Planning commission recommends restoring Coastal A zone and 12-inch freeboard to flood ordinance

The Diamondhead City Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council add the Coastal A zone and a 12-inch freeboard to the city's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (Ordinance 2012-006), moving the proposed text amendment forward to the council.

A city staff presenter told commissioners the amendment had been publicly advertised and posted and said it responds to a FEMA requirement. "FEMA's come back and said even though you are following this, you must have them in your ordinance," the presenter said, explaining the language had previously been removed but that federal reviewers now require it be included.

The presenter said most recent building permits already met the Coastal A-zone and 12-inch freeboard standard. "So we're just putting it back in the ordinance to make sure that we are conforming to what the FEMA people want us to do," the presenter said, adding that restoring the provisions would help preserve or improve the city's CRS rating and could lower residents' flood insurance costs.

Commissioner action took the form of a motion to accept staff's recommendation, followed by a roll-call vote. Commissioners Parrish, Peters, Lawson and Raymond each voted to approve, producing a unanimous recommendation to council.

City staff told the commission the recommendation would be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at its next meeting. The chair announced the City Council's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 5, 2025; the commission's next meeting was announced for Aug. 26, 2025.

No members of the public spoke during the meeting, and there was no unfinished business. The commission adjourned after completing the agenda.