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4 <br />• `Contractual rights' of Orange County property owners, including those around Lake <br />Orange, are not affected differently by this proposal than the existing FDPO. <br />• The accuracy of the mapped floodplains is always in question. FEMA recognizes this <br />and has developed a protocol to address this issue through the submittal, review, and <br />approval of a Letter of Map Amendment (COMA). <br />Five property owners have taken advantage of this process in Orange County since <br />February 2007. Floodplain elevations were plotted out using the best available <br />technology for watershed-wide topographic determinations - LIDAR. This is the same <br />technology used by NASA and is in use throughout the world today. <br />The topographic coverages found in the County's GIS are generally accurate, but not to <br />an engineering standard. The County GIS topographic maps were not used to compute <br />the base flood elevations. The flood elevations are much more accurate but are not a <br />substitute for on-ground three-dimensional surveying to determine precise topographic <br />contours of the floodplain. <br />OTHER COMMENTS: Staff will continue to work with local property owners to address <br />concerns they may have relating to the interpretation and enforcement of flood regulations on <br />their property. For the most part, staff has been proactive in identifying various issues and <br />working with property owners to achieve a desirable outcome. <br />PLANNING BOARD REVIEW/RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Board reviewed this item <br />at its March 4, 2009 regular meeting. Discussion at the meeting focused on the following: <br />1. The County's ability to enforce flood regulations on bona fide farm uses given the <br />limitation in the County's zoning authority. <br />Staff Comment: Staff reviewed the various provisions in the proposed amendments to <br />address this concern. <br />2. Board members wanted more information on the process necessary in applying for a <br />COMA, <br />3. Board members asked if the proposed amendments might impact the ability for <br />development within existing Economic Development areas and/or nodes. <br />Staff Comment: These amendments do not impose any greater standard limiting the <br />overall development permitted on a parcel of property. As a result those properties <br />containing identified flood areas will still be allowed to develop consistent with existing <br />flood regulations. <br />4. Board members expressed concern over the expense in applying for a COMA. <br />After deliberating on the proposal, the Board voted eight (8) to two (2) to recommend approval <br />of staffs proposal regarding: <br />a. Incorporating the amended FDPO text into the Zoning Ordinance text; <br />b. Creating a new Zoning Overlay District -Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA); <br />c. Affirming the various amendments to the FIRM (future SFHA Overlay District) <br />that FEMA approved on February 2, 2007; and <br />