Posts tagged residents
Flood debris pickup extended
Oct 16th
Could take until the end of the week for solid materials and longer for mud, silt and dirt
The City of Boulder is in the process of completing pickup of all flood debris that was reported to the city as of Monday, Oct. 14.
The curbside collection of damaged household items, carpet, drywall and all other materials except for dirt, mud and silt, is expected to be completed by Saturday, Oct. 19. Due to the logistics of hauling heavy organic material and collecting dirt, mud and silt from residential areas, parks and multi-use paths, trucks are expected to continue this limited scope of work for several more weeks.
Residents who did not contact the city by Monday, Oct. 14 may no longer take advantage of the curbside collection service and must dispose of flood debris on their own or with the help of a contractor. Residents may continue to dispose of debris at Western Disposal’s transfer station, but they will be required to pay the associated fees.
“We want residents to understand that while they will continue to see Swingle trucks in their neighborhoods fulfilling the orders that were placed before Monday’s deadline, these crews are no longer tasked with continuing to pick up unreported piles,” said Kara Mertz of the city’s Local Environmental Action Division. “The responsibility for unreported flood debris has shifted back to the private property owner.”
Denver-based collection contractor Swingle estimates that its crews have serviced more than 10,000 households since Sept. 26, when collection first began. As of Monday, Oct. 14, 4,463 tons of debris and sediment had been collected through the flood debris curbside pickup program. The city has received positive feedback about the limited-time emergency service.
“It was a relief to see the flood debris gone, though it was also a final goodbye for things we would have rather saved,” said resident Susan McLean in correspondence with the city. “Thank you for all you and others are doing to help speed the recovery.”
Residents who met the request deadline must comply with the same guidelines that have been in place since the pickups began. Specifically, they are asked to make sure their debris is on public streets or right of ways. Materials must be within 10 feet of the curb, avoiding sidewalks if possible, and should not be in bike lanes or in locations that may block storm drains.
In order for the city to receive FEMA assistance for the cost of debris removal, curbside pickup is limited to debris created by the storm event of Sept. 11 through Sept. 15. FEMA requirements include:
· Storm-related debris only; tree branches that broke from wind this past week cannot be accepted as part of this collection
· Debris should not be placed in plastic trash bags
· If debris is already in plastic bags, these bags must be opened to allow for verification that they contain only storm debris
· Do not place regular household trash with flood debris
· Debris must be placed on public property. Collection trucks are not permitted to go onto private or commercial property, which includes driveways, areas inside fences, and private streets inside mobile home parks and large apartment complexes.
Electronics and household hazardous wastes are NOT included in curbside collection.
Electronics may be taken to Eco-Cycle’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) drop off site at 5030 Old Pearl St. or Western Disposal for recycling. For more information, visit www.ecocycle.org/charm or www.westerndisposal.com.
Household hazardous waste such as paint, pesticides and chemicals must be taken to the Hazardous Materials Management Facility at 1901 63rd St. It is located behind the Boulder County Recycling Facility.
Residents with questions or concerns may contact the city at 720-564-2196 or at flooddebris@bouldercolorado.gov.
Boulder County Flood Center now open, changes hours
Oct 16th
Center opened on Oct. 14 to help residents of unincorporated Boulder County navigate through the flood rebuilding process; Center hours to change Oct. 21
Boulder County, Colo. – The Flood Rebuilding & Permit Information Center opened on Oct. 14 to assist property owners and residents of unincorporated Boulder County impacted by the unprecedented flooding events of September 2013.
Formerly called the Flood Recovery Center, the renamed Flood Rebuilding & Permit Information Center is located at the county’s Land Use Department in downtown Boulder.
The center is staffed by functional experts in onsite wastewater (septic) systems, floodplain regulations, transportation (e.g., driveways, roads & bridges), planning and building codes.
What: Flood Rebuilding & Permit Information Center
When: Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, hours are 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. M–F (hours through Oct. 18 are 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)
Where: Boulder County Land Use Department, 2045 13th St., Boulder (map)
Contact: floodrecovery@bouldercounty.org, 303-441-1705
Flood-impacted residents of unincorporated Boulder County who have questions about the rebuilding process are encouraged to stop by the Flood Rebuilding & Permit Information Center to speak with a staff member.
Public parking is available at Boulder County Courthouse lot, and City of Boulder parking garage vouchers are available upon check-in at the Center. Residents can also email the Center staff at floodrecovery@bouldercounty.org or call 303-441-1705.
Questions that residents may have include:
· My private residential bridge/culvert/driveway was destroyed by the flood, how do I begin repairs?
· I’m unsure about the status of my septic system, how do I know if the system is still working properly?
· What are the floodplain/floodway regulations and how do they affect my property?
· Do I need to have a structural engineer to inspect the safety of my home?
Visit www.bouldercountyflood.org for rebuilding resources and more information on flood recovery.
A county land-use office to help with rebuilding regulations
Oct 10th
Proposed regulations aim for safe, resilient, and sustainable communities
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners will be considering interim development regulations for homes and other structures damaged or destroyed by the historic rains, mudslides and flooding of September 2013. Two upcoming Public Hearings have been scheduled:
What: Planning Commission Public Hearing
When: Wednesday, October 16, 2013, 4:30 pm
Where: Commissioners’ Hearing Room, third floor, Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder
Meetings will be held at the BC courthouse
What: Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing
When: Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 4:30 pm
Where: Commissioners’ Hearing Room, third floor, Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder
Boulder County is planning for the need and desire to rebuild quickly and restore the community while implementing measures to protect public safety and investments through hazard mitigation and avoidance.
“The goal is rebuilding resilient communities which can better withstand extreme events and maintain the community fabric of these impacted areas,” said Land Use Director Dale Case. “Wise, sustainable rebuilding regulations are a vital part of the recovery process.”
In the aftermath of the unprecedented destruction and the magnitude of extreme weather experienced in September, county staff have closely examined existing regulations dating back to the 1990s and determined that they don’t sufficiently meet public safety standards in all circumstances. For example, current regulations allow property owners to replace structures in some cases without a review and in other cases a review which would require a floodplain development permit which may not adequately address currently known flooding behavior.
Given our community’s recent extreme weather experience, county officials believe is counterproductive for individuals, insurance companies and the public to invest the time, money, and energy into rebuilding in a location that is known to be hazardous.
In many cases the regulations will allow rebuilding to occur within existing lot lines, but require that structures be raised up out of the flood hazard areas or relocated out of hazard areas to a safer location on the property. The current regulations also require structures to be rebuilt at the same height as the old structures. The proposed regulations will allow changes in height to accommodate floodproofing, such as raising the height of the structure to avoid future flood damage.
These interim regulations are proposed to be in effect until April 30, 2014. During this time, property owners can rebuild destroyed or substantially damaged structures in safer locations, in a way that meets the floodplain development requirements (if the new structure is proposed to be located in a floodplain) without going through Site Plan Review. Land Use staff will work with property owners and representatives from other county departments to perform a Hazard Mitigation Review. The goal of this review is to help property owners rebuild in a way that is more resilient to future disasters.
During this interim period staff is committed to reaching out to the communities to understand the needs and issues of residents who are facing complex issues to restore their homes, property and lives. As part of the effort to assist property owners and residents impacted by the flood the county has set up a Flood Recovery Center at the county’s Land Use Department staffed by functional experts in onsite wastewater (septic) systems, floodplain regulations, planning and building code. The center and the county will also pursue other restoration resources and hazard mitigation programs to assist those impacted.
The staff recommendation and proposed regulations have been posted to the Land Use Department’s website(www.bouldercounty.org/property/build/pages/lucodeupdatedc130003.aspx) for public review and comment. Residents are encouraged to read the draft, call us at 720-564-2623 if you have questions, email your comments to planner@bouldercounty.org, attend the upcoming public hearings, and make your opinion known.
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