one foot above the 500-year flood elevation is greater than the flood protection elevation, the flood protection elevation would be used for both residential and non-residential structures.
For facilities within the 100-year floodplain, current flood protection measures would still apply, although the definition and regulation of hazardous materials facilities would be updated to match the new hazardous materials definition.
Based on public input, Option B, with some changes, was selected as the preferred management strategy by city staff. The preferred strategy would include modifications to the compliance threshold for hazardous materials buildings and would allow floodproofing for residential uses in the 500-year floodplain only. Existing elevation requirements for residential uses would still apply in the 100-year floodplain.
This option is also based on recommendations from the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System Coordinator's Manual.
Option C
Option C would apply to critical facilities (including essential services, at-risk populations, and hazardous materials) within the 100- and 500-year floodplains. It would follow the recommendations of Option A in the 100-year floodplain and Option B in the 500-year floodplain. For the 100-year floodplain, new facilities, and existing facilities performing substantial modifications or improvements, would:
Hazardous materials facilities inside the 100-year floodplain would have to demonstrate that materials would be properly contained during a flood.
For new facilities in the 500-year floodplain, and for substantial modifications, improvements, or additions to existing facilities in the floodplain, the lowest level of the structure would have to be constructed at least one foot above the 500-year flood elevation. Owners of non-residential structures in this category could choose to flood-proof the structure to a level at least one foot above the 500-year flood elevation, instead of raising the height of the floor.
Existing facilities in both floodplains would be allowed to remain in the floodplain without additional flood-proofing.
In cases where one foot above the 500-year flood elevation is greater than the flood protection elevation, the flood protection elevation would be used for both residential and non-residential structures.
View the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) Coordinator's Manual.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 May 2013 10:28
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