Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed
Activity in a Floodplain

To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals

This is to give notice that the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) under 24 CFR Part 58 has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection. The activity is funded under Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Grant No. B-23-DN-12-0001. The proposed Largo Station project is located at 605 Twinberry Lane, Largo, Pinellas County, Florida 33771. The Largo Station project is a proposed 168-unit family affordable housing development consisting of three midrise (one 4-story and two 5-story) residential buildings that will serve the family demographic. All units and common areas will fully comply with all accessibility codes including ADA, UFAS, Section 504 and Fair Housing standards. The residential building will provide a leasing office and will also feature a host of resident amenities, at no cost, including a community meeting room, a computer lab, Wi-Fi connections, a playground, a library, luscious landscaping, and a sport court/shuffleboard. Southport, the developer, is committing to an affordability period for Largo Station that extends to perpetuity (99 years) and ensuring this community will remain available for the low-income residents of Pinellas County for years to come. All of the units at Largo Station will be set aside for low-income tenants (i.e., 100% of the units set aside for residents with family incomes at or below 60% of area median income).

It is understood that the natural state of the floodplain is beneficial for groundwater recharge, supports plant and animal species, and has value as a cultural resource. Only a very small portion of the eastern side of the project site (i.e., less than one acre) is located within the 500-Year Flood Zone, (0.2% annual chance of flood hazard) in accordance with FIRM Panel No. 12103C0116J, dated 8/24/21. The 500-year flood elevation is not noted on the FIRM, therefore, the FFRMS elevation was be determined by adding two feet to the base flood elevation of 9 feet, as indicated on the FIRM, to yield a FFRMS elevation of 11 feet. Most of the project site will have a footprint outside of the 500-Year Floodplain and the project site elevations (i.e., ranging from 12.5 feet to 14.6 feet) within the footprint of the 500-Year Floodplain are higher than the FFRMS elevation of 11 feet. Additionally, the Finished Floor Elevation (FFE) of the residential buildings will be at a minimum of 17.5 feet.

The project design will also minimize potential damage to the property and surrounding areas with construction of a flood plain compensation area (i.e., pond) on the northeastern portion of the site. Although there may be additional impervious areas as a result of this project site drainage will be designed by the Engineer of Record and reviewed and approved by the City of Largo Building Department. The finished design will accommodate any increase in impervious areas without adversely impacting site drainage and will also minimize potential damage to the property as a result of flooding. By elevating the buildings and minimizing impervious surfaces in the floodplain, the construction will have minimal effects on water resources. Civil engineers were consulted in order to design the buildings and the site plan in such a way that natural flood and erosion control, water quality, and groundwater recharge are preserved. Societal resources were also considered during the design process. The designs are meant to complement the natural features of the area and to offer an aesthetically pleasing structure. We also note that no state- or federally listed threatened or endangered species will be impacted by the project per consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and correspondence with the USFWS.

The proposed project must be partially located within the FFRMS floodplain because no practicable alternative sites within Pinellas County meet the required zoning, funding, and siting criteria, and there is a critical need for affordable housing driven by hurricane impacts; only a small portion of the site (less than one acre) lies within the 500 year floodplain. Alternatives evaluated included other multifamily-zoned sites with lower flood risk, locations outside the floodplain, and the no-action alternative, but these were determined impracticable due to site availability, failure to meet RFA and funding requirements, or inability to address urgent housing demand. To minimize adverse impacts and preserve natural and beneficial floodplain values, the project incorporates specific mitigation measures including elevating finished floor elevations to 17.5 feet (well above the FFRMS elevation of 11 feet), siting most of the development footprint outside the floodplain, constructing a floodplain compensation area (stormwater pond), minimizing impervious surfaces within the floodplain, and designing engineered drainage systems to prevent impacts to adjacent properties. Additional measures include preserving groundwater recharge and water quality through site design and erosion control, and implementing emergency evacuation procedures, resulting in negligible impacts to floodplain functions while meeting a significant community need.

FHFC has determined that there is no practicable alternative for partially locating the project within the FFRMS floodplain. This is due to the urgent need to provide affordable housing services to families within the project area, the minimal impacts to the floodplain, and the ability to mitigate and minimize impacts on human health, public property, and floodplain values through the design of this project. The project will enhance the quality of life for Pinellas County residents in need by providing quality, affordable, housing and there will be negligible impacts to the floodplain. Environmental files documenting compliance with Executive Order 11988 and 24 CFR 55, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments.

There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplain 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 floodplain 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 participate in actions taking place in floodplain, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Written comments must be received by the FHFC at the following address on or before August 24, 2026: Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 N Bronough St, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, FL 32301 (Phone: 850-488-4197), Attention: Ms. Angeliki Sellers, Chief Financial Officer, or via e-mail at ERRComments@floridahousing.org . A full description of the project may also be reviewed from 9:00 to 4:00 at address noted above.

Date: August 16, 2026 100022b