Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Nehalem Council adopts floodplain ordinance requiring permit-by-permit ESA reviews; developers warn of cost and uncertainty
Summary
The Nehalem City Council on Jan. 13 adopted Ordinance No. 2025-01 to align its flood hazard overlay with FEMA/NFIP Endangered Species Act requirements by using a permit-by-permit review that requires qualified biological reports; residents and property owners raised concerns about assessment costs and uncertainty for planned development.
Nehalem City Council on Jan. 13 adopted Ordinance No. 2025-01, amending Chapter 157.210 of the Nehalem Development Ordinance to implement Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements tied to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through a permit-by-permit review process.
City Attorney Carrie Richter told the council the change responds to a federal settlement that requires FEMA to ensure NFIP compliance with the ESA and that FEMA has directed communities to adopt local measures. Richter described three compliance options — permit-by-permit review, adoption of a FEMA model code, or a development moratorium — and said the city had notified FEMA on Dec. 1, 2024 that it would pursue the permit-by-permit approach. That approach requires applicants to provide a biological report prepared by a qualified biologist; the city will verify that the report exists and that the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat