Notice of Early Public Review of a Proposed Activity in an FFRMS Floodplain and Wetland To: All interested Agencies including all Federal, State, and Local, Groups and Individuals This is to give notice that the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), under 24 CFR Part 50 has determined that the following proposed action (development), under Section 221(d)(4) New Construction of the National Housing Act will be located in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain and a designated wetland area. HUD will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating this development in the floodplain and wetland areas and the potential impacts on those floodplains and wetlands from the proposed development, as required by Executive Orders 11988, 11990, and 13690, and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands. The subject property, proposed to be developed as Haron Landing, is located at 179 Harrison Circle in Hardeeville, Jasper County, South Carolina (Latitude, 32.267632, Longitude, -81.077075). The subject property consists of a 29.203-acre parcel of undeveloped wooded land. The subject property is the proposed location of a five (5) building apartment complex with 288 units, nine (9) garage structures, and a clubhouse. According to FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) #45053C-0390D, dated October 18, 2019, most recently modified by Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) Case #23-04-4472P, dated August 8, 2024, the majority of the subject property is located in Unshaded Zone X, designated as an area outside the 100- and 500-year floodplain, and Zone AE, designated as an area within the 100-year floodplain associated with White Oak Nook Swamp, with Base Flood Elevations ranging from 16.7 to 16.8 feet. In addition, a portion of the roadway frontage along US Highway 17 is located within Zone A, designated as an area within the 100-year floodplain where Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) have not been determined. 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 source was 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 source is White Oak Nook Swamp, located adjacent to the east of the subject property. According to the 2024 LOMR, the 500-year floodplain has not been mapped/defined for White Oak Nook Swamp. Therefore, the FFRMS floodplain should be determined by the Freeboard Value Approach (FVA). According to FEMA FIRM #45053C-0390D dated October 18, 2019 and Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) Case #23-04-4472P, dated August 8, 2024, the worst-case 100-year floodplain base flood elevation (BFE) for White Oak Nook Swamp is 16.8 feet. Under FVA, the worst-case FFRMS floodplain elevation was calculated at 18.8 feet, corresponding to the worst-case 100-year floodplain BFE of 16.8 feet, plus 2 feet of freeboard. According to spot elevations provided on the Existing Conditions Plans prepared by Ward Edwards Engineering, the entire subject property is located within the FFRMS floodplain with elevations ranging from 14.7 to 18.8 feet. Since the project involves new construction in the FFRMS floodplain, it is subject to the 8-Step Process outlined in 24 CFR 55.20, including elevation requirements outlined in 24 CFR 55.20(e)(1), which requires residential spaces to be elevated to or above the FFRMS floodplain elevation and non-residential spaces either elevated to or floodproofed to the FFRMS floodplain elevation. According to the USFWS National Wetlands Inventory Layer accessed at http://nepassisttool.epa.gov/nepassist/entry.aspx, there are mapped wetland areas on the subject property. Located on the eastern portion of the subject property are 14.38 acres of existing jurisdictional freshwater forested/shrub wetlands, as verified by the USACE in a previous Jurisdictional Determination and permit SAC 2009-00067, although the impacts associated with that permit were never completed. As confirmed by the Site Development Plans produced by Ward Edwards Engineering, dated June 6, 2025, there will be no direct or indirect impacts to these wetland areas by the proposed development. These on-site jurisdictional wetlands will be preserved in a restrictive covenant. According to a USACE Individual Permit Application, submitted on June 12, 2025, 0.15 acres (590 linear feet) of fill material will be discharged in federally jurisdictional non-wetland Waters of the United States associated with a manmade canal located on the western portion of the subject property. The proposed impacts support the necessary road crossings, parking requirements, and building plans for the development. In addition, necessary utilities are unable to reach the project site without the non-wetland impacts. This crossing will align with proposed road improvements by SC Department of Transportation (DOT). As part of the proposed project, the applicant intends to relocate the canal to a location that will not impede any drainage and will align with proposed roads by the SC DOT. The new canal will provide the same ecological functions that will be lost from the filling of the existing canal. There are three (3) primary purposes for this notice: People who may be affected by activities in the floodplain and wetland 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 and wetland 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 comment about floodplains and wetlands 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 and wetlands, 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 September 20, 2025 [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 FL_Webmanager@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: September 5, 2025 IPL0269400 Sep 5 2025