Public Meetings and Hearings
Information on upcoming hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioner will be posted here when available.
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearing: Docket Z-23-0001: Zoning Map Amendments to the Floodplain Overlay District, Tuesday, March 26 2024 at 1 p.m.
View information on how to attend or participateCommunity Planning & Permitting Department Docket Z-23-0001: Zoning Map Amendments to the Floodplain Overlay District
Amendments to the Boulder County Floodplain and Floodway based on FEMA’s Physical Map Revision reflecting the Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP) study.
Planner: Kelly Watson
Documents: Staff report for March 26, 2024
Board of County Commissioners Action Requested: Decision
Opportunities for live virtual public comment will be available. Written comments can be emailed to FloodplainAdmin@bouldercounty.gov, please reference Docket Z-23-0001.
Past Meetings
Jan. 17, 2024 – Planning Commission Hearing: Amendments to the Boulder County Floodplain and Floodway based on FEMA’s Physical Map Revision reflecting the Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP) study.
Dec. 13, 2023 – Virtual General Countywide Floodplain Remapping Informational Meeting
Nov. 30, 2023 – Floodplain Remapping Meeting for Residents on Lefthand Creek Between Geer Canyon and 49th St.
- Boulder County Parks and Open Space, Longmont
- Property owners in this area were sent a letter with a meeting invitation, although the meeting was to the public
- Meeting Presentation
Public Comment Period Nov. 15 – Dec. 31, 2023
Visit the Floodplain Remapping Project webpage to learn more about the project and to view the proposed floodplain maps.
The public was invited to provide written comments on the proposed changes to the Boulder County Floodplain and Floodway through Dec. 31, 2023. All comments become part of the public record and will be provided to the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners for their consideration.
Background
The 2013 Flood event caused widespread damage along waterways throughout Boulder County and other areas of the state. In response, the State of Colorado took steps to bolster long-term planning and resiliency efforts by funding Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP), managed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). CHAMP is updating local hazard information, including producing new regulatory floodplain maps for the most affected waterways.
The county’s Floodplain Overlay District is comprised of both the FEMA Floodplain and Floodway and the Boulder County Floodplain and Floodway. The county has already incorporated draft CHAMP data into the Boulder County Floodplain and Floodway via Resolutions 2017-68, 2018-78, and 2020-11.
In July 2023, FEMA released revised Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (Preliminary FIRMs) based on the CHAMP remapping efforts. The revised Preliminary FIRMs differed from the already adopted draft CHAMP maps in eight areas where FEMA approved changes submitted during FEMA’s 2020 and 2021 appeal periods. The appeals included a Scientific Resolution Panel for portions of Lefthand Creek. We expect the revised Preliminary FIRMs will become the future effective FIRMs in the autumn of 2024.
In accordance with Section 4-403 of the Land Use Code, it is necessary to amend the Boulder County Floodplain to incorporate the changes FEMA made during their appeal resolution process. Aligning the Boulder County Floodplain and Floodway with the revised Preliminary FIRMs will reflect the best available flood hazard data. Specifically, staff propose removing Boulder County Floodplain and Floodway for stream reaches included in the CHAMP study, such that the FEMA FIRM will be the only effective regulatory floodplain for CHAMP reaches after the FEMA map update.