Item 5-a - Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendments – Update of Effective Date of Flood Information Rate Maps (FIRM)

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2 As previously indicated, participation in the NFIP is voluntary and floodplain management standards are only enforceable within a specific community. County regulations, for example, only apply to property owners within Orange County's planning jurisdiction. This also means only those property owners benefit from Orange County's participation within the program. It is up to individual communities (i.e. Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Mebane, etc.) to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. Staff is unaware of pending FIRM changes impacting any of the aforementioned municipalities requiring similar amendments)/action. It is, however, incumbent on those individual communities to coordinate such action with State emergency management officials. Planning Director Recommendation: The Planning Director recommends approval of the Statement of Consistency, as contained in Attachment 3, and the LIDO Text Amendment, as contained within Attachment 4. Planning Board Recommendation: At its September 5, 2018 meeting, the Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Statement of Consistency and the LIDO amendment package. An excerpt of minutes and the signed Statement of Consistency from this meeting are included in Attachment 2. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this agenda item: • GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND-USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Consideration and approval will not create the need for additional funding for the provision of County services. Costs for the required legal advertisement for the text amendment will be paid from FY2018-19 Departmental funds budgeted for this purpose. Existing Planning staff included in the Departmental staffing budget will accomplish the work required to process these amendments. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board: 1. Receive the proposed amendments to the UDO as detailed in this abstract and attachments; 2. Conduct the public hearing and accept comment on the proposed amendments; 3. Close the public hearing. (Note that, because this is a legislative decision, additional comments at a later date are permitted); and 4. Decide on one of the following options: a. Adopt the proposed amendments by approving the Statement of Consistency (Attachment 3) and Ordinance (Attachment 4). b. Defer a decision to a later BOCC regular meeting date. c. Refer the item back to the Planning Board for a specific purpose.