ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Granting a VARIANCE from Certain Provisions of the Flood Damage Prevention and Control Ordinance, for the Greater Peoria Sanitary District (GPSD), at 2322 SOUTH DARST STREET. (Council District 1)
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BACKGROUND: The Greater Peoria Sanitary District (GPSD), the Owner of 2322 S Darst Street is seeking to construct a new maintenance building. The new building will be located within a levee; however, the levee has not been certified by FEMA, so it is considered to be in the floodplain. GPSD is currently working with State and Federal agencies to obtain FEMA certification, but improvements, such as the removal of the existing maintenance building, will be necessary to achieve the certification. Since the new building will be located in a floodplain, it is required to comply with the current regulations. Due to the location and nature of the site, full compliance is not feasible. Once FEMA’s certification of the levee is complete, the new building will no longer be located in the floodplain. A variance is requested by the owner and supported by City staff.
Per Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code, this request was brought before the Construction Commission on November 9, 2021. The Commission voted to recommend the approval of 2322 S Darst Street’s variance request for the flood plain requirement per Chapter 12 of the City Code.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: None
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Approval of the variance will allow GPSD to construct a new maintenance facility, which will then allow them to remove the old one. Removal of the old maintenance building is necessary to increase slope stability of their levee and ultimately have it certified by FEMA. Due to the nature of GPSD’s work, certification of their levee will be a benefit to the community.
IMPACT IF DENIED: GPSD cannot remove their existing maintenance building until after a new one has been constructed. Denial of the variance means that they cannot remove the existing building. This will prevent them from completing the process to certify their levee.
ALTERNATIVES: None
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: NA
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Safe Peoria
2. Grow Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Support sustainability.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works