Blacksburg adopts updated special flood hazard overlay to align with state and federal standards

Blacksburg Town Council on May 12 adopted ordinance 2085, a set of revisions to the town's zoning text governing the special flood hazard area overlay. Planning staff told council the updates are intended to bring the ordinance into alignment with Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) regulations and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Planning staff summarized the principal changes: replacing the term "floodplain" with "special flood hazard area" and referring to the 1% annual chance flood rather than the dated "100-year" phrasing; adding "velocity" as a criterion when evaluating hazard areas; prohibiting development actions that would adversely affect upstream or downstream properties; and requiring minimum finished‑floor elevations 1.5 feet above the base flood elevation (the 1% annual chance elevation).

"It's to protect human life as well as loss of property," planning staff said, describing the public-safety and regulatory rationale for the ordinance. Staff also told council that part of the DCR preparedness grant recently appropriated by the town will be used to establish the 1% base flood elevation for the downtown commercial area.

The planning commission recommended the ordinance unanimously, and council approved the measure after brief questions from members; no public comment was offered at the hearing.

Why it matters: The changes clarify regulatory language, add technical standards (including velocity and higher finished-floor elevation), and update local code to maintain eligibility for the NFIP and to comply with state requirements.

Next steps: The adopted ordinance becomes part of the town's zoning text; staff will proceed with technical mapping and implementation tasks funded in part by the DCR grant.