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Council moves to adopt updated floodplain law as FEMA remapping takes effect; CRS options examined
Summary
City planning staff told council the proposed repeal-and-replace of Local Law 186 is required to keep Ithaca in the National Flood Insurance Program after new FEMA maps become effective; staff also updated council on the Community Rating System and preliminary cost-benefit findings.
The Ithaca City Common Council moved a proposed repeal-and-replace of Local Law 186 (flood damage prevention) out of committee for consideration at the council’s next meeting, as staff described an accelerated timeline tied to new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps.
Planning staff said the city must adopt updated local floodplain regulations and the new FEMA flood maps into local code and transmit documentation to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) by May 19 to meet a June 18 effective date for the remapped floodplain. Failure to adopt would jeopardize the city’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), staff said — a step that would affect residents’ access to federally backed flood insurance.
What staff presented: Planning staff explained the proposed local law updates fall largely in line with FEMA/DEC minimum standards for NFIP participation. Changes included updated map references, expanded definitions (accessory structures, crawl spaces, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, historic structures), clarified floodplain permit and inspection procedures,…
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