HomeMy WebLinkAboutPIP 97-07; Newton Business Center; Planned Industrial Permit (PIP) (31)United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Ecological Services Carisbad Field Office
2730 Loker Avenue West
Carlsbad, California 92008
Ms. Anne Hysong
City of Carlsbad
Planning Department
2075 Las Palmas Drive
Carlsbad, California 92009
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JAN 2 1 1998 _r
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Re: Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Newton Business Center Project
PIP 97-07/HDP 97-1 8KDP 97-35; APN 2 12-050-43
Dear Ms. Hysong:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has completed its review of the Mitigated Negative
Declaration (ND) for the Newton Business Center. The following materials were consulted as
part of this review: Mitigated Negative Declaration for Newton Business Center--La Costa
Products International prepared by the City of Carlsbad (December 24,1997); “Environmental
Impact Assessment for the Proposed Newton Drive Industrial Facility, Carlsbad, California”
prepared for Industrial Development International, Inc. by RBRiggan and Associates (August
19,1997; and “Report of a Biological Survey of the Newton Drive Industrial Facility Site,
Carlsbad, California” prepared for Industrial Development International, Inc. by RBRiggan and
Associates (May 25, 1997; revised August 16, 1997). A site visit was also conducted by Service
Fish and Wildlife Biologists Julie M. Vandenvier and Fred C. Roberts on January 21, 1998.
The 16.1 l-acre Newton Business Center site is accessed via Newton Drive which is located north
of College Boulevard, west of El Camino Real, and east of Faraday Avenue in the city of
Carlsbad. Proposed development includes the construction of 175,932 square-feet of ofice and
distribution buildings. The site consists of a mesa and slopes which range in elevation from 299
feet above mean sea level (ASML) in the north-central portion to 195 feet ASML in the
northeastern portion of the site. Mesa elevations range &om 260-280 feet ASML. Underlying
soils are mapped as Altamont clays, however, areas of sandstone are clearly evident in the
southern portion. According to the biology report prepared by RElRiggan (1 997), vegetation
types on the site consist of southern mixed chaparral (6.60 acres), coastal sage scrub (0.78 acre),
disturbed native grassland (undisclosed amount); wetland (less than 100 square feet), ruderal
(6.15 acres), and horticultural plantings (1.74 acres). Sensitive plant species identified include
California adolphia (Adolphia cdifornicu) and thread-leaved brodiaea (BrodiueuBZifoZia). A
focused survey was conducted for the coastal California gnatcatcher (PoZioptiZu cdifornica
culifornica; gnatcatcher) and little pacific pocket mouse (Perognuthus Zongimembris paciJicus);
Ms. Anne Hysong
JAN 2 1 1998
2
neither taxon was detected.
Project implementation would result in grading of 1 1.56 acres and affect 4.77 acres of on-site
chaparral, 0.21 acre of off-site chaparral, 0.78 acre of on-site coastal sage scrub, 5.63 acres of
ruderal vegetation on-site, and 0.17 acre of ruderal vegetation off-site. Approximately 1.83 acres
of chaparral, 0.83 acre of disturbed native grassland, 1.74 acres of horticultural plantings and
0.52 acre of ruderal vegetation would be preserved.
The Service does not concur that the chaparral which occurs on-site is southern mixed chaparral.
Rather, we believe that this plant community should be classified as southern maritime chaparral
despite the absence of Del Mar manzanita (Arctostuphylos gZundulosu ssp. crussifoliu) and coast
white lilac (Ceunothus verrucosus). These species, particularly the manzanita, are not uniformly
distributed throughout this plant community. Evidence to support our conclusion that the
chaparral on-site is most accurately classified as southern maritime includes the presence of
sandstone-derived substrate and the presence of Nuttall’s (or coast) scrub oak (Quercus nuttdlii).
Nuttall’s scrub oak occurs as a dominant in the chaparral on-site. This species is restricted to
coastal areas and is considered by some botanists to be the rarest of the scrub oaks and a species
associated with maritime chaparrals. Characteristics which differentiate this species from
California scrub oak (Quercus berberidifoliu) were evident during the Service’s site visit and
include stellate hairs on the undersurface of the leaves which are visible without magnification,
leaf shape and size, and a tangled and interwoven branching pattern. Southern maritime
chaparral is a unique plant community with an extremely limited distribution. It has been
estimated that over 80 percent of this community has been lost as a result of urban development
and agricultural activities. As such, impacts to this community should be mitigated, in-kind, at a
ratio of 2: 1. The purchase of mitigation credits in a conservation bank which contains this plant
community (e.g. Manchester Avenue Conservation Bank) would be acceptable to the Service.
The potential exists for the occurrence of the federally listed Orcutt’s spineflower (Chorizunthe
orcuttiunu) within southern maritime chaparral on-site. As such, a directed survey for this
species should be conducted. The Service recommends that these surveys be conducted in early
April, however, plant germination and growth is largely dependent upon the amount and
distribution of annual precipitation, and these factors should be taken into account when
scheduling fieldwork.
The Service’s site visit also revealed that thread-leaved brodiaea occurs outside of the preserve
area, both adjacent to the preserve and along one of the dirt access roads to the south. It was also
observed immediately off-site to the east. As the Service’s visit did not constitute a thorough
survey of the project site, we recommend that additional surveys for this plant species (which is
proposed for federal listing as threatened as well as state-listed as endangered) should be
conducted. Now through February would be optimal months to determine the distribution of this
species on-site, as the vegetative portions are quite evident now. Surveys could be conducted
through the months of April and May as well, again, depending on the amount and distribution of
annual precipitation. It appears that the opportunity to expand the preserve to include adjacent
h
JAN 2 1 1998
Ms. Anne Hysong 3
thread-leaved brodiaea is possible, as no grading is proposed in this area. Regarding the existing
preserve, the Service requests information as to its long-term protection and management be
provided. Currently, the native grassland habitat and population of thread-leaved brodiaea is
being threatened by invasive and nonnative fennel. Management of this preserve should include
monitoring of the thread-leaved brodiaea population and removal of competitive plant species, at
a minimum. The adequate protection of this population has bearing on species coverage in the
City’s Habitat Management Plan.
Gnatcatcher surveys were conducted in March and April of 1997, however, it is not clear if these
surveys were conducted in accordance with Service protocols. In any case, the Service
recommends that surveys for this threatened species be conducted again this year as gnatcatcher
presence has relevance in the Service’s determination as to whether or not habitat loss may be
permitted using the de minimus exemption to the 4(d) Special Rule. This exemption may only be
used when habitat loss is less than one acre, would not preclude the preparation of a
subregionalhubarea plan, and when gnatcatchers are not present. In any case, off-site mitigation
at a conservation bank which contains coastal sage scrub (e.g. Carlsbad Highlands or the
Manchester Avenue Conservation Bank) would be acceptable to the Service.
The Service appreciates the opportunity to review this ND and your cooperation in providing the
materials necessary to accomplish this task. If you have any questions regarding the contents of
this letter, please contact Julie Vanderwier at (760) 431-9440.
Sincerely,
Assistad Field Supervisor
cc: David Lawhead, CDFG
1-6-98-HC-SD-108