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Board debates fill, stilts and streetscape impacts as flood rules reshape historic context
Summary
Members raised concerns that raising lots to meet FEMA elevation requirements can alter streetscapes and neighboring properties; staff recommended emphasizing streetscape context and design alternatives in reviews, while noting waivers do not apply to new construction.
Multiple board members warned that filling lots to meet flood-elevation standards can effectively raise entire lot grades, changing the historic streetscape and harming adjacent properties. One member argued "coming in and building up 5 feet of dirt seems less historically compatible than building a taller building," urging the board to discourage wholesale lot fill when possible.
Staff responded that FEMA's elevation requirements and preference for elevated foundations sometimes favor pilings or raised crawl spaces, and that historic waivers are only available for contributing buildings, not for new construction. Anne Hamilton urged the board to request detailed streetscape context diagrams and, if necessary, continue items until proper context and elevations are supplied.
