Notice of Early Public Review of a Proposed Activity in an FFRMS Floodplain
To: All interested Agencies, including all Federal, State, and Local, Groups and Individuals
This is to give notice that Manatee County, under 24 CFR Part 58 has determined that the following proposed action will be in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain. Manatee County, as the Responsible Entity, will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating this development in the FFRMS floodplain and the potential impacts on the floodplain from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988, and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands.
Ninth Street Apartments, located at located at 5420 10th Lane East in Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida 34203, consists of an approximate 6.71-acre parcel of undeveloped grassed and partially wooded land (Subject Property). Bright Community Trust, the Sponsor, is submitting this project for Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds for the development of one (1) four-story multi-family residential apartment structure, including one hundred and thirty-four (134) units. It should be additionally noted that the western adjacent tracts of land associated with ingress/egress, frontage improvements, and utility connections are located in the Environmental Review due to HUD's aggregation requirements.
According to FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) #12081C-0308E, dated March 17, 2014, the majority of the subject property is located in Unshaded Zone X, designated as an area outside the 100 and 500-year floodplain; however, according to the 500-Year Floodplain Exhibit prepared by Kimley and Horn dated February 2025, the southern portion of the subject property is located in Shaded Zone X, designated as an area within the 500-year floodplain associated with Bowlees Creek. According to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center accessed at https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home, there are no preliminary or pending FIRMs for the subject property.
With the 500-year floodplain mapped/defined, that is the extent of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain for this project under the 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Approach (0.2PFA).
According to the 500-Year Floodplain Exhibit prepared by Kimley and Horn, grading and the installation of an 18-inch storm pipe and discharge associated with the proposed lined wet detention pond are proposed within the 500-year/FFRMS floodplain. Approximately 0.26 acres of the FFRMS floodplain encroaches onto the subject property boundaries, of which impacts to approximately 0.12 acres are being proposed.
The floodplain under consideration is currently not known to have any archaeological, historic, or recreational value of public interest.
There are three (3) primary purposes for this notice:
People who may be affected by activities in the floodplain area 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 this area. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain area, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate impacts.
An adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comments about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas.
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 the Responsible Entity at the following address on or before June 17th, 2025 (a minimum 15 calendar day comment period will begin the day after publication). A full description of the project may also be reviewed online at https://mymanatee.org/departments/community-and-veterans-services-department or from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at this address:
Julia Vieira, Community Development Project Manager
Manatee County Government
Community and Veterans Services Department
1112 Manatee Avenue West, Suite 500
Bradenton, Florida 34205
941-748-4501, ext. 1266
Comments may also be submitted via email at [email protected]