MINUTES - Joint Public Hearing with Planning Board - 4/16/2014
380
CITY OF SALEM
APRIL 16, 2014
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING BOARD
A Joint Public Hearing with the Planning Board and the City Council was held in the Council
Chamber on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 7:00 P.M., for the for the purpose of discussing taking
up an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance relative to Section 8.1.2.2(a) to update Flood Hazard
District Boundaries, and Base Flood Elevation and Floodway Data to incorporate the Essex County
Flood Insurance Rate Map panels updated on July 16, 2014. Notice of this meeting was posted on
April 10, 2014 at 5:16 P.M. and advertised in the Salem News on April 2, 2014 & April 9, 2014.
Absent were City Councillor Siegel, Turiel, O’Keefe and Furey.
President Robert McCarthy presided.
President Robert McCarthy introduced the members of the Planning Board:
Planning Board members present were Ben Anderson, Randy Clarke, William J. Griset, Jr.,
Timothy Ready, Kirt Rieder and Dale Yale. Also present City Planner Lynn Duncan.
Councillor McCarthy turned the floor over to City Planner Lynn Duncan.
Ms. Duncan stated that this is a house keeping issue for the Flood Plane Map and
requirements which FEMA requires for all communities to update. The action is to delete current
wording in the ordinance and replace it with new panel numbers to meet the requirements of
FEMA. This has to be done and sent in by July 16, 2014. By keeping in compliance allows Salem
property owners to have flood insurance. The process is to hold this public hearing then to refer the
matter to the planning board for their recommendation. Then once the recommendation is sent to
the City Council it needs to be adopted for first and second passage.
Appearing in favor:
John Carr 7 River St. Salem questioned would this insurance affect new construction? Do
we want to encourage construction in flood planes?
Lynn Duncan City Planner stated there is no difference for flood insurance on existing
properties or new properties.
Judy White 3 Cheval Ave., Salem stated she is in a flood area at the Willows. I have had
flood insurance since 1978 from the blizzard. She stated she came to see if there were any
questions by the Council or Planning Board and wanted to make sure they would approve this
381
CITY OF SALEM
APRIL 16, 2014
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING BOARD
ordinance because it would mean that if it were not passed she would not be eligible for flood
insurance and cost would go up.
Tim Ready planning board member stated we are here to accomplish this.
William Griset Planning Board member asked if we are participating in NFIP/CRS
Lynn Duncan Planner we are currently looking at this to see if we are eligible.
Councillor McCarthy stated I represent a Ward that is surrounded by water and I also
represent Bakers Island. Costs are astronomical for flood insurance, how many different parcels
are now affected by the new map that weren’t in flood plane prior?
Lynn Duncan Planner stated she didn’t know the numbers. It is an increase in areas. Maps
are not on a parcel to parcel map. It is an increase but limited premiums to 15% the Federal
Government is keeping the cost down.
Councillor Legault stated he looked at the maps, there are 13 – 15 maps which you are
unable to get much detail from. He stated he was looking to see just Salem.
Lynn Duncan Planner stated that the Councillor could come to the Planning office to look at
large maps.
Mr. Griset asked if you can scan the maps to a pdf. And zoom in with Adobe.
Councillor Legault said he is concerned if its 5% or 20% of the properties in the Flood Plane
do you send notices to the residents?
Lynn Duncan Planner stated we at the Planning Department don’t have information on a
parcel by parcel basis.
Councillor Legault said that we should make an effort to get information out to the public he
asked if GIS could do this.
Lynn Duncan Planner stated she will look into it tomorrow. We just met with CZM regarding
drainage improvements for Rosie’s Pond. It will cost $200,000 if this area floods. We could put the
information out on City News.
Kirt Rieder Planning Board Member stated his frustration.
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CITY OF SALEM
APRIL 16, 2014
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING BOARD
Jane Arlander resident stated she called FEMA and asked why it is so difficult to bring up
maps that are online. They stated they were making changes, but she said she got a copy of a
map from Tom Devine in the Planning Department.
Councillor McCarthy stated that section 1 at the bottom says that a report is on file with the
Planning Department. Is there a report?
Lynn Duncan stated I will get the answer.
Councillor McCarthy stated that he knows it’s house keeping but if there’s a report on what
area is most affected this would be helpful. The power plant they want to be outside the plane they
are 16 feet above the level. I know we have to adopt this but we will be pricing people out. These
are hard questions.
Lynn Duncan stated she wished we had a way to notify residents but the maps are hard to
discern if someone is in the area. She will look into the report and get the most usable maps.
FEMA said these are the final maps.
Councillor Eppley - Ward Four Councillor is concerned about flooding. We need to have
smart building. We need to be doing smart building with the water table rising.
Randy Clarke Planning Board Member – asked if the Federal program FEMA sends a letter
who is involved in flood areas.
Lynn Duncan stated that smart planning is a valid point. She stated that she didn’t believer
FEMA contacts residents.
There was no one appearing in opposition.
Councillor Legault moved that the hearing be closed. It was so voted.
Councillor Legault moved that the matter be referred to the Planning Board for their
recommendation. It was so voted.
On the motion of Councillor Legault the hearing was closed at 7:40 P.M.
ATTEST: CHERYL A. LAPOINTE
CITY CLERK