County opens first reading of floodplain-code update (Ordinance 350) and holds public hearing

The Crook County Board opened the first reading and public hearing on Ordinance 350, a legislative code amendment that updates county development standards for mapped special flood hazard areas. Senior planner Katie McDonald presented the planning commission’s recommendation to remove duplicative code in Title 15 and Title 18 and adopt a single, updated chapter (proposed chapter 18.85) that incorporates the state’s model floodplain ordinance language and modern definitions.

McDonald told the board the proposal contains three parts: removing an irrigation-specific language from the farm use table in chapter 18.16 that the planning commission found was not required by state statute; removing the existing structural standards in Title 15 and consolidating floodplain standards in Title 18; and adopting updated definitions and procedures consistent with the 2019 state model code. McDonald said staff consulted the city of Pineville and building-permit staff in preparing the draft. "The way that the development is regulated is twofold," she said, summarizing the planning and construction components now consolidated into 1 code location.

The board voted to read Ordinance 350 by title and opened the public hearing during the meeting; no public speakers addressed the ordinance at that hearing. Staff and commissioners noted the ordinance will return for a second reading at least 14 days later (the next scheduled county meeting, reported as May 7) to allow additional public comment and final adoption.

Ending: The county will publish notice and hold the second reading at least 14 days after the first reading; staff said the clarification is intended to make floodplain standards easier for applicants and staff to find and apply.