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<br />
<br />,,,rhich include a zoning or land development ordinance,
<br />subdivision regulations, and other special regulations.
<br />Comprehensive plans are typically formatted to
<br />include discreet elements that deal with land use,
<br />transportation, housing, community facilities, economic
<br />development, education, historic preservation, the
<br />environment, and other issues. A community ,vith
<br />knmvn or potential flood risks and undeveloped land in
<br />the floodplain may use the comprehensive planning
<br />process to evaluate policies related to floodplain
<br />development and reducing flood losses. For example, a
<br />community might opt to:
<br />
<br />. keep those lands undeveloped;
<br />
<br />. use public monies to acquire and convert the lands to
<br />recreational uses such as parks or a greemvay;
<br />
<br />. permit some low-density development; or
<br />
<br />. allow some combination of the latter two options.
<br />
<br />Floodplain management policies may be included in
<br />the plan's environment element, \vith appropriate cross
<br />references to other elements that have an impact on the
<br />floodplain, such as land use and community facilities.
<br />For example, a community facilities element would
<br />identify \vhere major investments in roads, parks, and
<br />utilities \,,-,ill be made over the period established in the
<br />plan. If the community policy is to avoid development in
<br />the floodplain, the community facilities element should
<br />indicate that major investments in ne"\' roads and
<br />
<br />utilities \-vill not be made in those areas. Parks and open
<br />space needs are also commonly addressed in this
<br />element. If, through the planning process, the
<br />community had decided to acquire or convert portions of
<br />the floodplain to recreational use or open space, that too
<br />,.vould be stipulated in the community facilities element.
<br />A communities facilities element of a comprehensive
<br />plan is not the same as a capital improvements program
<br />(eIP). A CIP contains specific schedules and funding
<br />sources for improvements to be undertaken in five-year
<br />time frames. A ell' is often the implementing
<br />mechanism for a community facilities element, but
<br />many communities have an ongoing Clr process that is
<br />not linked to an up-to-date comprehensive plan. A
<br />stand-alone CIP is also based on policy decisions and
<br />should reflect the community's desire to avoid
<br />floodplain development if such a desire exists.
<br />Throughout the twentieth century, the chief purpose
<br />of planning was to produce a document on which
<br />future land-use decisions ,",vQuld be based. In the last 10
<br />to 15 years, planners have emphasized the importance
<br />of the planning process more so than the resultant
<br />document. Today, many planners view plans as
<br />"living" documents, a continuously evolving set of
<br />policies and ideas that are permanently open to
<br />analysis, evaluation, and modification. This latter
<br />approach suits floodplain planning very well.
<br />Environmental conditions change as land in or near
<br />floodplains is developed or modified, and plans must
<br />be amended to reflect those changes.
<br />
<br />Figure 3-1. The Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force
<br />Recommended Seven-Step Planning Program
<br />
<br />1. Identify Ihe planning area
<br />This area may include an entire \"'.!atershed or a
<br />portion of a floodplain within a community.
<br />Generally it \....ill include all the land area from
<br />v,rhich floodplain problems may arise.
<br />
<br />2. Conduct an inventory and analysis 01 land-use and
<br />environmental concerns
<br />This will include a natural and cultural resources
<br />inventory, an assessment of existing conditions and
<br />development, and an environmental analysis.
<br />
<br />3. Conduct a problems and needs assessment
<br />This step will serve to identify problems and needs
<br />of streams, floodplains, and the \....atershed, if
<br />applicable. Problems typically identified in this
<br />step v,.'Quld be: removal of vegetation; erosion;
<br />nonpoint source pollution; and loss of habitat. The
<br />impacts of such actions would be described and
<br />mapped in the plan.
<br />
<br />4. Deline the corridor managemenl boundary
<br />The boundary of the corridor defines the area that
<br />v....iIl be subject to policies in the plan and resulting
<br />
<br />regulations. This boundary would typically include
<br />the IOO-year floodplain plus adjacent vvoodlands,
<br />\....etlands, and other lands that may have an impact on
<br />the functions and resources of the floodplain.
<br />
<br />5. Develop an action planlagenda
<br />This step v....ould include developing goals and
<br />objectives for protection of the floodplain, creating an
<br />agenda, and determining the sequence of events. In
<br />this step, the plan v,.'Quld outline broad goals of
<br />floodplain preservation, restoration of resources, and
<br />recommendations about the amount and extent of
<br />future development. (See Chapter 2 of this report for a
<br />description of tools for protecting and managing the
<br />floodplain.)
<br />
<br />6. Implementalion and monitoring of the action plan
<br />This step requires the primary entity for implementing
<br />the action agenda to establish a monitoring system for
<br />tracking success in meeting plan goals. This requires
<br />regular examination of conditions in the planning area
<br />and involvement by key stakeholders in the planning
<br />process and on the ground.
<br />
<br />SourcE': Pro/ecting Floodplaill Res(lllrces: A Cllidc/J(wk for Cmllll/lOlitit's, June 1YlJ6. 17-26.
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