Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Based on the park development plan and development concept for the Whittier Peninsula, Burgess and Niple, Inc completed a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) for submission to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Recent mapping by the Army Corps of Engineers placed a substantial portion of the Whittier Peninsula in the 100 year flood plain. This includes, to varying degree, both parkland and redevelopment areas. Burgess and Niple has concluded, through engineering assessments and river modeling within the Scioto River watershed that the fill in the portion of the Whittier slated for redevelopment, will not adversely impact the watershed and meets FEMA criteria. It should be noted that the new parkland development will maintain its flood plain designation and enhance it by actually creating wetlands that will add additional capacity and actual, operable floodplain to the Whittier Peninsula. Additionally, the development and parkland areas will be developed so that storm water run-off from the development will be used to re-charge the park wetlands.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The submission fee is $4,200. This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $4,200 from the Miranova TIF - City Riverfront Vision Account (Ordinance #1578-98), adopted by Columbus City Council on June 29, 1998.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $4,200 from the Miranova TIF Fund - City Riverfront Vision Account in order to pay the filing fee to submit a Conditional Letter of Map Revision for the Whittier Peninsula development area with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ($4,200)
Body
WHEREAS, the Riverfront Vision , adopted by Columbus City Council in 1998, establishes land use and development goals and objectives for the Whittier Peninsula and that these goals and objectives identify a combination of parkland and a new, mixed-use neighborhood development as appropriate redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, under previous contract with the Development Department, the firm, Burgess and Niple, Inc., completed engineering and river modeling necessary to complete a Conditional Letter Of Map Revision for submission to FEMA; and
WHEREAS, the work completed by Burgess and Niple, Inc., using the development and parkland footprints, estimated the amount of fill required to raise the development are out of the 100 year flood plain and determined that the fill would not adversely impact the Scioto River watershed; and
WHEREAS, the parklands will substantially remain in the floodplain and create an operable flood plain system where none currently exists through the construction of wetland ponds, prairies and meadows; and
WHEREAS, Storm water run-off from the development will be used to re-charge the park wetlands; and
WHEREAS, Filing of a Conditional Letter of Map Revision is the first step in a process to revise the Flood Plain Maps and allow the placement of fill needed to remove the Whittier redevelopment area from the 100 year flood plain; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to start the FEMA review process through the submission of a Conditional Letter of Map Revision; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That from the unappropriated balance in the Miranova TIF Fund - City Riverfront Vision Account, Fund 406, and from any and all sources unallocated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006, the sum of $4,200, be and hereby is appropriated to the Development Department Project 440071, OCA 440071, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336.
Section 2. That the Director of Development be and is authorized to submit a Conditional Letter of Map Revision to FEMA and pay fees associated with its submission.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $4,200 or so much as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from the Development Department, Miranova TIF Fund - City Riverfront Vision Account, Fund 406, Project 440071, OCA 440071, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336.
Section 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.