Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20041679.tiff Apr ,01 04 04: 18p Pickett#Engineering, #Inc. 9'70-356-6486 p. 2 Threatened and Endangered Species Evaluation Stillwater Acres Development Prepared For: UM Land, LLC 16529 WCR 70 Greeley, CO 80631 Prepared By: Wildland Consultants, Inc. 1001 Jefferson Drive Berthoud, CO 80513 March 2004 1.0 Introduction The proposed Stillwater Acres Development is located in Weld County bordered by Weld County Road 15 on the west, and the Greeley and Loveland Canal on the north. The site is currently being used for agriculture. Wildland Consultants, Inc. completed a field reconnaissance of the site on March 29, 2004 to evaluate site potential for threatened and endangered species. The field reconnaissance was completed by Eric Berg of WCI. Mr. Berg is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and a Certified Professional Wetland Scientist. 2.0 Vegetation and Wetlands The vegetation on the site is dominated by agricultural land. The Greeley and Loveland Canal and Farmers Irrigation Ditch support vegetation typical of maintained irrigation ditches in the area. These ditches are maintained on an annual basis and support seeded grasses and weeds. A drainage swale runs across the center of the site. A wetland occurs along the bottom of this drainage swale. The drainage swale connects to the Big Thompson River south of the development area. Dominant plant species in the wetlands include: American threesquare, hard stem bulrush, cattail, reed canarygrass, and meadow fescue. Photographs of the drainage swale are included in Attachment A. A few large cottonwood trees are located along the drainage swale. 3.0 Threatened, Endangered, and Special Status Species There are no known locations of rare plants on or near the development site (System for Conservation Planning 2004). = EVE; 2004-1679 Apr 01 04 04: 18p Pickett#Engineering, #Inc. 970-356-6486 p. 3 • The wetlands associated with the drainage swale on the site provides potential habitat to the federally listed Ute ladies' tresses orchid (Spiranihes cii ivualis). This rare orchid occurs along streams and associated wetlands that flow into the South Platte River(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1992). The area around the drainage swale provide marginal potential habitat to the federally listed New Mexico butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana). This annual plant occurs in sub-irrigated, alluvial soils of drainage bottoms in Weld County (Spackman et. al 1997). No surveys for either species have been completed on the development site. The drainage swale on the site provides poor potential habitat to the federally listed Preble's meadow jumping mouse. The nearest good Preble's habitat is located along the Big Thompson River south of the development site. The Preble's mouse prefers riparian habitat with extensive brush cover(USFWS 1999). The drainage swale and wetlands on the site do not provide the thick brushy riparian habitat preferred by the Preble's mouse. The irrigation canals on the site are maintained (burning, herbicides) on an annual basis. Both canals provide poor quality potential habitat to federally listed species. 4.0 Conclusions, Recommendations The proposed development has been designed to protect wetlands and natural vegetation areas. The attached aerial photo shows the relationship of proposed development lots and outlots that will remain as open space. The majority of the drainage swale(including wetlands) is located within Outlots A and B (a total of approximately 19 acres). These outlots will remain as open space. MI potential habitat for the Ute ladies' tresses orchid and Colorado butterfly plant are located in these outlots. A portion of Lot 8 includes the south end of the drainage swale. However, the building envelope for Lot 8 is located outside of the drainage swale area. Because of project design no direct impacts to wetlands and potential rare plant habitat will occur with construction. Surveys of the site for the Ute ladies' tresses orchid and Colorado butterfly plant should not be required because impacts to potential habitat will be avoided. Because of the lack of shrubby riparian habitat the site provides poor potential habitat to the Preble's meadow jumping mouse. No direct impacts will occur to the wetlands on the site. Building envelopes are buffered from the drainage swale from 200-400 feet. Based on these conditions surveys for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse are not recommended for the site. Based on current project design development will result in no impacts to jurisdictional or non jurisdictional wetlands. No permits from the Army Corps of Engineers should be required for project construction. Apr ,01 04 04: 18p Pickett#Engineering, #Inc. 970-356-6486 p. 4 • 5.0 References Spackman, S., B. Jennings, J. Coles, C. Dawson, M. Minton, A. Kratz, and C. Spurrier. 997. Colorado Rare Plant Field Guide. Colorado Natural Heritage Program. System for Conservation Planning. 2004. Data Search for Stillwater Acres Development Site. Colorado Natural Heritage Program. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1992. Interim Survey Requirements for Spiranthes diluvialis. 8 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999. Interim Survey Recommendations and Guidelines for Surveys for Preble's Meadow Jumping Mice. Colorado Field Office. Denver, CO. Apr 01 04 04: 1ii9Tp Pickett*Engineering, #Inc. 970-356-6486 p• 5 's} JI;At \ P'I37i.CT 900NN� ">}F \ PE y 227WC6 t4 KATIE e �. C+' F 7-._ ....4,>,' ., 3 � r 'rwriEVILOSeytt -;F: 1'. 4 I dH_ +rte N. j - .2 h • � _ I IYO LIT}.... _ � 'x GP>PMIC STALE 41. IllyT. , EC Sr ea• • woes [ xAv exx �Aa, \`��. o MO noo • G 1 ` RIGHT vur[o . r �__— - '' ' LOTH - I II xtmflR Y P� �� L : ••E I LOT! II LOTR I 7:.f \� �. 5 qry t ,.;.r �Y far L mwc. �i .c I A v $ t PBECCI(� x roT iI Y '! .Fa REC Na 227000s � �}, • Y44 a-+Y;'7 I:, sF FEBFNARv 25, f99 , •, .r • 0J \ \ r.£•_ 1 69Y AC f.: 0 I ANK ern ws R. 4: SHED ACCESS ROAD .......... \\� r MATER Ney j �1 \ \ r? - �j }. PIT I^ '�. AU" EMI y!4 • �/ 3�j CONCRETE 1.\\c...., DITCH , �11�' n fI ��— � xn • � a y L �wC 1 ,. R� Nx ii ; J y \f RL"Ela 1S Ha OlIX' '2 II scretac in; 7 e" \ \ \'� LOTS I7 L o �1°ear yr .. \\ , =Ft /1 loco \ ,eAuion. '11-!16 4-i . FARMNGOUILOTM "r7 �'� \ /,;"" 10:9013.91A \ \ \ ''�- . 0.oe ENVA/ \ ` E . . . i § ,{ " .r.PO rry , .L• \ FMMNM�s{{16C%IILOT#A ...ma 'at/ .M1 o ! � . WIDKM R.N+ C.. } II ..-e. ..." Syr i ',r4 + .'ii... rr :? ''t' 'Mira ,if x„ 'wok/ in__ _— i ,/1 t : ). ) - a 0 O a O CO r / . }' �r Y�t'..� FeaJ `#±F9 lrt�.-.�+�-.1i),'�' r� r . Yn '•.� t t c ti-i. or )+fiy ��ia :V r et tv lt # � fFr [i�, �1 F i�7 (�ds! C RI ON View of Drainage Swale to the North. 3 m m .. 3 01 H 0 F 1,� tO f �yY CJ J S N N r CO a CO . • 1 1' a p`.,r -''P4 .• a CO View of the Drainage Swale to the South. PLANNING COMMISSIONERS' SIGN POSTING CERTIFICATE THE LAST DAY TO POST THE SIGN IS MARCH 19, 2004 THE SIGN SHALL BE POSTED ADJACENT TO AND VISIBLE FROM A PUBLICALLY MAINTAINED ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY. IN THE EVENT THE PROPERTY BEING CONSIDERED FOR A SPECIAL REVIEW IS NOT ADJACENT TO A PUBLICALLY MAINTAINED ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES SHALL POST ONE SIGN IN THE MOST PROMINENT PLACE ON THE PROPERTY AND POST A SECOND SIGN AT THE POINT AT WHICH THE DRIVEWAY (ACCESS DRIVE) INTERSECTS A PUBLICALLY MAINTAINED ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY. I, KIM OGLE, HEREBY CERTIFY UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE SIGN WAS POSTED ON THE PROPERTY AT LEAST FIFTEEN DAYS BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS HEARING FOR CHANGE OF ZONE FROM A (AGRICULTURAL) TO PUD WITH ESTATE USES FOR NINE (9) RESIDENTIAL LOTS, TWO (2) LOTS WITH AGRICULTURAL ZONE USES ALONG WITH 13.6 ACRES OF COMMON OPEN SPACE (STILLWATER ACRES PUD) IN THE A (AGRICULTURAL) ZONE DISTRICT. KIM OGLE Name of Person Posting Sign i Signathre b(Person Posting Sign STATE OF COLORADO ) ss. COUNTY OF WELD f 1d The foregoing instrument was subscribed and sworn to me this day of MaCtil , 2004. WITNESS my hand and official seal. Lod 6 ', Notary Public My Commission Expires: Li = EjuIT r Sign Posted March 19, 2004 by Staff , F1 ,.-444. / giik air'. w y al. 9 11 � � ' ) 4. S itc t.iilp Wt. k 4 fiwNNpT iela , /i _.Y3�ik 132 I eau NR. 0 RS ACRES �� i FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL li WELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES AT , / (970)353-6100 ext. 3540 ii / / 1 1 �� r'` 4I MEMORANDUM Wi`Pe. DTOATE: April 6,g Commission 2 O4 COLORADO FROM: Kim Ogle, Planning Manager SUBJECT: Change of Zone, PZ-1032 UIV Land LLC, do N. Ulmer, Applicant Additions to Staff Comments 1. Modification to the Change of Zone Comments, under the heading At the time of Final Plan submission, Item 4.R is a repeat of item 4.H, staff moves to strike item 4.R and renumber. 2. Addition to Staff Comment, Section 3, Prior to Recording the Change of Zone plat, Item 3.F should state "The applicant provide written evidence of acceptance of the Change of Zone plat and the notes to be placed on the Change of Zone plat from the Reorganized Farmers Ditch Company do Randolph W. Starr, P.C., Attorney. E IT Hello