Ads for City of Pittsfield Zoning Board of Appeals in Pittsfield, MA

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR TIERED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS Date of Posting: June 21, 2022 City of Pittsfield 70 Allen Street Room 205 Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-499-9368 On or after July 5, 2022 the City of Pittsfield will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG) under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to undertake the followingprojects: Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Housing Rehabilitation Purpose: Loans and grants to income eligible, residential, owner and/or tenant occupied housing. Location: Funds will be available City wide, once a site has been identified a site specific environmental review will be conducted. Project/Program Description: An estimated $143,500 in CDBG funds will be used to conduct a housing rehabilitation program that addresses code related repairs, lead paint abatement activities and emergency repairs. Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known. Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(3)(i) and 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(3)(ii) Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Handicapped Access Grants Purpose: Grants for the installation of handicapped accessible ramps at residential housing units occupied by handicapped persons. Location: Funds will be available City wide, once a site has been identified a site specific environmental review will be conducted. Project/Program Description: An estimated $40,000 in CDBG will be used to provide accessible ramps for income eligible disabled households. Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known. Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(3)(i) and 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(3)(ii) Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Economic Development Loans Purpose: Loan funds will be provided to CDBG eligible businesses. Location: Funds will be available City wide, once a site has been identified a site specific environmental review will be conducted. Project/Program Description: An estimated $40,000 in CDBG will be used to provide loans to CDBG eligible business, microenterprises or business that create jobs for low income. Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known. Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.35(6)4 Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Vacant Building Demolitions Purpose: Demolition of vacant, condemned structures for health and safety reasons Location: Funds will be available in CDBG eligible areas in the City of Pittsfield. Once a site has been identified a site specific environmental review will be conducted. Project/Program Description: An estimated $120,000 in CDBG funds will be used for demolition of vacant condemned properties. Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known. Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(4)(i) and 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(4)(ii) Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Removal of Architectural Barriers Purpose: Handicapped Accessible Improvements to property to increase accessibility for disabled individuals. Location: Funds will be available City wide, once a site has been identified a site specific environmental review will be conducted. Project/Program Description: An estimated $80,000 in CDBG funds will be used for private and non-profit, residential, property owners to make accessible improvements. Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known. Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(2) The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(3)(i), 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(3)(ii), 24 CFR Part 58.35(6)4, 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(4)(i), 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(4)(ii), and 24 CFR Part 58.5(a)(2) An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the City's website, www.cityofpittsfield.org PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Pittsfield at the Dept. of Community Development, Room 205, 70 Allen Street, Pittsfield MA 01201 or by email to njoyner@cityofpittsfield.org All comments received by July 1, 2020 will be considered by the City of Pittsfield prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Pittsfield certifies to HUD that Linda Tyer, Certifying Officer, in her capacity as Mayor of the City of Pittsfield consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal 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 Pittsfield t to use HUD program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the City of Pittsfield's certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Pittsfield ; (b) the City of Pittsfield 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 development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities 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 sh