HomeMy WebLinkAboutA004 - City Council Vote on 1st Reading of New Flood Ordinance dafs
CITY COUNCIL VOTE ON 1S'READING OF NEW FLOOD ORDINANCE
(9-9-14)
1. Mayor Campbell and Ames City Council. Thank you for allowing us to voice our
concerns. My name is Michael Petersen. I live at 3302 Morningside St,in SW
Amps: reafize that the proposed amendments to the flood lain zoning
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regulations will make flood insurance more affordable because the floodway
fringe level has been lowered by the new study (see paragraph 8 on p. 2 of the
Council Actiog-Form dated 9-9-14). This means that some houses will now not
be considered.in the floodway fringe. Here are some questions that I and
probably quite a few other people have. I hope the city council will ask these of
the engineers and other people who revised the flood plain zoning regulations
for the city of Ames. Will these new amendments have any influence on where
Breckenridge can place buildings near the flood plain and floodway fringe on the
middle and south parcels of the Old Middle School property,especially in
relation to the new regulations starting date of 10-16-14?
2. How will Phis ordinance protect residents from 100-year floods,especially those
who live next to College Creek on Morningside Street? I can see very little
difference in the"before"and "after" maps regarding degree of building
restrictions in that area.
3. How will it protect us from 500-year floods?
4. I am also concerned with how the city allows new properties being developed on
S. Duff Ave.and S 16u'Streets to be placed on 4'to 6'elevated platforms of soil.
For example, I am thinking of Howe's Welding next to Squaw Creek and the
recently elevated plot of land just to its north. During floods similar to those in
2010,that elevated area will act as a wall which will divert large quantities of
flood water right into Howe's building. When are we going to learn that it is not
prudent to build on flood plains? When are we going to begin taking the advice
of community members like Ery Klaas,who have professional environmental
training in river and stream water drainage systems?
5. 1 and many other people do not feel comfortable and have little confidence that
these new amendments will protect people and property from 100-year,let
alone 500-year floods that seem to be occurring more frequently.
6. Before you vote to pass the proposed amendments to the flood plain zoning
regulations, I hope these questions can be answered to the satisfaction of people
who have expressed concerns about the danger of building on flood plains as
well as by those who have experienced flooding of their homes and businesses
because the city has allowed tax incentives toward unregulated and non-
restrictive building on flood plains. Remember that even though flood insurance
may become more affordable,if building on the flood plane had been prohibited
or at least restricted somewhat,there would be less need to have flood insurance
in the first place. Changing arbitrary floodway fringe boundaries for insurance
purposes will not prevent 100-year and 500-year floodwaters from entering our
homes. Stringent restrictive flood zone building regulations may help reduce the
number of future"2010-like"catastrophes. Thank you again for allowing us to
speak.