Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
125 <br /> October 4, 2017 - Recommendation. During the Planning Board meeting the <br /> following questions/comments were made: <br /> a. A Planning Board member asked why the County was doing this. <br /> STAFF COMMENT: The County is required to adopt the new Flood Insurance <br /> Rate Maps (FIRMs) in order to remain eligible for participation in the National <br /> Flood Insurance Program. This enables local property owners purchase flood <br /> insurance and be eligible for disaster relief aid/grants to address damage from a <br /> storm event. <br /> b. A Planning Board member asked if certified letters were sent out because the <br /> Special Flood Hazard Area Overlay is being eliminated. <br /> STAFF COMMENT: Yes. Per Section 2.8.7 (D) of the UDO the County is <br /> required to send out certified letters to property owners affected by a Zoning Atlas <br /> Amendment. <br /> c. A Planning Board member expressed concern over the potential for conflicting <br /> information concerning a property's location within a floodplain. Specific <br /> reference was made to correspondence from an insurance carrier concerning a <br /> parcel of property being located within a floodplain. <br /> STAFF COMMENT: Staff agreed mistakes could be made, or information <br /> misconstrued, concerning the presence of floodplain on a given parcel of <br /> property. Those property owners wishing to verify if their property is encumbered <br /> by floodplain can call the Planning Department for more information. <br /> d. A Planning Board member asked if these amendments will impact property <br /> located within the jurisdiction of a local municipality. <br /> STAFF COMMENT. This amendment will not have any impact on property <br /> located within the planning jurisdiction of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Mebane, <br /> Hillsborough, or Durham. <br /> e. A Planning Board member asked if these amendments were adopted would the <br /> County be initiating enforcement action to compel property owners to bring <br /> structures into compliance. <br /> STAFF COMMENT: Adoption of the proposed amendments will not require <br /> property owners to immediately bring property into compliance with new <br /> regulations. Such action will typically be needed if structures located within the <br /> floodplain are expanded, modified, or retrofitted. <br /> f. A local property owner asked if there any changes in required setbacks from the <br /> floodplain were proposed as part of this amendment. <br /> STAFF COMMENT: No changes to existing floodplain buffer standards were <br /> proposed as part of this amendment package. <br /> g. A local property owner asked if there was a process to challenge FEMA's <br /> determination on the amount of floodplain on property. <br /> STAFF COMMENT: FEMA has a petition process whereby local property owners <br /> can ask for a review of floodplain boundaries on a given parcel of property. <br /> h. A Planning Board member asked if it was possible for someone to be landlocked <br /> out of their property due to the presence of floodplain. <br /> STAFF COMMENT: No. Roadways and driveway could be developed under <br /> specific conditions as articulated in the UDO. <br />