Glocester council adopts zoning update to reflect new FEMA flood-insurance panels

The Glocester Town Council on May 7 adopted revisions to the zoning ordinance governing special flood hazard areas and flood-fringe lands to update Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood-insurance rate map panel numbers and associated dates.

The planning board had recommended the amendments unanimously (5–0) after reviewing draft Section 3.50–55; the board’s motion noted the changes are intended to identify the FEMA map panels that are wholly or partially within the town. During the council meeting a member clarified the amendments do not change local substantive flood rules but update panel numbers and dates tied to FEMA’s periodic map updates. “The only thing that’s changing in the ordinance is, the panel numbers and the dates,” a councilor said.

Council members closed the public hearing, made a motion to adopt the zoning text revision and passed the motion by voice vote. The council record cites consistency with the town’s comprehensive plan and with state zoning enabling statutes as part of the planning board’s findings of fact.

The council emphasized that these updates are a municipal response to FEMA map revisions and that other ordinance provisions remain unchanged. The adoption is intended to keep the town’s regulatory text aligned with federally mandated map identifications and to ensure continuity in floodplain management and insurance administration.