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Home My WebLink AboutSUMMIT VIEW CHURCH, WTF (MOBILITIE) - PDP180016 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTNatural Habitats and Features Inventory , i 'ft Me fit" '� <✓„ 17. V;m "+e. r N&I w a xHnnl s 15 AP 1 A Nr i � • * a+ as r�s, w v. � y� �..r � ` • N -��!� �• ;�� ..nh ta.' •I�'�'"'�f' �f �Ilkh' �, he '� �. °' a` ' �. '�`• Imo- ►,, _ A.3 ° �,• kA a It ' 4. ... C. It 1 rlparc uas a mor ws .W c xsaarvnlva averse rw nmpurn Natural Habitat and Features Aaueac Emergent Welland lost to Oa n. apmem Nalrva Grassland Native Upland Foothills Forest NeI Upland Foomllls ShmUland 1601 Drake Road - Wireless Telecommunication Facility Ecological Characterization Study NalNa Upland Plams Forest Net. Upland Plains ShruElend Non-native Grassland Non-natme Upland PlaIms Forest Rlpenen Forest Wel Maedaw crcVQf _1�� Whits .NI e. z I According to the City of Fort Collins Wildlife Management Guidelines, "the Fort Collins area continues to be an important migratory corridor for raptors, songbirds and butterflies. As wetlands have increased along the Front Range, so has the value of Fort Collins for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and other wetland bird species." While the Property itself is not a wildlife migration corridor; however, Spring Creek located 320 feet to the north is likely to accommodate wildlife movement. In addition to avifauna, it is expected that fox, raccoons, skunks and other urban -adapted species use Spring Creek to move through the region. The ecological impact to values identified in the City's Natural Habitat and Features Map will be negligible. 2.10 General Ecological Functions The proposed lease site does not support ecological function. 2.11 Timing of Development in Relation to Ecological Character If construction takes place between the dates of February 15 and July 15, trees adjacent to Spring Creek should be checked for raptor nesting activity two weeks prior to the scheduled start date. The primary concern for the timing of development is protection of nesting birds adjacent to the Property. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it is unlawful for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase or barter, any migratory bird or the parts, nests or eggs. 2.12 Mitigation Measures Mitigation is not recommended because ecological resources will not be disturbed by this project. 3.0 Conclusions and Recommendations The team at Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting believes that not ecological resources will be impacted by the proposed project. Appendix A: Natural Habitat and Features Map 1601 Drake Road - Wireless Telecommunication Facility Ecological Characterization Study Once completed, the 100-foot tall monopole (disguised as a tree) will be a prominent feature in the foreground when looking northwest towards the Front Range when viewed from a small portion (perhaps less than 0.125 miles) of West Drake Road and associated sidewalks. Only the upper third of the pole will rise above adjoining vegetation. Telecommunication equipment will be located behind a 9 foot tall wood fence with 9.5 foot tall brick piers. As indicated in the site plan, equipment will not extend above this fence. Visual impacts of the equipment area will not be prominent within the context of the existing parking lot. The proposed plan minimizes impacts to the visual character of the area. 2.4 Native Trees and Vegetation There are no native trees or vegetation within the project site which is presently an asphalt parking lot and gravel landscape bed with gravel. 2.5 Non-native Trees and Vegetation The site has no trees, non-native herbaceous plants include common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) found on the nearby wetland margin and yellow foxtail (Setaria glauca). 2.6 Bank, Shoreline and High Water Mark of Perennial Water Not Applicable. 2.7 Sensitive and Specially Valued Species There are no known occurrences or habitat for sensitive and specially valued species on the Property. 2.8 Special Habitat Features An Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) is required by City of Fort Collins Land Use Code (LUC) Section 3.4.1 (D)(1) as the site is within 500 feet of known natural habitats and features (aquatic; wetlands; riparian forest; grassland; Spring Creek; Ross Natural Area). The Natural Habitat and Features Map provided by the City of Fort Collins (Appendix A) identifies prominent features in the vicinity of the Property, including native grassland, riparian forest and emergent wetland communities. 2.9 Wildlife Migration Corridors 1601 Drake Road - Wireless Telecommunication Facility Ecological Characterization Study 1.0 Introduction The proposed telecommunication lease site encompasses 1,600 square feet and is located on within a parking lot on the north side of West Drake Road across from the intersection with Dunbar Avenue in Fort Collins. The project is bounded by Ross Natural area to the north, Summitview Community Church to the south and residential neighborhoods to the east and west. The proposed plan includes construction of a new telecommunications compound which includes a 100-foot monopine (monopole disguised as a tree), new equipment cabinets and ancillary equipment within a fenced 34 x 12 foot area. The monopole, equipment cabinets and additional space for equipment of future carriers that install antennas on the tower are to be located behind a 9 foot tall fence. A site plan entitled Summitview Church DN4198-Drake (New Build) is here incorporated by reference. A legal description is provided therein. The site was visited by Matt Tobler (Natural Resource Specialist) with Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting on August 14, 2017. 2.0 Ecological Characterization The elements of the Ecological Characterization Study are summarized in this section in the order listed in Section 3.4.1 (D) (1) of the Land Use Code. 2.1 Wildlife Due to the Property's urban location, developed nature (asphalt parking area) and high human disturbance level, wildlife value is non-existent. Wildlife use can be expected to occur on Ross Natural Area to the north, and outside the Property boundary. 2.2 Wetlands There are no wetlands on the Property. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory, there are two wetland types located near of the Property: Forested/Shrub Riparian (2.33 acres) to the north and west and Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland (0.44 acres) to the north. Both are located on adjoining property to the north of this proposal. According to the FEMA Map Panel (08069C0986G), the proposed lease area is within the City Floodplain(http://gisweb.fcgov.com/FCMaps. accessed on August 14, 2017). A high -risk 100- year floodplain (Zone AE) has been identified within the northwest section of the Property. 2.3 Prominent Views 1601 Drake Road - Wireless Telecommunication Facility Ecological Characterization Study BLUE MOUNTAIN Environmental Con August 14, 2017 Tom Johnson TSJ Consulting Inc. for Mobilite Services 31878 Del Obispo St #118-454 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 RE: 1601 Drake Road - Wireless Telecommunication Facility Mr. Johnson: Thank you for contracting Blue Mountain Environmental Services to perform an Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) for the project located at 1601 Drake Road in Fort Collins, Colorado. This memo documents ecological characteristics within a proposed 34 x 12 foot leased telecommunication site located in the north parking lot of Summitview Community Church (parcel # 9727232901) on West Drake Road in Fort Collins. It conforms to Section 3.4.1 (D) (1) of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins regarding the preparation of an Ecological Characterization Study (ECS). This report is required by the City of Fort Collins Community Development and Neighborhood Services because the project is within 500 feet of an area identified as a natural habitat or feature on the City's Natural Habitats and Features Inventory Map (Spring Creek and Ross Natural Area). This memo addresses the estimated ecological value of the site and impacts the proposed development project might have on natural habitats and features on -site and/or directly adjacent to the site. Sincerely, Matt Toker Certified Ecologist Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting 937 Mallard Drive, Ft. Collins, CO 80521 * (970) 224-0851 * www.bluemountainl.net