Chelan County to hold public meeting on floodplain regulations

CHELAN COUNTY — Chelan County officials have announced a community meeting to address concerns and regulations regarding floodplain and floodway areas. The event, scheduled for August 29, will educate residents about permissible activities in flood-prone regions.

The Chelan County Community Development Department will host the meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lake Wenatchee Rec Club. County officials will discuss building codes applicable to properties in floodways and floodplains, as well as their impact on development and flood insurance policies.

Deanna Walter, Community Development director, emphasized the importance of the meeting. “Illegal buildings and structures built in floodplains impact the county’s overall flood insurance rating with FEMA, an issue that everyone should be concerned about because it trickles down to the homeowner through higher insurance premiums,” Walter said. “This meeting is an opportunity for us to engage with people, answer their questions and address the whys of floodplain regulations and codes.”

The meeting will cover a range of topics, including regulations on clearing, grading, and the installation of sheds and utilities in floodplain areas. Representatives from Community Development, the county's floodplain expert, and Chelan County Code Enforcement will be present to address public inquiries.

While the meeting location was chosen due to recent questions from Lake Wenatchee residents, officials stress that the issue affects people across Chelan County, particularly those in flood-prone areas.

Attendees will have access to flood maps at the event. Residents unsure about their property's floodplain status can consult the FEMA Flood Map Service Center online at  www.fema.gov/flood-maps.