2010-252A (17) - Laserfiche WebLink

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DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS Generally, development in flood prone areas presents various problems, the most serious of which is the potential for loss of life from flood waters and storm surges. Flooding can also cause loss or damage to property and degradation to the environment. Besides the hazards, development costs may also be higher in those areas due to the extensive site modifications or enhanced building techniques required. Because of high costs and/or environmental limitations, public facilities and services are often not extended to those areas. In 1988, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) completed a Flood Insurance Rate Study for Indian River County. That study identified the limits of Coastal Flood Zones, the 100 -Year Flood Plain and the 500 -Year Flood Plain. As shown on Figure 2.23, the county has a significant amount of flood prone land. At this time, FEMA is updating its flood study of the county and will be issuing new flood maps in 2010-2011. Within the county, the largest flood prone area is west of I-95 and includes the St. Johns Marsh area. Land uses in that area include the marsh, citrus groves, row crops and cattle grazing. The area surrounding the City of Fellsmere also contains flood prone areas which follow the pattern of drainage canals and ditches. That area contains a mixture of agricultural uses and rural residential development on large (5 acre+) lots. East of I-95, flood prone areas are confined to 4 general areas. The first area extends along the east side of I-95 from the Brevard County line to approximately 2 miles north of SR 60 and east to 90th Avenue and the St. Sebastian River. With the exception of the area along CR 512, land uses are limited to cattle grazing and vacant land. A commercial/industrial node is located at the CR 512/I-95 interchange, although much of that node was recently annexed by the City of Fellsmere. Largely undeveloped, the northeast quadrant of that node contains several high-tech industrial manufacturing plants and highway commercial establishments. Immediately south of CR 512 is the Vero Lake Estates Subdivision (see residential land use, vacant land use). A Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) has been created for that 5,000 lot subdivision to provide for roadway and drainage improvements. The second flood prone area is located in the central county at the western terminus of the north relief canal. That flood prone area is confined to agricultural areas west of 66th Avenue. A large area of the county, south of SR 60 to St. Lucie County between 43rd Avenue and 74th Avenue, is the third flood prone area. Served by the Indian River Farms Water Control District, that area is largely devoted to citrus production; however, residential uses are present between 43rd Avenue and 58th Avenue, south to the South Relief Canal. In addition, the Pine Tree Park subdivision is located between 58th Avenue and 66th Avenue, south of 8th Street. Localized flooding has occurred within that area, and the Water Control District has embarked on studies to identify critical areas for improvement. The fourth area of the mainland prone to flooding extends along the Indian River Lagoon shoreline. That flood zone includes the low lying areas along the length of the river. Much of the Future Land Use Element 127