100-Year Flood Zone
The proposed text amendment would apply to all buildings that meet flood-resistant construction standards in the 100-year —1% annual chance—flood zone identified on the most recent FEMA flood maps using the most recent FEMA flood elevations.

The proposed text amendment addresses:

• Measuring building height with respect to the latest FEMA flood elevations
• Accommodating building access from grade
• Locating mechanical systems above flood levels
• Accommodating off-street parking above grade
• Accommodating flood-zone restrictions on ground-floor use
• Improving streetscape

The proposal would allow space below the flood elevation that is restricted in use by flood regulations to be exempted from floor-area calculations. To help ensure the streetscape remains vibrant and engaging as buildings are rebuilt to meet new flood-protection standards, the proposal would permit buildings to “grade up” gradually to flood elevations by raising yards and also would require buildings to provide simple but effective streetscape enhancements, such as stair turns, plantings and porches, to ensure that buildings maintain visual connectivity with the street.

FEMA is in the process of updating its ">Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for New York City, and the city expects to adopt new FIRMs in 2015. These maps will become the basis for building code requirements for flood-resistant construction. The proposed text amendment will enable buildings to be designed and constructed today based on the best current understanding of future flood standards.

Within a year after the adoption of new FIRMs, the Dept. of City Planning would advance a second zoning text amendment to address any other flood-zone issues resulting from the new maps and further refine the regulations as warranted. 

"AIA New York appreciates the City Planning Commission's efforts to facilitate the city's ability to build back better and smarter," says Jill Lerner, 2013 president of the American Insitute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY). "The zoning amendment should help facilitate our ability to create a resilient city, in accordance with the new FEMA maps," adds Lerner, who is also a principal with the local architect-planner, Kohn Pedersen Fox. "Our own ">Post-Sandy Initiative report concurs with many of the proposed changes, and we believe these efforts will help reverse the vulnerability we have inherited from prior misguided patterns of development."

This article was modified on May 21, 2013, to include additional comments.