COMBINED NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) AND INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS (NOI/RROF) June 22, 2025 CITY OF MODESTO 1010 Tenth Street Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 577-5211 TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS This Notice shall satisfy the above-cited two separate but related procedural notification requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Modesto. REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about July 14, 2025, the City of Modesto will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of $6,000,000 in HOME funds under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, and $3,000,000 in Community Block Grant Development (CDBG) funds under the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake a project known as Seventh Street Village. On or about July 14, 2025, the City of Modesto will authorize the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority to submit a request to the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Project-based vouchers (PBVs) a component of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program under the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998, to undertake a project known as Seventh Street Village. The City of Modesto is performing an Environmental Review for all activities under the project inclusive of predevelopment and con- struction located on four parcels totaling .88 acres. The Area of Potential Effect is considered 924 7th Street APN 104-006-008, 930 7th Street APN 104-006-009, 918 7th Street APN 104-006-010, 914 7th Street APN 104-006-007, Modesto, CA 95354, and the off-site improvements to the downtown area. For the bike path along I Street between 6th Street and 8th Street as well as between 9th Street and 15th Street. The project will also construct Class I bike paths along 9th Street between L Street and I Street and along Nellie Avenue beginning at 9th Street and extending north across the Modesto Irrigation District lateral canal to connect into the Virginia Corridor Trail. The bus shelters are located at H Street & 2nd Street, H Street & 4th Street, 7th Street & H Street, and I Street and 7th Street. The project will also relocate the existing bus stop on 7th Street just south of K Street to be located on K Street just east of 7th Street. The sidewalk improvements along portions of the west side of 8th Street between F Street and G Street, the east side of 7th Street connecting to F Street, as well as along the north and south sides of F Street between 7th Street and 8th Street. The project will also include refurbishing existing sidewalk along the east side of 7th Street between G Street and H Street, along the south side of G Street between 7th Street and 8th Street, and along portions of the west side of 8th Street between F Street and G Street. Seventh Street Village is a multi-family affordable housing development proposed by Visionary Home Builders of California (VHB). The Project will serve low-income families and individuals that meet the area median income of 30%-80% AMI. This development will be nestled in the downtown Modesto area, near the transit station. Seventh Street Village has secured AHSC funding in the amount of $33,010,880 and will complete expansion of bike networks, create Class I and Class IV bike lanes, and bulb outs, utilizing roughly $12,000,000 of the AHSC award making it a bike friendly community. The off-site improvements will total. The City of Modesto will provide Community Development Block Grant funding for $3,000,000, which will be utilized for acquisition, demolition, predevelopment, and off-site public infrastructure improvements, HOME funding for $6,000,000, which will be utilized for affordable housing construction costs, for a total project cost of roughly $75,000,000 the balance of the funding will be Limited Partners and private funding. The Stanis- laus Regional Housing Authority has committed 30, 15-year Project Based Vouchers for the project. Previous environmental reviews for this project are the acquisition and demolition of two burned structures. This environmental assessment includes all activities under the project inclusive of predevelopment and construction. Construction is expected to begin in August 2025 with a completion date of April 2027, with a goal to reach full occupancy by October 2027. This affordable housing community’s goal is to create a healthy environment by encouraging more bike riding, less automobile travel, walking, while reducing the carbon footprint. The Seventh Street Village development will sit on four parcels totaling .88 acres. The project is a 6-story podium that has elevator access to all floors. Seventh Street Village will consist of 12 one- bedrooms (700 sq ft), 35 two- bedrooms (896 sq ft), and 32 three-bedrooms (1260 sq ft) totaling 79 units. One of the 2-bedroom and one of the 3-bedroom will be managers units. The development itself will have bike storage available for its residents. In addition, VHB will promote alternative transportation to its Seventh Street Village residents, by encouraging them to ride the bus. Residents will enjoy free bus passes monthly, along with 5 new bus shelters added to the local bus stops. Currently, 7th street is a 2 lane, busy street. A road diet will be created by shrinking down the existing 2 lanes for walkability. VHB and SJRRC have determined that expanding service on the expanded Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail service corridor would be an effective and expeditious method of achieving the AHSC program’s goals. VHB contribute toward zero- emission conversion of a decommissioned locomotive to be used on SJRRC’s ACE service to support the provision of added transit service. Pedestrian walkways will be added, with tree canopies that will create not only a beautiful walk but will have a positive impact on air pollution. The ground floor and podium level will house the rental office, business center, Head Start Day Care area, Community Center. The main design goal is to create an overall sense of community, offering tenant supportive services, early education for the children, and services that our new community may need. The residential units can accommodate broadband service with at least 100 megabits per second for downloading and 20 megabits per second for uploading. Within the project’s Community Center have a computer lab supplied with computers and free internet for residents to access. One of the barriers to affordable housing residents is not owning a computer. This barrier is reduced dramatically by supplying computers, internet access, and WI-FI literacy training and technical assistance. All ground floor units will be ADA accessible. All units will be equipped with interior laundry rooms. To add energy efficiency, the project is designed to achieve Green Point Rating Certification. There will be parking garage at the street level including 115 spaces with designated handicap parking. Urban greening is planned with landscaping using stormwater planters and drought resistant plants utilized to enhance the outdoor space. Stanislaus County Office of Education - Head Start will provide daycare services and early education to the young children of the community. Our service coordinator will complete a needs assessment and determine any additional needed services that may be offered to new residents to enhance the community. Visionary Home Builders is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency and will provide the community financial and homeownership education to adults. Using Universal Design Construction, this urban mid-rise style will present a more modern look to this neighborhood. The bedroom units will include a full kitchen with a pantry, and cabinets, interior laundry rooms with a full-size washer and dryer, a dining area, family rooms, and a Juliet-style balcony. The following space allocation program will provide for the residential community at 7th Street Development on the southeast corner between I & J Street in Modesto, California. The project is within ¼ mile of a Transit. Center with dwellings, services, amenities, and using industry standards for quality multi-family, multi-story dwellings. The bulk of the amenities and services will be placed on the ground floor and podium levels (2 stories) with the 4 stories of dwellings above it facing inte- rior courtyard and City views on upper floors. The neighborhood friendly street front is to provide a public face to the publicly accessible portions on 7th and I Streets while providing for a secure podium courtyard environment for employees and residents. The Residential Density for the project is 88 units per acre with an average unit size of 952 square feet. Bike areas for short-and long-term storage and maintenance 3,800 feet areas located on each floor. Parking and rear site is 128 parking stalls and ingress for loading and deliveries from alley, standard vehicles, van accessible, and EV/van. 48 additional parking capacity is added for staff, and as may be required for other mixed uses, if open to the public. Pool will be 48,000 square feet. Landscaping using stormwater planters and drought resistant plantings will be utilized to enhance the outdoor space. The off-site improvements will consist of the following areas of potential effect: STI and TRA Improvements in a form approved by the City Engineer Bike Path – The project will construct a Class IV bike path along I Street between 6th Street and 8th Street as well as between 9th Street and 15th Street. The project will also construct Class I bike paths along 9th Street between L Street and I Street and along Nellie Avenue beginning at 9th Street and extending north across the Modesto Irrigation District lateral canal to connect into the Virginia Corridor Trail. Bus Shelters – The project will install new bus shelters at 5 existing bus stop locations: H Street & 2nd Street, H Street & 4th Street, 7th Street & H Street, and I Street and 7th Street. The project will also relocate the existing bus stop on 7th Street just south of K Street to be located on K Street just east of 7th Street. A new bus shelter will be constructed at this relocated bus stop. Sidewalk – The project will install new pedestrian sidewalk along portions of the west side of 8th Street between F Street and G Street, the east side of 7th Street connecting to F Street, as well as along the north and south sides of F Street between 7th Street and 8th Street. The project will also include refurbishing existing sidewalk along the east side of 7th Street between G Street and H Street, along the south side of G Street between 7th Street and 8th Street, and along portions of the west side of 8th Street between F Street and G Street. HRI Improvements This project will redevelop 7th Street between I and J Street as two-way traffic lane in a manner designed by the City of Modesto’s Downtown Master Plan and approved by the City Engineer. This will include paving and striping. Components included in this right-of-way may include: Water: For adequate fire flow, it is suggested that the 12” main located to the north in the alley way be looped to the 12” main off I street via 7th street. This will provide frontage meters and services for the new development, and adequate conveyance for new hydrants. Sewer: Existing 6” mains are not adequate; therefore, project must tie into existing 18” or 27” mains for adequate capacity. Storm Water Quality: Storm Drainage will need to be fully retained and managed on-site per the 2014 City Standards and 2011 Revised Guidance Manual for Development of Stormwater Quality Measures. Landscape: Project shall install street trees every thirty-five feet (35’) to forty feet (40’) on center along sidewalks, and within seven feet (7’) of sidewalks on 7th Street and J Street. Low Impact Development (LID) control and treatment: measures shall be planted with vegetation for erosion protection and sediment entrapment to collect/treat storm water run-off before entering the storm drain system. Storm drainage basins shall be appropriately landscaped and irrigated to address the specific type of storm water control measure. Provide total square feet of the landscape area in project information FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The City of Modesto has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environ- mental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at Community and Economic Development Division 1010 Tenth Street, Suite 3100, Modesto CA 95354, and may be examined or copied weekdays (excluding holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. City of Modesto offices remain open to the public by appointment only, please contact (209) 577-5334 to schedule an appointment. The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to Community and Economic Development Division 1010 Tenth Street, Suite 3100, Modesto CA 95354 or by email to tochoa@modestogov.com. The ERR can be accessed online at the following website https://cityofmodesto.box.com/s/n9p4lkyqv8ujg4aixldyo3iy84fd4vne . PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Modesto Community and Economic Develop- ment Division 1010 Tenth Street, Suite 3100, Modesto CA 95354, email option to tochoa@modestogov.com . All comments received by July 13, 2025, will be considered by the City of Modesto prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Commenters should specify which part of this Notice they are addressing. RELEASE OF FUNDS The City of Modesto certifies to HUD that Jessica Hill in her capacity as Certifying Officer consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Feder- al Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Modesto to use Program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Modesto’s certification for a period of fifteen (15) days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if it is on one of the following bases: (a) the certi- fication was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Modesto or other officer of the City of Modesto approved by HUD; (b) the City of Modesto has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the project have committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 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 Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD San Francisco Field Office at One Sansome Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94014 or by email at RROFSFRO@hud.gov and alison.m.brokke@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Jessica Hill Certifying Officer