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Committee backs amendment requiring floodplain permits before Shore Drive variances
Summary
The Planning and Economic Development Committee on Aug. 4 recommended that the Village Board approve a text amendment to the floodway conservation overlay in The Villages' Shore Drive area that would require applicants to obtain IDNR or a local floodplain development permit before applying for a variance.
The Planning and Economic Development Committee on Aug. 4 forwarded a text amendment that would require applicants in the floodway conservation overlay district — limited to the Shore Drive area of The Villages — to secure either an IDNR permit or a local floodplain development permit before seeking variances.
Staff member explained the current overlay prohibits new structures and enlargement of structures in the floodway and said, "our code does state that variances will not be granted for construction that would cause a measurable increase in flood levels." Staff continued that requiring the appropriate floodplain permit first helps ensure that variances are not granted for projects that could increase flood levels. Staff acknowledged the practical concern that applying for floodplain permits can cost more and take longer, creating a "chicken or the egg situation" for applicants, but said the permit requirement is the only reliable way to ensure compliance with the no‑increased‑flood‑levels standard.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the text amendment, and staff asked the committee for a positive recommendation. Committee members raised no substantive objections on the record; the committee passed the text amendment by voice vote and forwarded it to the Village Board with a positive recommendation for its Aug. 18 meeting.
Discussion: staff emphasized that the change is intended to prevent variances for projects that would measurably increase flood levels and to align municipal review with state or local floodplain permitting. Decision: committee forwarded the text amendment to the Village Board with a positive recommendation; final action rests with the Village Board.
Next steps: the Village Board will consider Ordinance 27‑25 at its Aug. 18 meeting; applicants in the Shore Drive floodway conservation overlay would need to obtain the required permit before a variance application would be considered.
