The Norwich Planning Commission in Vermont is gathering information on implementing proposed river corridor regulations and meeting with residents to discuss adopting language recommended in the Vermont River Corridor Guide.
The Valley News reports many of the attending residents own property in floodplains, and the change would make it more difficult to develop land alongside the town's river.
The town currently oversees two levels of floodplains protection: federal FEMA guidelines and a 2009 ordinance establishing buffer zones. The state model accounts for future river development.
Vermont offers an incentive to adopt a state-produced floodplains ordinance. The town is arguing its current protection plan is strong enough for the incentive, which could reduce taxpayer burdens.
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