(8/23) Town Updates Floodplain Ordinance

On July 12, the Town Council addressed critical updates to the Floodplain Management Ordinance, which ensures that the town adequately manages floodplains and considers flood hazards when developing. This discussion was prompted by changes to the Flood Insurance Rate Maps overseen by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). As a municipality, Walkersville is required by FEMA to at least meet minimum requirements set by NFIP.

Due to the outdated nature of Walkersville’s previous floodplain ordinance, which was adopted in 1992, town staff decided that it was more practical to repeal and replace the document entirely. After being approved by both FEMA and the Maryland Department of the Environment, the draft ordinance was released for public comment. With no comments received, commissioners approved the document unanimously with only brief discussion.

Speeding On Silvercrest Drive

David Delisio, a resident of Silvercrest Drive for 28 years, expressed concerns about speeding to the town council in July. "We have a really severe speeding problem," said Delisio. "It doesn’t seem to be locals, but in the mornings and evenings I see people go one way, turn around, and come back to see how fast they can go." There is a radar speed sign located on Silvercrest, but with no speed camera, it is difficult to deter the culprits. Delisio requested that the town consider increasing enforcement and installing stop signs to help solve the problem. Burgess Chad Weddle asked Delisio to submit more details to the town via email and noted that the town has recently fulfilled such requests at Spring View Estates and Kenneth Drive.

Town Code To Be Made Digitally Accessible

At the July Planning Commission meeting, Town Planner Susan Hauver informed members of the process taking place to make an electronic version of the town code. According to Hauver, the town hired a company to review the code for out-of-date and inconsistent items prior to publishing it electronically. Ideally, this initiative will soon provide residents with easy accessibility to and navigation of town code in order to ensure better transparency between town government and the public. The Planning Commission intends to have both a workshop and a public hearing in August to address code changes.