Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Lambert Houses Redevelopment Project, Bronx, NY, 58757-58759 [2015-24850]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58757-58759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24850]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5894-N-01]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Lambert Houses Redevelopment Project, Bronx, NY

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an EIS.

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SUMMARY: This provides notice to the public, agencies, and Indian 
tribes that the City of New York--Department of Housing Preservation & 
Development (HPD), as the Responsible Entity in accordance with 24 CFR 
58.2(a)(7), and the lead agency in accordance with City Environmental 
Quality Review (CEQR), Executive Order No. 91, and the New York State 
Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), 6 NYCRR 617, intend to 
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lambert 
Houses Redevelopment Project. The EIS will be compliant with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and CEQR. The EIS will satisfy 
requirements of SEQR (6 NYCRR 617.8) and CEQR (Sections 6-08 and 6-12 
of Executive Order No. 91 of 1977 as amended), which require that state 
and local government agencies consider the environmental consequences 
of projects over which they have discretionary authority before acting 
on those projects. The project is subject to NEPA due to the 
reassignment of project-based rental assistance contracts through HUD 
and potential future construction financing from HPD (made available 
through HUD). This notice has been prepared in accordance with the 
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at 40 CFR parts 
1500-1508.
    A Draft EIS will be prepared for the proposed action described 
herein. Comments relating to the Draft EIS are requested and will be 
accepted by the contact person listed below. When the Draft EIS is 
completed, a notice will be sent to individuals and groups known to 
have an interest in the Draft EIS and particularly in the environmental 
impact issues identified therein. Any person or agency interested in 
receiving a notice and making comment on the Draft EIS should contact 
the person listed below up to 30 days following publication of this 
notice.
    The EIS will be a NEPA document intended to satisfy requirements of 
federal environmental statutes. In accordance with specific statutory 
authority applicable to HUD's Section 8 project-based rental assistance 
program and HOME program, and HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part 58 
(Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD 
Environmental Responsibilities), HUD has provided for assumption of its 
NEPA authority and NEPA lead agency responsibility by the City of New 
York. The EIS will be a CEQR document intended to satisfy State and 
City environmental statutes as described above.

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ADDRESSES: All interested agencies, tribes, groups, and persons are 
invited to submit written comments on the project named in this notice 
and on the Draft EIS to the contact person shown in this notice. The 
office of the contact person should receive comments and all comments 
so received will be considered prior to the preparation and 
distribution of the Draft EIS. Particularly solicited is information on 
reports or other environmental studies planned or completed in the 
project area, major issues that the EIS should consider, recommended 
mitigation measures, and alternatives associated with the proposed 
action. Federal agencies having jurisdiction by law, special expertise, 
or other special interest should report their interest and indicate 
their readiness to aid in the EIS effort as a ``Cooperating Agency.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Blanchfield, Executive 
Director of Environmental Planning, City of New York--Department of 
Housing Preservation & Development, 100 Gold Street, Room 7A-3, New 
York, NY 10038; email: blanchfp@hpd.nyc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    HPD, acting under authority of HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part 58, 
in cooperation with other interested agencies, will prepare an EIS to 
analyze potential impacts of the Lambert Houses Redevelopment Project.
    HPD, on behalf of the project sponsor, Phipps Houses, is seeking 
approval of several discretionary actions (the ``Proposed Actions'') to 
facilitate the redevelopment of Lambert Houses, an existing residential 
and commercial development occupying approximately 12 acres in the East 
Tremont neighborhood of the Bronx, New York (``the Proposed Project''). 
The Project Area includes parcels 1, 3, 5, and 10 in the northern 
section of the Bronx Park South Large-Scale Residential Development 
(LSRD). Parcel 1 (Block 3138, Lot 1) is an approximately 2.9-acre 
parcel located along the west side of Boston Road between East 180th 
Street and Bronx Park South and is comprised of a group of four 
interconnected six-story buildings containing 237 residential units. 
Parcel 3 (Block 3132, Lot 1) is an approximately 4.5-acre parcel 
located along the west side of Boston Road between East 179th and East 
180th Streets which currently contains 325 residential units in seven 
interconnected six-story buildings. Parcel 5 (Block 3140, Lot 7) is an 
approximately 1.8-acre parcel located at the southeast corner of Boston 
Road and East 180th Street which currently contains 169 residential 
units in a group of three interconnected six-story buildings. Parcel 10 
(Block 3139, Lots 1 and 19) is an approximately 2.5-acre parcel bounded 
to the west by Boston Road, to the south by East Tremont Avenue, to the 
east by the Bronx River Greenway, and to the north by East 179th 
Street. Parcel 10 currently contains one two-story building containing 
approximately 48,610 sq. ft., including an approximately 39,490 sq. ft. 
of retail uses and a 375-space parking garage. An approximately 3,720-
sq. ft. city-owned lot (Block 3139, Lot 50) just south of Parcel 10 
would be conveyed to Phipps Houses and become part of Parcel 10. This 
lot currently contains seating, trees and plantings. In total, the 
approximately 12-acre Project Area contains five groupings of six-story 
buildings containing 731 residential units, and one two-story building 
containing approximately 39,490 sq. ft. of retail use and 375 parking 
spaces.
    Construction of the Proposed Project has a Build Year of 2029, as 
construction would occur over a build out period of approximately 15 
years. During construction of the Proposed Project, current tenants 
would be relocated from buildings to be demolished to other locations 
within the Lambert Houses development. Once relocated, the unoccupied 
buildings would be demolished and construction of new buildings would 
proceed. Tenants of the next buildings to be demolished would be 
relocated within the Lambert Houses Project Area to the newly 
constructed buildings, and the demolition and construction process 
would begin again. This process would be repeated through completion of 
the Proposed Project. Overall, the Proposed Project would redevelop the 
Project Area with the following:
     A total of approximately 1,665 residential units at the 
completion of the project, for an increment of approximately 934 units 
over the No Action condition. The proposed residential units would all 
be affordable.
     Approximately 61,100 sq. ft. of retail, for an increment 
of 21,610 sq. ft. over the No-Action condition.
     A new public school of approximately 86,608 sq. ft. on a 
portion of Parcel 10. It is expected that this school would be a 500-
seat elementary school.
     A reduction in the amount of parking at the site, for a 
total of 110 spaces.
    In order to address a projected shortfall of seats in the project 
area's public schools, the New York City School Construction Authority 
(SCA) will be given an option to acquire the site for proposed school 
for a nominal fee. If SCA were to decline to exercise this option and 
construct the school, a residential building with approximately 55 
units would be constructed in its place. The environmental impacts of 
the scenario in which a residential building would replace the school 
will be analyzed in the Alternatives chapter of the EIS.
    The Proposed Project would be facilitated by the following 
discretionary actions:
     Disposition of City-owned property (Block 3139, Lot 50) 
and designation as an Urban Development Action Area Project (UDAAP).
     Zoning Map Amendment to rezone Parcels 1, 3 and 5 from R7-
1 and Parcel 10 from R7-1/C1-4 as follows:

[middot] Parcel 1: R7-1 to a mix of R7-1, R8, and R8/C1-4
[middot] Parcel 3: R7-1 to a mix of R7-1, R8, and R8/C1-4
[middot] Parcel 5: R7-1 to a mix of R7-1 and R8
[middot] Parcel 10: R71/C1-4 to R8/C1-4

     Establishment of a new LSRD consisting of Parcels 1, 3, 5, 
10, as well as Block 3139, Lot 50. The remainder of the Bronx Park 
South LSRD is proposed to become a new LSRD based on a separate action 
sponsored by the Association of New York Catholic Homes.
     Authorizations under ZR Section 78-311 and Special Permits 
under ZR Section 78-312:
    [middot] To permit distribution of the total floor area, lot 
coverage and number of dwelling units permitted by the applicable 
district regulations to be distributed without regard for zoning lot 
lines or zoning district boundaries.
    [middot] To permit the total open space required by the applicable 
district regulations to be distributed without regard for zoning lot 
lines or zoning district boundaries.
    [middot] To permit variations in the front height and setback 
regulations including variation in the maximum height and number of 
stories of the front wall within the initial setback distance, 
modification of the initial setback distance, and to permit penetration 
of the sky exposure plane.
    [middot] To modify the required rear yard setback for tall 
buildings per Section 23-663.
    [middot] To permit an interim condition in which the minimum 
distance between buildings is waived between the new Building 3A and 
the existing building to the south.
     Special Permit pursuant to ZR 74-53 to permit the 
provision of off-street

[[Page 58759]]

accessory parking spaces to be located in a parking lot on the roof of 
a building.
     Zoning text amendment to modify ZR Section 78-42 to permit 
a reduction of parking requirements for affordable housing units in 
LSRDs in Community District 6 in the Borough of the Bronx.
     Zoning text amendment consistent with the City's proposed 
Mandatory Inclusionary Housing text amendment.
     Coastal zone consistency determination.
     Site plan approval by the Mayor and City Council pursuant 
to SCA requirements for the proposed school on Parcel 10.
    The Proposed Project may also seek funding from HPD, the New York 
City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), New York State Homes and 
Community Renewal (HCR), and other State agencies for affordable 
housing construction. In addition, the Proposed Project would require 
approval by HUD of the reassignment of project-based rental assistance 
contracts, and may also seek HOME funds or other federal funding 
originating from HUD.
    The Proposed Project is intended to improve the quality of life for 
current Lambert Houses residents while increasing the number of 
affordable housing units in the Project Area. The Project Area is 
underdeveloped, with less floor area than even the current zoning 
districts allow, and less density than much of the surrounding 
neighborhood. The existing buildings were constructed between 1970 and 
1973 and have antiquated and inefficient building systems. Furthermore, 
the configuration and circulation plan of the buildings, with multiple 
entrances and egresses, compromise building security by making control 
of access difficult. The retail space currently on the site is 
inefficient, with storefronts set back far from the street wall, poor 
frontage, and inadequate storage space for merchants.
    The proposed new LSRD and associated special permits and 
authorizations, including waivers of height and setback requirements, 
are being requested in order to allow for the redistribution of floor 
area across the entire project area, creating a site plan, building 
layout and design superior to what would be allowed 
as[hyphen]of[hyphen]right under the current LSRD.

Alternatives to the Proposed Project

    Alternatives to the Proposed Project will be analyzed in the EIS. 
Typically, the Alternatives section in an EIS examines development 
options that would tend to reduce project-related impacts. The full 
range of alternatives will be defined when the full extent of the 
Proposed Project's impacts is identified, but at this time, it is 
anticipated that they will include the following:
Alternative 1--No Action Alternative
    The No Action Alternative assumes that the existing uses in the 
Project Area would remain.
Alternative 2--All Residential Scenario on Parcel 10 (No School) 
Alternative
    This alternative would analyze an additional 55 residential units 
on Parcel 10 (no school would be proposed).
Alternative 3--No Unmitigated Adverse Impacts Alternative
    If significant adverse impacts are identified in the EIS, this 
alternative would describe the modifications to the project that would 
be needed to avoid any such impacts.
    Other possible alternatives may be developed in consultation with 
the project sponsor, DCP, and HPD during the EIS preparation process 
and may be suggested by the public during the scoping of the EIS.

B. Need for the EIS

    The proposed project may constitute an action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment and an EIS will be 
prepared on this project in accordance with CEQR and NEPA. Responses to 
this notice will be used to: (1) Determine significant environmental 
issues, (2) identify data that the EIS should address, and (3) identify 
agencies and other parties that will participate in the EIS process and 
the basis for their involvement.

C. Scoping

    A public EIS scoping meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. on 
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at the Daly Community Room located at 921 
E. 180th Street, Bronx, New York 10460. The EIS scoping meeting, which 
will also satisfy the scoping meeting requirement for SEQR/CEQR, will 
provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the project 
and provide input to the environmental process. At the meeting, an 
overview of the project will be presented and members of the public 
will be invited to comment on the proposed project and the scope of 
work for the environmental analyses in the EIS. Written comments and 
testimony concerning the scope of the EIS will be accepted by HPD at 
this meeting and will also be accepted until the close of business on 
November 2, 2015. In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 affected Federal, 
State, and local agencies, any affected Native American tribe, and 
other interested parties will be sent a scoping notice. To satisfy the 
requirements of 6 NYCRR 617.8, the scoping hearing will be preceded by 
a public notice published in the New York State Department of 
Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB) 
and the New York City Record at least 30 days prior to the hearing 
date.

D. Probable Environmental Effects

    The following subject areas will be analyzed in the combined EIS 
for probable environmental impacts: Land Use, Zoning, and Public 
Policy; Socioeconomic Conditions; Community Facilities and Services; 
Open Space; Shadows; Historic Resources; Urban Design/Visual Resources; 
Natural Resources; Hazardous Materials; Water and Sewer Infrastructure; 
Solid Waste and Sanitation Services; Energy; Transportation (including 
traffic, parking, pedestrian conditions, and transit); Air Quality; 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Noise; Neighborhood Character; Construction 
Impacts; Public Health; and Environmental Justice.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named in this notice 
under the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: September 21, 2015.
Harriet Tregoning,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2015-24850 Filed 9-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P