NoRo Flood Fight has released a technical-legal report with full citations, mailed to the Mayor, Planning Commission and Storm Water Committee on June 3, 2025, showing that the City of North Royalton is still green-lighting new housing projects with 1980-era storm-water numbers (potentially updated as recent as the recent as 1992)—even though modern data from NOAA Atlas 14 prove today’s “100-year” downpours are up to 40 percent heavier in Cuyahoga County.
After NoRoFF’s research, it’s our belief that:
- City’s own law requires zero extra flooding. Chapter 1481 says every subdivision must “permit development without increasing the flooding of other lands.”
- Obsolete models mask real risk. The City still relies on SCS TR-55 (1986) and Bulletin 71 (1992) rainfall tables. Those inputs size pipes and detention basins too small from day one.
- Better standards already exist. Ohio EPA, ODOT, FEMA and NEORSD have all adopted NOAA Atlas 14 and climate-adjusted modeling. North Royalton could update its ordinance with relative ease.
- Legal and financial exposure. Moving ahead under old data may violate Chapter 1481 of the city’s own laws and may open the City to administrative appeals, nuisance suits, and even inverse-condemnation (“takings”) claims if homes flood.
What’s next? — June 11 Planning Commission
NoRo Flood Fight representatives will attend the Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m. to explain why these findings should halt sketch-plan approval for the Albion Elementary subdivision until updated storm-water modeling is required. Residents are encouraged to show up, speak out, and demand that the City protect upstream and downstream neighborhoods before rubber-stamping any new development.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT HERE:
Questions? Want to share your flood story? — Email us at info@norofloodfight.org or tag @NoRoFloods on social media.