HOLDEN — The meeting was short on March 27, but the Select Board action might be of interest to residents who learned they may see a new flood plain map in the future.
Although there are likely to be few, if any, changes to who is in a flood plain, the impact could be higher insurance costs for flood insurance, Senior Civil Engineer Patrick Wood said.
The formal action by the Select Board was to refer the proposed amendment to the town bylaws to the Planning Board, a process that will bring the changes to the annual town meeting, Town Manager Peter Lukes said.
The change is required by the federal government, and the town bylaws are not in compliance, he said.
An approval for the 18 Industrial Drive DPW building took so long because of the issues with the map, and future projects would not be accepted, Lukes said.
“The flood plain maps will be updated, so delineated flood plains in Holden might be changed from the 1981 version,” Wood said.
“It’s been a good 40 years we’ve been using old information,” he added. “What you have right now won’t change anything we’re doing, (just) adding language so we’re in compliance.
“If you’re in the flood plain you will be in after; if not, you won’t be.”
“The only thing that could change is if they come out with a new map next year,” Wood said.
