CITY OF SAN BUENAVENTURA PUBLICATION OF A NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)

REPUBLISHING OF NOTICE

July 28, 2021

City of San Buenaventura

Community Development Department – Community Development Grants and Housing

501 Poli Street, Room 133

Ventura, CA 93001

On or about August 13, 2021 the City of San Buenaventura (the City) will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds under the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, to undertake a project known as Ventura Springs, located at the 9.68-acre Project site encompasses one parcel (APN: 128-0-050-605) located at 10822 Morning Glory Road (formerly known as 10900 Telephone Road),  in the City of San Buenaventura, California, 93004. The Project site is situated on the south side of Telephone Road, north of the Southern Pacific Railroad corridor, and west of Brown Barranca. An environmental assessment was completed in 2021 with mitigation measures identified. The proposed project has an estimated cost of $62.1 million that will include HOME and Non-HOME funding sources ($700,000 of the City’s HOME funds that have been requested for the project, and with $61.4 million of other funding sources).  

Project Description: Ventura Veterans L.P. (applicant) is proposing a new construction, 122-unit development that includes 120 housing units for veterans experiencing homelessness and low-income veterans and their families plus two unrestricted managers' units. Ventura Springs will not have any market-rate units. The 122 units will be spread out around the 9.68-acre site in multiple buildings with buildings forming clusters surrounding vibrant community courtyards with a variety of uses and activities. Fifty-four (54) units will be permanent supportive units designated for individuals experiencing homelessness. The remaining units include sixty-six (66) general affordable units that will be designated for low-income veterans and their families plus two (2) unrestricted manager units. The 54 permanent supportive housing (PSH) units will be restricted between 30-50% AMI targeting. The remaining sixty-six (66) general affordable units will be designated for low-income veterans and their families earning 30-60% of the area median income and two (2) unrestricted managers' units.  Project also includes 30 VASH vouchers.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of San Buenaventura has determined that there will be mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate adverse environmental impacts, however, 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) on file.

An Environmental Review Record (ERR) has been documented for this project and can be examined, online from July 28, 2021 through August 12, 2021 on the City’s website.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

The public comment period has already lapsed and the ERR can be accessed at the website above.  Questions about this project can be addressed in writing to the City of San Buenaventura City Hall, Community Development Department, ATTN: Dori Boyer, Management Analyst, 501 Poli Street, Room 133, Ventura, CA 93001, or via email.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The City of San Buenaventura certifies to HUD that Peter Gilli, Community Development Director, and Neda Zayer, Assistant Community Development Director, 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 to use HOME Program Funds. 

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections for the City’s Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification for a period of fifteen (15) days following the anticipated submission date specified above 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; 

b)  The City has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58, or by CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1500-1508, as applicable;

c) The City has omitted one or more steps in the preparation, completion, or publication of the Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Study; 

d) the grant recipient or other participant in the development process has committed funds for or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before release of funds and approval of the environmental certification; 

e) another Federal, State, or local agency has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.  

Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Section 58.76) and shall be addressed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Planning and Development, located at CPDLA Email.  Potential objectors should contact the HUD Los Angeles office via email to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

 -City Manager

The Request for Release of Funds was provided to HUD on approximately 12/16/2021.  The Environmental Review Record will be posted on the HUD website for public comment at Environmental Review Records.