Item Coversheet

CITY OF OAKLAND PARK, FLORIDA
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM REPORT


A
GENDA ITEM NO. 2

MEETING DATE: 9/20/2023
PREPARED BY: 

Rick Buckeye, AICP

Senior Planner

 

Lauren Pruss, AICP

Assistant Director of Community and Economic Development

 

Pete Schwarz, AICP

Director of Community and Economic Development

DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL:  ECD - Planning
SUBJECT:

Case #CD23-18T “Finished Floor Elevation - Manufactured Homes Land Development Code Text Amendment” - Amend the City’s Land Development Code, Chapter 24, Article X, Floodplain Management, by specifically amending Section 24-139.4, entitled “Flood Resistant Development—Manufactured Housing” to specify required elevation of manufactured homes in special flood hazard areas.

1.BACKGROUND/HISTORY
    
 

Legislative History: The Ordinance was approved on first reading by the City Commission on September 6, 2023, by a vote of 5–0.

 

Issue Statement:

The City must adopt minimum finished floor elevations for all manufactured homes installed or replaced in special flood hazard areas in order to maintain or improve its Community Rating System Class 6 rating.

 

Recommended Action:

Staff recommends that the City Commission conduct a public hearing and adopt an Ordinance on second reading amending the text of the Oakland Park Land Development Code to specify a required elevation for manufactured homes in special flood hazard areas.

 

Planning and Zoning Board:

The item was considered at the Planning and Zoning Board's July 17, 2023, public hearing. The Board voted 5 to 0 to recommend approval to the City Commission.

 

Background:

The City of Oakland Park participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS), a national program developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities resulting in discounted flood insurance rates.  The CRS uses a point system similar to fire insurance rating system to determine the flood insurance premium reductions for residents. Recently, CRS established certain minimum prerequisites for communities to qualify for or maintain class ratings of Class 8 or better, which requires the City of Oakland Park to amend its Land Development Code to provide that all manufactured homes installed or replaced in special flood hazard areas are elevated such that the lowest floors are at or above base flood elevation plus 1 foot.

2.CURRENT ACTIVITY
    
 Every five years, FEMA conducts a verification audit of Oakland Park’s flood program. During the audit, verification that the credited activities continue to be implemented by the City is conducted, and additional points are available for communities that go beyond the minimum standards. Although the City has language in its Land Development Code requiring buildings and structures to meet Florida Building Code regulations regarding minimum finished floor elevations, manufactured or mobile homes are not specifically subject to those regulations. The City’s CRS efforts to maintain or improve its rating and subsequently increase the flood insurance premium deductions available to property owners, necessitates the adoption of the proposed text amendment.
3.FINANCIAL IMPACT
    
  Not Applicable.
4.RECOMMENDATION
    
 

Staff recommends that the City Commission conduct a public hearing and adopt an Ordinance on second reading amending the text of the Oakland Park Land Development Code to specify a required elevation for manufactured homes in special flood hazard areas.

ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Ordinance