CLAY COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PLANS AMENDED PUBLIC NOTICE

THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CLAY COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROVIDES NOTICE OF A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE FY 2021-2025 CONSOLIDATED PLAN, THE FY 2023- 2024 ACTION PLAN, AND THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN ALONG WITH A 30-DAY PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD AND PUBLIC HEARING.
SUMMARY OF SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT OF PLANS: Clay County has identified $828,129.01 in unused funds from its FY 2021-2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan entitlement award that it would like to add to its FY 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan for new infrastructure projects in low- and moderate-income areas of the County. The FY 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the FY 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan have been revised to include this additional funding amount under the Public Infrastructure project, which includes street improvements and sidewalks. The Citizen Participation Plan has been revised to identify a change in the point of contact from the Planning and Zoning Director to Community and Social Services. These Plans will be available for 30-day public review and comment period and one public hearing will be held during the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as set forth below.
FY 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan:
The Consolidated Plan identifies priority needs related to affordable housing, homelessness, public services, special needs populations, public facilities and infrastructure and economic development based on a local market analysis, needs assessments, and public input via the citizen participation process. The Consolidated Plan sets forth a strategic plan with goals and objectives for the use of funds received by the County through applicable HUD Community Planning and Development Programs through September 2026.
The objectives of the strategic plan are as follows:
• Affordable Rental Housing – increase the supply of affordable rental housing
• Affordable Homeownership – Support affordable homeownership
• Homeless Assistance – assist persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Non-Homeless Special Needs- assist persons with special needs services or housing
• Non-Housing Community Development Needs
o Public facilities and infrastructure Improvements
o Public Services – support services that will address identified needs
o Special Needs Housing and Services
o Code Enforcement – support municipal code enforcement activities
o Demolition and Clearance – demolish unsafe and dilapidated structures
Additionally, the Consolidated Plan includes the following plans and analysis:
The Citizen Participation Plan is required by HUD per 24 CFR Part 91 et al, and serves to provide for and encourage citizen participation in the development of the Consolidated Plan, the Action Plan, and any substantial amendments to either plan or performance reports. It delineates the County's policies and procedures for citizen participation related to the Consolidated Planning Process.
The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choices meets HUD's requirement for the County to affirm its commitment to conduct an analysis to identify impediments to fair housing choice within the jurisdiction, take appropriate action to overcome the effects of any impediments identified through that analysis, and maintain records reflecting the analysis and actions in that regard.
The Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan is required by HUD per 24 CFR Part 42, subpart C, which specifies further requirements established under Section 104(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 concerning residential anti-displacement and relocation.
FY 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan:
The Annual Action Plan includes the following proposed projects for FY 2023-2024:
CDBG Program: This program provides grant funds to Clay County to support the provision of decent housing, a suitable living environment, and to expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons. Funded activities must serve one of the three CDBG National Objectives: 1) to benefit low- and moderate-income persons; 2) to aid in the prevention or elimination of slum or blight; and 3) to meet a community development need of urgency.
The Substantial Amendment includes the following proposed CDBG allocations:
1) Rehabilitation: Single-Unit Residential - $350,000.00
2) Street Improvements - $1,000,000.00
3) Sidewalks – $351,579.01
4) Neighborhood Cleanups - $45,000.00
5) Code Enforcement - $5,000.00
6) Rehabilitation: Administration - $97,177.00
Total: $1,848,756.01
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Amended drafts of the FY 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan, the FY 2023-2024 Action Plan, and the Citizen Participation Plan will be available for a 30-day public review and comment period commencing on Thursday, February 15, 2024, and ending on Friday, March 15, 2024. Comments from the public are encouraged and will be accepted during this period at the Department of Economic & Development Services, 477 Houston St., 3rd Floor, Planning & Zoning Division, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Comments can also be given by calling 904-541-3814 or be sent by email to cdbg@claycountygov.com.
The Plans will be available for online review at the County’s website at https://www.claycountygov.com/community/community-services/cdbg and at the following locations:
Clay County Administration Building, Department of Economic & Development Services
477 Houston St., 3rd Floor, Planning & Zoning Division, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays
Clay County Library Locations:
• Fleming Island Library- 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, FL 32003
• Green Cove Springs Library- 403 Ferris Street, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
• Keystone Heights Library- 175 Oriole Avenue, Keystone Heights, FL 32656
• Middleburg-Clay Hill Library- 2245 Aster Avenue, Middleburg, FL 32068
• Orange Park Library- 2054 Plainfield Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as can be heard
Place: BCC Meeting Room, 4th Floor, Clay County Administration Building,
477 Houston Street, Green Cove Springs, FL
Non-English-Speaking Persons:
Special arrangements for a translator will be made by the County. A citizen requiring a translator should send a request at least two (2) business days before the event.
Special Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities:
Special arrangements for a sign language interpreter will be made by the County. A request should be sent to the County at least two (2) business days prior to the event. Recorded events will be posted with closed captioning for those hard of hearing.
Access to records/recordings:
A recording of the public meetings and hearings will be made public for those who are not able to attend. Minutes of the public meetings and hearings will also be taken. Citizen input will be summarized and documented in the minutes. The recordings and minutes will be posted on the County’s website at https://www.claycountygov.com/community/community-services/cdbg.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person needing accommodations to participate in this matter should contact Clay County Risk Management by mail at P.O. Box 1366, Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043, or by telephone at (904) 278-4718, no later than three (3) days prior to the hearing or proceeding for which this notice has been given. Deaf and hard of hearing persons can access the telephone number by contacting the Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955- 8770 (Voice) or 1-800-955-8771 (TDD).
All interested persons are invited to attend the public meeting or hearing. Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, a person deciding to appeal any decision made by the Clay County Board of County Commissioners (Board) with respect to any matter considered at the meeting, hearing, or at any subsequent meeting or hearing to which the Board has continued its deliberations is advised that such person will need a record of all proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record of all proceedings is made, which must include the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Legal 101678 Published 3/7/2024 in Clay County's Clay Today newspaper