Campgrounds & Mobile Homes in Flood Zones Letter 1985

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CORRESPONDENCE/ MEMORANDUM STATE OF WISCONSIN DATE: September 9, 1985 FILE REF: 3550 TO: District Directors (WMC) PMMS Response Insertion: Chp. 15, FP/SL Guidebook Distribution: Program Staff County Zoning Administrators Municipal Zoning Administrators FROM: Larry L son - WZ/6 SUBJECT: Program Guidance Concerning Campgrounds and Mobile Home Parks in Floodfringe Areas Campgrounds, according to s. NR 116.13(2)(c), Wis. Adm. Code, are listed as a permitted use in a floodway area, providing they meet the criteria established in this subpart of the code. The most limiting portion of the campground development criteria is that the character of the river system is such that it is possible to provide warning 72 hours in advance of an approaching flood. Because of this restrictive limitation only a very few of the large river systems are capable of allowing campgrounds within their floodway areas. The code does not establish similar criteria for campgrounds in less dangerous floodfringe areas. The dilemma this raises is expressed in the following questions (similar questions about mobile home parks are also asked) : 1 . In floodf rin a areas residential standards generally apply. However, can we draw a distinction between the degree of protection necessary for a temporary temporany structure, such as a tent, RV or trailer versus a permanent structure such as a pad leased on an annual basis, a trailer on loc s, or a structure uninhabited for long periods o time? There is no distinction due to the temporary nature of a structure, which all of these items are. We will discuss some reasonable distinctions of the development standards. RV' s, tents and fold-out tent camping units are residential uses which are allowed in floodway campgrounds due to their self contained and easily movable nature. RV's, tents and fold-out tent camping units located in the floodf ringe areas, are treated as residential uses, which means they must meet the standards established in s. NR 116.14(2), Wis. Adm. Code, which requires the finished surface of the first floor must be elevated to or above the flood protection elevation. In addition, fill is to be placed 1 ft. above the regional flood elevation and extend 15 ft. beyond the limits of the structure.