Floodplain regulations must be met for new press box

CLINTONVILLE – The construction of a new press box at Don Jirschele Stadium in Clintonville must meet floodplain regulations since it would be located in a floodplain.
That was the message the Clintonville Common Council received at its March 10 meeting.
At its Jan. 29 meeting, the Clintonville Public Works Committee had approved having the city’s Public Works Department cover the cost of removing the current press box and storage building at the stadium. The Clintonville Athletic Club was to construct a new press box.
At the March 10 council meeting, Clintonville City Administrator Caz Muske told the council that there have been a lot of conversations centered around the Olen Park baseball field since it is located in a floodplain area.
“That being said, as we continue to put investments into this facility, we will continue to have challenges with the facility,” Muske said.

Michelle Hase, P.E. Water Management engineer with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), was brought in to address the council about the floodplain program from the DNR’s perspective.
“We’re not just making things up,” Muske said. “There are codes that we are required to look at. The DNR has rules and regulations. FEMA can be involved as well.”
Regarding floodplain management, Hase said there are federal regulations, state regulations, and local ordinances that need to be followed.
Hase acknowledged discussions with the city of Clintonville regarding the construction of a new press box at Don Jirschele Stadium that would require the current press box to be removed.
“I think there are some options moving forward for at least that project,” Hase said.
Clintonville Common Council President Greg Rose asked what regulations would need to be followed if the city was not constructing a new building in a floodplain, but was renovating an existing building. He cited an example of an enclosed shelter located in Olen Park that the city renovated several years ago.
Hase said that buildings that are determined to be a non-conforming structure, there is an allowable use up to 50% for improvements or modifications before the structure needs to be brought to compliance.
“This is 50% of the equalized assessed value of the structure, not of the property, just the structure,” Hase said.
She added, “So, there’s a little wiggle room and gameplay you can do with those structures, however, at some point they’re going to have to be brought into compliance.”

Options

The first option would be to construct the new press box to the current 2022 ordinance standard compliance. This would involve building the structure to “fringe standards.” The floor of the building would need to be at base flood elevation (BFE) on fill. Also, all mechanical items and utilities would need to be elevated or floodproofed at or above BFE.
No fill would be needed around the structure and drive-in access would not be required.
The second option would be to construct the new press box to the current 2009 city ordinance compliance. This would utilize the existing ordinance to build below the BFE, but no greater than two feet below the flood depth. Flood resistant material would still need to be used, as well as floodproof mechanicals and utilities. An engineer would need to sign off on watertight compliance.
The third option would be for the city to request a variance to be below the BFE.
“That’s an option because of that weird, cloudiness in your ordinance that kind of contradicts itself,” Hase said.
The fourth option for the city would be to adopt Act 175 and utilize that language for replacing a non-conforming structure. Hase said the state legislation was passed around four years ago. This would allow the structure to be built to minimum standards set by FEMA.
According to FEMA’s minimum standards, the structure could be built below the BFE with it being watertight and with flowthroughs.
“That language would go into your ordinance, and it would not be a variance, you would just be able to use that language for this project, and potentially any future structures in your floodplain,” Hase said.