River
Heights P&Z sends tree ordinance to council for approval
By Diane Denning
September 17, 2008 | RIVER HEIGHTS -- The Planning
Commission had a public hearing Tuesday to approve the
River Heights city tree ordinance, but only two people
showed up. City Council members Doug Clausen and Kathryn
Hadfield were the only ones at the hearing.
The commission discussed the ordinance, with little
comment from the public, and then unanimously agreed
to recommend the ordinance to the City Council for approval.
The commission then went on and discussed the possibility
of adopting a flood damage prevention ordinance. Councilman
Blake Wright presented this topic to the commission
because a resident of River Heights sought flood insurance
for his home and wasn't allowed to get it. In order
for residents to get flood insurance, the city must
be a member of the flood insurance program which is
administered through the Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
"This gives residents the opportunity to purchase
flood insurance if they choose to do so," Wright said.
"There is no cost involved."
One of the first steps to become a member of the flood
insurance program is to adopt a city ordinance. A sample
ordinance was presented by FEMA to the council at a
previous meeting. FEMA representatives recommend keeping
the city's ordinance as close to the sample ordinance
as possible.
Wright said, "We can't make this ordinance less restrictive,
but we can make it more restrictive."
One problem Wright found is that River Heights hasn't
been mapped by FEMA to determine where the flood plains
are. Wright said mapping of the city is very costly
and timely and wouldn't be worth it.
"This puts a burden on the homeowner to determine
where the flood plain is and how much insurance is needed,"
Wright said. "Each insurance policy will be decided
on a case by case basis."
Wright said there is a good portion of the city that
likely wouldn't be affected by a flood, but there are
sensitive areas in the city, and always the possibility
of flooding due to a natural disaster.
A public hearing will be Oct. 7 to discuss this ordinance
further.
NW
MS |
