Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHILL POND RESIDENCES - PDP - PDP140015 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTHILL POND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY © October 2014 Larimer County, Colorado Prepared by: BLUE MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING Supporting Sustainable Management of Natural Resources 937 MALLARD DRIVE, FT. COLLINS, CO 80521 (970) 224-0851 910 Hill Pond Road Ecological Characterization Study 1 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 2 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 4 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................................ 4 3.0 ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION ............................................................................................................... 4 3.1 WILDLIFE.................................................................................................................................................. 4 3.2 WETLANDS ............................................................................................................................................... 5 3.3 PROMINENT VIEWS ................................................................................................................................... 6 3.4 NATIVE TREES AND VEGETATION ............................................................................................................. 6 3.5 NON-NATIVE TREES AND VEGETATION .................................................................................................... 6 3.6 BANK, SHORELINE AND HIGH WATER MARK OF PERENNIAL WATER ...................................................... 7 3.7 SENSITIVE AND SPECIALLY VALUED SPECIES ........................................................................................... 7 3.8 SPECIAL HABITAT FEATURES ................................................................................................................... 7 3.9 WILDLIFE MIGRATION CORRIDORS .......................................................................................................... 8 3.10 GENERAL ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS ....................................................................................................... 8 3.11 TIMING OF DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER ................................................. 8 3.12 MITIGATE MEASURES ............................................................................................................................. 9 4.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................................... 9 REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................................... 9 APPENDIX A: PROJECT MAPS ...........................................................................................................................11 APPENDIX B: SITE PHOTOGRAPHS ....................................................................................................................19 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 3 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 1.0 Introduction This report documents ecological characteristics within the proposed 910 Hill Pond Residences. This project design consists of 18 total units comprised of six (6) duplexes and two (2) three- plexes. All units are two-story and three-bedroom with a mix of three different unit types. The duplexes would be considered single-family residences whereas the three-plexes would be considered multi-family residences. This report 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 was required by the City of Fort Collins Community Development and Neighborhood Services in correspondence dated November 29, 2013, because the project is within 500 feet of Spring Creek, which supports aquatic and riparian forest features. 2.0 Site Description The proposed Hill Pond Road and Gilgalad Way Duplex/Multifamily development encompasses 2.18 acres and is located approximately 875 feet east of South Shields Street, on the north side of Hill Pond Road. The Property is bounded by residential development on all sides. The legal description for the site is a portion of the northwest ¼ of Section 23, Township 7 north, Range 69 west of the 6 th Principal Meridian in Larimer County, Colorado. (A complete legal description is provided in Appendix C.) The site was visited by Matt Tobler (Natural Resource Specialist) and Clint Hinebaugh (Wildlife Biologist) with Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting on September 30, 2014. Ecological communities are classified as ‘residential’ according to the Colorado Vegetation Classification Project (http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/coveg/) and consist of homes, lawns, and planted trees. A brief discussion of species composition is provided below in Sections 3.4 and 3.5. 3.0 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. Site photos are provided in Appendix B. 3.1 Wildlife 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 4 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Due to the Property’s location, size, and adjacent land uses, on-site wildlife value is generally low. The Property contains a mature cottonwood gallery and provides tremendous vertical structure benefitting avifauna. Seasonal and/or year-round use can be expected by a number of passerines including American robin (Turdus migratorius), common flicker (Colaptes auratus), mourning doves (Zenaidura macroura), sparrows, magpies (Pica pica), swifts and swallows, crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), and ravens (Corvus corax). Some suitable nesting sites for hawks and owls were identified in the larger cottonwoods adjacent to the project site, but no nests, old or new, were located on the Property during the site visit. There are several snags on the southern Property boundary that could benefit numerous species such as cavity nesting birds like chickadees and house wrens. In addition to avifauna, small rodents including mice, voles, rats, pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) and cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus auduboni) are expected to utilize the Property year round. Given the location adjacent to Spring Creek, species such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), coyote (canis latrans), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), and red fox (Vulpes fulva) are common. Species or evidence of species recorded during the site visit include the common flicker, sparrows, mourning and Eurasian doves, rabbits, and coyote and deer. With the exception of the Spring Creek corridor to the north, areas outside of the Property were not inventoried due to private property access concerns. 3.2 Wetlands There are no wetlands on the Property. Spring Creek is located approximately 500 feet to the north and a 0.46-acre pond is located 260 feet to the northwest; both features are separated from the Property by other residential structures. According to the USFWS National Wetlands Inventory, Spring Creek is a riverine forested wetland while the pond is a palustrine unconsolidated bottom semi permanently flooded wetland. A map of these wetlands in relation to 910 Hill Pond Road is provided in Appendix A. Spring Creek is a 12.7-mile tributary of the Cache la Poudre River and is located just to the north of the project area. The bank along Spring Creek controls most flows; the bank height is approximately five feet above the level of Spring Creek. Although the Property is not located in a flood zone, a moderate zone is located to the Figure 1. A Flicker utilizes an old cottonwood tree on the Property. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 5 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved west along Waters Edge and Winterberry Way, and a high flood zone exists within the Spring Creek corridor. In the current development plan, the creek bank is not affected and no adverse effects from development are expected. Spring Creek appears to be slightly uphill from the site. Catamount Properties is working in conjunction with the City of Fort Collins storm-water staff, an alternative approach to the detention strategy has been developed that will maintain runoff in a 2-year event and will reduce runoff significantly in a 100-year event. From http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we- do/stormwater/flooding/floodplain-maps-documents, accessed on October 3, 2014. 3.3 Prominent Views Prominent views of Horsetooth Mountain or other features along the Front Range are obscured by mature trees. Likewise, Spring Creek was not visible from or near the Property due to mature trees and other residential structures. Neighborhood views or Front Range features are not likely to be impacted by the proposed development. Typical views from points accessible to the general public are provided in Appendix B. 3.4 Native Trees and Vegetation All trees were inventoried by Tim Buchannan, City of Fort Collins Forester, and Sandi Gibson (Landscape Architect, Outside L.A., LLC) on August 19, 2014. According to the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code, trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of six inches or more are defined as significant (with the exception of nuisance species). The Tree Mitigation Plan submitted to the City (separately) identified 72 trees with a total mitigation score of 72 for trees to be removed; further details are provided on the Tree Mitigation Plan. The Plan outlines how significant trees will be mitigated per City Land Use guidelines. Common native trees and sub trees include quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), lanceleaf cottonwood (Populus acuminate), American plum (Prunus americana), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), blue spruce (Picea pungens), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), maple (Acer spp.), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Native vegetation in the shrub layer includes common juniper, (Juniperus communis), choke cherry (Prunus virginiana), Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum) and sumac (Rhus spp.) 3.5 Non-native Trees and Vegetation Non-native trees include Austrian pine (Pinus nigra), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), and Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), which make up a prominent portion of the total cover on the Property. Nuisance species such as Siberian elm and Russian olive were not considered significant. The shrub layer includes lilac (Syringa spp.). The herbaceous layer supports a 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 6 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved variety of non-native vegetation including smooth brome (Bromus inermis), kochia (Bassia prostrate), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), Russian thistle (Salsola spp.), morning glory (Convolvulus arvensis), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), knotweed (Polygonum spp.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). 3.6 Bank, Shoreline and High Water Mark of Perennial Water There are no wetlands or perennial water bodies on this site. 3.7 Sensitive and Specially Valued Species There are no known occurrences or habitat for sensitive and specially valued species on the Property. The USFWS Information, Planning, and Conservation System (IPAC) was accessed to determine species of concern in Larimer County which included the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), Ute lady’s tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis), and Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis), all of which are associated with riparian/wetland areas. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Hansen 2014 pers. comm.), all trapping for the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse in Fort Collins has been negative. Typical habitat for Preble's is comprised of well-developed riparian vegetation with adjacent, relatively undisturbed grassland communities and a nearby water source. These riparian areas should include a relatively dense combination of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Based on these habitat requirements and the negative trapping data, it is BMEC’s opinion that Preble’s does not occur on the site and development of this project will not affect Preble’s adversely. Similarly, it is our opinion that the Ute lady’s tresses and Colorado butterfly plant do not occur on the site. The closest known occurrences of these plants are near the northwest boundary of Fort Collins (Ute lady’s tresses) and within the City-managed Soapstone Prairie Natural Area near the Wyoming border (butterfly plant). Suitable habitat is not present within the project area or within the adjacent Spring Creek buffer zone. 3.8 Special Habitat Features Due to residential use, special habitat features are minimal. Article 3, Section 3.4.1, of the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code applies to Natural Habitats and Features and has identified a buffer of 100 feet from Spring Creek and 50 feet from the naturalized pond to the northwest, both of which are outside of the proposed project area. According to the Natural Habitat and Features Map provided the City of Fort Collins (Appendix A), prominent features in the vicinity of the Property include non-native grasslands, non-native upland plains forest and aquatic areas. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 7 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 3.9 Wildlife Migration Corridors 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. Riparian forests along the Poudre River and other stream corridors in Colorado are recognized by many as one of the more diverse ecosystems in the United States.” Spring Creek is located approximately 500 feet from the northern boundary of the Property and serves as a wildlife migration corridor. In addition to avifauna, it is expected that raccoons, skunks, and other urban-adapted species use this tributary to move through the region. The current development plans do not call for development along Spring Creek, therefore, the proposed development should not affect the functioning of Spring Creek as a migration corridor. 3.10 General Ecological Functions The 2.18-acre site supports upland ecological functions within the context of residential developments as discussed herein. Currently the site consists of upland vegetation with some disturbed/early-seral sites. Upon completion, the proposed development will maintain 35% (33,032 sq. ft.) of the total lot coverage (94,912 sq. ft.) in open space/landscape. Landscaping will be completed in accordance to current City Land Use Codes (3.2.1 Landscaping and Tree Protection). 3.11 Timing of Development in Relation to Ecological Character The primary concern for the timing of development is protection of nesting birds. 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. If tree removal or construction commences during the bird breeding season, a survey for active nests should occur and nests should be avoided until activity ends. In addition, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) provides recommended guidelines for seasonal buffers for nesting raptors (http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/RaptorBufferGuidelines 2008.pdf). Although no raptor nests were discovered on site, foliage on deciduous trees was still present and developers should be aware that no tree with an active red-tailed or Swainson’s hawk nest shall be removed unless a permit for such removal has been obtained by the developer from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The breeding season for most migratory birds is between March and August. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 8 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 3.12 Mitigate Measures There are no known impacts to natural habitats or features on the site. The proposed development will occur on previously disturbed areas primarily consisting of a house, swimming pool, and two tennis courts. According to John Dengler, the architect, many of the larger existing trees have been designated to be saved. The majority of these trees are near the entry to the project from Gilgalad Way, along Hill Pond Road, and on the west side where the Property adjoins the single-family residences. Any removal of trees on the Property needs to be timed to avoid disturbing nesting species. While mature cottonwood trees do contain nesting cavities, these same trees represent a hazard to people and will need to be removed on this basis. Replacement of high-value trees has been outlined on the Tree Mitigation Plan dated September 17, 2014 (submitted to the City separately). The proposed construction period is not yet known. If construction or tree removal is proposed to begin during the potential bird nesting periods, a nest search is recommended within two weeks prior to the start of construction or tree removal to avoid Migratory Bird Treaty Act infractions. 4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations The team at Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting believes that no significant ecological resources will be adversely impacted on this site. The primary concern on-site is the timing of the construction and removal of trees to avoid disturbing nesting birds. The proposed development meets the standards that preserve or enhance the ecological character, function, and wildlife use of the natural habitat or feature, which in this case is the Spring Creek corridor and associated riparian areas. References City of Fort Collins Floodplain Maps and Documents. http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we- do/stormwater/flooding/floodplain-maps-documents Colorado Parks and Wildlife Recommended Buffer Zones and Seasonal Restrictions for Raptors. http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/RaptorBufferGuid elines2008.pdf Hansen, C. 2014. Email communication from Craig Hansen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood, Colorado to Clinton Hinebaugh, BMEC, LLC. October 4. National Wetland Inventory Mapper. Accessed on October 6, 2014. http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.html United States Fish and Wildlife Service Information Planning and Conservation System. Accessed on October 3, 2014. http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/ Wildlife Management Guidelines, City of Fort Collins. http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/pdf/wildlife-management-guidelines.pdf 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 9 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 10 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Appendix A: Project Maps 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 11 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 12 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Road Ecological Characterization Study 13 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 14 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Road 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 15 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Road Ecological Characterization Study 16 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 17 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 18 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Appendix B: Site Photographs 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 19 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 20 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Location: Corner of Hill Pond Road and Gilgalad Way Photo Direction: NE Looking northeast into the Property from the corner; note cottonwoods. Location: Corner of Hill Pond Road and Gilgalad Way Photo Direction NW Looking northwest from the Property corner. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 21 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Location: Corner of Hill Pond Road and Gilgalad Way Photo Direction: North Looking north from Property corner towards the residence, note mature trees. Location: NE Corner Photo Direction: South Looking south along the eastern property border near the tennis court. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 22 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Location: NE Corner Photo Direction: SW Looking southwest from the northeast property corner. Location: NE Corner Photo Direction: West Looking west along the northern property border. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 23 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Location: NW Corner Photo Direction: East Looking east along the northern property border. Location: NW Corner Photo Direction: SE Looking southeast across an open lawn from the northwest corner. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 24 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Location: NW Corner Photo Direction: South Looking south from the northwest corner. Location: SW Corner Photo Direction: North Looking north from the southwest corner, note the pool at right. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 25 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Location: SW Corner Photo Direction: NE Looking northeast from the southwest property corner. Location: SW Corner Photo Direction: East Looking east from the southwest property corner. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 26 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved Location: Gilgalad Way Photo Direction: NW Looking northwest from Gilgalad Way. Location: Hill Pond Road Photo Direction: North Looking north into the property from Hill Pond Road. 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 27 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved 910 Hill Pond Ecological Characterization Study 28 Copyright © 2014, BMEC All Rights Reserved