NOTICES TO PUBLIC:

No Significant Impact on the Environment, and
Request for Release of Funds (combined notice):

Combined Notice (PDF)

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TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS:

On or about February 8, 2025 the above named City will request the Michigan Strategic Fund to release Federal funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383) for the following project:

Project Title or Name: Downtown Amphitheater and Public Gathering Space

Purpose or Nature of the Project:  The project will provide a performance amphitheater (with ADA access to the stage), as well as ADA accessible parking, a building containing (2) ADA accessible restrooms, and universally accessible walkways throughout.

Project Location (City, County, State):
City of Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, Michigan

Estimated Cost of Project:  $2,005,445

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FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT:

It has been determined that such request for release of funds will not constitute an action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and accordingly the above-named City has decided not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the  National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190).

The reasons for such decision not to prepare an EIS are as follows:

1.)   The City’s consultants have completed Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments.

2.)   The City’s consultants have evaluated wetlands and floodplain impacts.

3.)   The City’s consultants have completed an archaeological evaluation.

An Environmental Review Record respecting the proposed project has been made by the above-named City, which documents the environmental review of the project and more fully sets forth the reasons why an EIS is not required.  This Environmental Review Record is on file at City Hall, 333 W. Michigan Avenue, Three Rivers, MI 49093 and is available for public examination and copying upon request between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

No further environmental review of such project is proposed to be conducted prior to the request for release of federal funds.

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PUBLIC COMMENTS ON FINDING:

All interested agencies, groups, and persons disagreeing with this decision are invited to submit written comments for consideration by the City to the Office of the Undersigned on or before February 7, 2025.  All such comments so received will be considered and the City will not request the release of federal funds or take any administrative action on the proposed project prior to the date specified in the preceding sentence.

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RELEASE OF FUNDS:

The City of Three Rivers will undertake the project described above with Community Development Block Grant funds from the Michigan Strategic Fund under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.  The City of Three Rivers is certifying to the Michigan Strategic Fund that City of Three Rivers and Mr. Joseph Bippus in his official capacity as City Manager consent to accept the jurisdiction of the federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to environmental reviews, decision-making, and action; and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.  The legal effect of the certification is that upon its approval the City of Three Rivers may use the Block Grant funds and the Michigan Strategic Fund will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

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OBJECTIONS TO MICHIGAN STRATEGIC FUND RELEASE OF FUNDS

The Michigan Strategic Fund will accept an objection to its approval only if it is on one of the following bases:

• The certification was not in fact executed by the responsible entity’s Certifying Officer
• The responsible entity has failed to make one of the two findings pursuant to 58.40 or to make the written determination required by 58.35, 58.47 or 58.53 for the project, as applicable.
• The responsible entity has omitted one or more of the steps set forth at subpart E of this part for the preparation, publication and completion of an EA.
• The responsible entity has omitted one or more of the steps set forth at subparts F and G of this part for the conduct, preparation, publication and completion of an EIS.
• The recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by this part before release of funds and approval of the environmental certification by HUD (or the state).
• Another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.
• Objections must be prepared and submitted to the Michigan Strategic Fund, c/o Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 300 North Washington Square, 4^th Floor, Lansing, Michigan 48913.

Objections to the release of funds on bases other than those stated above will not be considered by the Michigan Strategic Fund.  No objection received after February 24, 2025 will be considered by the Michigan Strategic Fund.

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For additional info, refer to the original (Dec.’24) post: here.

Also refer to Plan Drawings (PDF)

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Leslie Wilson, City Clerk
City of Three Rivers
333 W. Michigan Avenue
Three Rivers, MI 49093
(269) 273-1075 Ext. 108
LWilson@threeriversmi.org

Posted January 22, 2025