Floodplain Bylaw and Maps

Article 16 passed at the May 6, 2025, Town Meeting. Thank you, Littleton for voting to adopt the Floodplain Zoning Bylaw and Map Amendment to keep Littleton in the National Flood Insurance Program. To learn more see flyer below for Merrimack Watershed, Region 1 Open House.


At the March 13, 2025, Public Hearing, the Planning Board unanimously voted to recommend the proposed Wetlands & Floodplain Bylaw Amendment to bring forward to Town Meeting. 

Materials for Town Meeting - May 6, 2025

Article 17

Article Text
Executive Summary
Presentation Slideshow
Report to Town Meeting
Article Preview on LCTV: 37:46 - 41:42
Article Preview on LCTV Script


Support of Article 17: From a public health and safety perspective, this amendment supports our ability to mitigate risk in vulnerable areas, enhance emergency response planning, and promote resilient infrastructure and utility systems. This is an important step for community safety and environmental health resilience. - Francis Dagle, Public Health Director

BACKGROUND: 

Materials for April 3, 2025 Planning Board Meeting

Materials for March 13, 2025 Public Hearing

For Planning Board Review: DRAFT Floodplain Bylaw Proposal 


February, 2025: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued new Flood Insurance Rate Map panels for Littleton. Littleton's Floodplain Bylaw is outdated and should be updated (1) to reference the new panels and (2) to assure that FEMA does not drop Littleton from the national flood insurance program. FEMA issued the maps as “Final” in January 2025, so Littleton has until July 2025 to update our Floodplain Bylaw - thus the goal to do this at the May 2025 Town Meeting.

There are several ways to view the new floodplain maps, and compare to the existing floodplain maps. Our IT Department, working with a GIS consultant, has posted the Preliminary FEMA maps to the website GIS. Funding for the Littleton mapping work is from Article 8 part (3) of the October 29, 2024, Town Meeting. FEMA also has a couple tools for viewing the changes to the floodplain - detailed directions on how to use the FEMA tools below.

Previous Materials 


Floodplain Mapping

•    FEMA Flood Map Changes Viewer

•    FEMA Flood Hazard & Data Risk Viewer

•    Littleton Floodplain Bylaw: https://ecode360.com/32920481 (current bylaw that needs to be updated)

•    Littleton GIS: https://www.axisgis.com/littletonma/ 

↳ To view the new FEMA Preliminary Map on Littleton's GIS: open the "Layers" sidebar on left side of screen, under "Property Data" turn on FEMA Preliminary Map by clicking the circle next to "FEMA Preliminary Map" (click the circle(s) next to "Property Data" and "FEMA Preliminary Map" to make sure the layers are turned on). 

↳ To view current FEMA Flood Map (NFHL) on Littleton's GIS: open the "Layers" sidebar on left side of screen, under "State Data" turn on FEMA Flood Map (NFHL) by clicking the circle next to "FEMA Flood Map (NFHL)" (click the circle(s) next to "State Data" and "FEMA Flood Map (NFHL)" to make sure the layers are turned on)


"New" Flood Insurance Rate Maps: 

Panel 209 - August 13, 2021 Panel 218 - June 8, 2023Panel 236 - June 8, 2023Panel 239 - (No Change)
Panel 216 - June 8, 2023 Panel 219 - June 8, 2023
Panel 237 - June 8, 2023
Panel 241 - (No Change)
Panel 217 - June 8, 2023Panel 228 - June 8, 2023
Panel 238 - (No Change)
Panel 243 - (No Change) 


DEEPER DIVE: for additional information, see resources linked below: 

•    FEMA Floodplain Map Updates Story Map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/747e0a9bcde14ad09323d3cb9a181e9d

•    2020 MA Model Floodplain Bylaw, Version 2: https://www.mass.gov/doc/2020-ma-model-floodplain-bylaw/download

•    Bylaw FAQ from presentation sessions: https://www.mass.gov/doc/bylaw-faq-from-presentation-sessions/download

•    2020 Model Floodplain Bylaw slide deck w/ notes: https://www.mass.gov/doc/2020-model-floodplain-bylaw-slide-deck-with-notes/download

•    Overview Information: https://www.mass.gov/guides/floodplain-management

As with all Planning Board matters, please feel free to reach out to the Planning Board members, Town Planner Maren Toohill MToohill@LittletonMA.org or Assistant Town Planner Cooper Mathews CMathews@LIttletonMA.org with questions.