?PUBLIC NOTICE
Sealed bids will be received by the Hackberry Recreation District until 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 13, 2021 in the Board Room of the Hackberry Recreation Center, 1250 Recreation Circle, Hackberry, LA for the installation of 8 softball field bleachers and 2 dug out benches at 2 separate softball fields at the Hackberry Recreation Center.
Bid specifications can be obtained from the Hackberry Recreation Center. Sealed bids should be labeled “Ball Field Bleachers”. All bids must be submitted to the Hackberry Recreation Center. Any questions may be answered by calling Dwayne Sanner at (337) 965-5388.
BY:
Dwayne Sanner, Director
Bethany Moore, Chairman
RUN: Nov. 18, 25, Dec. 2 (N 40)
Final Notice and Public
Explanation of a Proposed
Activity in a 100-Year/
500-year Floodplain or Wetland
To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals
This is to give notice that Louisiana Office of Community Development (LA OCD) under Part 58 has has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 and/or 11990, 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 actions by which Statewide Federal Assistance for Homeowner Recovery Programs is proposed. The locations for proposed project activity encompass various residential properties in up to all 64 parishes of Louisiana. Grant recipients will be based on an application and eligibility process and thus the specific locations of these housing units are not known at this time. Criteria for selection will be further determined within the program policies and procedures based on availability of funds and number of applications. The LA OCD is proposing to implement programs to assist homeowners and rental unit owners and tenants that have been and continue to be affected by disasters. These programs are modelled after the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program deployed in response to the Great Floods of 2016. These applicants and intended recipients of current or upcoming programs are homeowners and rental unit owners/tenants who are at various stages of rehabilitating residences in existing locations or relocating. Grants may provide for construction financing activities in addition to any previous federal loans or funds received in order to provide assistance to eligible homeowners to rebuild and re-occupy their homes and rental units or participate in buyout and relocation programs with the goals of rebuilding neighborhoods, reducing blight, mitigating against future storms and increasing overall resiliency. The types of construction-related activities will consist of either major or minor rehabilitation, reconstruction, elevation or demolition within the original footprint of each damaged structure or developed lot. Under the buyout option, properties with pre-existing structures may be retained as greenspace following demolition with homeowners relocated to more resilient areas. In some cases, new construction or elevation may be required with potential expansion beyond or outside of the footprint of the original structure and utilities.
LA OCD has determined that the proposed project activities could involve more than 100,000 properties and up to an estimated total of 21,250 acres with a substantial portion of these activities anticipated to be located within the 100-year floodplain. In accordance with Executive Order 11990, the total number of homes and combined acreage of these properties that are proximal to wetlands listed in the National Wetland Inventory will be reviewed on an individual basis after being identified. However, at this time, given the nature of the proposed activities and previous correspondence with state and federal agencies for similar projects, zero acres of wetlands impact are anticipated as a result of this project.
LA OCD has considered alternatives and mitigation measures to be taken to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial values. These included the following alternatives:
Alternative 1. Locations outside of and not affecting the 100-year floodplain/wetlands;
Alternative 2. Alternative methods to serve the identical project objective; or
Alternative 3. Not approving action to occupancy or modify the floodplain.
For each of these alternatives, various factors were considered including natural value, feasibility, technology, hazard reduction, related economic value and other environmental impacts. The evaluation of each alternative is summarized below.
Alternative 1 – In most cases, aside from the proposed buyout program actions, re-location of these activities to areas outside of the floodplain or wetlands would result in abandonment of existing homes that are in an unfinished state of repair as well as the purchase and development of land for the relocation of citizens. In order to be considered for relocation, any such land would need to be; a) outside the 100-year floodplain and wetlands, b) not currently developed for other land uses, and c) not designated for other uses (e.g., prime farmlands, parks, recreational areas).
This alternative was rejected due to a number of factors including the following: a) this would not provide any significant benefit to the floodplain since the existing areas will remain developed regardless of any action taken, b) this would require displacement of homeowners that may be still living in the homes, c) the lack of existing infrastructure and services in areas outside the floodplain and the unfeasible costs to provide such amenities, and d) the resulting blight that would occur as current homes fall further into disrepair and abandonment. This alternative further does not meet the overall objectives of the proposed action in that it does not result in allowing residents to rebuild their lives, homes and communities.
Alternative 2 – Alternative methods to serve the project objective are limited but could include multi-family housing at specified locations in the general vicinity of the affected communities. The multi-family housing could be located either at a few sites within the floodplain or at sites outside of the floodplain or a combination of both. Such an alternative would conceptually allow for similar populations but with a smaller footprint. However, this alternative was rejected due to many of the same disadvantages as Alternative 1 regarding no real benefit to the floodplain, resulting blight in the neighborhoods as the existing home sites fall further into disrepair, the displacement of the homeowners, and failure to meet the goals of the proposed action in helping to rebuild impacted communities to their prior state.
Alternative 3 – The alternative to not approve any action, essentially a “No Action” alternative, would result in the properties remaining in disrepair. This alternative would not result in a reversion of floodplain back to its natural state. Additionally, no beneficial value would be anticipated since homes would be surrounded by other residences in most cases. If the homes are not rehabilitated, then the homes will deteriorate lowering property values and preventing homeowners from either returning to their homes or possibly causing those still living in the homes to eventually leave. The “No Action” would thus lead to eventual blight and hinder the ability of the impacted communities to rebuild and regain their identity that existed prior to the storms.
Based on this detailed review, it has been determined that there is no practical alternative to the proposed action being located potentially in a floodplain. This includes careful consideration and rejection of the alternatives above. The proposed actions of repairing/rehabilitating existing homes will meet objectives while not hindering the natural values of the floodplains.
Mitigating measures will be incorporated into the housing programs as part of the rebuilding process. This includes elevation of homes within the floodplain that have substantial damage and adoption of various building codes for rehabilitation of residential structures in the floodplain. These construction measures and contractor standards, outlined in the LA OCD Master Action Plan for the Utilization of Community Development Block Grant Funds, will result in more resilient and sustainable communities.
LA OCD has re-evaluated the alternatives to building in the floodplain and has determined there is no practicable alternative. Environmental files that document compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Order 11988, 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 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. 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 Tina Cantrell of LA OCD at the following address on or before December 10, 2021: State of Louisiana, Office of Community Development Post Office Box 94095, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095 and (225) 342-1731, Attention: Ms. Tina Cantrell, Environmental Specialist. A full description of the project may also be reviewed from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at 617 N. Third St. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Comments may also be submitted via email at Tina.Cantrell@la.gov.
RUN: Nov. 25 (N 41)PUBLIC NOTICE