Notice of Early Public Review of a Proposed Activity in an FFRMS Floodplain To: All interested Agencies including all Federal, State, and Local, Groups and Individuals This is to give notice that HUD, under 24 CFR Part 50 has determined that the following proposed action is in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain. HUD will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to this development located in the FFRMS floodplain and the potential impacts on the floodplain from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988, and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands. North Pointe Apartments, located at 100 Ripplemeyer Avenue in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina 29203 (subject property), consists of thirty-three (33) two-story multi-family apartment structures, one (1) single-story leasing office/laundry building, one (1) single-story community building, and one (1) single-story mail kiosk/maintenance building, constructed in 1972. The subject property structures contain a total of one hundred eighty-eight (188) multi-family residential dwelling units residential dwelling units and are situated on 16.17 acres of land. The Sponsor is submitting this project under the HUD Mark Up-To-Market (MUTM) Program and South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SCSHFDA), consisting of substantial rehabilitation of the existing apartment complex. According to FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) #45079C-0242L, dated December 21, 2017, as confirmed via the ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey prepared by Bureau Veritas, portions of the subject property are located in Unshaded Zone X, designated as an area outside the 100- and 500-year floodplain, as well as Zone AE and Shaded Zone X, designated as areas within the 100-year and 500-year floodplain, respectively, and the regulatory floodway associated with Bay Branch. It should be noted that no apartment structures are located within the 100-year floodplain or regulatory floodway; however, Buildings 12, 13, 14, 23, 26, 35, and 36, as well as the clubhouse, are located within the 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. According to the ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey, existing improvements within the on-site regulatory floodway include portions of roadways, sidewalks, and dumpster pads, a mail kiosk, a bridge, concrete drainage flumes, and utilities. While the bridge, concrete drainage flumes, and utilities are allowed within the regulatory floodway, the roadways, sidewalks, dumpster pads, and mail kiosk are over and above those limitations and therefore, the project must seek the "Alternate processing for existing nonconforming sites" outlined in 24 CFR 55.21. With the 500-year floodplain mapped/defined, that is the extent of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain for this project under the 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Approach (0.2PFA). According to the ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey, Buildings 12, 13, 14, 23, 26, 35, and 36, as well as the clubhouse, are located within the FFRMS floodplain. Since the project involves substantial improvement 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. In order to determine the FFRMS floodplain elevations, D3G reviewed the FEMA Flood Insurance Study (FIS) #45079C-V003B dated December 21, 2017. According to the Flood Profiles for the relevant sections of Bay Branch, the 500-year floodplain elevation for Buildings 12, 13, and 23 were identified as 258.3 feet, for Buildings 26 and 36 were identified as 259.5 feet, and for Buildings 14 and 35 and the clubhouse were identified as 259.8 feet. Since the project involves substantial improvement 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 elevation certificates prepared by Site Design Inc., all of the lowest floor elevations are above their respective FFRMS floodplain elevations and all lowest adjacent grades are either above or within 1 foot of their respective FFRMS floodplain elevation. Therefore, the structures are all in compliance with the elevation requirements outlined in 24 CFR 55.20(e)(1). However, with improvements within the regulatory floodway over and above those limitations outlined in 24 CFR 55.8(a)(1), the project must seek the "Alternate processing for existing nonconforming sites" outlined in 24 CFR 55.21 and further defined in HUD's Environmental Review FAQ accessed at https://www.hudexchange.info/faqs/4349/is-new-hud-assistance-or-mortgage-insurance-for-substantial-improvement/. The floodplain under consideration is currently not known to have any archaeological, historic, or recreational value of public interest. There are three (3) primary purposes for this notice: 1. People who may be affected by activities in the floodplain 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 area, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate impacts. 2. An adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. 3. As a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains, 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 [month, day, year] [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. IPL0268765 Sep 3 2025