Coastal Hazard Zone Ordinance Freeboard Requirements
This policy involves technical requirements for building elevations (freeboard) and flood-related regulations that could impact property owners' construction costs and flood insurance rates.
The planning board has twice reviewed a draft Coastal Hazard Zone Ordinance that would impose a 2-foot freeboard requirement above base flood elevation. Discussion has centered on technical impacts, insurance costs, and the choice between “manage for” and alternative climate strategies. Refinements continue with outreach materials still under development.
The Coastal Hazard Zone Ordinance freeboard requirements first surfaced as a 2025 priority item for the planning board.
At the June 25, 2026 meeting the board reviewed the latest draft and identified needed refinements on the 2-foot freeboard standard, base flood elevation, glossary terms, and outreach materials while confirming a “manage for” approach through 2050.
That meeting’s call for further work by Kendra Amaral and Max Zakian directly produced an updated draft that was presented at the July 9, 2026 meeting.
On July 9 the board again examined the freeboard and elevation provisions, noted that a 2-foot raise would not affect height limits, and directed addition of a glossary plus removal of the term “flood plain” to reduce confusion.
The July 9 session also recorded concerns about flood-insurance impacts, the definition of “substantial alteration,” and the broader choice between “manage for” versus “manage and prepare for” strategies.
No final vote on adoption has occurred; the ordinance remains in refinement with community-outreach materials still in preparation.
Kendra Amaral and Max Zakian will refine the draft; the committee will develop community outreach materials and an information sheet.
Members feature
Ask questions. Get answers with receipts.
Ask about anything covered on this page and get a plain-English answer that links to the report, the official records, and the exact moment in the meeting video.
Create a free accountFree with a MeetingWatch account — no card, no spam.
Already a member? Sign in
Ask questions about any meeting
Open a community, board, issue, or meeting and I can answer from its records — with links to the report, official documents, and the exact moment in the video.
Then reopen this button to start asking.
AI-generated from meeting records — verify against the linked sources. Conversations are stored (privacy).