Zoning Board of Appeals

As a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, you are responsible for granting or denying variances from the zoning regulations and, in some communities, issuing special permits. Your board is also charged with granting Affordable Housing (40B) projects, and hearing appeals from decisions of the building inspector.

Your efforts to prevent unsafe development in your community’s floodplains can greatly benefit your community.

Following are some of the ways that you can help make your community safer:

Hazard Identification and Mapping

• Interpreting Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Studies
• Understanding the limitations of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Studies
• Sources of additional information

Regulation and Development Standards

• Considering potential future conditions when siting new development
• Keeping public infrastructure outside of damage-prone areas
• Using freeboard to elevate structures above predicted floodwaters

Mitigation and Shore Protection

• Using non-structural shore protection
• Using flood and erosion control structures
• Retrofitting existing structures
• Relocating existing structures
• Using freeboard to elevate structures above predicted floodwaters

Education and Outreach

• Hazard training for local officials
• Sources for outreach materials