As flood risk rises in St. Petersburg, city weighs whether to allow increased development in flood

[TexasTowelie]

As flood risk rises in St. Petersburg, city weighs whether to allow increased development in flood zones


ST. PETERSBURG — The risk of flood damage is on the rise in the city. So is the number of new construction projects, including in flood zones. Soon, the city will be forced to decide how to balance the two.

In the coming months, the City Council will grapple with an existential question facing the city: whether to facilitate St. Pete’s development boom by changing rules that prevent housing density from increasing in areas considered to be most at risk for flood damage.

City rules prohibit the City Council from changing zoning maps to increase housing density — for example, rezoning a single-family lot to a multi-family lot — in areas that the state has marked as Coastal High Hazard Areas.

The reason is to curb the potential need for evacuation and damage costs in the event of a high-intensity storm, which climate scientists say are expected to increase in the years to come.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/st-petersburg/as-flood-risk-rises-in-st-petersburg-city-weighs-whether-to-allow-increased-development-in-flood-zones-20190726/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. More importantly, which bank(s) will give mortgages to properties prone to be underwater?