To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals
This is to give notice that City of Waco under 24 CFR Part 58 has determined that the following proposed action under a HOME Investment Partnerships Act – American Rescue Plan Act (“HOME-ARP”) grant (Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant number M-21-MP-48-0202) and US Department of Treasury American Rescue Plan Act – State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Public Health and Economic Impacts Eligible Use Category (Treasury grant number SLFRP3218) is located in the 100-Year and 500-Year Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain, and the City of Waco will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the action within the floodplain and the potential impacts on the floodplain from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690 in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands. The proposed project location is 1324 La Salle Avenue in the City of Waco, McLennan County. The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using a 0.2 percent flood approach.
The project consists of the new construction of two new buildings at 1324 La Salle Ave, Waco. The Corps Community Center will house the church facilities, programming and administrative operations for the Salvation Army. The second facility, the Center of Hope, will contain the social service department, shelter, community kitchen, and day center facilities and programs. The Center of Hope will continue to provide all existing social service programs such as, shelter programs, access to free meals through the community kitchen, the community food pantry, utility assistance programs, clothing vouchers, and grant funded housing assistance programs. The Center of Hope will provide 15 family units for transitional housing or temporary emergency shelter. This addition will quintuple the number of available general population family shelter units currently available in the City of Waco. A new Day Center with a Technology Zone will also be added. The Day Center will provide space for homeless community members to stay during the daytime hours when the emergency shelters close. These community members will have access to public showers, laundry facilities, and regular meals, along with the safety provided by regular shelter. The City of Waco proposes to support the development of the Center of Hope family units to house Qualifying Populations under the HOME-ARP program.
The parcel on which the proposed project will be constructed is approximately 10.14 acres. The Corps Community Center and Center of Hope will span 14,582 sq. ft. and 28,386 sq. ft, respectively, for a total area of 42,968 sq. ft. The entire parcel is within the both the 500-year and 100-year floodplains, Zone AE. The Salvation Army is preparing a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR case # 24-06-2604R) that will remove approximately 12 to 13 acres of the 100-year floodplain with about 4.41 acres of that coming from the subject parcel. Of the 500-year floodplain, approximately 3.52 acres will be removed from the subject parcel and about 5 to 6 acres in total. If approved, the CLOMR will have the effect of providing additional conveyance which will lower the floodplain with the project area. Although regulatory floodway exists nearby, the proposed action and CLOMR will not present any adverse impacts.
There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate project impacts on the floodplain. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Written comments must be received by the City of Waco at the following address on or before October 4, 2024, City of Waco, P.O. Box 2570, Waco Tx, phone number (254) 750-5656, Attention: Galen B. Price, Director of Housing and Community Development. A full description of the project may also be reviewed from 8 am to 5 pm at Department of Housing and Community Development offices at 209 28th Street South, Waco Tx, 76710 and Comments may also be submitted via email at GalenP@wacotx.gov.
Posted Date: September 18, 2024