HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 93-09; Ocean Bluff; Tentative Map (CT) (52)United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Ecological Services
Carlsbad Field Office
2730 Loker Avenue West
Carlsbad, California 92008
October 23, 1995
Don Rideout
City of Carlsbad Planning Department
2075 Las Palmas Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
RE: Ocean Bluff residential development in Carlsbad, California
Dear Mr. Rideout:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has reviewed the biological
field survey update for the proposed Ocean Bluff residential development
project, prepared by Anita Hayworth and dated March, 1995. As
requested, we provide herein a determination as to whether this project
is consistent with regional planning efforts under the Natural Community
Conservation Planning Program (NCCP).
It is the Service's understanding that the 31-acre project site
currently supports approximately 1.2 acres of mixed chaparral, 1.79
acres of disturbed habitat, and 28 acres of agricultural fields. Off-
site habitat that would be impacted consists of 3.7 acres of coastal
sage scrub along the Poinsettia Lane Alignment and 0.82 acres of
disturbed coastal sage scrub along the A Street alignment.
A pair of the coastal California gnatcatchers (Polioptila californica
californica) was observed in the off-site impacts area. A total of 3.98
acres of habitat for this federally listed species would be lost due to
the proposed off-site impacts.
A 2:1 mitigation ratio is proposed for project-related coastal sage
scrub impacts. This mitigation would involve acquisition of 7.96 acres
within Carlsbad Highlands or payment in fee to the City of Carlsbad for
habitat acquisition. The Service discourages use of payment in fee to
the City of Carlsbad unless it can be adequately demonstrated that the
fee will contribute to acquisition of property with equal or greater
habitat quality for the gnatcatcher. The use of the Carslbad Highlands
mitigation bank for the subject project is acceptable to the Service.
The selection of any off-site mitigation area other than Carlsbad
Highlands will be subject to Service approval.
Based on the above information, the Service concludes that the Ocean
Bluff project is consistent with NCCP Guidelines, and that project
impacts to the gnatcatcher will be adequately mitigated.
Don Rideout
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Ellen Berryman of
my staff at (619) 431-9440.
iincerely,
Gail C. Kobetich
c.c" David Lawheari. CPFG
#l-6-HC-96-15