North Topsail Beach to hold public hearing about flood damage prevention ordinance

Nov. 30--North Topsail Beach leaders will hear comments regarding its proposed flood damage ordinance, which would allow replacement mobile homes, this week.

Proposed changes to the ordinance come from the National Flood and Insurance Program's conditions that the town adopts the FEMA flood insurance rate map and its flood regulations.

"Each time FEMA provides the town with additional flood hazard data, the town must amend existing regulations to incorporate the new data and meet any additional requirements that result from any changes in the data," Deborah Hill, North Topsail Beach planning director, said.

The ordinance was originally established by North Topsail Beach on May 2, 1990, however, Onslow County had an ordinance in place before then, Hill said.

The regulations are required to meet any additional "State of North Carolina requirements and be adopted through a process that complies with the procedural requirements established by state statutes," Hill added.

The regulations apply to all special flood hazard areas within North Topsail Beach's jurisdiction. The areas that are not included in the special flood area, Hill said, are going to be very small areas.

One of the proposed changes to the ordinance would allow new or replacement mobile homes in mobile home residential zoning, whereas they were not permitted in the past due to state classification of "high hazard" area of environmental concern.

"In exchange for the town's proactive efforts to reduce flood risk, policyholders may receive reduced flood insurance premiums for buildings in the town," Hill said. "However, the main objective of the town's flood damage prevention ordinance, first and foremost, is to protect human life, safety and health."

Information regarding the hearing is available for viewing at town hall. The hearing will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the first floor meeting room at 2008 Loggerhead Court in North Topsail Beach.

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