HomeMy WebLinkAboutEIR 93-02; Green Valley; Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (4)US Fish & Wildlife Service
Carlsbad Field Office
2730 Loker Avenue, West
Carlsbad, CA 92008
CA Dept. of Fish & Game
14 16 Ninth Street
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
(760) 43 1-9440 (916) 653-9767
FAX (760) 43 1-9624 FAX (9 16) 653-2588 @ t'S_,.-*&
Mr. Paul J. Klukas
Director of Planning
Pianning Systems
2 1 1 1 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 100
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Re: Green Valley Crossings Project in the City of Carlsbad and Conformance with Natural
Community Conservation Planning Conservation Guidelines and the Multiple Habitat
Conservation Plan
Dear Mr. Klukas:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game (the Wildlife
Agencies) have reviewed your letter, dated June 13, 1997, regarding the Green Valley Crossings
Project in the City of Carlsbad. As you requested, this letter provides the Wildlife Agencies'
determination as to whether the subject project is consistent with regional planning efforts under
the Natural Community Conservation Planning Program (NCCP).
The proposed project involves development of the Green Valley Master Plan, which includes
construction of an 18.3 acre retail center and a 55.8 acre single family residential housing area.
To meet the City of Carlsbad's vehicular/pedestrian circulation requirements, the proposed
project includes constructionaf two bridges across Encinitas Creek at Calle Barcelona and
Levante Street and widening of El Camino Real for a new 12-foot wide south bound lane. The
widening of El Camino Real would impact 2.38 acres of coastal sage scrub (CSS) and is the
subject of this determination.
It is the Wildlife Agencies' understanding that the federally threatened coastal California
gnatcatcher (Polioptila calfornica calfornica) has been detected in this proposed impact area.
As mitigation for this and other project impacts to terrestrial biological resources, the project
applicant proposes to preserve 108 acres of on-site upland bluffs, dominated by CSS and
southern maritime chaparral. Your letter indicates that this mitigation area will be placed under
an open space easement deed tg ensure the preservation of the area in perpetuity. The Wildlife
Agencies recommend that this easement be established as biological open space and we request
the opportunity to review the proposed biological open space easement language. The Wildlife
Agencies also recommend that, in coordination with the party designated as responsible for this
Mr. Klukas 2
biological open space easement, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and the
Service should be third party beneficiaries of the easement.
In order to maintain biological values and assure the long-term viability of the habitat to be
preserved within the dedicated biological open space, the Wildlife Agencies recommend that a
management plan be prepared and implemented as part of the proposed project. This should
include a responsible party that would monitor and manage the site to ensure the protection of the
natural resources. Measures should include control of human access and exotic species invasion
into protected habitat. Development of the management plan should be coordinated with the
City of Carlsbad and should be a component of the City’s Subarea Plan under NCCP. ’,
The coastal sage scrub on the project site is identified through the Multiple Habitat Conservation
Program (MHCP) as having high to very high long-term conservation value from a multiple-
habitat perspective. The proposed open space is adjacent to Batiquitos Lagoon and contiguous
with biological core areas identified through MHCP, therefore it is likely to be a functional part
of Carlsbad’s long-term preserve system.
With the mitigation measures described in the June 13, 1997 letter, and management of the
preserved habitat, the Wildlife Agencies concur that the subject project will meet the NCCP
Guidelines and conforms to the 4(d) Special Rule. We therefore concur that a Habitat Loss
Permit, issued by the City of Carlsbad, would be appropriate for this project.
In summary, the Wildlife Agencies concur that the subject project is consistent with NCCP
planning and appropriate for receipt of a Habitat Loss Permit through the gnatcatcher 4(d) rule,
under the following conditions.
1. 108 acres (Figure 1) dominated by southern maritime chaparral and CSS will be
preserved and managed on-site.
2. A management plan which will maintain the functions and values of the the
preserved habitat will be prepared and implemented for the biological open space
easement. This plan should be provided for Service and CDFG approval within
three months of issuance of the HLP and finalized within six months of issuance
of the HLP.
The project applicant shall be responsible for assuring fbnding of the management
and monitoring of the preserved habitat.
3.
4. Terms and Conditions outlined in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404
permit and Sectbn 1603 Streambed Alteration Agreement (#5-279-96) will be
properly addressed and carried out.
I .
Mr. Klukas 3
5. Indirect impacts associated with construction should be minimized by restricting
construction activities to a period outside the gnatcatcher breeding season
(February 15 - August 30).
Please contact Kathleen Linder (Service) at (760) 43 1-9440, or Terri Stewart (Department) at
(6 19) 467-4212, if there are any questions or comments regarding this letter.
Sincerely ,
'Field Office Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1 -6-97-HC-259
Ron Rempel
NCCP Program Manager
Department of Fish and Game
cc: Bill TippetsKerri Stewart, CDFG
Nancy Gilbert, USFWS
Khrister Westman, City of Carlsbad