Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Floodplain topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plan commission recommends adopting revised FEMA flood maps and related rezoning
Summary
Commissioners recommended approval of comprehensive-plan and zoning ordinance amendments to incorporate FEMA letter-of-map revision maps that will take effect in July.
The Kenosha City Plan Commission voted May 22 to recommend that the city adopt revised Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood insurance rate maps and related zoning changes after the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission completed an updated study.
Staff explained the items — a comprehensive-plan land-use amendment, an ordinance to adopt the revised FEMA maps, rezoning of affected parcels and an amendment incorporating the FEMA letter of map revision (LOMR) into the zoning ordinance. The new maps reflect updated modeling and mapping by regional planners, were reviewed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and FEMA, and are scheduled to take effect in July. Staff recommended approval of all four items.
Why it matters: Incorporating the revised maps into the city's regulatory framework updates which parcels are inside the regulatory floodplain for permitting and can affect eligibility for federal flood insurance. Staff said the revised study in this area actually reduces the mapped floodplain in some places, which can be a benefit to property owners affected by the change.
Property-owner notification and process: Staff said notices were sent during the study process to owners identified as impacted, and the city sent an additional notice to property owners included in the flood-change area in advance of the commission meeting. Staff clarified the city’s responsibilities: the city notifies owners of a zoning/map change but is not responsible for notifying property owners of specific future changes to their flood insurance premium rates.
Public comment: At the hearing one member of the public, Oliver Mahesk, noted that the maps will take effect regardless of local action and said, “we basically are over the barrel” because the city must adopt the maps for regulatory consistency and to preserve the public’s access to FEMA flood insurance. Staff confirmed that if the city did not adopt the maps, owners in those areas could lose eligibility for FEMA-backed flood insurance.
Action: The commission moved and seconded approval of items 5–8 and recorded a roll-call vote in favor; the motion carried.
