Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain
To: All interested Agencies, Groups, and Individuals
This is to give notice that the City of Mesa has determined that the following proposed action for new construction of The Helix multifamily apartments is located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain, and the City will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the action within the floodplain and the potential impacts on the floodplain from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands. The sponsor is submitting this project for HOME funding. The Helix was awarded approximately $1.8 million in annual 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and has also secured $900,000 in HOME funds.
The proposed project location is 17-37 West University Drive in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona. The property is comprised of three contiguous parcels totaling approximately 0.914 acres. The City of Mesa Housing and Community Development Department and The Helix are proposing to use Community Planning and Development HOME funding to construct (1) three-story multifamily building with 62 affordable senior rental units, 11 units restricted at 30% Area Median Income (AMI), 29 units at 50% AMI, and the remaining 22 units at 60% AMI. The City of Mesa proposes utilizing HOME Funds for the senior affordable housing development.
The subject property is located in the City of Mesa, Community #040048, which is a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Based on a review of the FEMA FIRM Community Panel Number 04013C2265M, dated November 4, 2015, the entire subject property is located in Zone X (shaded), areas within the 500-year floodplain with either a 0.2% annual chance flood hazard or 1% annual chance flood areas with an average depth of less than one foot or drainage areas of less than one square mile. No letters of Map Amendments or pending/preliminary FIRM Panels were identified for the project area, per FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer viewer. In the absence of Climate Informed Science Approach (CISA) or FEMA 0.2 percent chance flood elevation data, the FFRMS elevation was determined using the Freeboard Value Approach: two feet were added to the average of two closest known Base Flood Elevations to determine the FFRMS elevation of 1205.25 feet. All of the property is in the FFRMS floodplain based on being located completely within a FEMA 0.2% annual chance flood zone.
The project will retain the 100-year 2-hour storm event in retention chambers and further convey runoff offsite to existing public drain infrastructure. The existing floodplain on the property provides minimal functions to capture and convey stormwater, but floodplain values are limited due to the small size of the parcel and its location in an urban area. All of the 0.914 acres of FFRMS floodplain on the property would be impacted to grade and construct the site as proposed. An additional 0.202 acres of FFRMS floodplain would be impacted offsite for the construction of driveways, sidewalks, and utility connections. No rare or unique recreational, educational, scientific, historic, and/or cultural resources are known to occur at the property.
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. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate project impacts on the floodplain. Second, 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. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplain, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Comments on the Environmental Review Record (ERR) should be submitted by mail: City of Mesa, Community Development Division, Attn: Michelle Albanese, Housing & Community Development Director, P.O. Box 1466 – Mail Stop 9870, Mesa, AZ, 85211-1466. Or hand delivered to: City of Mesa, Community Development Division, Attn: Michelle Albanese, Housing & Community Development Director, 200 S. Center Street, Bldg. 1, Mesa, AZ 85210; or by e-mail to COMCDPublicComment@mesaaz.gov, on or before Friday, October 23, 2026.
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Michelle Albanese, Housing and Community Development Director, serves as the Certifying Officer.
Date: October 7, 2026