Proposed Action: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has notified the City of North Bend that new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for all of Coos County will become effective on March 17, 2014. The new Maps and Study must be adopted by the City by the effective date in order for it to continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The only change to the zoning text will be to change the effective date of the maps and study. The new FIRMs FIS Flood Profile for Pony Creek have been significantly revised. Background: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been revising the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) for Coos County during the past few years. The new maps incorporate and are based upon new highly accurate elevation maps from new light detection and ranging (lidar) data. A new, revised draft Flood Insurance Study (FIS) has also been completed as of April 29, 2011. The City received the draft Maps and Study in April of 2011. The City participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) primarily through its Floodplain Zone ordinance, codified as Chapter 18.48 of Title 18 Zoning, NBCC. Property owners in the City are eligible for NFIP coverage because of this. The City must adopt the FIRM Maps, FIS and a local ordinance that meets the standards and criteria of FEMA in order for its property owners to participate in the insurance program. In order to maintain our local program, the City will be required to: • Revise its existing floodplain ordinance. • Adopt the new FIRM Maps. • Adopt the new FIS. The City has been officially notified by FEMA via a Letter of Final Determination that the new DFIRM maps and the related study have been certified. This means that the map boundaries are those that must be used by the City for our local floodplain management program. Changes to the FIRM Maps: The new lidar-based maps were produced by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) under contract for FEMA. The new maps are substantially improved, compared to the maps adopted in 2009 and currently in effect. Some notable changes include: • Air photo base maps have been replaced with topographic base maps derived from the lidar, making these features much more visible. • Buildings are shaded dark gray, making them clearly visible and showing their footprints. • Adjoining map panels are listed on each edge of the map. • Floodplain areas and boundaries are more clearly and boldly defined. Changes to the Floodplain: Very substantial changes have occurred in the location and extent of the floodplain in the City, more so than anywhere else in the County. Overall, the floodplain in North Bend has shrunk in area and extent. Some notable general city-wide changes include: • 328 acres currently in the floodplain will be removed, and only 2 acres previously not in will be added. There are no structures on the 2 acres to be added, which are also wetlands. • 193 structures will be removed from the floodplain. Only 74 of the current 267 structures will remain in the floodplain. • The vast majority of the land remaining in the floodplain is located around the airport runways or is designated wetlands around Pony Creek. • Discrepancies in floodplain elevations shown on the FIRM and the FIS Flood Profile for the area south of Newmark Street along Pony Creek have been rectified. Changes to the City Floodplain Ordinance: No changes will be made in the Floodplain Code Chapter 18.48 Floodplain Zone F-P except for the effective date of the maps and study.
