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Commission moves floodplain and shoreland ordinance updates toward public hearings after technical review with DNR
Summary
Staff asked the commission to reincorporate DNR‑aligned floodplain regulations and adopt negotiated higher standards for the shoreland ordinance; commissioners agreed to hold public hearings (floodplain June 17) and voted to recommend the shoreland ordinance for adoption after public hearing.
Staff presented proposed updates to the City of Brainerd’s floodplain overlay and shoreland zoning rules that incorporate requirements and conditional higher standards negotiated with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
James (Community Development staff) said the floodplain regulations were inadvertently removed in a prior code update and that staff have worked with the DNR to reinsert necessary text. The draft includes procedural requirements for permits in flood fringe and floodway areas and suggested higher standards; staff said they will review a proposed 0.2% fringe expansion language with the public utilities director before finalizing the draft for public hearing.
Commissioners asked whether local changes would affect federal flood‑insurance mapping and requirements. A lender present said mortgage and insurance triggers are controlled by federal mapping (FEMA/Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac) rather than local ordinance, and James said staff will verify technical impacts with the city engineer and public utilities director before the public hearing.
The commission agreed to hold a public hearing on the floodplain overlay draft (target June 17) and opened and closed a public hearing on the shoreland ordinance, after which it voted to proceed with the hearing process and recommended adoption of the shoreland ordinance following the public hearing.
Commissioners said working with the DNR produced a workable draft but asked staff to clarify the technical language before formal adoption steps.
Next steps: staff will refine technical language in consultation with the public utilities director and city engineer, schedule the floodplain public hearing (June 17) and forward the shoreland ordinance and its public‑hearing record to city council for consideration after the hearing.
