A planning commission subcommittee on Wednesday ordered some final revisions to proposed floodplain regulations, including a new emphasis on environmental benefits.

The revised rules would include language that their purpose, in part, is to “promote conservation and restoration of natural habitat in riparian areas.”

	www.lawrenceplaning.org/ current/floodplainregs.html

Practically, it would require floodplain developers to incorporate and restore natural habitats as part of their projects. City planners would review floodplain development proposals with an eye on the environmental impact.

Commissioner Roger Schenewerk said the language dovetails nicely with the efforts of ECO2, which is looking at floodplain areas as a possible source of permanent open space.

“If ECO2 is successful, we wouldn’t have to come up with near as much (floodplain) ordinance, and we could still preserve those lands,” he said.

But while subcommittee members appeared nearly ready to send the proposal to the full commission for approval, Commissioner John Haase said the regulations don’t go far enough. Properties platted before the rules take effect will be largely exempt.

That means a lot of development still would be allowed, he said, and add to flooding problems in Lawrence.

“I cannot in good conscience say that, because someone expected to develop their property, that they should be allowed to increase flood frequency or flood intensity on an existing property,” Haase said.

His colleagues, however, said it would be unfair to change rules on owners who had already made plans for their properties.

“There are legitimate, honest efforts being made, and we should honor that,” Commissioner Sue Pine said.

Bryan Dyer, a city planner, said the revisions mostly language clarifying details of the regulations should be complete Friday. The next subcommittee meeting remains unscheduled, but planners said they hope the full commission will review the proposal at its March 27 meeting.