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County seeks options on 'X‑zone' rules after FEMA CRS review; staff to return with flexible options and LIDAR timetable
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners reviewed FEMA Community Rating System standing and debated whether to change county flood standards for FEMA X zones after agricultural stakeholders urged relief from elevation or survey requirements.
At a workshop the Board of County Commissioners reviewed Palm Beach County’s standing in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) and debated whether to change the county’s higher regulatory standard for properties in county‑designated flood hazard areas outside engineered subdivisions (FEMA Zone X). Staff recommended against exempting X‑zone buildings and asked the board for direction to pursue administrative flexibility for agricultural structures instead.
Key points and context: County CRS coordinator Mary Blakeney said Palm Beach County has maintained a Class 5 CRS rating (2,967 points) and that moving to a Class 4 would require additional credits that staff expect the watershed master plan could provide. Blakeney said CRS participation reduces flood insurance costs for policyholders and that FEMA rolled out Risk…
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