NEWS RELEASE

Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, February 10, 2003

CITY OF FREDERICK’S NEW FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE EFFECTIVE

Frederick, Md. --- On January 2^nd the City of Frederick received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the new Floodplain Management Ordinance, now Appendix J of the City Code. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen passed the measure on November 21, 2002 after a lengthy hearing process that began on July 31, 2002.

In May of 1991, the Assistant State Coordinator for the National Flood Insurance Program asked City of Frederick staff to revise the City’s Floodplain Management Ordinance to resolve several long-standing floodplain management issues within the City. The Engineering Department revised the ordinance with the assistance of the Assistant State Coordinator to restrict fill in floodplains, to make it clearer, to group provisions for subdivision of land and for building permits together, and to incorporate the City’s procedures for granting permits for construction in floodplains. In April 2002, Mayor Dougherty received a letter requesting assistance in passing the revised ordinance. The City Attorney also requested incorporating it into the City Code. The Public Works Committee of the Land Use Council also reviewed the proposed text and made constructive suggestions. After passage of the measure, copies were sent to the Assistant State Coordinator for concurrence and to the Federal Insurance Administrator for approval.

The Engineering Department received a letter dated January 2, 2003 from FEMA Region III informing the City that the revisions to the Floodplain Management Ordinance, “adopted on November 21, 2002 are compliant with the National Flood Insurance Program as revised on October 1, 1989."

Copies of the new Floodplain Management Ordinance are available at the City of Frederick Engineering Department.

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