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Buena Tierra

County of Santa Barbara

Step 7 of the 8-Step Process

Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain

 

To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals

 

This is to give notice that the County of Santa Barbara has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management, to determine the potential affect that its activity in the floodplain and wetland will have on the human environment for the Buena Tierra (Super 8 Motel) Rehabilitation Project under Home American Rescue Plan Act Funds (Reservation Letter from Community Services Department, County of Santa Barbara dated January 11, 2022) and Homekey #21-HK-17194.

 

The County of Santa Barbara has reevaluated alternatives to building in the floodplain and has determined that it has 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. This activity will have no significant impact on the environment for the following reasons.

 

Although the Buena Tierra project site is in a Regulatory Floodway, the project will be adapted in order to minimize effects on floodplain values. Steps were taken in order to minimize risks to human life and property via preconstruction civil engineering/modeling and analysis, construction methods, flood insurance, etc. The alternative site identified in the planning process at 3699 Sagunto Street was problematic due to noise concerns and the noise mitigation costs would exceed those of the proposed site. Internal market analysis conducted by HASBARCO determined that construction outside of the floodplain at an alternative site is not viable because the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO) does not own alternate sites consistent with the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and California Tax Credit Allocation Committee regulations. Due to noise, financial costs, and other concerns, as well as the requirement that the project be constructed within city limits due to bond issues, the project site is the only location that satisfies these needs and concerns without displacing residents. HASBARCO already owns the Buena Tierra site and choosing a new site would require HASBARCO to invest presently unattainable funds to purchase a new property. The no action alternative is also impracticable because it will not satisfy the need to provide supportive housing opportunities on a site allowable for residential development.

 

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 about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks 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 HASBARCO at the following address on or before June 14, 2023: 815 West Ocean, Lompoc, CA 93436, to the attention of Milton Johns, Surf Development. If you have any questions, please contact Milton Johns at miltonjohns@hasbarco.org. A full description of the project may also be reviewed on the County's Web Page at https://www.countyofsb.org .