What Can Be Constructed In the Intervale?
There are several issues that make construction in the Intervale difficult: floodplains, wetlands, and historic preservation. FLOODPLAINS All floodplains in Vermont are regulated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which in turn delegates its authority to Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. In practice, the regulation of floodways starts at the local level, in towns that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Burlington is a participant in the Flood Insurance Program, and regulates the Citys floodplains via the Zoning Ordinance. In order to become eligible for the Flood Insurance Program, Burlington had a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) completed by FEMA which maps the floodways and assigns insurance rates based on the level of flood risk. Communities eligible for the Flood Insurance Program regulate floodplains with local bylaws which administered in the same manner as zoning bylaws, requiring a permit for any land development. There are three leve
