HomeMy WebLinkAboutBELLA VIRA FILING 2 - MJA/FDP - FDP140001 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTDecember 13, 2013
John Minatta
Bella Vira Town Homes
2037 Lexington Court
Fort Collins, CO 80526
RE: Updated Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) Letter Report for the Proposed Bella Vira Housing
Development on Overland Trail in Fort Collins, Colorado
Mr. John Minatta
This ECS Report is submitted in response to the City’s request for an updated ECS Report for the Bella Vira
town home development project. The original ECS report was submitted in August 2005.
The proposed Bella Vira development parcel is located on the west side of Overland Trail at the southwest
corner of the West Elizabeth Street and Overland Trail intersection in the southeast quarter of Section 17,
Township 7 North, Range 69 West. The current development proposal calls for the construction of a Single-
family town homes. Ecological characteristics of the property were initially evaluated in the field in July 2005
and the site was revisited to update site conditions on December 9, 2013.
The following provides a summary of ECS information required by Fort Collins Land Use Code under 3.4.1 (D)
(1) items (a) through (k).
ECOLOGICAL STUDY CHARACTERIZATION CHECKLIST
(a & i) The proposed town home development site currently supports non-native grassland and disturbed areas,
formerly occupied by single family residences and landscape trees and shrubs that were removed since the July
2005 field survey. A few small storage sheds still exist near the southern edge of the property, but these will be
removed prior to development. Annual weeds likely dominate the recently disturbed areas, but this could not be
confirmed since there was snow cover over the entire site at the time of the December 9, 2013 survey. The July
2005 survey documented the presence of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), common dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale), and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense). The July 2005 survey also documented crested
wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum1) as the dominant grass species in non-native grassland with lesser amounts
of smooth brome (Bromus inermis), timothy (Phleum pratense), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Kentucky
bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and annual weed species.
Although non-native grassland is undeveloped land and represents open space for wildlife populations, it has
limited value as wildlife habitat because of low vegetation species diversity, the lack of woody vegetation cover,
and adjacent developments and roadways. Deer mouse, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, prairie vole, northern
pocket gopher, and western meadowlark are the most likely species to establish resident populations in non-
native grassland. Canada geese will also occasionally graze in non-native grassland, and Canada goose use of
the project area was documented by the December 2013 field survey. Open-country raptors including red-tailed
hawk, Swainson’s hawk, northern harrier, and great horned owl as well as mammalian predators such as
coyote, striped skunk, and red fox will also hunt non-native grassland habitats, but surrounding existing and
ongoing development reduces the suitability of the Bella Vira parcel as hunting habitat for these species.
The only trees on or near the property are several eastern cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) supported along the
Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal. Most are greater than 6 inches in diameter and would be classified as
1 Scientific nomenclature follows USDA, NRCS Plants Database. Available online at: http://plants.usda.gov/java/
J. Minatta
12/13/13
Page 2 of 4
significant trees by the City of Fort Collins. A few Russian olives (Elaeagnus angustifolia) are also present, but
these are generally small and shrub-like in stature.
The principal value of the canal trees as wildlife habitat is that they serve as foraging, perching, and nesting
sites for a variety of songbirds as well as a few raptor species. Urban-adapted birds such as mourning dove,
Eurasian collared dove, house finch, American goldfinch, and Bullock’s oriole may use the trees. Great horned
owl represents the most likely raptor to use these trees for perch sites. No stick nests or other evidence
(whitewash, owl pellets, feathers, etc.) indicating past or recent nesting activity were located in the trees by the
December 9, 2013 surveys
(b) There are no wetlands on the property, but thin strips of intermittent, vegetated wetlands are supported
within the banks of the Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal.
(c) The project area provides unobstructed views of the Front Range Foothills, which will be partially blocked
once the ongoing Richmond Homes residential development is complete.
(d) As indicated under (a & i) the project area supports no native vegetation or significant trees. Significant
eastern cottonwood trees are supported along adjacent portions of the Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal.
(e) There are no natural drainages within 500 feet of the project area, but the Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal
irrigation ditch runs along the south edge of the project area. The top of bank line for this irrigation canal is
depicted on site plan maps submitted for the project.
(f) There is no suitable habitat for any threatened, endangered, or other sensitive species on or adjacent to the
project area. The project area also does not support and habitats used by sensitive or ecologically important
species since its surface has been cleared of native habitats.
(g) Past removal of native habitat has eliminated the potential for any special habitat features on the property
other than the trees supported along the Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal. Trees along the segment of the canal
adjacent to the project area consist almost entirely of native eastern cottonwoods ranging in size from about 6 to
16 inches (diameter at breast height-dbh). All appeared to be in good condition with little evidence of decay in
the trunks and larger branches. Trees 6 inches or larger in dbh would likely be classified as significant trees by
the City of Fort Collins Forester. In addition, the trees along the canal meet City criteria as an “isolated patch of
riparian forest.”
(h) The only potential wildlife movement corridor within 500 feet of the project area is the Pleasant Valley and
Lake Canal. However, its potential to serve as a wildlife movement corridor has been impaired by the two
culvert crossings under Overland Trail, which physically isolates this portion of the canal to the west side of
Overland Trail. The canal does provide for some minor movement between the south edge of the Bella Vira
property and the Overland Ponds stormwater detention basin and associated wetland habitats, but the segment
of the canal adjacent to the Bella Vira property does not provide any uninterrupted connection to any other
natural areas. Movement of wildlife between the planned City of Fort Collins stormwater detention basin west of
the Bella Vira property and the existing Overland Ponds stormwater detention basin will not be contingent on the
Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal since the two stormwater basins will have direct connection.
(j) There are no issues regarding the timing of Bella Vira project development and ecological features or wildlife
use of the project area or the nearby Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal riparian corridor. Trees along Pleasant
Valley and Lake Canal were searched during the December 2013 field survey for any evidence of past nesting
by raptors and none was found. Future nesting use is also unlikely because of nearby roadways and
developments. Any songbird or other small bird nesting use of trees along the canal would be protected by the
planned 50-foot development buffer setback from the canal.
J. Minatta
12/13/13
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(k) Since the entire project area has been previously developed or cleared of native vegetation, project
development would have no impact on natural habitats or important habitat features in the project area. Trees
along the Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal qualify as an “isolated patch of riparian forest” and, according to
Section 3.4.1 of the Fort Collins Land Use Code, will require a 50-foot buffer setback from proposed
development. The 50-foot buffer requirement also applies to irrigation ditches that serve as wildlife movement
corridor. Although as indicated in Section (h), use of this segment of the Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal by
wildlife as a movement corridor is very restricted.
Based on the current Bella Vira development plan a 54 to 102-foot buffer would be maintained from the top of
bank of the canal except for one small (~27 feet) segment of two patios that would reduce the buffer setback to
42 to 45 feet. Overall, the average buffer width far exceeds the 50-foot standard and meets the intent of the 50-
foot buffer requirement by protecting riparian habitat along the canal. In addition, the Applicant has committed
to implementing additional plantings of native woody shrub and tree species to enhance the buffer zone and
meet the Code Section 3.4.1 Performance Standards for buffer zones. Plantings will be more extensive in the
segment where the buffer zone would be slightly less than 50 feet to compensate for this minor buffer reduction.
Plantings of native vegetation will enhance wildlife habitat along the north side of the Pleasant Valley and Lake
Canal corridor and provide visual screening of the proposed development from the canal corridor.
Soil moisture regimes within the buffer zone are unknown, but it is likely that areas close to canal will be wetter
than the more upland portions of the buffer closer to the proposed development, especially since surface runoff
will flow toward the canal because of existing slopes in the project area. Based on this condition, buffer zone
areas farther from the canal should be planted with more upland adapted riparian vegetation, while areas in
close proximity to the canal could likely support more mesic-adapted vegetation species. The goal of the buffer
zone plantings will be to create a self-sustaining, native vegetation community to stabilize soils and enhance
wildlife habitat.
Habitat enhancement plantings may require soil treatment to relieve compaction (ripping) and improve fertility
(fertilizer amendments). Supplemental irrigation may also be needed for initial establishment of native shrubs
and trees. Recommended species for planting include the following trees and shrubs.
Upland Riparian Zone
Trees Shrubs
eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)
lanceleaf cottonwood (Populus acuminata) skunkbrush sumac (Rhus trilobata)
(both non-cotton bearing varieties) rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)
Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Adjacent Canal Riparian Zone
eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) American plum (Prunus americana)
lanceleaf cottonwood (Populus x acuminata) chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
(both non-cotton bearing varieties) golden currant (Ribes aureum)
For disturbed bare or weedy areas within the buffer zone, native grasses recommended for seeding in the
upland riparian zone include blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), slender
wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus), and thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus). Grasses recommended
for planting in the zone adjacent to the canal include western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) and basin
wildrye (Leymus cinereus). in buffer areas where there is stable non-native grass cover, no additional seeding
of native grass species is recommended because of the highly competitive nature of non-native grasses on the
property.
J. Minatta
12/13/13
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Revegetation of any water quality/detention basins in the buffer zone, if any are planned, should also use native
grass and forb species to meet buffer zone performance standards stipulated in Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use
Code.
One final mitigation recommendation is based on Article 3.2.4(D)(6) in the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code
that requires protection of natural areas and natural features from light spillage from off site sources. Therefore,
intensity of night lighting from the sides of residential structures facing the canal buffer zone should be shielded
or directed to preclude the intrusion of artificial nighttime light into the landscaped buffer zone and adjacent
Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal riparian corridor.
This concludes my ECS Report evaluation of the proposed Bella Vira development. If you have any questions
or require additional information regarding my evaluation, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
INC.
T. Michael Phelan
Principal
Senior Wildlife Biologist
attachment: Figure 1