Full Text
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW RECORD YR 46 Introduction Pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the environmental Review procedures for the Community Development Block Grant Assistance Program (CDBG) set forth in 24 CFR Part 58, municipalities applying for assistance under the CDBG Program are required to conduct an environmental review of proposed program activities: To comply with the aforementioned requirements, the City of Albany has prepared the following Environmental Review Record for the Year 46 Community Development Block Grant Program, Emergency Solutions Grants Program and Home Investment Partnerships Program, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND COMPLIANCE The following activities will be undertaken during the City’s Year 46 Community Development Program. PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS $ 160,117 City of Albany, Department of General Services Public Streets, Side Walks and Access Ramps $ 160,117 In accordance with the provisions set forth in 24 CFR 58.35-(a) these public improvements projects are categorically excluded from NEPA requirements as they involve the reconstruction of already existing streets, sidewalks and ramps that will be retained for the same use and will not change in size or capacity of more than 20%. Projects will be reviewed individually for requirements other than NEPA. B. PUBLIC SERVICES The following public services and programs of the Action Plan which serve residents of the ACDA target neighborhoods with public services are exempt according to 24 CFR 58.34 Equinox Youth Support Services 25,000 Albany Fund for Education Albany Feed and Read Program 25,000 Boys and Girls Club Ezra prentis program 30,000 Black Nurses Coalition Healthy & U 20,000 South End Childrens Café South End Childrens Café 10,000 Albany Police Dept. Cadet Program/Do the Right Thing 66,993 City of Albany Y&WFS Pathways to Health 77,339 Albany Police Athletic League Albany Baseball Program 17,500 Underground Railroad Green and Clean 10,000 Baby Institute Summer camp 15,000 The Red Bookshelf Reading is Our Right 20,000 Central Ave BID Preservation Trades Training and Job Development 21,000 Albany Community Action partnership Fatherhood workforce Initiative 25,000 Art Partners Tseheya and Co The Albany Living Arts Program 18,500 Affordable Housing Partnership Money Strategies 5,000 Sub-total $ 386,332 ---PAGE BREAK--- PLANNING Cares/Albany County Coalition on Homelessness Albany Homeless Management Info System/Single Point of Entry 50,000 CHDO $ 125,000 The following is a new housing construction project that is neither exempt nor categorically excluded from NEPA and requires an environmental assessment. The assessment has been completed and was part of the environmental review record at ACDA in year 43. Habitat for Humanity Sheridan hollow Revitalization $125,000 The following homeless Public Services are programs supported by the Albany Emergency Solutions Grants Program. In compliance with NEPA, these activities are exempt according to 24 CFR 58.34: HOMELESS $ 257,340 United Tenants of Albany, Inc. Homeless Prevention Program $ 84,000 Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless Shelter Provider $ 34,132 St. Anne’s Institute Shelter Provider $ 21,177 Legal Aid Society Homeless Prevention $ 21,177 Catholic Charities Housing Office St. Charles Lwanga Center/Mercy $ 51,177 Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless Code Blue 27,177 St. Peter’s Hospital St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center’s Emergency Homeless Shelter $ 33,517 The following projects are housing administration. In compliance with NEPA, these activities are exempt according to 24 CFR 58.34: HOUSING $ 54,543 Homeless Action Committee HAC SRO $10,247 Albany Housing Coalition Senior Veterans Housing 12,296 South End Improvement Corporation Security Home Improvement Program (SHIP) $ 32,000 C. HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS is administered by the City of Albany and CARES, Inc. This entitlement grant for the five county Albany EMSA has been used in the past for supportive housing. D. REHABILITATION The following residential programs, of the Albany Community Development Agency are aimed at upgrading the City’s housing stock and serve principally lower income households: Senior Rehabilitation Program (SRP) ---PAGE BREAK--- Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RAP) Home Owner Assistance Program (HOAP) Home Acquisition Program (HAP) Direct Delivery expenses. Acquisition, demolition, stabilization of deteriorating properties prior to rehabilitation. Brownfields Assessment The rehabilitation and loan activities listed above are generally categorically excluded as per 24 CFR 58.35 The project is categorically excluded from NEPA requirements under 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3), which covers rehabilitation of buildings and improvements where in the case of a building for residential use (with one to four units) the density is not increased beyond four units, the land use is not changed, and the footprint of the building is not increased in a floodplain or in a wetland; and (ii) where in the case of multifamily residential buildings, the unit density is not changed more than 20 percent, the project does not involve changes in land use from residential to non-residential, and the estimated cost of rehabilitation is less than 75 percent of the total estimated cost of replacement after rehabilitation. However each rehabilitation and new construction will be individually reviewed for its environmental effect as per 24 CFR 58.35 and requirements other than NEPA. Further, all rehabilitation projects will be reviewed in accordance with the Agency’s current Memorandum of Agreement with SHPO. E. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The following economic development programs under the Department of Development and Planning are aimed at upgrading the City’s commercial areas and providing job opportunities for lower income City residents. The CDBG funded economic development activities generally involve loans to for-profit business, technical assistance and the rehabilitation of existing structure. As per 24 CFR these activities as a whole are categorically excluded. However, in the event that a project involves substantial expansion, new construction or acquisition, it will be assessed individually. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT $165,843 Capitalize Albany Corp Economic Development tech. Assistance $ 165,843 ---PAGE BREAK--- F. ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING General administration and operating expenses, the Department of Development and Planning, the Albany Community Development Agency are exempt as per 24 CFR 58.34