Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Floodplain Maps topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff outlines draft FEMA floodplain maps; short comment period and culvert upgrades may change local flood designations
Summary
Midway staff told the planning commission that draft FEMA floodplain maps — created with new lidar and hydrology data — are in public comment and could be adopted in about two years; culvert upsizing projects reduce flood exposure in some locations, but staff said at least one Midway home appears newly in the draft floodplain and might face mortgage insurance requirements.
City staff briefed the planning commission on draft floodplain maps produced with updated hydrology and lidar data and said the draft maps are currently in a short public comment period.
"We're probably about two years away from adopting these new maps," city staff said, explaining that better topographic data — lidar flights that can see through leaves — and improved hydrology estimates changed the estimated extent of floodplains in some areas. Staff said the draft maps show a mix of reductions and expansions in floodplain areas: in places where culverts are planned to be upsized (State Route 222 and State Route 113), the floodplain shrinks, but in other areas the floodplain extends beyond the currently adopted maps.
Staff noted the maps are drafts and that property owners can submit comments during the comment period. "I can only find one home that is now in the flood plain that wasn't in the past," staff said, and cautioned that inclusion in a floodplain can trigger mortgage‑insurance requirements for affected homeowners. The staff presentation encouraged residents and stakeholders to review the maps and submit comments to the state and FEMA during the comment window.
The presentation also tied the mapping work to planned infrastructure: staff confirmed that culvert replacements scheduled for this year were modeled in the draft maps and are expected to reduce flood extents on the north side of town where water previously backed up onto roadways.
Next steps: staff will continue coordinating with the state and FEMA; the commission and public may submit comments during the stated comment period before the maps move toward adoption.
