Public Hearings 3.
Flood Control District Meeting - 10:00 am
Engineering & Natural Resources
- Meeting Date:
- 05/19/2026
- Title:
- Wortman Floodplain Variance Request
- Submitted By:
- Mayra Moreno, Engineering & Natural Resources
- Department:
- Engineering & Natural Resources
Presentation:
PowerPoint
Recommendation:
Approve
Document Signatures:
BOS Signature Required
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
2
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Joaquin Solis
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
Floodplain Administrator
Mandated Function?:
Federal or State Mandate
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
A.R.S. ยง 48-3609
Docket Number (If applicable):
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Approve the variance request of the applicant, W/W Services LLC, to reduce the height of a proposed perimeter fence within a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) without meeting the County’s Floodplain elevation requirement.
Background:
Portions of the subject parcels are currently located within Zones A0-1 (depth 1 ft.) and AO-2 (depth 2 ft) designated special flood hazard areas in the Willcox area (near N. Fort Grant and Joe Hines Roads). The applicant is building a commercial perimeter fence and would like to lower the bottom of the fence to base flow heights and not regulatory heights. Floodplain regulations, per 5.1.D.6, states: To allow the Regulatory Flood discharge to pass, a minimum of 50% of fence shall be left open and unobstructed to or above the Regulatory Flood Elevation. No fence shall be constructed in a floodway.
The Regulatory flood elevations are for habitable structures (single family residences, manufactured homes, office buildings, etc.) and not fences. The applicant requests the variance because W\W Services LLC representative states that the “obligation to install a nonpermeable fence to reduce dust from neighboring property as 3’ will not help reduce dust”. According to the 2023 approved Floodplain regulations, the fence openings shall be elevated to the same as a habitable structure. Best Available data from a recent Willcox hydrologic/hydraulic study indicates flow depths are not as high as the effective mapping indicate. Staff recommends approval of the variance. Although granting the variance would jeopardize Cochise County’s inclusion in the National Flood Insurance Program or increase premiums on flood insurance, the Floodplain Regulations need to be revised to lower the fence height elevation to base flood elevation and not regulatory flood elevation so constructed fences may meet requirements.
I move to approve the variance requested by WW Services LLC, from the fence elevation requirements of two (2) and three (3) feet down to one (1) foot above the adjacent grade for the proposed perimeter fence along Parcels 202-29-017A, 202-29-017D, 202-29-036 and 202-29-023A, within the FEMA SFHA’s located on N. Fort Grant Road in the Willcox Area.
The Regulatory flood elevations are for habitable structures (single family residences, manufactured homes, office buildings, etc.) and not fences. The applicant requests the variance because W\W Services LLC representative states that the “obligation to install a nonpermeable fence to reduce dust from neighboring property as 3’ will not help reduce dust”. According to the 2023 approved Floodplain regulations, the fence openings shall be elevated to the same as a habitable structure. Best Available data from a recent Willcox hydrologic/hydraulic study indicates flow depths are not as high as the effective mapping indicate. Staff recommends approval of the variance. Although granting the variance would jeopardize Cochise County’s inclusion in the National Flood Insurance Program or increase premiums on flood insurance, the Floodplain Regulations need to be revised to lower the fence height elevation to base flood elevation and not regulatory flood elevation so constructed fences may meet requirements.
I move to approve the variance requested by WW Services LLC, from the fence elevation requirements of two (2) and three (3) feet down to one (1) foot above the adjacent grade for the proposed perimeter fence along Parcels 202-29-017A, 202-29-017D, 202-29-036 and 202-29-023A, within the FEMA SFHA’s located on N. Fort Grant Road in the Willcox Area.
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Provide applicant with a permit to construct fence.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Applicant will not be able to construct fence.
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
Please forward signed copies of approved variance to Joaquin Solis & Mayra Moreno