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PC recommends approval of the federally mandated maps

More than a dozen Goochland residents showed up at last week’s Planning Commission meeting to find out how a proposed change in the federal flood plain map might affect their properties.

According to county officials, the adoption of the new maps shouldn’t change much.

They explained that the new maps are more of a technological advance than a plan to include more properties in the flood area.

Leigh Dunn, county environmental planner, said the new maps expand some existing areas, and decreases others, previously designated in the flood zone.

Currently, there are only 35 flood insurance policies issued in Goochland County.

Dunn said adoption of the new plan is necessary if the county intends to continued participation in the federal flood insurance program. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mandates the new maps and their approval.

That fact didn’t go unnoticed by several commissioners including Knight Bowles, who openly questioned if the county had a choice in the adoption.

“Are we just going through a formality in approving this thing if it’s federally mandated?” asked Bowles.

“Yes,” replied Dunn.

She recommended the commission endorse a change in the county’s ordinance that would, in essence, accept the new maps and designations. Much of the language in the ordinance change was prompted by state or federal guidelines.

“If we don’t agree with this and vote no, what would be the repercussions?” asked commissioner Bill Neal.

“Our county would not be eligible for the national flood plain insurance program until these maps were adopted,” Dunn said.

Dunn said landowners who feel the maps have incorrectly designated their land as a flood risk do have a means of protest.

“There is an appeals process through FEMA if you feel that the floodplain has not been reported accurately,” Dunn said.

“You can get an elevation certificate that needs to be filled out by a certified engineer or surveyor,” she added.

Tommy Pruett, a local citizen, said he could attest to that fact, but the process was laborious and took over a year.

“It wasn’t a problem getting it changed except that it took a year and a lot of effort to get FEMA to change it,” he said.

He wasn’t the only one who asked for more clarification on the new guidelines. Most wanted to know how the changes would affect their property, or its resale value.

Neal said if a storm like Camille or Agnes hit again, many residents would not be able to rebuild their homes under the new ordinance.

Planning Director Bob Hammond pointed out there are very few structures in Goochland County that are located in the flood plain, and pointed out that zoning regulations have done a good job of preventing construction in the designated areas.

Resident Frank Nicholas said one of his parcels had been designated in the flood plain, while he has had the property for 50 years he has never seen the land flood.

“I’m concerned if my child wanted to build a house on that property,” he said. He explained that only ten feet of the parcel is designated as in flood plain.

“I don’t want to condemn a piece of property for ten feet,” he added.

Debbie Byrd, an environmental and civil engineer with the county, said a small portion of a property in a flood plain should not affect the entire property.

Hammond agreed.

Byrd said the new maps are result of more accurate mapping and do not represent a new designation area.

“The mapping we have now is much more accurate,” Byrd said. “It gives you a better idea of where that line actually is,” she added.

She further explained the new maps aren’t going to expand anything. “It may look like it on the map, but the data is still the same. The maps are able to more accurately represent where that is,” Byrd said.

The Commission recommended approval of the ordinance changes and the Board of Supervisors will consider it at its November meeting.