PUBLIC NOTICE - - - Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a Floodplain and Wetlands To: All interested Agencies, Groups, and Individuals: This is to give notice that the HUD under Part 50 has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Orders 11988, 11990, and 13690, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection. The activity is funded under Section 221(d)(4) of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Multifamily Housing. The Subject Property is located at 280 Zachary Road, in Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parrish, Louisiana. The Subject Property consists of approximately 16.813-acres. The Subject Property consists of undeveloped land with no existing structures or other improvements. An unnamed retention basin is located along the western property boundary. The Subject Property is currently unoccupied and planned for development of a multi-family residential development including 180 units, to be known as The Irving at Americana Apartments. As planned, the project will include de minimis development in the SFHA Zone A 100-year floodplain on the southwestern portion of the property as well as direct impacts to filled wetlands on the southern and southwestern portions of the property and filled and excavated other waters of the US along the southwestern property boundary. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), Community Map Panel #22033C0400E, dated May 2, 2008, the Subject Property Flood Zone Determination appears to primarily be Zone X, defined as an area outside the 100-year and 500-year floodplains. Areas along the southwestern portion of the Subject Property are located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) Flood Zone A, designated as an area within the 100-year flood zone without a defined base flood elevation (bfe). No other maps, preliminary, or otherwise are available. According to the City of Zachary and FEMA’s Estimated Base Flood Elevation (estBFE) Viewer, the base flood elevation (bfe) determination for the vicinity of the Subject Property is 89.3 feet. Utilizing the 0.2-Percent-Annual-Chance Flood Approach (0.2PFA) for determining the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain, the FFRMS is defined as the 500-year floodplain. The nearest mapped 500-year floodplain is located approximately 5,000 feet to the southwest of the Subject Property; therefore, the Subject Property is not located within the FFRMS floodplain, except where it is located in SFHA Flood Zone A. The southwestern portion of the Subject Property is located within the SFHA Zone A 100-year and FFRMS floodplains. According to the NWI Wetlands Map, a Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland habitat (PFO1A) is located along the southern Subject Property boundary. Permit Number MVN-2008-00423-CQ was issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for development of the larger 413.64-acre development site, currently known as the Americana Master Planned Community, which includes the 16.813-acre Subject Property. The permit authorized development activity at the property pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) and expires on October 31, 2025; the development has applied for an extension to the permit, which is pending at this time. Development of the larger 413.64-acre site will include direct impacts to 8.27 acres of filled wetlands, 1.64 acres of filled jurisdictional ponds, 1,624.01 linear feet of filled other waters of the US, and 348.07 linear feet of excavated other waters of the US. Proposed development at the Subject Property will include direct impacts to filled wetlands on the southern and southwestern portions of the property and filled and excavated other waters of the US along the southwestern property boundary. HUD has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to be taken to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial values. The Subject Property comprises Phase I of a two-phase multifamily residential development that is part of a larger 400+-acre planned development currently known as the Americana Master Planned Community; as such, alternative sites were not considered. and the current site plan was designed to be a cohesive part of the larger community development. The project appears consistent with community's land use & development plans. Through careful planning and revisions, the project was designed in such a way as to minimize impacts to the floodplain and wetland area to the greatest extent practicable while still achieving the project purpose. The current site plans took into consideration the following constraints: landowners future residential and commercial land development, acreage needed to achieve required unit mix and quantity, public and private utilities, property access to public roads, and flood plain and wetland considerations. The highest priority of this review is to prevent the loss of life. No structures are planned for the SFHA floodplain areas; therefore, the Project is not expected to result in the potential loss of life, injury, or hardship to residents of the Subject Property and/or damage to the Subject Property during a 1%-annual-chance flood event. Areas of the Subject Property located within the SFHA planned for development include a stormwater pond and a walking path, which are considered de minimis. Indirect impacts to the remaining surrounding floodplain and wetland areas will be offset by proper erosion control and stormwater management practices during and after construction activities. Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be utilized. Erosion control measures have been developed for the site and will be properly implemented during construction activities. After the project is complete, stormwater drainage will collect in a stormwater pond located on the southwest portion of the Subject Property. As proposed, the Project will include the new construction of a multi-family residential development including 180 apartments in garden buildings. As planned, the project will include de minimis development in the SFHA Zone A 100-year floodplain on the southwestern portion of the property as well as direct impacts to filled wetlands on the southern and southwestern portions of the property and filled and excavated other waters of the US along the southwestern property boundary. The No Action alternative does not allow HUD to fulfill its program goals and may hinder the development of a project necessary to meet the communities housing. The Accept with Modification alternative of relocation as choosing an alternative site is not a practicable alternative for the proposed development based on planned development at the existing site as part of a larger planned development. HUD has reevaluated the alternatives to building in the floodplain and wetlands and has determined that it has no practicable alternative. Environmental files that document compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Orders 11988, 11990, and 13690, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments. There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplain and wetlands 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. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplain and wetlands an 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 floodplain and wetlands, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk. Written comments must be received by the HUD at the following address on or before September 19, 2025: Southwest Multifamily Region, 307 W. 7th St., Suite 1000, Fort Worth, TX 76102, Attention: Tiffoney A Pierre, Underwriting Branch Chief. Comments may also be submitted via email at Tiffoney.a.pierre@hud.gov. September 11, 2025 157703 Sept. 11, 1t $990.63