APPENDIX C: MITIGATION ALTERNATIVES
regulations provide properties in Raleigh planning and zoning jurisdiction with certain rights to development. Floodplain Regulations The City of Raleigh’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance requires that all new residential construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor, including the basement, elevated to no lower than two foot above the base flood elevation (BFE). Vegetation along a stream bank is extremely beneficial for the health of the stream. Trees and other plants have an extensive root system that strengthen stream banks and help prevent erosion. Vegetation that has sprouted up near streams should remain undisturbed unless removing it will significantly reduce a threat of flooding, or further destruction of the stream channel. North Carolina regulations prohibit the removal of vegetation within 50 feet of all streams in the Raleigh area. These are known as the Neuse River Riparian Buffer Rules and the North Carolina Division of Water Resources should be consulted before any activities are undertaken in these areas. Raleigh enforces reconstruction regulations to ensure that mitigation is integrated into recovery. Requiring permits for building repairs and conducting inspections are vital activities to ensure that damaged structures are safe for people to reenter and repair. There is a special requirement to do this in floodplains, regardless of the type of disaster or the cause of damage. The NFIP requires that local officials enforce the substantial damage regulations. These rules require that if the cost to repair a building in the mapped floodplain equals or exceeds 50% of the building's market value, the building must be retrofitted to meet the standards of a new building in the floodplain. In Raleigh, this means that a substantially damaged building must be elevated above the base flood elevation. Stormwater Management Regulations Stormwater runoff is increased when natural ground cover is replaced by urban development. Development in the watershed that drains to a river can aggravate downstream flooding, overload the community's drainage system, cause erosion, and impair water quality. There are three ways to prevent flooding problems caused by stormwater runoff: 1) Regulating development in the floodplain to ensure that it will be protected from flooding and that it won't divert floodwaters onto other properties; 2) Regulating all development to ensure that the post-development peak runoff will not be greater than it was under pre-development conditions; and 3) Set construction standards so buildings are protected from shallow water. The City of Raleigh’s Stormwater regulations requires that if more than one acre of land is disturbed, a permit must be obtained by North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). Further a stormwater management plan (SWMP) must be developed for all projects required to have a permit for land disturbing activities. These SWMPs must include better site design practices for stormwater management, treat stormwater runoff quality, provide stream channel protection, and provide downstream overbank flood protection. The SWMPs must also provide extreme flood protection such that there is no increase in flood elevations upstream or downstream from the 100-year flood. Reducing Future Flood Losses Zoning and comprehensive planning can work together to reduce future flood losses by directing development away from hazard prone areas. Creating or maintaining open space is the primary way to reduce future flood losses. The City of Raleigh has many open space and natural parcels and greenways which serve to reduce future flood losses by remaining open. These parks and natural preserved areas
Wake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2019
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