Orlando Standard

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

 

City of Orlando

Housing and Community Development Department

400 South Orange Avenue

Orlando, FL 32801

407.246.3413

On or after July 7, 2022, the City of Orlando will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Program Office for the release of program funds under Title II of the Cranston Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act, as amended, and Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act (HCDC) of 1974, as amended, to undertake the following project:

Project/Program Title: Fern Grove Apartments FY21

Purpose: Fern Grove Apartments proposes to use HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding for the construction of 138 affordable rental units for the elderly. The development will be a 4-story, energy-efficient, concrete block and plank apartment building with elevators. It will also include management offices, a fitness room, a large gathering room, meeting/card rooms, and a courtyard with a screened-in porch and gazebos. The Fern Grove Apartments project will provide affordable rental units to low- and very low-income senior families. 

Location: The vacant project site is located at 3750 WD Judge Drive, Orlando, in Orange County, Florida.

Program Description: The City of Orlando is utilizing HOME funding (M-20-MC-0214 and MC-21-MC-0214) for the development of affordable rental housing units for the elderly.

Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.36 (EA)

Estimated Project Cost: $1,300,000

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Orlando has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment.  Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR). The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to the Housing and Community Development Department, 400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801 or by email to: elena.escovar@orlando.gov. The public may also examine and copy the ERR at Orlando City Hall, Monday to Friday between 8 A.M to 5 P.M, located at 400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801, in the Housing and Community Development Department located on the 7th Floor. The ERR can also be accessed online at the following website:

https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/environmental-review/environmental-review-records/.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Orlando Housing and Community Development Department. All comments received by July 7, 2022, will be considered by the City of Orlando prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The City of Orlando certifies to HUD that Buddy Dyer, Certifying Officer, in his capacity as Mayor consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Orlando to use HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Orlando’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Orlando; (b) the City of Orlando has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed with attention to Lisa A. Johnson (Lisa.A.Johnson@hud.gov) CPD Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Charles East Bennett Federal Building, 400 W. Bay Street, Suite 1015, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Potential objectors should contact the HUD office via email at kenneth.m.pinnix@hud.gov to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Mayor Buddy Dyer, Certifying Officer

Original source can be found here.