Article 44 ARB Presentation

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ARTICLE 44

Floodplain District

Annual Town Meeting || April 27, 2026

Kin Lau, Chair

Arlington Redevelopment Board

Floodplain District

BACKGROUND – ARTICLE 44

Ø Arlington participates in the National

Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which

requires us to periodically update the

local floodplain regulations in the

Zoning Bylaw.

Ø Continued participation in the NFIP:

• enables property owners to obtain

federally backed flood insurance,

• makes the Town eligible for certain

forms of federal disaster assistance.

Ø Proposed changes referto FEMA’s

most recent floodplain maps,

usingthe most current data to

establish areas at risk of flooding.

Ø Article 44 brings the Zoning Bylaw

into compliance with state and

federal requirements for floodplain

management.

Ø The Department of Conservation

and Recreation has reviewed and

approved the proposed revisions.

Overview of Proposed Changes

BACKGROUND – ARTICLE 44

Ø Stated local purpose for flood

resistant standards

Ø Specifying where the Flood

Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) can be

accessed by the public

Ø Definitions of terms

Ø Designation of community

Floodplain Administrator

Ø Requirement of permits for all

proposed development in the

Floodplain Overlay District

Ø Statement prohibiting floodway

encroachment

Ø Requirements for review of

subdivision proposals

Overview of Proposed Changes continued

BACKGROUND – ARTICLE 44

Ø Requirements for elevation and

anchoring of recreational vehicles

in Flood Zones

Ø Requirement to notify appropriate

officials of any alteration/relocation

of a watercourse

Ø Requirement to notify FEMA of data

that changes the base flood

elevation

Ø Requirements for variances to

building code floodplain standards

and zoning bylaws

Ø Abrogation and greater restriction

section

Ø Disclaimer of liability

Ø Compliance with Court Decisions

Floodplain Map

BACKGROUND – ARTICLE 44

Arlington Flood Zones

A: 1% Annual Chance of

Flooding, no BFE (Base

Flood Elevation)

AE: 1% Annual Chance of

Flooding, with BFE

AE: Regulatory Floodway

X: 0.2% Annual Chance of

Flooding