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Planning Board reviews options for revising town floodplain ordinance after map changes
Summary
The board discussed proposed revisions to Chapter 116 (flood ordinance), including whether to use life‑of‑structure versus 5‑ or 10‑year look‑back periods for substantial‑improvement calculations, how to value structures (replacement vs. depreciated), and possible definitions to distinguish maintenance from replacement.
Planning staff presented a marked‑up draft of the town’s Chapter 116 floodplain ordinance and outlined options for how the town calculates “substantial improvement” and how it values structures for that test.
Staff noted the current local rule applies the life‑of‑structure approach for the improvement threshold: improvements or repairs that exceed 50 percent of the value of the existing structure trigger flood‑proofing requirements. Staff reviewed alternatives used by other jurisdictions — for example, five‑ or ten‑year look‑back periods — and said the town must choose a direction because valuation definitions and the chosen time period affect when homeowners are required to bring structures into compliance.
Staff recommended adding clearer definitions to the ordinance (for example, to distinguish…
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