NEWBURYPORT — The city filed an appeal of the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps on behalf of New England Development on Monday, the last day possible to fight the imposition of new flood maps that will impact hundreds of properties in the city.
Mayor John Moak had said earlier this year that the city would not appeal the new maps, which will take effect June 1. However, the mayor said yesterday the city is the only party that can file an appeal and did so this week on behalf of the development company.
Moak said New England Development hired a consultant to review the preliminary flood maps, focusing on the area between the Coast Guard Station and the Gillis Bridge. New England Development, the parent company of Newburyport Development, is planning a major commercial/residential development for eight acres next to the Gillis Bridge.
The appeal suggested that there are technical deficiencies used in FEMA's scientific methodology, most notably topographic and bathymetric (underwater depth and topography) information, according to Moak's office. The appeal requested that "FEMA incorporate a greater number of transects into the methodology to obtain greater accuracy with the proposed base flood elevations."
The company hired a consultant to research the matter and showed the city the findings, which indicate there is reason to believe there are "some flaws," the mayor said.
"Newburyport Development felt there was definitely a need to look at it more closely," Moak said.
Moak said the city supports the appeal by New England Development, agreeing it was warranted to question the science behind the new maps. The downtown area will change "an incredible amount" under the new maps, Moak said.
"That's what's concerned us all along," Moak said. "We are pleased that Newburyport Development is going to question it. I think it does impose some pretty strong restrictions on that area of the waterfront. It is such a change from what we have today."
The mayor added that he has led the city during two floods during his time in office.
"I've never seen water up to anywhere near what they're talking about," he said.
The biggest difference in the flood zones is a change in the base flood elevation, which can change up to 6 feet depending upon where the property is located and what flood zone it is in.
Up to 1,400 homes in the city could be affected by changes to the Essex County flood map zones and the direct effect they will have on flood insurance rates, according to the city's planning office.
New England Development and owner Stephen Karp will be the most impacted by the changes, city officials have said.
The appeal process will take several months.
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