FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
and
FINAL NOTICE AND PUBLIC EXPLANATION OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN THE FEDERAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STANDARD (FFRMS) FLOODPLAIN
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Date of Publication: September 16, 2026
City of Mesa
200 South Center Street, Building 1
Mesa, AZ 85210
COMCDPublicComment@mesaaz.gov
These notices shall satisfy three separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Mesa in connection with The Beverly, an affordable rental housing development by Copa Health, Inc.
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REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about October 5, 2026, the City of Mesa will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.), as amended, to undertake a project known as The Beverly. The project is located at 120 N. Beverly, Mesa, Arizona 85201, and will consist of the construction of a 36-unit affordable rental housing community serving low- to moderate-income households. The project includes new construction and related eligible development activities. The estimated HOME funding amount is $1,452,572.71. The estimated total project cost is $12,837,846.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The City of Mesa has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement is not required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the City of Mesa, 200 South Center Street, Building 1, Mesa, AZ 85210, and may be examined or copied Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
FINAL NOTICE AND PUBLIC EXPLANATION OF A PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN THE FFRMS FLOODPLAIN
The City of Mesa has evaluated the proposed project in accordance with Executive Order 11988 and 24 CFR Part 55. The project site is located within the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain. FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map Panel 04013C2265M, dated November 4, 2015, identifies the site within Zone X (shaded), representing the 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain. The City of Mesa has completed Steps 1 through 6 of the 8-Step Decision Making Process required by 24 CFR 55.20 and has determined that there is no practicable alternative to locating the proposed project within the FFRMS floodplain. Accordingly, the City is issuing this Final Notice pursuant to Step 7 of the 8-Step Decision Making Process.
The City evaluated practicable alternatives to the proposed action, including alternative locations outside or not affecting the FFRMS floodplain, alternative project designs or methods that could reduce floodplain impacts, and the No Action Alternative. The site is an infill location within an established area of Mesa with access to transportation and community facilities, and the project will provide needed affordable rental housing. The No Action Alternative would avoid development-related impacts but would not
provide the proposed affordable housing benefit. Based on this analysis, the City determined that there is no practicable alternative to proceeding with the project at the proposed location.
Mitigation measures and conditions identified through the environmental review consist of Floodplain Management, follow Radon Contamination measures, Historic Preservation cultural sensitivity training, and Air Quality dust control permit will be incorporated into applicable project agreements and construction documents. The following mitigation measures will be required as conditions of project approval and incorporated into applicable project agreements and construction documents: compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local floodplain requirements and applicable FFRMS elevation/design standards; development of an evacuation plan identifying safe egress routes out of the FFRMS floodplain, procedures for residents with special needs, and communication of evacuation procedures and safety resources; and inclusion in all new and renewal leases of a resident-signed acknowledgment that the property is located within a floodplain and that flood insurance is available for residents' personal property, together with information regarding ingress and egress routes, emergency notification resources, and property emergency procedures.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR, the Finding of No Significant Impact, the proposed Request for Release of Funds, or the proposed activity in the FFRMS floodplain to the City of Mesa, 200 South Center Street, Building 1, Mesa, AZ 85210, or by email to
COMCDPublicComment@mesaaz.gov. All comments received by October 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. MST will be considered by the City of Mesa prior to submission of the Request for Release of Funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The City of Mesa certifies to HUD that Michelle Albanese, in her capacity as, Housing and Community Development Director and Certifying Officer, 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 approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows The Beverly – Copa Health to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS
HUD will accept objections to the Responsible Entity's (RE) Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification for a period of fifteen days following the submission date specified above or the actual receipt of the request, whichever is later, only if they are on the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the RE; (b) the RE has omitted a step or failed to make a determination or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58 or by CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1500-1508, as applicable; (c) the RE has omitted one or more steps in the preparation, completion or publication of the Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Study per 24 CFR Subparts E, F or G of Part 58, as applicable; (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 58 Sec.58.76) and shall be addressed to Phoenix Field Office, 2800 N. Central Avenue, Suite 700, Phoenix, AZ 85004, or by email to of CPD-R9-RROF@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Please call AZRelay 7-1-1 for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Si necesita asistencia o traducción en español, favor de llamar al menos 48 horas antes al 480-644-2767.
Michelle Albanese
Housing and Community Development Director
Certifying Officer