Last week’s decision by the Mathews County Board of Supervisors to direct the county’s building official to issue permits for renovations to the Islander Restaurant on Gwynn’s Island may have put county residents’ flood insurance at risk.

The board of supervisors will meet at 7 o’clock tonight in the historic courthouse to discuss the issue.

According to a letter from Clyde Cristman, director of Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation, Cristman learned from press reports that the board had taken action on the matter, even though the cost of the proposed renovations would meet or exceed 50 percent of the value of the structure. In this situation, he said, the structure is required to come into full compliance with the county’s floodplain ordinance. If it doesn’t, he said, it would be considered a violation of the National Flood Insurance Program.

“We hope the Mathews Board of Supervisors will reconsider this action an...