THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 25, 2022 ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ Page 15 Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain Roosevelt Park Improvements Malden, MA To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals This is to give notice that the City of Malden (the City) has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management, to determine the potential affect that its activity in the floodplain will have on the human environment. The proposed activity (the Proposal) in the floodplain is to make improvements to Roosevelt Park (the Park). The Park is situated on a 3.76-acre parcel located on Salem Street adjacent to the Salemwood School in Malden, Middlesex County, MA. The Park is a key recreational asset that is used for the City’s organized school, youth and adult sports and recreation programs; informal active and passive recreational activities; and community events. In addition to these uses, the Park also supports the Salemwood School and its programs during school hours. The Proposal will provide for the reconstruction of an existing multi-use field with a new multi-use synthetic turf field and related improvements. The related improvements will include improved field and site drainage; earthwork including removal and proper disposal of urban fill beneath the athletic field; site grading that will improve surface runoff and protect against the loss of flood storage; the replacement of portions of the municipal and site storm drain systems that run under the field; an improved outdoor classroom; and other miscellaneous site improvements including basketball shooting areas, new ADA compliant walks, site fencing, seat walls, shade trees, and landscaping. The improvements will affect approximately 2.9 acres (77% of the 3.76-acre parcel). Approximately 60% (1.7 acres) of the area that will be affected by the project is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area Zone A (100-Year Flood, No Base Flood Elevation Determined) as depicted on FEMA/FIRM Map No. 25017C0441E, effective date June 4, 2010. Floodplain provides flood control and storm damage protection. Flood control means the prevention or reduction of flooding and flood damage. Storm damage prevention means the prevention of damage caused by water from storms, including, but not limited to, erosion and sedimentation, damage to vegetation, property or buildings, or damage caused by flooding or water-borne debris. The floodplain at the Park primarily provides temporary floodwater storage and conveyance and modest groundwater recharge. The proposed improvements will not adversely impact the floodplain’s ability to perform these functions. In some instances, floodplains also provide wildlife habitat. The floodplain at the Park has been used for many years as part of the Park’s recreational area. This usage over the past 100-plus years degraded any potential wildlife habitat in the floodplain. According to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00 or the Regulations), land subject to flooding that is not significant to the protection of wildlife habitat includes playgrounds, lawns, gardens, paved and graveled areas, railroad tracks (including ballast and embankments), and similar areas lawfully existing on November 1, 1987 and maintained as such since that time. The City has considered the following alternatives: A. B. C. D. A natural grass playing surface and related site improvements as per the Proposal at Roosevelt Park; The Roosevelt Community Park project proposed by the Friends of Roosevelt Park and the Salemwood Community as described in the cover letter dated July 14, 2020 and attachments submitting a FY20 Funding Cycle Pre-Application Form for the proposed project to the Malden Community Preservation Committee; Improvements to a different public park to be determined located elsewhere in the City with an infilled synthetic turf playing surface and related site improvements as per the Proposal at Roosevelt Park; and Do nothing. The City of Malden has evaluated and reevaluated the alternatives in comparison to the proposed activity and has determined that the Proposal is more practicable than any of the alternatives and that the Proposal will have no significant impact on the floodplain. Environmental files that document compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Order 11988 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. The proposed activity has been designed and permitted in accordance with the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00 or the Regulations) and the General Performance Standards contained therein pertaining to Bordering Land Subject to Flooding to avoid impact to the floodplain interests of flood control and storm damage protection. The proposed project will not increase risks to human life or property. The proposed project will reduce risks associated with potential flooding by providing a modest 7% increase in flood storage available at the Park. The floodplain at the Park is not of value to wildlife habitat. Any value to wildlife habitat at the Park has already been effectively eliminated by human activity associated with the development and use of the park over the past 100 years. The project’s proposed stormwater management system as designed and permitted complies with the applicable Stormwater Management Standards. The system as designed does not allow any new untreated discharges, attenuates peak runoff rates protecting against adverse downstream impacts, promotes infiltration and addresses water quality, including the removal of Total Suspended Solids. An Order of Conditions (OOC) was issued by the Malden Conservation Commission approving the project in response to the Notice of Intent filed by the City pursuant to the Regulations. This OOC was appealed and a Superseding Order of Conditions (SOC) approving the project was subsequently issued by the Northeast Regional Office of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Wetlands Program. On appeal, the SOC was upheld by the MassDEP Office of Appeals and Dispute Resolution and the MassDEP Commissioner, evidence that the proposed activity has been designed and permitted to protect the regulatory interests of the floodplain. For these reasons, the City has concluded that locating the project in the floodplain will have no significant impact to the floodplain or the floodplain’s beneficial values of flood control and storm damage protection. There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains 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 about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks 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 floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk. Written comments must be received by the City at the following address on or before March 7, 2022: City of Malden Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, 215 Pleasant Street, 3rd Floor, Malden, MA 02148 and (781) 324-5720, Attention: Deborah A. Burke, Director. A full description of the project may also be reviewed at the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:00 am and 5:00 pm and Tuesday 8:00 am and 7:00 pm and at https://cityofmalden.org/781/Roosevelt-Park-Project. Comments may also be submitted via email at info@maldenredevelopment.com. Date: 02/25/2022 February 25, 2022
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