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Plan commission approves updated floodplain ordinance tied to FEMA map changes and Act 175 flexibility
Summary
The commission approved an update to the village floodplain zoning ordinance to align with recent FEMA flood insurance rate map updates and to allow the village discretion under Wisconsin Act 175 on replacement of nonconforming structures in floodplains.
The Village of Cross Plains Plan Commission on March 3 approved an update to the village floodplain zoning ordinance after a public hearing that drew no public comment.
Village staff said the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently updated flood insurance rate maps for parts of Dane County and that the village is required to amend its floodplain ordinance to remain compliant. Staff said the update itself does not change floodplain boundaries inside the village; the amendment mainly brings the village code into conformance and offers an option to incorporate Wisconsin Act 175 (2020), which provides municipalities discretion in regulating replacement of nonconforming structures in flood-prone areas.
"FEMA ... has recently updated their flood insurance rate maps," a staff member explained, and the village must submit the updated ordinance to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources by mid‑March. The staff report said the DNR provided a model ordinance and suggested including Act 175 as an optional provision that would remove the historical 50% cumulative improvement cap in favor of giving local government discretion when allowing reconstruction if improved flood-safety standards are met.
Commissioners asked whether the county or village flood-zone maps had shifted in ways that would require residents to buy flood insurance; staff said they were not aware of any map border changes affecting the village. The commission voted to recommend approval and forward the updated ordinance to the village board for adoption; no public speakers appeared during the hearing.
The recommendation will be transmitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources after village board action as part of the standard floodplain ordinance update procedure.
