Winfield staff seeks update to flood damage prevention code; commission backs recommendation to council

Planning staff told the Winfield planning commission that the town’s floodplain development coordinates and submittal requirements have been revised to match current DNR and FEMA federal standards, and the commission voted to recommend the changes to the town council.

"This is a work product of several months of collaboration with DNR and FEMA to get our floodplain development coordinates updated to the current federal standards," a planning staff member told the commission during the public hearing portion of the meeting. Staff said definitions were updated or added and submittal requirements revised to reflect the higher standards.

The presentation said the update also codifies an existing internal policy discouraging development in mapped floodplain areas when feasible. Staff confirmed the public hearing had been advertised; when the chair opened the floor for public comment, no one spoke.

A motion to forward a favorable recommendation to the town council carried on the commission floor (motion by Dave; second by Jim). The commission’s recommendation does not itself change the code; it refers the proposed update to the town council for formal adoption.

The planning staff said the code revision is intended to reduce flood risk by clarifying developer submittal expectations and aligning local rules with federal mapping and regulatory practices. The town council will consider the ordinance at a subsequent meeting.