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Larimer and Weld counties, Colorado

Cloudy, 48° in Johnstown at 8:15 AM. Forecast high 58, low 33.

Johnstown

Johnstown council approves Larimer County flood map update on first reading

·Johnstown·Weld County·Larimer County

From the Johnstown Town Council meeting of

The ordinance replaces the study reference in town code and removes a rule for measuring a structure’s lowest floor at a crawl space. The ban on crawl spaces in Special Flood Hazard Areas remains; the ordinance takes effect after final passage.

The Johnstown Town Council approved on first reading an ordinance adopting FEMA's updated flood insurance study and flood maps for Larimer County, effective Nov. 27, and removing a crawl-space measuring provision from the town's floodplain code.

A Planning Department staff member told the council that Colorado's floodplain management coordinator contacted Larimer County floodplain administrators after the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued its final determination. The town's code must reference the most recently approved flood map to comply with the National Flood Insurance Program, the staff member said.

The ordinance's recitals say state and federal regulations require the town to include certain floodplain provisions in its ordinances as part of its participation in that program.

The ordinance removes the provision for measuring a structure's lowest floor at the floor of a crawl space. It keeps the prohibition on crawl spaces in Special Flood Hazard Areas.

It replaces the Larimer County study reference dated Jan. 15, 2021, with the study effective Nov. 27, and adopts that study, its flood insurance rate maps and any revisions by reference. The Weld County flood insurance study dated Jan. 20, 2016, stays in the code.

The state and a regional FEMA representative proposed the amendments after reviewing the town's code, the staff member said, and the town attorney reviewed them to protect the code's integrity. The staff member said the changes keep the code compliant with federal and state floodplain regulations and promote public health, safety and general welfare. Of the background, the staff member said: "There's a whole lot of acronyms there I skipped, just for everyone's edification."

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at its Oct. 28 meeting. The staff member also recommended that the council approve the ordinance.

The ordinance takes effect upon final passage as provided by the Town Charter. After final reading, it is to be numbered, recorded, published and posted as the charter requires.

More from this meeting

  1. Johnstown Town Council, Nov. 2, 2026

    Johnstown council approves $900,000 purchase of 15 Colorado-Big Thompson water units; Johnstown hires Connell Resources for raw water pipeline design-phase work; Johnstown awards $1.87 million West Parish Alley contract to Krische; 3 consent items adopted.

  2. Item 6Johnstown council approves $900,000 purchase of 15 Colorado-Big Thompson water units

    The resolution says town management had been negotiating to add more of the units to Johnstown's water portfolio. It says buying additional water for the town's allotment and use would benefit its citizens, residents, property owners, businesses, developers and visitors.

  3. Item 8Johnstown hires Connell Resources for raw water pipeline design-phase work

    The council also authorized the town manager to execute the contract and to spend the extra $20,000 at the manager's discretion on additional construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) services. The agreement covers CMAR design-phase services.

  4. Item 9Johnstown awards $1.87 million West Parish Alley contract to Krische

    The work includes 8,893 square feet of interlocking concrete pavers, seven light poles, 69 pipe bollards, gateway features, planter pots, 14 hanging flower baskets, fencing, planting and irrigation.

  5. Item 10Johnstown council approves $893,846 to take part in Glade Reservoir water project

    The town must pay within 30 days of an invoice, but the agreement limits its obligation to the stated share and does not require it to join later project phases.

  6. Item 12Johnstown's proposed 2027 General Fund budget of $88.4 million includes $40.5 million for water shares

    The proposal assigns $20.2 million to buildings and $9.2 million to police. No action was taken at the hearing; formal adoption is expected in December.

  7. Item 13Johnstown conditionally approves Diamond Ridge district plan, cutting debt tax cap to 30 mills

    The revised plan must consolidate three districts into one and dedicate streets, water, sewer and storm drainage to the town upon completion and acceptance.