Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed
Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain
To: All interested Agencies, Groups, and Individuals
This is to give notice that Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (“the Agency”) under 24 CFR Part 58, has determined that the following proposed action under FY2023 HUD-EDI 2025-068-001 is located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain, and the Agency will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the action within the floodplain and the potential impacts on the floodplain from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690 and in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands. The proposed project location is 94 Third St in Berlin, Washington County, Vermont. The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using a freeboard value approach.
Weston’s Mobile Home Cooperative is an 83-lot affordable housing source on 29.57 acres of land. The project involves installing new storm water infrastructure to comply Vermont’s new “three-acre” permit rule per 10 V.S.A Chapter 47. In addition, the project involves replacing the community’s water distribution system, which has surpassed its useful lifespan and is starting to fail. Included in this work will be upgrading its water treatment and pressurizing equipment so that adequate system pressure can be
provided to all of the community’s households, as well as retrofitting its water treatment building which houses this equipment so that the new system components are raised an additional 9″ above base flood elevation.
Approximately 22.75 acres of the Weston property contains 71 homes that are located is located on the FFRMS floodplain. Weston’s was substantially impacted by flooding from Hurricane Irene in 2011. After this event, 68 homes located in the FEMA flood plain or floodway were raised above Base Flood Elevation (BFE) of 526 feet. A surveyor was hired in 2017 and certified that the Lowest Adjacent Grade (LAG) of these units was above BFE. The median LAG of homes among the 68 surveyed homesites at Weston’s is 526.35 feet. The FFRMS floodplain for this Critical Action is 529 feet. The median height of the main floor of each of the 68 homes at Weston’s is 529.55 feet.
The proposed project will be undertaken by utilizing federal and state grant funding sources and seeks to replace and upgrade existing and failing infrastructure. The project does not propose the expansion of the park or the addition of new lots in the existing land.
There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in the 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. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate project impacts on the floodplain. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about the 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 the floodplain it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Written comments must be received by the Agency at the following address on or before February 28th, 2025.
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Grace Vinson, Environmental Officer
1 National Life Drive
Montpelier, Vermont 05620
802-622-4336
A full description of the project may also be reviewed below.
Date: February 10th, 2025
Project Description
Weston’s Mobile Home Cooperative, Inc., is an 83-lot resident owned manufactured housing community located off of Rt 12. The park is a crucial form of affordable housing that residents collectively purchased in 2018. The project involves replacing the MHCs drinking water distribution system and modifying their water treatment building (raising the floor to mitigate against flood risks). The project also involves installing new storm water infrastructure to comply with Vermont’s new “3-Acre” 9050 permitting requirements.
Link to drinking water plans
Link to storm water plans
