HomeMy WebLinkAboutGLENMOOR DRIVE PUD - PRELIMINARY - 8-95A - CORRESPONDENCE - RESPONSE TO STAFF REVIEW COMMENTSI
EN -kit
Consulting • Engineering • Remediation
May 26, 1995
Mr. Rob Wilkinson
City of Fort Collins
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80522
1601 Prospect Parkway
Fort Collins, CO 80525
(970)493-8878
FAX (970)493-0213
RE: Ute Ladies' Tresses 1992 Survey Results for the Glenmoor Drive PUD (Kent Glover)
Dear Mr. Wilkinson:
As we discussed over the phone this week, ENSR did complete the orchid surveys for the
Glenmoor Subdivision in 1992. This study was completed for Bluewater Construction , Inc. and
a summary report was completed. The current land owner (Kent Glover) and the City do not
have the survey report on file. As you requested, I have included a brief summary of the survey
results.
Orchid surveys were conducted by ENSR at the site (T7N, R69W, Sec.15, NW1/4) on August
21 and September 4, 1992. The surveyors were qualified based on USFWS Interim Survey
Requirements for Spiranthes diluvialis". Survey guidelines outlined by USFWS were utilized
during the field surveys. The wetlands at the site and immediate vicinity were restricted to
drainage canals/ditches and small isolated depressional areas. The majority of these areas
would not be impacted by the Bluewater proposed development. These drainages and isolated
wet areas were surveyed and Ute Ladies's Tresses were not observed.
I hope that this provides the information that you need to waive additional orchid surveys at the
Glenmoor Drive site. If you have any questions, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
"?w U"
Phil Hackney
Permitting and Complia ce Manager
Jj CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The poor development of wetland soils indicators is apparently due to the relatively short time
under which wetlands -supporting hydrologic conditions have been present at the site. It is possible that
these areas may not be sufficiently developed to quality as wetlands soils. For this reason, it is
recommended that an on -site determination be requested from Corps of Engineers personnel in order
to define the regulatory status of the potential wetlands that are not associated with the ditch.
According to the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual, an area that has experienced
a documented change in hydrology and has wetlands vegetation can be considered a wetlands, even
if the soil has not yet developed wetlands characteristics. However, the manual also states that "If
hydrophytic vegetation is being maintained only because of man -induced wetland hydrology that would
no longer exist if the activity (e.g., irrigation) were to be terminated, the area should not be considered
a wetland." The activity in question at the subject site is the drainage of existing City streets that is
directed to a parcel with inadequate drainage. The existing ditch would properly drain the site and
convey the flows it currently receives from street runoff if the outlet of the ditch were excavated to the
proper grade to allow free gravity drainage to the Plum Street drainage network.
If requested, RCE personnel can be present during the Corps of Engineers' review of the site.
It is RCE's understanding that JHS will prepare a site map showing the areas marked by the
RCE/Bluewater team's delineation and will determine the total area of the site occupied by potential
jurisdictional wetlands. This map will be required at the time the Corps of Engineers site review is
conducted.
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VEGETATION
Cattails (Typha latifolia), an obligate wetlands species, are present within the ditch. The
boundary of the wetlands associated with the ditch was determined based upon several soil test holes
and on the presence of a blue-green sedge commonly found in wetlands areas of the Front Range. The
sedge American Three Square (Scirpus americanus), an obligate wetlands species, was also noted
within the area of the wetlands associated with the ditch.
Several smaller, noncontiguous areas within the 7.7-acre parcel were also noted and delineated
as exhibiting potential wetlands characteristics. The source of water for these local, low-lying areas is
a combination of runoff from the adjacent school grounds and runoff from the higher elevation portions
of the parcel. Seepage from the ditch may also contribute to the support of wetlands vegetation in
undrained depressions. These potential wetlands areas exhibit surface mudcracks from wetting and
drying cycles, and minor surface efflorescence typical of alkaline soils. No cattails are present in these
areas. Several species of sedges are present, including the blue-green sedge (Carex sp.) noted
elsewhere on the site. The two largest discontinuous potential wetlands areas grade into Foxtail barley
(1-fordeum jubatum), a facultative species in EPA Region VIII along what has been marked as the
boundary of the potential wetlands areas. The smallest potential wetlands areas (25 to 100 square feet)
are typically characterized by an isolated stand of a single species of sedge.
SOILS
It was noted that the soils present throughout the site appear to be derived from imported fill
materials. Evidence of this was typically encountered in the test holes, and consisted of broken glass,
plastic, fencing wire, and silts excavated from the ditch during maintenance operations. According to
information presented to Mr. Gurecki, the ditch has been in its present undrained condition for a period
of approximately 5 years since the ditch was deepened below the elevation of its outlet. The soils within
the ditch exhibit weak structure and are apparently disturbed. The soils in the nonwetlands areas
adjacent to the ditch exhibit moderately well -developed soil structure and a healthy population of
earthworms. Very minor mottling is present in the soils from within the ditch. The potential wetlands
areas other than the ditch, exhibit no mottling and/or significant organic layer. Earthworms are
commonly present, indicating the presence of oxygen in the soils.
The soil matrix chroma, as determined by comparison with the standard Munsell chart, ranges
from 1 to 2 for soils with a hue and value of 10YR 3/. This falls outside the Corps of Engineers' wetland
criteria of 1 or less for unmottled, nonsandy soils.
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WETLANDS DELINEATION
900 S. TAFT HILL ROAD
Bluewater Construction Inc.
July 23, 1992
RCE Job Number 92-871
INTRODUCTION
A field reconnaissance and wetlands delineation was conducted on July 21, 1992, by Ms. Kit
Cohan of Resource Consultants & Engineers, Inc. (RCE) at the site of the property listed above. This
work was performed at the request of Mr. Steve Gurecki of Bluewater Construction Company, who was
present during the delineation process. Mr. Bill Spitz and Ms. Karin Fischer of RCE were also present
as part of RCE's in -field training program. The site review commenced at approximately 1:15 om and
was completed at approximately 4:15 pm. It is RCE's understanding that the areas delineated and
flagged by RCE will be surveyed as soon as possible by James H. Stewart & Associates, Inc. (JHS) and
a site map showing the location and extent of these areas will subsequently be prepared by JHS.
GENERAL SITE CHARACTERISTICS
The site consists of two undeveloped parcels of land of approximately 3.0 and 7.7 acres. The
western edge of both parcels is bounded by South Taft Hill Road. The eastern edge of the site adjoins
Moore Elementary School and an undeveloped parcel to the southeast. Wetlands vegetation was noted
within the 7.7-acre parcel, but not within the 3-acre parcel. Flagging was placed to define the
boundaries of wetlands areas based upon observations of the soils, site vegetation, and site drainage
characteristics. The soils were observed to a depth of approximately 16 inches via hand -dug test pits
and classified using a standard Munsell soil color chart.
A ditch draining easterly under South Taft Hill Road and across the subject site was found to
contain standing water, wetlands vegetation, and wetlands soils. According to information made
available to Mr. Gurecki, the drainage ditch has apparently been recently deepened in local areas, but
this work has not been completed in the southeast corner of the property. This results in closed
drainage of the property and the presence of standing water within the ditch. Stormwater runoff and
excess flow from residential lawn watering contribute flow to the ditch from two streets: Glenmoor Drive
at the southern boundary of the 7.7-acre parcel, and Orchard Place at the northern boundary of the 3-
acre parcel.
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RESOURCE CONSULTANTS & ENGINEERS, INC.
A KLH Engineering Group Company
July 23, 1992
Mr. Steve Gurecki
Bluewater Construction Inc.
% Stewart & Associates
103 Meldrum
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
RE: Wetlands Delineation for Property Located at 900 S. Taft Hill Road
(RCE Job Number 92-871)
Dear Mr. Gurecki:
Enclosed please find our report regarding delineation of the potential wetlands areas for the property located
at 900 S. Taft Hill Road. The information presented herein, along with the site map being prepared by
James H. Stewart & Associates, Inc., should provide the documentation needed for a preliminary submittal
to the U.S. Corps of Engineers regarding the presence of jurisdictional wetlands at the aforementioned
property.
If you have any questions or if we may be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact our office.
Sincerely,
RESOURCE CONSULTANTS & ENGINEERS, INC.
1
/'
Kit E. Cohan
Hydrogeologist
Paul C. Clopper, P.E.
Senior Water Resource Engineer
KEC/PEC/sp
Enclosures
C\CATA\WPS I XG U RE CKI 7.L TR
3665 JFK Parkway, Building 2, Suite 300 • P.O. Box O • Fort Collins, CO 80522
(303) 223-5556 • Denver Metro (303) 572-1806 • FAX (303) 223-5578
Fort Collins, CO • Davis, CA • Laramie, WY
Item 11: Done
Item 12 : Done
Item 13 : Done
Item 14: Per our meeting of 5/24/95 revisions are done.
Item 15: Discussion resolved this at our 5/24/95 meeting.
Item 16: Path was not on this property.
Note: We have provided a five foot sidewalk on the east side
of Glenmoor Drive which matches that of Glenmoor PUD to the
northwest.
Item 17: Done
The plans have been revised to reflect a change from a tri-plex on lot 4
to a duplex, and minor property line adjustments for lots 5, 6 and 7 which
do not affect the overall complexion of project.
If you have any questions/concerns, please contact me at your earliest
convenience.
Sincerely,
j R. Kint Glover
RKG/neb
Enclosures
cc: Jeff Couch
June 6, 1995
City of Fort Collins
Planning Department
281 N. College Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Attn: Michael Ludwig
Project Planner
RE: Glenmoor Drive PUD
Mike:
The
following is a response to staff's comments in your letter of May 18, 1995.
Item
numbers correspond to those in your letter.
Item
2:
These issues are being addressed by our consultants at AYRE's
(formerly RCE) . RCE did the master drain study for Plum Creek
Basin for the City of Fort Collins several years ago and our
project draws on information from that study.
Item
3:
Done
Item
4:
Done
WaT'i
Item
5:
1 spoke with Mike f�r-4 at Poudre Valley Authority on this issue.
There are existing fire hydrants on Glenmoor Drive that meet this
requirement. See also P. 5 or 7 of revised engineering plans.
Item
6:
Wetlands were delineated in 1992. Enclosed is a copy of RCE's
report and Stewart Engineering Survey. Also, ENSR had completed
the orchid study about the same time (none present). This
information has been conveyed to Rob Wilkinson of the Natural
Resources Department.
Item
7:
Done
Item
8:
Done - Point of beginning was needed on plat
Item
9:
Done
Item
10:
N.A.
R. KINT GLOVER
2101 Li ndenmeier Rd.
Ft. Collins. CO 80524
(303)482-5129