Public Hearings - CHR 1-2014 Floodplain Management and Definitions

A public hearing was held today at 6:06 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room, R. Clayton Mitchell Jr., County Government Center, Chestertown, Maryland, for CHR 1-2014,
which is AN ACT to amend Article V, District Regulations, Article VI, Special Provisions, Article IX, Variances & Waivers, and Article XI, Definitions for the purpose of updating the Kent County Land Use Ordinance as mandated in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.17.04; Environmental Article, §§1-404, 5-501-514, Annotated Code of Maryland; and the community participation requirement of the National Flood Insurance Program as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 44 CFR Section 59.22. The hearing will include the review of Kent County’s updated Floodplain maps.

County Commissioners, Ronald Fithian, William Pickrum, and William Short were in attendance.

Commissioner Fithian read the public notice into the record. Amy Moredock, Director, Planning, Housing, and Zoning reviewed the proposed update to the Floodplain Management Ordinance. Significant updates include changing the flood protection elevation of construction from one foot to two feet requirement. There has been an elimination of limit of fill allowed; an impact analysis is still required. Accessory structures, not elevated, are currently limited to 600 sq. ft. in Kent County’s Ordinance and a 300 sq. ft. was proposed. Kent County has requested to retain the 600 sq. ft. limit. In addition some language, definitions, and terminology have been updated. The County will co-host a Map Awareness open house with FEMA at the Kent County Community Center Library, June 19, 2014, from 3:00 p.m. through 6:00 p.m.

Commissioner Fithian invited comments and questions from the audience, no one from the audience commented.

Written comments will be accepted in the Commissioners’ Office until Friday, May 30, 2014, at 12:00 p.m.

A motion was made by Commissioner Pickrum, seconded by Commissioner Short and carried unanimously to adjourn the public hearing.

The hearing was taped for reference and the Commissioners adjourned the public hearing at 6:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,



Sondra M. Blackiston
Clerk

Approved:
Ronald H. Fithian, President
The County Commissioners
Of Kent County, Maryland