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Porter OKs updated FEMA floodplain law

by jmaloni
Sat, Jul 24th 2010 03:05 pm

by Terry Duffy

Porter Town Board members briefly reviewed and adopted an updated Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain prevention law - new guidelines of which impact limited areas and property owners - at its regular meeting on July 12.

The session led off with a public hearing that saw few comments on the updated FEMA guidelines that were first released in 2008. The new criteria, which determines a property owner's need to obtain costly flood insurance protection, was seen as having limited impact for Porter property owners, unlike those in other communities such as Wheatfield which had scores affected, said Town Building Inspector Roy Rogers.

"There were more taken off than added," said Rogers, of the 12 Porter property owners affected, mostly in the Twelve Mile Creek floodplain. He said the changes came about due to updates in elevation numbers on maps of individual properties, which were updated from older topographical maps last done in the 1980s. He said there were two appeals that were unsuccessful.

Following the hearing, the board went on to repeal Local Law of 1987 on floodplain prevention and adopt the new version 4-0. Council member Larry White was absent. Town Attorney Mike Dowd said without adopting, the town would be unable to participate in government flood insurance protection programs availed to affected property owners.

In other news:

  • The board announced it will be holding a Land Use Update Public Hearing, Monday, Aug. 16 at Town Hall at 7 p.m. Its purpose would be gauge input on changes to zoning laws, updates to the town zoning book, subdivision changes and zoning map that had been under way in the town since 2001. "Let's get this done," said Supervisor Mert Wiepert, noting the years-long town effort.
  • Town Engineer Dave Britain of CRA Associates updated the board on the Cain Road improvement project en route to requesting advertising for bids. Work included would involve the slip lining of culverts and repairing of headwalls to address a drainage/erosion/road safety problem. Britain estimated its cost to be less than $35,000. The approved a resolution and work is expected to begin in late July or early August.

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