Chapter 17.15 DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

Chapter 17.15
DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

Sections:

17.15.030 Locating floodplain boundaries.

17.15.040 Removal of lands from floodplain.

17.15.010 Areas to be regulated.

Areas regulated by this title include all lands within the corporate limits of the village of Arena, Wisconsin, that would be inundated by the “regional flood,” defined in AMC 17.10.010, and include “floodplain islands” where emergency rescue and relief routes would be inundated by the regional flood. [Prior code § 10-2-10].

17.15.020 District boundaries.

(a) Official Map. The boundary of the floodplain districts, including the floodway and flood fringe districts, shall be those areas designated as floodplains or A zones on the official floodplain zoning map for the community and that has been approved by the Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and that is on file in the office of the village clerk. If more than one map is referenced, the regional flood profiles govern boundary discrepancies according to AMC 17.15.030.

(b) Districts. The regional floodplain areas within the jurisdiction of this title are hereby divided into three districts: the floodway district (FW), flood fringe district (FF), and general floodplain district (GFP), defined as follows:

(1) The floodway district (FW) consists of the channel of a river or stream and those portions of the floodplain adjoining the channel that are required to carry and discharge the regional flood waters.

(2) The flood fringe district (FF) consists of that portion of the floodplain between the regional flood limits and the floodway.

(3) The general floodplain district (GFP) consists of all areas which have been or may be hereafter covered by flood water during the regional flood. It encompasses both the floodway and flood fringe districts. [Prior code § 10-2-11].

17.15.030 Locating floodplain boundaries.

(a) Where an apparent discrepancy exists between the location of the outermost boundary of the flood fringe district or general floodplain district shown on the official floodplain zoning map and actual field conditions, the location of the district boundary line shall be initially determined by the zoning administrator using the criteria set forth in subsection (b) or (c) of this section. Where the zoning administrator finds that there is a significant difference between the district boundary shown on the map and the actual field conditions, the map shall be amended using the procedures established in Chapter 17.45 AMC. Disputes between the zoning administrator and an applicant on the location of the district boundary line shall be settled according to AMC 17.50.040.

(b) Where flood profiles exist, the location of the district boundary line shall be determined by the zoning administrator using both the scale appearing on the map and the elevations shown on the water surface profile of the regional flood. Where a discrepancy exists between the map and the location indicated by the regional flood elevations and actual field conditions, the regional flood elevations shall govern. A map amendment is required where there is a significant discrepancy between the map and actual field conditions. The zoning administrator shall have the authority to immediately grant or deny a land use permit on the basis of a district boundary derived from the elevations shown on the water surface profile of the regional flood, whether or not a map amendment is required. The zoning administrator shall be responsible for initiating any map amendments required under this section within a reasonable period of time.

(c) Where flood profiles do not exist, the location of the district boundary line shall be determined by the zoning administrator using the scale appearing on the map, visual on-site inspection and any available information provided by the department. Where there is a significant difference between the district boundary line shown on the map and actual field conditions, the map shall be amended. Where a map amendment has been approved by both the village board and the department, the zoning administrator shall have the authority to grant or deny a land use permit. [Prior code § 10-2-12].

17.15.040 Removal of lands from floodplain.

Compliance with the provisions of this title shall not be grounds for removing lands from the floodplain district, unless they are removed by filling to a height of at least two feet above the regional flood elevation, the fill is contiguous to land lying outside the floodplain district, and the map is amended pursuant to Chapter 17.45 AMC. To remove the land from flood insurance requirements, FEMA must first revise the flood insurance rate map or issue a letter of map amendment or revision. [Prior code § 10-2-13].