Director of Development, Crystal Surdyk, talks to the council about how everything with the zoning change near Jackson-Taylor Park will adhere to flood plain regulations. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Recent federal changes to FEMA flood plain maps will affect city projects that include the rezoning of part of the north side.

Following a public comment at Monday’s City Council meeting, Crystal Surdyk, city development director, addressed the fact that the area being talked about by Jackson-Taylor Park that is looking to have the zoning code changed from an R-2 to C-1 is in the flood plains.

During Monday’s meeting, Surdyk said FEMA’s flood plain maps have been updated in recent years and are currently found online in a new system. For any project anywhere she said the Department of Development looks at FEMA and flood plain maps and requirements, as that is part of the job and what the Building and Zoning Inspector does.

“Any project that we do always is reviewed for flood plain adherence,” Surdyk said. “I will also point out that it’s in a wetland area, primarily there’s a large portion of that area that is considered wetland area, so that will get looked at.”

Additionally, everything for a project whether that is for a new building or a new use of an already existing building will be looked at and still go to the Planning Commission for review. All of the usual proceeds and everything will remain the same.

“I can promise you that we will be using FEMA’s flood plain mapping tool to identify the appropriate flood plain for every single project,” Surdyk said.

The entire area also falls under a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, or LWRP. An LWRP serves as the state Office of Planning and Development’s primary program for working in partnership with waterfront communities across the State to address local and regional waterway issues, improve water quality and natural areas, guide development to areas with adequate infrastructure and services away from sensitive resources, promote public waterfront access, and provide for redevelopment of underutilized waterfronts, according to the Department of State’s website.

“As it is designated and adopted by the city and city council, we will review every project as well as the zoning change for LWRP consistency,” Surdyk said.