Norwich makes changes to flood zone regulations
Norwich — By tweaking some language in the city zoning regulations governing floodplain and floodway regulations, the City Council on Monday helped secure the city’s good rating in the National Flood Insurance Program, allowing homeowners and business building owners a 10% discount on flood insurance.
The City Council held a public hearing Monday before voting unanimously to approve amendments to the city’s floodplain and floodway ordinance to retain the city’s good rating in the flood insurance rating system.
Norwich had to go through a detailed, tedious application process, documenting efforts to mitigate flooding of properties along the Yantic River and other low-lying areas. The city’s application was approved in May, allowing residents and business building owners a 10% discount on costly flood insurance.
City Planner Deanna Rhodes told the City Council on Monday that the National Flood Insurance Program had changed its standards, and the city’s regulations had to be adjusted to comply.
The flood regulations require that all new residential buildings and those undergoing significant renovations — improvements totaling at least 50% of the value of the building — must elevate the lowest floor, including the basement, above the baseline flood level for the property. One change approved Monday set that elevation at a minimum of 1 foot above floodplain level.
The city faced a deadline of Jan. 1 to amend its floodplain and floodway zoning regulations to meet the prerequisites of the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System. Rhodes said without the changes, Norwich property owners would have seen less of a discount on flood insurance.
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