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Council authorizes FEMA remap application and approves related land-use steps
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Summary
Council authorized the borough manager to sign a conditional letter of map amendment (CLOMAR) for a WB Homes floodplain remapping and approved related administrative actions including several routine resolutions and a lead-poisoning prevention resolution.
Lansdale Borough Council voted March 18 to authorize the borough manager to sign a conditional letter of map amendment (CLOMAR) application for a WB Homes site at 864 West 5th Street and to proceed with related administrative items on the meeting agenda.
Chris Canavan of WB Homes explained the CLOMAR request: the firm submitted detailed topographic and hydrologic surveys and a hydrologic/hydraulic analysis that show a revised delineation of floodplain near a stormwater tunnel that discharges through the borough. Canavan said the remapping does not remove floodplain from the borough map arbitrarily but accurately reflects surveyed elevations and that construction of stormwater management facilities on the site will reduce uncontrolled discharge to downstream properties.
Council members raised concerns about potential downstream effects and insurance impacts; the developer said the planned on-site stormwater detention will reduce peak discharges and borough review expenses will be reimbursed from the developer’s escrow. Borough staff confirmed the borough engineer had reviewed the submission and that FEMA’s review would follow once the borough acknowledges the application.
Council also handled the action agenda: members approved the treasurer’s report and check warrant, adopted a resolution authorizing check signers at Univest, updated code enforcement fees, adopted a resolution promoting lead-poisoning awareness and remediation, granted a conditional waiver of land development approval to Penny Corp Properties LLC for a West Main Street site, authorized bid advertising for multiple public works projects, and approved a special-event application for a June car show. Two handicap-parking ordinance items were tabled for further information.
The CLOMAR authorization will allow the borough manager to attest to the application so the developer may submit it to FEMA; subsequent staff review and any FEMA comments will be part of the ongoing land-development process.
What’s next: the developer will submit the CLOMAR to FEMA; borough staff will continue technical review and the land-development plans will return to planning commission and council for final land-use approvals. The resolutions and approvals taken tonight are administrative and do not themselves authorize construction.
Representative quote: "We will be taking a site that has absolutely zero stormwater management controls on it and bringing it up to current standards," Canavan said.
