DISCLAIMER: Please download the attached PDF version of this notice for complete information, proper formatting, and inclusion of tables and figures.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Issue Date: August 12, 2016
Comment Deadline: September 12, 2016
Corps Action ID Number: SAW-2015-01762
The Wilmington District, Corps of Engineers (Corps) received an application from Development Solutions BRY, LLC seeking Department of the Army authorization to impact 0.2076-acre of riparian wetlands and 1,3450 linear feet of stream, associated with development of a transportation oriented mixed-use development in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
Specific plans and location information are described below and shown on the attached plans. This Public Notice and all attached plans are also available on the Wilmington District Web Site at http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram.aspx
Applicant: Development Solutions BRY, LLC
Attn: Kim Gualtieri
516 North West Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
AGENT (if applicable): Environmental Services, Inc.
Attn: Mr. Jeff Benton
1905 Ebenezer Road
Rock Hill, South Carolina 29732
Authority
The Corps evaluates this application and decides whether to issue, conditionally issue, or deny the proposed work pursuant to applicable procedures of the following Statutory Authorities:
X - Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344)
- Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403)
- Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1413)
Location
Directions to Site: The site is located in the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Hambright Road and NC-116 (Old Statesville Road) in the town of Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. PINs: 01911108, 01911117, 01911118, 01911137, 01911139, 01911140, 01913151, 01913152, and 01913177.
Project Area (acres): ±217-acres Nearest Town:Huntersville
Nearest Waterway: Cane Creek River Basin: Yadkin-Pee Dee 03040105
Latitude and Longitude: 35.38453 N, -80.82165 W
Existing Site Conditions
The project area is comprised of existing residential development (apartments), land recently cleared for new development, and existing timberland. Upland forested communities are dominated by a canopy of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer rubrum), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). The shrub layer is primarily saplings of the canopy species, but also includes ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), and red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). The groundcover consists of vines such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and wild grape (Vitis rotundifolia) with herbaceous individuals such as Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), and blackberry (Rubus argutus) also being present. Topography in the area is generally moderately sloped, but there are some areas severely sloped. The total length of jurisdictional streams located on the property is ±10,513 linear feet. The total area of jurisdictional wetlands located on site is 6.796-acres.
Applicant’s Stated Purpose
The applicant’s stated purpose is to provide a public transportation linked, residential development in northern Mecklenburg County.
Project Description
Previous developers began master planning the Bryton development prior to the economic recession that began in early 2008 (see Figure 5 – Concept Plan). The original development concept included residential development within the current project area and commercial development to the south of Hambright Road. A Nationwide Permit 39 verification was issued on November 5, 2007 (and reissued on October 19, 2009) to place fill material in 3,815 linear feet of intermittent stream and 0.172 acre of wetlands to facilitate the construction of the commercial portions of the Bryton development. A Nationwide Permit 14 verification was issued on October 15, 2008 to place fill material in 290 linear feet of stream to extend Hambright Road to Everett Keith Road and to provide access to the original Bryton development. While site grading for the commercial development was completed in 2010, the commercial development as proposed was never built. Since 2012, a Walmart and McDonalds have been built on portions of the property and other businesses are beginning to develop parcels within the commercial portion of the original Bryton development. This commercial portion of the original Bryton development is currently under different ownership than the residential development described in this notice.
The current project area includes a ±217-acre assemblage of parcels located north of Hambright Road. The proposed Bryton residential development is a high-end walking community with a planned transportation hub nearby (LYNX Red Line station). The proposed development would contain single family residential, multi-family residential, light commercial, and park-like green space. The proposed development is part of an effort to bring a multi-faceted, pedestrian oriented community to the Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
A Nationwide Permit 29 permit verification authorizing the placement of fill material in 0.09 acre of wetlands and 104 linear feet was issued on August 28, 2015 for the first phase of the proposed Bryton residential development. Apartments are currently being constructed on Hambright Road at the south central portion of the project area. The current proposal seeks to authorize impacts necessary to complete site grading for the entire Bryton residential development.
Avoidance and Minimization
The applicant provided the following information in support of efforts to avoid and/or minimize impacts to the aquatic environment: Wetland and stream impacts on the preferred alternative have been avoided and/or minimized to the greatest extent practicable. The project will impact approximately 1,335 linear feet (12.7% of the streams located on site). Total impacts to wetlands on site are approximately 0.2076-acre (3% of the total wetland area located on site). The vast majority of jurisdictional areas are avoided by the development of the property. The reason that the vast majority of jurisdictional areas are avoided is that the developer's engineer took care to try and avoid the largest system present on site (Cane Creek drainage). This drainage is also affected by beavers and has extensive wetlands associated with it. The designers were able to avoid all but one road crossing to this system, which is needed to access the northeastern comer of the project site. All other impacts are to either, unnamed tributaries (and their associated wetlands) of Cane Creek or to even smaller tributaries further in the headwaters located on site (Engineering Drawings: Figures 0-11).
The designers tried several configurations, especially in high impacts areas (Impact Nos. 7 and 8), but with the topography of the area and the fact that the tributaries here bisect the property through the middle portions of the area, it was impossible to configure the development (apartment buildings, parking, storm water control, sewer, etc.) in such a manner to avoid the impacts in this area. The same can be said for Impact Numbers 1 through 6. Impact 1 could not be avoided due to the significant loss of area for development. The tributary and its associated wetland bisect the development area in such a manner as to limit the ability to develop the area without impact. Impact 2 is needed for access and has been minimized as much as possible, and are generally due to the topography in the area and the need to create a safe crossing. Impact 3 was minimized because there will be no permanent impact associated with this sewer line crossing. Impact 4 is a road crossing that minimized impacts by only proposing the road crossing over the stream. The designer eliminated three lots in this area in order to avoid and minimize the impact in this area. Impact 5 is another area where impacts are unavoidable due to challenging topography in the area. However, the impacts were limited to the headwaters (and associated wetlands) of these two small headwater streams. Impact 6 (much the same as Impact 2) is needed for access and impacts are minimized as much as possible. It should be noted here that additional minimization measures such as the use of bottomless culverts for the stream crossings were reviewed. However, they were eliminated due to the challenging topography in the area of each road crossing and the significant cost associated with designing and constructing a "bottomless" culvert. When feasible, the current site design also integrated sewer lines and roads and/or road crossings within the same easement to further reduce impacts (this was not practicable in the 10 instance of the one sewer crossing). Further, the proposed site plan establishes "green-space" corridors that bisect the site and encompasses a large portion of streams and wetlands on-site. In order to demonstrate that avoidance and minimization has been achieved to the greatest extent practicable while still maintaining the overall purpose and need of the project, we compared a concept plan that was developed by the initial developers of the Bryton property (Figure 5 – Concept Plan). The impacts proposed initially in the concept plan, when compared with what is currently proposed, show very little difference in overall proposed impacts. However, it should be noted that the concept plan does not include stormwater facilities, which are generally located at lower topographic locations on the site (low drainage points). This would lead to additional impacts not depicted on the map and would certainly surpass the impacts currently proposed. In summary, the developer and his engineer has designed a site that meets the stated purpose and need of the project while avoiding and minimizing impacts to jurisdictional areas to the greatest extent practicable.
Compensatory Mitigation
The applicant offered the following compensatory mitigation plan to offset unavoidable functional loss to the aquatic environment:
The applicant proposes to compensate for wetland and stream impacts through the purchase of both stream and wetland mitigation from the NC Division of Mitigation Services (NCDMS). Application has been made to the NCDMS since there are no wetland or stream mitigation banks in the project service area. The applicant proposes to compensate for unavoidable impacts to waters of the United States at a 2:1 (2 mitigation units for every 1 unit of impact) ratio for perennial streams, a 1:1 mitigation ratio for impacts to intermittent streams, and a 1:1 ratio for wetlands.
Essential Fish Habitat
Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, this Public Notice initiates the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation requirements. The Corps’ initial determination is that the proposed project would not affect EFH or associated fisheries managed by the South Atlantic or Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Councils or the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Cultural Resources
Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Appendix C of 33 CFR Part 325, and the 2005 Revised Interim Guidance for Implementing Appendix C, the District Engineer consulted district files and records and the latest published version of the National Register of Historic Places and initially determines that:
X - No historic properties, nor properties eligible for inclusion in the National Register, are present within the Corps’ permit area; therefore, there will be no historic properties affected. The Corps subsequently requests concurrence from the SHPO (or THPO).
The District Engineer’s final eligibility and effect determination will be based upon coordination with the SHPO and/or THPO, as appropriate and required, and with full consideration given to the proposed undertaking’s potential direct and indirect effects on historic properties within the Corps-indentified permit area.
Endangered Species
Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Corps reviewed the project area, examined all information provided by the applicant and consulted the latest North Carolina Natural Heritage Database. Based on available information:
X - The Corps determines that the proposed project would not affect federally listed endangered or threatened species or their formally designated critical habitat.
Other Required Authorizations
The Corps forwards this notice and all applicable application materials to the appropriate State agencies for review.
North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR): The Corps will generally not make a final permit decision until the NCDWR issues, denies, or waives the state Certification as required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (PL 92-500). The receipt of the application and this public notice, combined with the appropriate application fee, at the NCDWR Central Office in Raleigh constitutes initial receipt of an application for a 401 Certification. A waiver will be deemed to occur if the NCDWR fails to act on this request for certification within sixty days of receipt of a complete application. Additional information regarding the 401 Certification may be reviewed at the NCDWR Central Office, 401 and Buffer Permitting Unit, 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-2260. All persons desiring to make comments regarding the application for a 401 Certification should do so, in writing, by September 12, 2016 to:
NCDWR Central Office
Attention: Ms. Karen Higgins, 401 and Buffer Permitting Unit
(USPS mailing address): 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Or,
(physical address): 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (NCDCM):
X - Based upon all available information, the Corps determines that this application for a Department of Army (DA) permit does not involve an activity which would affect the coastal zone, which is defined by the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Act (16 U.S.C. § 1453).
Evaluation
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values (in accordance with Executive Order 11988), land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. For activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill materials in waters of the United States, the evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will include application of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 404(b)(1) guidelines.
Commenting Information
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State and local agencies and officials, including any consolidated State Viewpoint or written position of the Governor; Indian Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and/or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider the application. Requests for public hearings shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. Requests for a public hearing shall be granted, unless the District Engineer determines that the issues raised are insubstantial or there is otherwise no valid interest to be served by a hearing.
The Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District will receive written comments pertinent to the proposed work, as outlined above, until 5pm, September 12, 2016. Comments should be submitted to David L Shaeffer, Asheville Regulatory Field Office, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 208, Asheville, North Carolina 28801, at (704) 510-1437.
DISCLAIMER: Please download the attached PDF version of this notice for complete information, proper formatting, and inclusion of tables and figures.