Council adopts development-code changes requiring habitat assessment on floodplain permits to meet FEMA PICU requirement

The Troutdale City Council voted to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 14 of the development code to add a habitat-assessment report to floodplain development permit submittal requirements, a change the staff said responds to FEMA’s requirement that participating communities select pre-implementation compliance measures (PICUs).

Associate Planner Dakota Meyer told council the changes were initiated by the city and that the Planning Commission recommended approval at its February hearing. The amendment adds a habitat-assessment report requirement to permit materials for floodplain development so the city can meet FEMA’s reporting and mitigation expectations tied to PICUs.

Councilors asked whether the change would resolve outstanding litigation or buyouts tied to floodplain issues; staff responded that FEMA’s PICU rollout is the federal agency’s response to previous litigation and that rules are still evolving. Staff noted the amendment includes a five-year sunset, and staff offered to return with an annual floodplain development report that will also indicate whether the PICU requirement is likely to be extended.

The council voted to adopt the ordinance by roll call. Staff and council stressed that the amendment is intended to maintain the city’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program while the federal PICU rules are implemented.

Why this matters: Adding habitat assessment requirements affects how floodplain development is reviewed and could change mitigation steps for projects in floodplain areas. The changes are tied to FEMA compliance and could affect development in low-lying areas used for industrial or logistics projects.

What’s next: The ordinance takes effect as adopted; staff said it will report annually to council about floodplain development activity and will return if FEMA guidance or local circumstances warrant further code changes.