Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/10/2002

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Response to the EAW Request The Ponds Residential Development Proiect Page 3 During construction of the peoposed development, runoff will be controlled by erosion control methods such as silt fence and straw bales. 3. At the completion of the construction, the site will be mulched and seeded as well. Additional runoff control into the wetland area will be the existence of a vegetative buffer zone adjacent to the wetland. The construction plans include a 50 - 90 foot vegetative buffer comprised of both full-grown trees and brush. Inside this buffer zone, all vegetation will be restricted from any cleating activities by the developer, contractors or residents. Recently, the City requested that this buffer be expanded an additional 15 - 20 foot. This request is in the process of being implemented into the development plans by Royal Oaks. According to a Royal Oaks representative, no wetland areas will be dredged or filled as part of the proposed project. In addition, no proposed roadways will.infringe on or impact any wetland areas. Royal Oaks also had a wetland survey and delineation (January 4, 2000) completed on the entire Site by Arlig Environmental, Inc. The wetland report will be used to avoid any wetland infringements during the construction of the proposed development. Issue 2 - Concern regarding the reduction, of wildlife habitat and the subsequent effects on wildlife utilizing that habitat. Historical information (aerial photographs, topographic maps and city directories) were reviewed by ProSource to determine the previous uses of the Site. The aerial photo~aphs revealed that in the 1930's the Site and the areas surrounding it were used as farmland (including the wetland areas on and surrounding the Site). The western portion of the Site appears to be sparsely wooded. Subsequent aerial photographs from the late 1950's to the late 1980's revealed that the residential home currently on the Site was built during the beginning of this time per/od. The primary land use on the Site appears to be agricultural. A 1997 aerial photograph shows that dur/ng this period the Site continues to have a residential home on it (along with several out-buildings) and that the remainder of the site is woodlands or uncultivated fields. Topographic maps for the years 19.02, '1955 and 1958 show no structures on the Site. The 1967, 1972, 1980 and 1993 topographic maps show a single structure with an access road (off of Nowthen Boulevard) on the Site. Select city director/es for the years 1979 through 1994 listed a residential home at the Site address (14346 Nowthen Boulevard). The 1999 city directory had no listing for the Site address. In summary, the historical data indicates that the Site was originally used as farmland (including the wetland areas) from the 1930's (and most likely in the decades before, that time) until.the late 1980's. Upon the cessation of farming activities, natural revegetation of the former farmland and wetland areas has occurred. Because of tile use of these Best Management Practices to mitigate the harm~l effects of storm water runoff into the wetland'areas, tl~e impact on wildlife in the wetland will also be minimized. The site is currently a residence/former farmstead, and is characterized by wooded areas, open fields and four Wetlands. Based on obse~,ations, the site appears to support a number of common wildlife species (birds, chipmunks, squirrels, deer and raccoon) that are readily adaptable to an urban environment. As is the case with any project where trees and brush are cleared, some wildlife will be -16- ProSource Technologies, Inc. August 3,