Model Bylaw For Effectively Managing Coastal Floodplain Development

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Model BylawFor Effectively Managing Coastal
Floodplain Development
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• Presented by
• Ryan Christenberry, Planner
• Cape Cod Commission
• Developed cooperatively by
• The Woods Hole Sea Grant Program, The Cape Cod
  Commission, The University of Hawaii Sea Grant
  Program, and the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension

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Technical Report Findings
avoiding flooding impacts to the built
environment, particularly in known coastal high
hazard areas, by prohibiting or severely limiting
building in the coastal floodplain is the only
true and ultimately effective floodplain
management approach.

• Introduction
• U.S. coastal population expected to reach 177
  million people in 2010 (a 43 increase from
  2006).
• Property losses from coastal disasters in the
  1990s exceeded 150 billion (nationally).
• A conservative estimate of worldwide sea level
  rise over the next 100 years is 2 to 3 feet (this
  will vary by region due to relative sea level
  rise)
• Siting and Elevation are the key factors in
  making coastal buildings more hazard resilient.

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Technical Report Findings

• Promulgating Higher Standards
• Development can be prohibited, or severely
  limited, for the purpose of protecting public
  health, safety and welfare.
• At minimum, a 70-year life expectancy for a
  coastal building is prudent. Thus, a 70-year rate
  multiplier for calculating the erosion setback
  line is recommended.
• Relative sea-level rise projections are
  necessary for calculating both vertical and
  horizontal dimensions for coastal resources,
  particularly in special transitional areas.
• 3-foot of freeboard may be more prudent to
  accommodate rise in sea level over the life of
  the coastal property.

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Model Bylaw

• fairly applies hazard based regulations to
  promote the property rights of all in the
  community by preventing development that will
  cause harm to future occupants of that
  development, emergency workers who perform
  evacuations when disaster strikes, and the
  economic basis of a coastal community.

• Article 1 - Findings of Fact
• Article 2 - Purpose and Intent Protection of the
  public health, safety and welfare, prevent loss
  of coastal resources and their natural benefits,
  restrict or prohibit development in known hazard
  areas, fiscal responsibility, etc.
• Article 3 - District Location or
  DelineationFlood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), or
  Land subject to coastal storm flowage (LSCSF, if
  available) as overlay and regulatory zones within
  district defined as Coastal High Hazard Zone and
  Tidal A-Zone.
• Article 4 - Scope of AuthorityMore restrictive
  standards apply across boundaries

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Model Bylaw
Article 5 - Use and Activity Regulations for the
Coastal Floodplain DistrictSuggested that
development allowances vary according to zone.
Chatham, MA as model. Article 6 - Development
Standards for Use and Activity in the
DistrictSetbacks, sea level rise, landward
migration, flow characteristics, repair,
elevation, freeboard. Article 7 - Reconstruction,
Expansion, or Alteration of Pre-existing,
Nonconforming Uses and Structures Article 8 -
Effect on Outstanding Floodplain Development
Permits Article 9 - Definitions Article 10 -
Severability
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• Questions?
• For more information, please contact
• The Cape Cod Commission
• 508.362.3828