Flood Zones: Mount Pleasant vs Racine

Division 90-490 of the Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances is the 'Floodplain Zoning Ordinance for the Village of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin,' adopted by Ordinance No. 19-2020 effective June 8, 2020 and amended July 24, 2023 and September 25, 2023. The ordinance is adopted under Wis. Stat. Sec. 61.35, Sec. 62.23, and Sec. 87.30 (statutory floodplain zoning) and is designed to meet Wis. Admin. Code Ch. NR 116 and 44 CFR Parts 59-72. Division 90-490 regulates all areas of special flood hazard identified as Zones A, AO, AH, A1-30, AE, VE, V1-30, or V on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map for Racine County. The ordinance establishes the Floodway District (FW), the Floodfringe District (FF) within AE Zones, and the Coastal Floodplain District (CFD) within V, V1-30, and VE Zones along Lake Michigan, with separate provisions in Article VIII for nonconforming uses. The Pike River and Sorensen Creek are principal regulated waterways; the Lower Pike River is also subject to a 150-foot shoreland setback under Division 90-495.

The City of Racine regulates floodplain development through Chapter 114, Article VIII (Flood Regulations) and Article IX (Shoreland and Wetland Regulations) of its Zoning Ordinance, adopted under Wis. Stat. Sec. 87.30 and in conformance with Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 116 and 44 CFR Parts 59-72. The Root River runs through the city to its outlet at Lake Michigan, and the Lake Michigan shoreline along the eastern edge is a separately mapped coastal flood hazard area. Development in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas requires a floodplain zoning permit, new residential structures and most fill are prohibited in the regulatory floodway, and structures in the flood fringe must be elevated to the flood protection elevation (regional flood elevation plus freeboard).