Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a Wetland To: All interested Government Agencies, Groups and Individuals This is to give notice that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under 24 CFR Part 50 has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11990 and the Code of Federal Regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C, Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetland Protection. The proposed development action, FHA #054-35949, is pursuing funding under the Multi-Family Housing Program Section 221(d)(4) for new construction of a residential apartment complex. The proposed action, which will be known as The Mill House at Jackson, will consist of a six (6) building, 280-unit multi-family apartment complex, located at Fort Jackson Boulevard in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina (Latitude, 33.993599 and Longitude, -80.965256) and contains a total of approximately 21.08 acres of land designated as a portion of Municipal Parcel Number R16503-05-04. It should be noted that the remaining portions of Parcel Number R16503-05-04 associated with future ingress/egress, roadway, and utility improvements as well as an off-collateral park area with walking trails, are included within the subject property due to HUD's aggregation requirements. According to the USFWS National Wetlands Inventory Layer accessed at http://nepassisttool.epa.gov/nepassist/entry.aspx, there are mapped freshwater forested/shrub wetland areas on the subject property. According to the Draft Topographic and Wetland Delineation prepared by Glenn Associates Surveying Inc. dated September 6, 2019, there are two (2) perennial streams with two (2) associated wetlands areas on the subject property. Wetland area "A" covers 8.07 acres and wetland area "B" covers 0.15 acres. A USACE Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (SAC-2019-01249) was issued on March 3, 2020. According to the Conceptual Site Plan prepared by SeamonWhiteside dated January 17, 2024, Site Plan prepared by SeamonWhiteside dated May 8, 2024, Preliminary Boundary Survey prepared by Glenn Associates Surveying Inc. dated April 3, 2024, and Landscape Plan prepared by SeamonWhiteside dated April 5, 2024, the proposed development will directly impact approximately 0.223 acres of Wetland A at two (2) locations for grading activities for road construction. The grading work is necessary to provide the infrastructure for the proposed apartment complex. The project will also impact approximately 144 linear feet (0.011 acre) of stream for a road crossing to a second access point to the property for emergency vehicles. The Sponsor has applied for a USACE Nationwide Permit (NWP) 29 for Residential Development. The proposed development intends to balance these impacts through minimization, preservation, and mitigation measures. According to Palmetto Environmental Consulting, Inc., Wetland A is a non-alluvial swamp forest, consisting of hardwood, shrub-scrub, and herbaceous species. Wetland A has periodic ponding of up to three or four inches based on observed water marks on trees; however, the wetland area has also been observed as dry. Filling and grading within the wetland areas will lead to the permanent impact of 0.223 acres of water storage and habitat area. While wetlands exist within the project area and will be impacted by development, the limited amount of wetland areas proposed for impact should not have a significant impact on fauna given the fact that wildlife may relocate to similar communities that will be preserved on-site. Wetland mitigation measures are warranted to prevent impacts to the function of the wetland areas. Disturbance to Wetland A was minimized to only impact the areas required to accommodate grading for a proposed roadway. The road layout has been shifted south as much as possible to minimize the wetland impacts; however, the two (2) areas of impact (0.047 acres and 0.176 acres) are unavoidable due to project layout requirements given that the proposed roadway is the main access road for the development. However, the remaining 7.847 acres of non-impacted wetlands will be preserved from future development. According to the Drainage Report prepared by SeamonWhiteside, dated May 28, 2025, the project has been designed to meet the Water Quality Control Requirements set forth in Sections 1.4 and 3.1 of the City of Columbia's BMP Design Manual. Stormwater runoff will be mitigated through the construction of three (3) wet ponds. Erosion and sediment control measures will be conducted in accordance with all applicable regulations to ensure the protection of the unimpacted wetland during construction. Additionally, the wetland under consideration is currently not anticipated to have any archaeological, historic, or recreational value of public interest, nor will the proposed development result in impacts to endangered species or coastal resources. HUD has re-evaluated the alternatives to building in the wetland and has determined that it has no practicable alternative. The proposed development would provide a safe and desirable affordable housing community in the market area of the City of Columbia and increase the real estate tax base. As such, the subject property has been identified as an ideal location for the proposed development. The action chosen by HUD, which was to approve the project on the subject property as submitted, is anticipated to result in permanent impacts to wetlands totaling 0.223 acres due to grading activities for road construction. As compensatory mitigation for impacts to aquatic resources, the Sponsor plans to purchase a total of 2.48 wetland compensatory mitigation credits from Mill Creek Mitigation Bank prior to commencement of work, upon approval and issuance of the USACE NWP 29. There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in wetlands 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 and request for public comment about wetlands 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 consider actions taking place in a wetland, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk. Written comments must be received by HUD at the following address no later than 7 days after the date of this notice. Comments should be addressed to: Mark E. Malec US Department of Housing & Urban Development, Jacksonville Office 400 West Bay Street, Suite 1015 Jacksonville, Florida 32202-4410 904-208-6054; Mark.E.Malec@hud.gov A full description of the project may also be reviewed from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the address listed above. Comments may also be submitted via email at Mark.E.Malec@hud.gov. IPL0242038 Jun 17 2025