HomeMy WebLinkAboutMASON STREET MOTEL - PDP/FDP - 7-98 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTmoneys with those of County Open Space money Then the owner would place money in
an escrow account for such use.
The owner would offer to establish this mitigation fund at a rate equal to the value
that he paid for the property. This value was approximately $ 4.00 per S.F. This would
yield $ 130,680.00.
The following letter is provided as an analysis of the Wetlands found on this
project. A cataloging of the Wetlands has been provided by Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.
This study identified the entire property as a wetland as defined by Corps of Engineers and
the Clean Water Act.
This study noted three species as dominating the property. The plant species noted
are not rare or endangered and provide no unique setting, location or vistas. There are no
existing trees or shrubs that allow for cover or wildlife habitat. The area is not part of a
defined water way. It has no defined source and the outlet is a City Storm Drainage line.
The site is an isolated piece in a developed urban setting. The report indicates that they see
little or no value to the area as a wetland.
The report indicates that on all four sides of the property substantial fills have
occurred on a piece -mill basis leaving this property the low point and a residual space. The
study notes that filles of three to five feet have occurred to the edges of the property
leaving a human formed basin of regular shape, as if this was an excavated hole. The
report further notes that it appears that all of the adjacent properties have filled the
wetland without permits including the Railroad and the City. If you examine older arial
photos you can see that this wetland formerly extended from the Movie theater to the
north, to the Olive Garden building to the east, the Railroad to the west, and to the bank
building on the south. All of the properties within these boundaries as well as the City
have filled the wetland without permits, determination of value and mitigation.
The City formerly owned half of this property and sold it to a developer indicating
that the City had no environmental concerns. The City as well provided the purchaser a
letter indicating there lack of environmental value associated with the property.
Previously the Property owner secured a permit from the Corps of Engineers to fill
the property. The Corps indicated they found little value to the property and called for no
mitigation. This permit has expired and the owner is currently applying to secure a new
permit.
The Plan calls for the majority of the site being filled and that maintaining a small
area of the site as a wetland area. Within this area additional and more varied wetland
species are being planted to provide a more interesting wetland on site. This mitigated area
consist of approximately one quarter of an acre.
This leaves approximately three quarters of an acre of ground that is being
eliminated as part of a wetland. It is the intention of the owner to replace this three
quarters of an acre off site. The owner offers to purchase for the benefit of the Public land
as so designated by the City of Fort Collins Natural Resources Department. If the City
intends to purchase a larger area or determines that it would prefer to combine these