Session #6 | Considering Codes
Showcase Speaker: Kevin Wagner, MDS | State NFIP Coordinating Office
Case Study: Fairmount Water Works, Philadelphia, PA
Case Study: Practicalities of Recovering from the Storm
Case Study: Zoning and Building Code Regulations for Floodplain Management: Conflict or Corporate with Historic Preservation Regulations
Showcase Speaker: Kevin Wagner, MDS | State NFIP Coordinating Office
What Codes Apply to Projects on the Floodplain?
It can be confusing to figure out what codes apply to projects located in the floodplain. This presentation will provide an overview of the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) found in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations adopted in local floodplain management ordinances, higher standards, building code considerations and possible state requirements. In addition, if federal dollars are used for the project, there may be additional considerations under established Executive Orders. Before starting a project, get to know the community you’re working in, figure out who the local floodplain manager is and also contact the State NFIP Office for assistance. A couple phone calls before any design work begins can save you and your client time and money.
Case Study: Fairmount Water Works, Philadelphia, PA
The Fairmount Water Works first opened in 1815 as the first urban public water supply system in the United States which employed innovative engineering to provide clean water for the residents of Philadelphia. The site’s location alongside the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park also made it a prominent tourist location and leisure point for urban residents seeking natural respite from the city. The facility closed in 1911, though it was repurposed as an aquarium through 1962. After 40 years of vacancy. the site was reopened as an environmental education partner by a newly formed public-private partnership. Over the past decade, stewards of the Water Works have taken several measures to protect the interior of the significant national and local site, which today houses Interpretive exhibits on the local urban watershed and the history of public works engineering in Philadelphia. Most recently, its flood vulnerability was assessed by our team at AECOM as part of the Disaster Planning for Historic Properties Initiative, designed by the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office.
This presentation will share the approach to mitigation and site management at the Fairmount Water Works to galvanize similar endeavors in vulnerable historic sites.
- Samantha Kuntz | Preservation Planner, AECOM
Case Study: Practicalities of Recovering from the Storm
Gerritsen Beach is a small community in Brooklyn, NY located on Shell Bank Creek, a tidal inlet protected by a small isthmus from the Rockaway Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. The community consists of small single family homes on small lots, a preponderance of which were built in the 1920’s. The community was devastated by Hurricane Sandy in October of 2012, and many homes saw flooding of 4 to 5 feet above the finished first floors. The focus of this presentation will be to address the practicalities of recovering from the storm and rebuilding, and the impact on a neighborhood rich in historical vernacular architecture.
- Tony Daniels, AIA | Principal and Owner, Cycle Architecture, PLLC
Case Study: Zoning and Building Code Regulations for Floodplain Management: Conflict or Corporate with Historic Preservation Regulations
The State of Connecticut recognizes the importance of preparing for coastal disasters such as storm events, persistent subtle shoreline changes, rising seas, and other effects of climate change. In a shift away from older approaches to hazard mitigation, the federal government has begun encouraging “community resilience,” which includes cultural and natural resources in those assets to be protected.
To this point, Connecticut is undertaking a series of historic preservation initiatives designed to identify historic properties and resources and protect them from natural hazards.
This presentation discusses one of those initiatives, in which consultants analyzed planning and regulatory documents for 91 Connecticut municipalities. Documents reviewed included Hazard Mitigation Plans, Plans of Conservation and Development, Coastal Resilience Plans, Emergency Operations Plans, and municipal ordinances and regulations. The review determined the extent to which each document addresses historic preservation in the context of natural hazards, and identified areas where changes might be made. Based on this analysis and feedback from municipal staff, detailed recommendations to improve local hazard resilience of historic resources were made for each community.
This case study focuses on the analyses of, and relevant recommendations for, a number of communities covered by this project. The current status of their planning and regulatory documents wilt be discussed, opportunities for improvement noted, and specific recommendations shared.
- Noah Slovin, CFM | Environmental Scientist, Milone & MacBroom Inc., Water Resource Department