HomeMy WebLinkAboutHARMONY MARKET PUD, SAM'S CLUB EXPANSION - MAJOR AMENDMENT - 54-87AH - CORRESPONDENCE - WETLANDS DOCUMENTS (2)ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, LLC
January12, 2004
Ted Shepard
Department of Current Planning
City of Fort Collins
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522
RE. Natural Habitats and Features, Harmony Market PUD, Sam's Club Expansion
Dear Mr. Shepard:
This letter is a follow-up my letter dated January 9, 2004, concerning wetland issues at the site
of the proposed Sam's Club expansion at the Harmony Market PUD. The earlier letter dealt
with the estimated 0.092 acres of cattails. As stated in that letter, the wetlands meet U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers criteria for delineation as a wetland but probably would be considered non-
jurisdictional for the purposes of a permit requirement pursuant; to Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act. Under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services classification system, the two small areas
of cattails would be considered a Palustrine Emergent Wetland, Temporarily Flooded.
The purpose of this letter is to describe Natural Habitats and Features as required by Section
3.4.1 of the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code. Requested information is outlined below:
Natural Communities or Habitats
The only such feature is the small wetland area addressed in my letter of January 9, 2004,
consisting of a cattail marsh that has formed along the floor of a stormwater detention basin and
is surrounded by manicured lawn grasses, ornamental trees, and developed roadways, parking
lots, and buildings.
Special Features
The site does not provide any of the site features listed in the Land. Use Code, due to its small
size, artificiality, extreme isolation, manicured condition (including regular mowing), and
adjacency to intensively developed areas.
With regard to federally listed or state -listed threatened and endangered (T&E) species or other
species of special concern, the following information is provided to support this conclusion:
Federally Listed T&E Species —
• Ute ladies' -tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) — Very unlikely to occur (probability
essentially zero) due to small area, extreme isolation, artificiality, and regular manicuring
(mowing) of the detention basin floor.
• Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis) — Very unlikely to occur
(probability essentially zero) due to small area, extreme isolation, artificiality, and regular
manicuring (mowing) of the detention basin floor.
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■ Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) — Not potentially present
due to small area, extreme isolation, and regular manicuring (mowing) of the detention
basin floor, lack of adjacent feeding habitat, and lack of woody riparian shrubs (e.g.,
willows) normally associated with occupied habitat or movement corridors.
Species of Special Concern in Colorado. -
■ Certain Native Nongame Fishes of the South 'Platte River Drainage Not potentially
present in ephemeral drainages or isolated detention facilities lacking a permanent pool.
■ Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) — Not potentially present in ephemeral drainages
or isolated detention facilities lacking a permanent pool.
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) Very unlikely to occur (probability
essentially zero) due to small area, extreme isolation, artificiality, and regular manicuring
(mowing) of the detention basin floor.
Additionally, because of the lack of a riparian woodland or shrubland community and the small
size and urban setting of the cattail wetland, the area is very unlikely to support use by
neotropical migrant songbirds, including species commonly associated with emergent wetlands.
Feature Boundary Definition
The site plan submitted by, Kimley-Hom and Associates, Inc., depicts the surveyed boundaries
of the cattail (Palustrine Emergent, Temporarily Flooded) wetland areas.
Ecological Characterization Study
Wildlife Use — Because of its small size, isolation, artificiality, and adjacency to intensive human
activity, the site is not expected to support wildlife use other than occasional and transitory use
by such "urban" species as raccoons and striped skunks, primarily as potential foraging sites
while searching large areas for food, or common urban songbirds. The wetlands are too small,
isolated, and urbanized to support other mammals, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, wetland
songbirds, or wetland reptiles or amphibians. Small mammals may occur, primarily the house
mouse. Native small mammals such as the meadow vole and deer mouse are potentially
present but unlikely due to the small size and isolation of the wetlands and regular manicuring of
the adjacent lawn area.
Trees — The only trees are planted urban specimen or shade trees.
Sensitive or Specially Valued _Species — None
Special Habitat Features — None
Wildlife Movement Corridors — None, except for the urban species noted above.
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Wetland Boundary Delineation
Mapped submitted by Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.
Establishment of Buffer Zones
The Land Use Code indicates that the Buffer Zone Standard for naturalized storm drainage
channels or detention ponds is 50 feet and for wetlands less than 0.33 acre in size is also 50
feet. Based on the conditions cited above, no additional buffer zone width would be needed to
maintain current ecological qualities and uses. Requirements for establishing a 50-foot
standard to this project are a topic for discussion between the City and, the Applicant.
Based on the information presented above and in my previous letter concerning wetlands, the
proposed expansion of the Sam's Club in the Harmony Market PUD would not be expected to
have direct or indirect, temporary or long-term impacts to federally listed or state -listed
threatened or endangered species, state species of special concern, or other sensitive of
specially valued plant or animal species
Please call me if you have questions concerning my conclusions.
Sincerely,
Allen B. Crockett, Ph.D.
Senior Ecologist
cc: Mr. Troy Kelts
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
950 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1050
Denver, Colorado 80202
303-228-2300
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4888 PEARL EAST CIRCLE, SUITE 108, BOULDER, COLORADO 80301-303-443-3282 (FAX 303-443-0367)
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