06/10/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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.. M E M 0 RAN 0 U M e June 10, 1985 TO: FROM: Mayor and City Council Planning and Public \~orks Department.s for the Planning Commission SUBJ: FLOODWAY DEVELOPMENT REGULATION REVISIONS CA 85-4 In accord wi th the reQui rement.s of the Federa 1 Emergency Management. Agency (FEMA) we will soon begin the process of comorenensively revising Eugenels zoning regulations regarding develooment. st.andards in designat.ed flood hazard areas. This is necessary so deveiopmen~ can cont.inue to qualify for loans from lending institutions insured by the federal government. These regulations will address the fiooaway fringe as well as the water courses themselves, as defined and delineat.ed on FEMA maps. In the meantime, there is some concern about industrial development limitations in the vicinity oT the Amazon Channel, especially in west Eugene. For example, Spectra Physics plans t.o apply for a building permit to expand its facilities this building season. However, the Metro Plan includes the following policy on page I11-C-7: Development shall be prohibited within the floodway. The floodway is that portion of the flood plain where high voiumes OT moving water flow through drainageways or channels of a water course. e When the Metro Plan was adoPted in 1982. the only river in Eugene associated with a "floodway" was the I,villamet.t.e. and t.he above oolicy was appropriate. However, the latest FEMA maps include a flooaway in connection with the Amazon as well. With stipulated safeguards. develooment. in t.he Amazon fioocway would be accept.able. Fort.unat.ely. FEMA has modified its standards ana now permits deve 1 ooment in fl oodways if appropri ate precaution s are neeaed and, more particularly, if it will not result in a rise of water surface. For example, channels around new const.ruction can eliminate flOOd hazards that const.ruction might otherwise generat.e. Existing Zoning Ordinance language reflects the former. more restrictive FEMA standards. On June 5, 1985. the Planning Commission unanimously recommended the following revised language. Additions are underlined and deletions are [bracketed.] 9.607 FLOODWAY - DEVELOPMENT. Development, including but not I imited to buildi ngs or other structu res, is proh ibited in the Wi Ilamette River floodway as defined in section 9.015. Oevelooment ~ prohibited in all other floodwavs if the result couid be a rise in water surface.Furth'e'rmore. ~ floodwav develooment reqUl,';S-City Enclneer approved design and construction o;aTeauaras acainst natural hazards. Mining, dredging, filling. grading, excavation. and drilling are prohibited in all floodwavs if the result couid be a rise In [upstream 1 water su dace.- - FlocGway is aerined in section 9.015 as liThe cnanne1 of a '",atercourse !'"equ;red to Drevice for :Jassage of a one oercent chance flood.1I This means an average or one flooa every :00 years.