I just got done with the government official session at the FEMA Outagamie Flood Mapping Informational Meeting. It looks like there could be real headaches for Grand Chute residents. Over 800 properties are affected by the remapping of floodplains in Outagamie County by FEMA. Properties are defined as parcels of land that may or may not have residential or commercial buildings on them.
As a builder, I have experienced constructing houses in floodplains. Depending on the community, there can be additional construction costs or restrictions. These could include vapor barriers, no window wells, or windows, more gravel, and professionally approved waterproofing. Restrictions can end up adding thousands of dollars to the cost of the home. Homeowners (both existing and new) could be required to carry flood insurance.
Grand Chute town officials learned at the meeting that as a township, there is nothing we can do to work with residents and with FEMA. Townships fall under county authority in this instance. The county will decide weather or not to approve the new flood mapping. They will also decide if new construction is required to follow additional guidelines in flood plane areas. Grand Chute residents must contact their county officials.
Property owners affected by the remapping have been notified. Maps will not be posted until the County adopts the study. However, there is a map on display at the Grand Chute Town Hall. Residents have he right to go through an appeals process, but it will have to be done through the county, NOT Grand Chute.
Here is a link to your Outagamie county officials.
Appeals will be accepted starting in two weeks and will have a 90-day window. Residents must submit evidence that their elevations are substantial enough to change FEMA mapping. This would be done though a engineering study, or if their property is deemed wetlands, there would be a wetland delineation. The county will walk residents through the appeals process.
I just went through conducting a flood study done on property I own in the Town of Center. It ended up costing around $5,000. This did not include a wetland delineation, which will be an additional $5,000.** (note: not all flood planes are deemed wetlands) This is not a fun process. Although I cannot as an elected town official do more than talk with county officials, I am more than willing to talk to you about the process, having just gone through it myself. Call or email if you received a notice and have questions.
**This is a 12 acre parcel. Smaller parcels would not be as much.
