Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain

Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain To: All interested Agencies, including all Federal, State, and Local agencies, Groups and Individuals. This is to give notice that HUD under 24 CFR Part 50 has determined that the following proposed action under the HUD Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) 221 (d)(4) Program, FHA#066-35404 is located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain, and HUD 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, as amended by Executive Order 13690, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands. This notice fulfills Step 2 (Early Public Notice) of HUD's 8-Step decision-making process under 24 CFR 55.20. The proposed action will be known as Ovation at Wellington Green and is located at 2175 Wellington Green Drive in Wellington, Palm Beach County, Florida 33414. The FHA collateral consists of approximately 10.0 acres of undeveloped grassland and a parking lot currently utilized as Wellington Green Park. In addition, one (1) storage shed is located at the subject property. It should be additionally noted that areas to the east of the subject property associated with the proposed ingress/egress, frontage improvements, crosswalk, and utility connections are included due to HUD's aggregation requirements. The proposed action is under consideration for mortgage insurance under the MAP Section 221(d)(4) Program for the new construction of a multi-family apartment complex featuring four (4) six-story multi-family apartment structures and 220 residential units, one (1) single-story garage building, and one (1) single-story clubhouse building. The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using a freeboard value approach. The proposed action is not a critical action as defined by 24 CFR 55.2(b)(3). According to FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) #12099C-0564F and #12099C-0563F, both dated October 5, 2017, as confirmed by the Palm Beach County FEMA Flood Zone Lookup (https://pbcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=0e9444352bef47d8aaff6a2a2b4cf3ae), the subject property is located in Unshaded Zone X, designated as an area outside the 100 and 500-year floodplain. 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. In order to determine the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain for this project, the nearest flooding sources were evaluated to identify whether the associated 500-year floodplain has been mapped/defined by FEMA, thus allowing the project to utilize the 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Approach (0.2PFA). The nearest flooding sources are areas of Zone AE/100-year floodplain located directly south, east, and west of the subject property associated with local drainage and Lake Lisbet, for which the 500-year floodplain has not been mapped/defined. Therefore, the FFRMS floodplain should be determined by the Freeboard Value Approach (FVA). According to the FEMA FIRMs, the 100-year floodplain base flood elevation (BFE) for regional flooding in the area surrounding the subject property is listed as 15.4 feet NAVD88. Under FVA, the FFRMS elevation was calculated at 17.4 feet NAVD88, corresponding to the BFE of 15.4 feet, plus 2 feet of freeboard. The entire subject property is located below the FFRMS Elevation of 17.4 feet NAVD88, and as such, the subject property is confirmed to be located within the FFRMS floodplain. Approximately 10.0 acres of FFRMS floodplain will be impacted by the proposed undertaking. Additional off-site areas along the existing developed roadways and right-of-way to the east containing FFRMS floodplain will also be impacted. According to the USFWS National Wetlands Inventory Layer accessed at http://nepassisttool.epa.gov/nepassist/entry.aspx and visual observations, there are no mapped wetland areas on the subject property. The floodplain under consideration is currently not known to have any archaeological, historic, or recreational value of public interest. HUD has not made a final decision and will consider public comments prior to completing the floodplain evaluation. There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in the floodplain 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 comment about floodplain 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. Written comments must be received by HUD at the following address on or before May 9, 2026 [a minimum 15 calendar day comment period will begin the day after the publication and end on the 16th day after the publication]: HUD, 400 W Bay Street, Suite 1015, Jacksonville, Florida 32202, Attention: Mark Malec, Branch Chief, Technical Team. Mark Malec's direct phone number is (904) 208-6054 and email is Mark.E.Malec@hud.gov. A full description of the project may also be reviewed from 8am to 5pm at the same address as above. Comments may also be submitted via email at southeast.production@hud.gov. Jonathan Mosley, acting in his capacity as Production Division Director of the HUD Multifamily Southeast Regional Center, is the HUD Approving Official. Date: April 23, 2026 April 23 2026 LSAR0503829