[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10696-10697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2904]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4912-N-18]


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Ashburton Avenue Urban Renewal Plan and Master Plan, Yonkers, 
Westchester County, NY

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD gives notice to the public, agencies, and Indian tribes of 
the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
review and comment for: The Ashburton Avenue Urban Renewal Plan and 
Ashburton Avenue Master Plan and the Mulford Gardens HOPE VI 
Revitalization Plan in the City of Yonkers, Westchester County, NY. The 
Final EIS was prepared by the City of Yonkers, NY, acting under its 
authority as the Responsible Entity for compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) in accordance with 24 CFR 58.4. 
The Final EIS has been prepared to satisfy the requirements of both 
NEPA and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act of 1978 
(SEQR), as amended (6 NYCRR part 617). The EIS and NEPA process also 
address historic preservation and cultural resource issues under 
section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f). 
This notice is given in accordance with the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508.
    The Final EIS assesses the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the implementation of the following alternatives: (1) 
The Master Plan, Urban Renewal Plan and Mulford Gardens HOPE VI 
Revitalization Plan, (2) the Ashburton Avenue Master Plan improvements 
without a continuous street widening, (3) a reduced/modified scale of 
the Mulford Gardens HOPE VI Revitalization Plan, and (4) a no action 
alternative.

DATES: Written comments on the Final EIS will be accepted for a period 
of 30 days after publication of the notice of availability in the 
Federal Register. A Record of Decision will be made at the end of the 
30-day period. Written comments may be sent by mail or facsimile to Lee 
Ellman, Planning Director, City of Yonkers, 87 Nepperhan Avenue, Suite 
311, Yonkers NY 10701-3874, telephone (914) 377-6558, Web site: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the Final EIS or 
for more information, contact Lee Ellman, Department of Planning and 
Development, 87 Nepperhan Avenue, Suite 311, Yonkers, NY 10701-3874, 
telephone (914) 377-6558; e-mail [email protected]. Copies 
of the Final EIS are available for review at the Yonkers Riverfront 
Library, 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701 or online at http://www.cityofyonkers.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The City of Yonkers has determined that the 
Proposed Action constitutes an action which has the potential to affect 
the quality of the human environment in terms of socioeconomics, 
housing, and improvements to the existing transportation system. 
Therefore the City, as Lead Agency, has prepared an EIS to examine the 
potential impacts of implementing the components of the Master Plan and 
Urban Renewal Plan. Since it is anticipated that transportation 
improvements and new residential construction will be at least in part 
funded with federal monies, the City has prepared the EIS in accordance 
with NEPA. The Notice of the Availability of the Draft EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2005 (70 FR 56734).
    The analysis of the Ashburton Avenue Master Plan and Urban Renewal 
Plan consists of a generic discussion of the

[[Page 10697]]

potential impacts resulting from the adoption of the two plans. The 
analysis of the Mulford Gardens HOPE VI Revitalization Plan, which is 
geographically contained within the Master Plan and Urban Renewal Area, 
is a site-specific analysis. Due to the interrelatedness and timing of 
these two actions, both the generic and site-specific analyses are 
contained in the same Final EIS.
    The Urban Renewal Area (URA) is located on the west side of 
Yonkers, north of the downtown and west of the Saw Mill River Parkway. 
The 114-acre area encompasses approximately 600 parcels along and near 
Ashburton Avenue, between Warburton Avenue and Yonkers Avenue. The area 
was selected by the City as a potential URA to tie into the 
redevelopment of Mulford Gardens, the City's oldest public housing 
complex, which is located on 12 acres within the boundaries of the 
proposed URA. Due to its age and substandard housing condition, Mulford 
Gardens is slated for demolition. The City's Municipal Housing 
Authority was awarded a HOPE VI grant to demolish and reconstruct 
housing on and around the existing Mulford Gardens site. Proposed HOPE 
VI residential development will occur on the existing 12-acre Mulford 
Gardens site, with additional residential, community facility, and 
retail development to occur on eight surrounding sites within the 
Ashburton Avenue URA.
    The Urban Renewal Plan will be used as a revitalization strategy to 
improve the residential character of the area, expand business 
opportunities and improve the transportation network. The Master Plan 
for the URA will include: The provision of a range of housing 
opportunities; mixed use development along Ashburton Avenue; and 
transportation improvements, including street widenings along Ashburton 
Avenue to improve east-west access between the Saw Mill River Parkway 
and the Downtown Waterfront District, allow on-street parking, reduce 
traffic congestion, and allow for an upgraded sidewalk and streetscape 
plan.

Discussion of Mitigation Measures

    Environmental effects analyzed in the Draft EIS include 
socioeconomics; vehicular traffic, roadways and parking; cultural 
resources; soils and topography; water resources and wetlands; 
community services; terrestrial ecology; air quality and noise; 
hazardous materials; environmental justice; growth inducement; and 
cumulative impacts. Public comments received on the Draft EIS primarily 
focused on issues relating to socioeconomics and environmental justice 
and clarification of the proposed action.
    None of the analyzed categories are expected to have significant 
adverse long-term environmental impacts. The following categories would 
have impacts that can be fully mitigated by the implementation of 
mitigation measures: Socioeconomics, traffic, air quality, noise, 
hazardous materials, and environmental justice. Specific mitigation 
measures in addition to the overall physical and economic 
revitalization of the area will include: A Relocation Plan for 9 
businesses and 580-591 residences in accordance with the 1970 Uniform 
Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act; 
signal timing adjustments and the widening of Ashburton Avenue to 
improve vehicular circulation, streetscape and parking; construction 
management plan to minimize short-term air and noise impacts; Phase 1 
and Phase 2 Assessments as necessary in accordance with American 
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM E-1527-00 and ASTM E-1903-97).
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: February 22, 2006.
Nelson R. Bregon,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development.
[FR Doc. E6-2904 Filed 3-1-06; 8:45 am]
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