Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutREDTAIL RESIDENTIAL - FDP - 26-01A - CORRESPONDENCE - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT (3). , , laevigatum), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Emory's sedge (Carex emoryi) is. also a notable wetland community component along the central drainage. Mottles are a common edaphic condition and soils are typically saturated in the upper 12 inches of the soil profile, all or in part. Oxidized root channels were also noted in the upper 12 inches of the soil profile. Proposed Mitigation Compensatory mitigation will be achieved on a 1.0 acre of Waters of the U. S. disturbed : 1.0 acre of Waters of the U. S. constructed basis. All of the required mitigation will be completed on- site meeting "in-: placefin-kind" project goals. The impact to 0.18 acre of jurisdictional open water in the upper pond will be mitigated by extending the boundaries of the existing pond a total of 0.18 acre. This constructed water feature will be connected to the existing pond hydrologically as depicted on the accompanying map. The vegetated wetland impact of 0.31 acre, including the 0.01 acre of non -jurisdictional wetlands, will be mitigated by constructing two small wetlands adjacent to the drainage located in the eastern one-third of the project area. Each of these wetlands will be connected hydrologically to the existing ponds or the drainage itself. Wetland species selected for planting mimic the range of species dominating the existing wetlands proposed to be impacted. The mitigation plan submitted with this permit application letter presents the methods, materials, and techniques that will be used to construct, maintain, and monitor the compensatory wetlands to be established. A map is provided with -this submittal to aid in the review of this permit application I trust this permit application, including the attachments, contains all the information you will need for the review and decision -making process. Please call Mr. Prouty (970-226-5000) if you have any, questions or need additional project information. Sincerely, CEDAR C Stepherf G. Long Principal SSOCIIATtS, INC. �+ Purpose and Need for the Project The project area lies adjacent to the City of Fort Collins' Redtail Grove Natural Area, to the south, and overlooks three previously constructed detention ponds. The purpose of the project is to provide residential homes and associated living space. A significant portion of the development parcel is designated as private open space. The Redtail Project is an "in -fill" development designed as a mixed residential project consisting of complementary sub -neighborhoods ("Blocks") containing condominiums, carriage houses,. and townhomes. Block 1 consists of 37 attached garage townhomes in six buildings, located on a small hill previously occupied by a commercial nursery. Block 2 consists of an eight _ plex residential building and two three — car carriage houses that incorporate living space above the garage facilities. Blocks 3, 4 and 5 are located on a "mesa" overlooking the Redtail Grove Natural Area. The 16 residential buildings of these blocks open onto courtyards. Description of Work, Fill Quantities, Scheduling, Etc. Construction will require an extension of Conejos Road north through the northernmost pond and the extension of Cameron Drive from the east into the site. The construction of these roads, necessary for access and safety reasons will impact both the wetlands of the north pond and between' the middle and south ponds. In addition, wetland vegetation will be impacted by development in the southwest portion of the project area. Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 cubic yards of structural type fill that will meet the requirements of City of Fort Collins roadway construction specifications will be used for the construction of Conejos Road where it -passes north through the northernmost pond. Also, approximately 600 to 800 cubic yards of structural type fill that will meet these same requirements will be used in the construction of the extension, of Cameron Drive across the wetlands and through the associated buffer area. Assuming all permits are in achieved in a timely fashion, development of this project will begin in July of 2005. Wetland mitigation construction activities will be conducted concurrently with site development. Impacts to Wetlands and Other Waters of the U. S. The wetlands and other Waters of the U. S. located within the boundaries of the project area were initially delineated by Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. in 1996 using the methods and techniques specified for "routine on -site delineations" in the publication Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (1987). The project was temporarily terminated shortly thereafter and no report was submitted to the Corps of Engineers (COE). The project was revived in 2001 and Cedar Creek updated the delineation in. May of that year. A letter report with delineation map was submitted to the COE in June 2001. The submittal was deemed accurate and acceptable by the COE shortly thereafter. A total of 0.49 acres of vegetated wetlands and other Waters of the U. S. are proposed to be disturbed as a result of this project. Of this total, 0.18 acre consists of a portion of a jurisdictional pond (other Waters of the U. S.). Vegetated wetlands make up the remaining 0.31 acres of this total, of which 0.01 acre qualifies as a non -jurisdictional, isolated wetland. Therefore a total of 0.48 acre of jurisdictional wetlands and other Waters of the U S are proposed to be affected by this project. To address City of Fort Collins mitigation requirements the 0.01 acre of non -jurisdictional wetlands will be included in the acreage to be mitigated but is not a part of the acreage for which this permit am ication is beina submitted. The jurisdictional wetlands proposed to be impacted are dominated by sandbar willow (Sa%ix exigua), Nebraska sedge (Carex nebrascensis),. Baltic rush (Juncus balticus), smooth scouring rush (Equisetum (01MD ° ° Cc i ° WOO P F 0, INC. 916 Willshire Ave. • Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 • (970) 493-4394 Mr. Terry McKee Department of the Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Denver Regulatory Office 9307 South Wadsworth Blvd Littleton, Colorado 80128-6901 March 10, 2005 Re: Request for an Updated Nationwide-39 Permit - Redtail PUD Project - (Corps Project File No. 200180455) Dear Mr. McKee: The original application -for a Nationwide — 39 permit for the Redtail PUD project was submitted to your office via a letter dated February 26, 2003. The permit was issued by the Corps of Engineers (COE) on March 4,.2005 via a letter signed by Mr. Timothy Carey. Development negotiations between Lagunitas Redtail Inc. (Lagunitas) and the City of Fort Collins (City) continued from that time until the present. Lagunitas recently received a letter from the COE advising the Company that the Nationwide — 39 permit originally issued by the COE has expired. Negotiations between the Company and the City continue but are near termination. Therefore, Lagunitas desires to apply for another permit for the Redtail PUD Project. The project is essentially the same in form and function as the project for which the original permit was issued. Minor changes have been made in proposed grading and development activities. These changes are incorporated in the following text. . This letter and the accompanying mitigation plan and map are submitted to your office on behalf of Lagunitas to serve as a new application for a Nationwide - 39 permit. This application is being requested to account for a calculated impact of 0.48 acres to jurisdictional wetlands and other Waters of the U.S. associated with a planned urban development. The project area consists of approximately 11.4 acres of undeveloped land within the city limits of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado. The property is bordered on the west by the Colorado and Southern Railroad line, on the east by the Cameron Park First Filing and Fossil Creek Office Park Phase I development areas, and on the south by an, existing fenceline and City of Fort Collins Redtail Grove Natural Area. The northern property boundary joins the Mill Brothers Landscape and Nursery property (now abandoned). The property is located in the East 1/2 of Section 2 (T. 6 N., R. 69 W.). UTM coordinates (WGS 84 datum) for the approximate center of the wetland drainage along the eastern side of the property are Zone 13T Easting 493268 Northing 4484935. The project location is depicted on the included location map. The applicant is: Lagunitas Redtail, Inc. 3944 JFK Parkway Suite 12E Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 Information Contact: Mr. Jonathan Prouty Phone: 970-226-5000 Fax: 970-226-5125 Agent: No agent has been designated for this project.