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Miramar amends floodplain rules to seek higher CRS discount; raises freeboard to 2 feet
Summary
The commission adopted an amendment to the Land Development Code to strengthen floodplain-management standards, increasing the local freeboard requirement to 2 feet and reorganizing flood-related code to pursue improved Community Rating System discounts for residents' NFIP premiums.
The City Commission adopted a Land Development Code amendment that raises Miramar's local freeboard requirement to two feet above base flood elevation and reorganizes the city's floodplain-management provisions into a new chapter to support participation and higher credit in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS).
Staff said the city has participated in the NFIP since 1977 and in the CRS since 1993, currently holding a Class 8 rating that provides a 10% premium discount to property owners with flood insurance. The proposed changes follow a state/FEMA review and align the local ordinance with the Florida Building Code and FEMA model ordinance while removing duplicative or antiquated language.
Key changes: increasing the minimum elevation requirement to base flood elevation plus two feet (a one-foot increase over the prior local standard), consolidating floodplain definitions and provisions, and adopting more stringent local standards intended to improve Miramar's CRS class (staff said the package of improvements could move residents to roughly a 25% discount if all credits are achieved).
Commissioners asked how existing structures would be treated. Staff said existing buildings would only be required to meet the higher standard when a substantial improvement or substantial damage (defined at 50% of market value threshold) occurs; property owners would receive the improved insurance discounts automatically if the city achieves the higher CRS rating.
Vote and follow-up: the commission voted to adopt the ordinance; staff will work with the state and FEMA to implement the revised code and to pursue CRS reclassification.
