MAKING THE MOST OF FLOODPLAIN BUYOUTS. Rebecca Kihslinger, Environmental Law Institute David Salvesen, University of North Carolina

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1 MAKING THE MOST OF FLOODPLAIN BUYOUTS Rebecca Kihslinger, Environmental Law Institute David Salvesen, University of North Carolina

2 Logistics You are all on mute Type your questions in the question box on the GoToWebinar control panel or raise your hand PRACTICE: how many people are listening to this webinar from your office? Technical questions or no audio? Nora at Enjoy the presentation!

3 The Disaster Cycle Preparation Response Recovery Prepare Respond Recover

4 Mitigation Elevation Land use planning Building codes Infrastructure policy Acquisition

5 Acquisition (Buyouts) Early Projects Rapid City, SD 1400 homes after 1972 flood Soldiers Grove, WI Relocation of downtown in 1983 Valmeyer, IL (population ~900) Entire town relocated after 1993 floods in MW Since 1993 FEMA has purchased ~20,000 properties nationwide

6 Federal Grant Programs Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: 15-20% of federal disaster assistance funds can be used for mitigation, including home elevation and buyouts Community Development Block Grant: Disaster recovery funds, primarily to benefit low-income residents, can be used for buyouts, relocation, home repair, debris removal

7 HMGP: How it Works HMGP funds available after Presidential declaration Funds distributed through state government Requires 25% local matching funds Buyouts are voluntary Homeowners paid pre-flood fair market value After purchase, homes demolished or relocated Property precluded from future development

8 Advantages of Buyouts Saves money debris removal, evacuation, search and rescue, Provides permanent protection Serves multiple objectives risk reduction, open space, habitat, recreation Enhances natural buffers Protects private property rights

9 Disadvantages of Buyouts Expensive, particularly for coastal communities Time consuming Loss of tax base Neighborhood disruption Incomplete participation Cost of maintaining acquired properties

10 Making the Most of Floodplain Buyouts Funding: McKnight Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New York Community Trust

11 Current Use and Case Studies Taking advantage of acquired properties??

12 Current Use

13 Obstacles to making the most of acquired properties No funding available Patchwork distribution of parcels Cost and capacity to maintain/ manage habitat or natural floodplain No capacity to plan and undertake restoration Existing infrastructure (roads, etc.) Unaware of opportunities to restore natural habitat or to connect parcels to existing protected areas or priority habitats Community opposition Local ordinances/ codes or other requirements Other

14 Buyout Sites Rocky Mount, Charlotte and Kinston, North Carolina Austin, Minnesota

15 Rocky Mount, North Carolina Severe flood in 1999 City purchased over 450 homes Criteria: Located in floodplain, height of flooding, repetitively flooded; # days inundated

16 Rocky Mount, NC Current uses of buyout properties: Disc golf, dog park, barbecue park, forest

17 Rocky Mount, NC

18 Rocky Mount, NC

19 Charlotte, North Carolina Stormwater utility fee generates ~$4 million per year City has purchased about 375 homes Current uses: greenways, gardens, open space

20 Kinston, North Carolina Flooding in 1996 and 1999 Over 400 homes purchased State Acquisition & Relocation Fund provided gap funding Up to $10,000 extra to relocate within city limits Some homes relocated to vacant or infill lots

21 Kinston, NC Buyout Parcels Legend Buyout Parcels Non-Buyout Parcels Building Footprints Priority Wetlands 100 Year Floodplain Ü Kinston City, Lenoir County, North Carolina Flood Buyout Neuse River Miles

22 Kinston, NC

23 Austin, Minnesota Floods in 1945, 1950, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 2000, 2004, 2008, and properties purchased in total, since 1978 HMGP grants plus state and local funding Local option sales tax generates about $1 million annually for mitigation

24 Austin, MN Buyout Parcels

25 Austin, MN Park Plan Linear park, plan developed in 1993 FEMA, Losses Avoided due to Home Acquisitions in Austin, Minnesota, 2001

26 Austin, MN Current Uses

27 What we have learned Opportunities to restore! Variation in management of sites Aggregate risk Many challenges Obstacles in getting people to sell Patchwork distribution Funding Timing Capacity

28 Making the Most of Acquired Properties Management Strategies and Challenges

29 Managing Acquired Properties

30 Management Strategies

31 Patchwork Community garden (e.g., Montevideo) Pocket parks Native Plant garden (maintained by neighbors) Pollinator habitat Green infrastructure

32 Holdouts Habitat restoration (e.g., Montevideo) Linear Parks/ Greenway Other recreation/ community amenities

33 Comprehensive Floodplain/ wetlands/habitat restoration Large parks/ community amenities (e.g., Austin)

34 Challenges/Considerations How do I fund a restoration project? More acquisitions? How do I get buy-in from neighbors? Will the project require any permits? What about maintenance? How to find the right partners? Transferring the property How do I prioritize future buyouts?

35 Financing and Incentives - Research Brief Acquiring Properties Non-Federal Match Funding Buyouts Incentives Restoration/Management

36 Challenges/Considerations How do I fund a restoration project? More acquisitions? How do I get buy-in from neighbors? Will the project require any permits? What about maintenance? How to find the right partners? Transferring the property How do I prioritize future buyouts?

37 Potential Permits

38 Challenges/Considerations How do I fund a restoration project? More acquisitions? How do I get buy-in from neighbors? Will the project require any permits? What about maintenance? How to find the right partners? Transferring the property How do I prioritize future buyouts?

39 Maintenance

Partnerships Provide information and expertise for restoration projects Identify the best locations for future buyouts Find and/or provide funds for

40 Partnerships Provide information and expertise for restoration projects Identify the best locations for future buyouts Find and/or provide funds for restoration Engage with stakeholders Aid in planning, design, and implementing projects Take on maintenance, management, or monitoring responsibilities

41 Transferring the Property

Will the project require any permits? What about maintenance?

42 Challenges/Considerations How do I fund a restoration project? More acquisitions? How do I get buy-in from neighbors? Will the project require any permits? What about maintenance? How to find the right partners? Transferring the property How do I prioritize future buyouts?

43 Prioritizing Future Buyouts

44 Pilots Two Three Communities Meeting/workshop with local officials and interested stakeholders Brief report illustrating potential management/use opportunities for the site If possible, identify potential funders

45 QUESTIONS Rebecca Kihslinger, David Salvesen,

Adopted March 18, 2008 (Ordinance 08-19) Amended October 21, 2008

Adopted March 18, 2008 (Ordinance 08-19) Amended October 21, 2008 RECREATION, OPEN SPACE & CULTURE ELEMENT of the PINELLAS COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Prepared By: The Pinellas County Planning Department as staff to the LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY for THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS