According to the discussion at Catasauqua Borough Council's workshop session July 28, changing a flood plain designation is not unusual.

"According to the data that we have, the area designated as a flood plain has not seen any flooding," Council President Vincent Smith said, as he opened the discussion.

The 100-year flood plain is designated on the Iron Works property owned by the borough along Front Street. The flood plain is located in the southern end of the property. A 100-year flood plain designation means that there is a 1-percent chance of flooding annually in the designated area.

Most lending institutions require owners purchasing a building in a flood plain to bolster their regular insurance needs with government-subsidized flood insurance plans. There are often special rules for building in a flood plain. Both situations add cost to a development project, making the property less attractive to developers.

Smith proposed submitting a Letter of Map Change to government officials to request a revision in the status of the land. The LOMC is a standard process put in place to allow options based on local experience.

Smith asked Dennis Harman of the Pidcock Company, the borough's engineer, to address alternatives.

Harman said filling in low areas could also change the designation. He explained there are certain restrictions that need to be adhered to.

"The floodway cannot rise more than a designated amount when the fill is in place," he said.

FEMA defines a floodway as the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height. FEMA requires communities to regulate development in these floodways to ensure there are no increases in upstream flood elevations.

Filling in low spots on the property could negate the problems with a flood plain designation.

Harman in his explanation suggested that fill could be used for such a purpose. He was not able to identify a cost, however. Removing the flood plain requirements make the land more desirable and could bring a higher price.

The borough, based on conceptual plans provided by Spillman and Farmer Architects, intends to build a municipal complex at the north end of the property and sell off the remaining acreage to developers for commercial and residential uses.

In a similar matter, Councilwoman Christine Weaver suggested that council consider retaining Spillman and Farmer as architects for the proposed municipal building. The alternate option is to submit a bid request. Weaver is leaning toward retaining Spillman and Farmer.

Borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder and Mayor Barbara Schlegel discussed a meeting they had with State Senator Lisa Boscola, D-18, on funds designated for the borough under the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

Goldfeder explained after the meeting there are two steps to the process.

"Getting on the list is the first step. That is an accomplishment. The second step is getting the funds allocated," he said.

According to Goldfeder, many of the projects stay on the list for long periods with no action taken to fund a project. Goldfeder will investigate what needs to happen to bring the project to the attention of state representatives and move it forward. Catasauqua has $5 million allocated under RACP.