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Advisory Committee Materials | Planning Commission | Board of Adjustment Files | Floodplain Maps
Floodplain Development
The flood hazard areas of Blue Earth County are subject to periodic flooding which results in potential loss of life, loss of property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare.
The Blue Earth County Floodplain Ordinance was adopted by the County Board to regulate development within flood hazard areas. Land regulated by the Blue Earth County Floodplain Ordinance includes all land designated in the Flood Insurance Study for Blue Earth County prepared by the Federal Insurance Administration dated March 5, 1990, and the Flood Boundary and Flood Insurance Rate Maps Dated March 5, 1990, including such map amendments as may be adopted periodically by the County Board.
The General Floodplain District does not differentiate between those areas which are floodway and flood fringe. Because of this, development in the floodplain is stringently regulated. Permitted uses in the Floodway District are generally "open spaces" type uses which present a low flood damage potential and do not obstruct flows, such as:
- Farming, pastures, grazing, nurseries, forestry, and wild crop harvesting.
- Industrial / Commercial uses such as loading and parking areas, and airport landing strips.
- Private and public recreational uses such as golf courses, tennis courts, driving ranges, picnic grounds, wildlife preserves, game farms, fish hatcheries, target ranges, boat launching areas, and recreational trails.
Determination of the flood fringe boundary is accomplished via distances scaled off from the official map. Where interpretation is needed as to the exact location of the district boundaries as designated on the official map, the Board of Adjustment shall make the necessary interpretation based on elevations on the regional (100 year) flood profile and other available technical data. This will require submittal of data prepared by a Registered Land Surveyor and / or Engineer, and may involve Letters of Map Amendments approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Development in the Flood Fringe District is limited to uses similar to those listed above and the following:
- Floodproofed accessory structures, not for human habitation, placed on the building site to minimize obstruction to flow.
- Residences and other structures elevated on fill so that the basement or first floor, if there is no basement, is at or above the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation.
- No use shall be permitted which will adversely affect the capacity of the channels, floodways, any tributary to the main stream, any drainage ditch, or any other drainage facility or system.
Additional Permits or Approvals which may be Required:
- Construction Permits.
- Septic System Permits
- Conditional Use Permits.
- For any use listed as a conditional use in the Floodway or Flood Fringe District.
- Letters of Map Amendments (FEMA).
- Subdivision Plats.
- Variances.
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All Variance requests are forwarded to the Minnesota Department of Conservation for review. The Board of Adjustment will take comments and recommendations from the DNR into consideration when rendering it's decision.
Processing Time: Varies depending upon the type of permit or approval required.
Fees: Varies depending upon type of permit or approval required.
Submittal Information Required: Varies depending upon type of permit or approval required.
PERSONS WHO WISH TO DEVELOP LAND WITHIN FLOODPLAIN AREAS SHOULD DISCUSS THEIR PROPOSAL WITH THE LAND USE ADMINISTRATOR TO DETERMINE WHICH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS APPLY.
