New Floodplain Maps and Floodplain Permitting

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Land Development Workshop

December 11, 2012

What is 100- Year Flood?

• A flood that has a 1% (1in 100) chance of occurring in any year.

“Regulated” Floodplains vs. “100+1’ Flood Lines”

“100+1’ Flood Line” or“Building Restriction Floodline” or“Stormwater Elevation Line”• Smaller Creeks (less 1 sq. mi.)• 100-year+1ft - Subdivision Ordinances• No Flood Insurance Required

Government Hierarchy

• Department of Homeland Security• FEMA – Federal Emergency Management

Agency (Created in 1979)

• NFIP – National Flood Insurance Program– Created 1969– Housed under FEMA

• NCEM – North Carolina Emergency Management - Guidance

• Charlotte/Mecklenburg/Towns

National FloodInsurance Program

1- Guide future development away from flood hazard areas;

2- Require that new and substantially improved buildings be constructed to resist flood damage;

3- Provide homeowners with financial assistance after floods, especially after smaller floods that do not warrant federal disaster aid, and;

4- Transfer some of the costs of flood losses from the taxpayers to the property owners.

Background: Floodplains

Evolution of Floodplain Maps & Regulations• 1978 – First Charlotte Ordinance and Maps• 2002 -NC Floodplain Mapping – 99 Counties• 2004 – FEMA published updated Maps• 2009 – Charlotte maps reformatted to meet

NC Mapping Grid• 2012 and beyond – New Floodplain Maps

Charlotte/Mecklenburg

• City/County Joined NFIP in late 1970’s• Administered by Zoning Dept until early

1980’s• County Engineering took over in early

1980’s• County Storm Water Created- 1994

New Floodplain Maps

• Revised Floodplain Elevations and Widths• Briar, Little Sugar, McAlpine, McMullen

Creeks Preliminary Maps Complete• Overall, Floodplain Widths and Depths

Going Down• Maps for Other Creeks Will Follow

2016

2013

2014

Phase 1 Mapping

• UPPER LITTLE SUGAR• BRIAR • LOWER LITTLE SUGAR• BACK • REEDY• McKEE • CALDWELL• McALPINE• CLEAR • GOOSE• McMULLEN • CROOKED • FOUR MILE • TWELVE MILE • SIX MILE • CLEM

- Buildings Constructed before First FIRM MAP - 8/15/1978 for Charlotte - Rates don’t account for depth of flooding - basement or no basement

Flood Map Review / Comment Site

Preliminary Date – April 11, 20113 Month Appeal Period6 Months Buildings Compliance Period

FEMA Effective - December 2013

Phase I Maps - Dates

Flood Insurance

• Required if Building Footprint Located in FEMA Floodplain and Mortgage

• Not Required if Building in Community Floodplain

• Rate Based on Difference Between Lowest Floor and FEMA Flood Elevation

Flood Insurance (Cont.)

• Anyone Can Buy Flood Insurance in Charlotte-Mecklenburg

• CRS – 25% Discount in Charlotte 20% Discount Mecklenburg & Pineville• Flood Insurance Requirement Can Be Removed

With FEMA Letter (LOMA, LOMR-Fill)• LOMA, LOMR-Fill - Shown on 3D FloodZone

Website

Floodprone Buildings

FEMA (Existing Land Use) Floodplain

•4000 +/- buildings•700 +/- flood into living space

•Most Built Before Floodplain Maps (Pre- 1978)

3D FloodZone Interactive Mapping Website

http://mapserver. mecklenburgcountync.gov/3dfz/

Permitting in the Floodplain

Permitting in the Floodplain

When is a Floodplain Development Permit (FDP) Required?

A Floodplain Development Permit is requiredfor all proposed development in the floodplain.

Development means “any manmade change to improved and unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavating or drilling operations.”

Broad Definition of Development

Examples of Development Include:• Road Crossings or Culverts• Residential Subdivisions• Waste Water Treatment Facilities• Stream Restoration Projects• Greenways• Commercial Development

Two Types Floodplain Development Permits (FDP’s)

• General Floodplain Development Permit (GFDP). Created to enable review of development projects with no impact to be streamlined .

• Individual Floodplain Development Permit (IFDP). Covers all other projects that do not qualify as GFDP.

General FDP

General Floodplain Development Permit is for maintenance projects or underground utilities not changing the topography. Project manager is required to notify the Floodplain Administrator in advance.

General FDP•

Utility infrastructure (poles, sewer manholes, vent pipes, underground utilities, etc.), sign poles, non-solid fences

Examples of GFDP• General farming,

pasture, horticulture, forestry, wildlife sanctuaries, gardens, lawns, landscaping

Examples of GFDP

• On-grade driveways, trails, sidewalks, boardwalks, roads and road maintenance; storm drainage system construction, repairs and maintenance

Individual Floodplain Development Permit (IFDP) – FLOOD FRINGE REVIEWS

• For any development inside the Community Floodplain that does not qualify for GFDP.

• Requires IFDP application, Check Sheet, grading and erosion control plans and payment of review fee.

Individual Floodplain Development Permit (IFDP) – FLOODWAY REVIEWS

• Includes all requirements for floodplain development and

• A flood study (No-Rise Certificate) that shows impact of proposed development on 100 year water surface elevation.

YEAR FDPs ISSUED2006 1112007 702008 202009 142010 232011 132012 14

Number of IFDPs Approved

Flood Mitigation Regulatory Staff

Tim Ruane

David Love

Bill Tingle

Melonee BrockTim

Trautman

QUESTIONS ??