20110483 Ver 1_More Info Received_20110817

Strickland, Bev
From: Steenhuis, Joanne
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 4:46 PM
To: Strickland, Bev
Subject: FW: GC BioReportAmended DWQ # 11 483
Attachments: Field ReportGCAmended.docx
From: Howell, Jonathan
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 20114:30 PM
To: Steenhuis, Joanne
Cc: Timpy, David L SAW
Subject: FW: GC BioReportAmended
Joanne, here is the updated bio for the Georgia Capital project. The shallow bottom and open water disturbance was
changed in the table on the front of the bio to reflect the riprap being placed below the NHW line in the basin and on
WestMouth Bay. Thanks.
Jonathan
From: Guthrie, Barry
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 20114:26 PM
To: Howell, Jonathan
Subject: GC BioReportAmended
Attached
Barry Guthrie
Coastal Management Field Representative
NC Division of Coastal Management
400 Commerce Ave.
Morehead City, NC 28557
252-808-2808
****** Note new e-mail address is: [e-mail] ******
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be
disclosed to third parties.
DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT
FIELD INVESTIGATION REPORT
1. APPLICANT'S NAME: Georgia Capital, LLC
2. LOCATION OF PROJECT SITE: 295 Guthrie Drive adjacent to Westmouth Bay on
the north side of Harkers Island, Carteret County, NC
Photo Index - 2006: 49-6341 grid (D-H 9-12) 2000: 49-603 grid (E-H 9-12)
State Plane Coordinates - X: 354429.7 Y: 2734625.55 Rover # JJ042412A
LAT 34°41.949N LON 76°33.345W
3. INVESTIGATION TYPE: CAMA, D&F
4. INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE: Dates of Site Visit -7/28/09, 8/11/09, 3/25/11
Was Applicant Present -Yes, No, No
5. PROCESSING PROCEDURE: Application Received - 4/24/09 cc: 3/7/11
Office - Morehead City
6. SITE DESCRIPTION:
(A) Local Land Use Plan - Carteret County
Land Classification from LUP -Conservation, Limited Transition
(B) AEC(s) Involved: Estuarine Waters, Public Trust Area, Estuarine Shoreline, Coastal
Wetland
(C) Water Dependent: Yes
(D) Intended Use: Commercial
(E) Wastewater Treatment: Existing - Septic
Planned - Septic
(F) Type of Structures: Existing - 22-slip derelict marina, concrete buildings, shell and
gravel road. Site previously houses 33 mobile homes.
Planned - 76-slip marina with new docking facility, 31 single-
family homes, shoreline stabilization, observation pier, asphalt
drive.
(G) Estimated Annual Rate of Erosion: N/A
Source - N/A
7. HABITAT DESCRIPTION:
DREDGED FILLED OTHER
(A) Highground Disturbance N/A N/A 483,516 ft2 (11.1
acres) disturbed
(B) Open Water N/A N/A 53,810 ft2
incorp.(1.24 acres)
(C) Shallow Bottom 80,908 ft2 (1.86
acres) 16,160 ft2 7,330 ft2 shaded
(C) Coastal Wetlands N/A 404 ft2 N/A
(D) Section 404 Wetlands N/A 614 ft2 N/A
(D) Total Area Disturbed: 579,711 ft2 (13.3 acres)
(E) Primary Nursery Area: No
(F) Water Classification: SA-HQW Shellfish Classification: Closed-basin Open on
Westmouth Bay
Georgia Capital, LLC
Page 02
8. PROJECT SUMMARY: The applicant is proposing to redevelop an existing marina and
subdivision in the community of Harkers Island, NC. The project would consist of a 76-slip
marina with excavation within an upland basin, a 31-lot residential subdivision, an
observation pier and shoreline stabilization measures.
9. NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION:
The Georgia Capital, LLC project is located on the northern side of Harkers Island on
Westmouth Bay in Carteret County. The project site is found by traveling on Hwy. 70 E.
From Beaufort, travel approximately 10 miles, and turn right onto Harkers Island Rd. in the
community of Otway. Continue approximately 4.5 miles on Harkers Island Rd. and you will
reach Harkers Island. Once on Harkers Island, continue for 2 miles on Island Rd. Turn left
onto Guthrie Dr. and the project site is approximately 0.25 miles ahead at the terminus of
Guthrie Dr.
The subject project would take place on three adjacent parcels totaling 12.3-acres, and has an
average elevation of +6' NHW. The parcels are cleared and maintained; vegetation onsite
consists of native grasses with sparse pine and oak trees on the landward portion of the
parcels.
Presently, the tracts are home to a derelict 22-slip marina that is not in use. The site was
previously used as a mobile home park and was home to 33 mobile homes, which were
removed in August 2007. The area has naturalized since the removal of the mobile homes
and accessory buildings. Currently, there is no visual evidence of the previously existing
residential structures. On March 25, 2011, staff from NCDWQ Stormwater Section
Wilmington along with staff from DCM visited the project site and confirmed that the current
proposal would be classified as redevelopment; meaning the locations of the mobile homes
removed in 2007 could accurately be depicted as existing structures and be included in both
existing impervious and built-upon area calculations. Also onsite are the remnants of a
shellfish mariculture operation. Located on the outer peninsula are three concrete block
buildings along with concrete hatching beds used for clam cultivation.
The existing docking facility incorporates approximately 12,250 ft2 of public trust waters.
The shoreline within the basin is fortified with rock rip-rap in high erosion locations and
outside the basin, on the Westmouth Bay frontage, with large concrete rip-rap. Currently the
parcels utilize a shell and gravel-bed drive. The previous mobile home park employed 17
septic drain fields, which are still in place and intact. Adjacent land uses consists of single
family residences and a boat building and repair yard with railways and travel lift.
The outer shoreline fronting Westmouth Bay, is comprised of Spartina alterniflora and
Juncus roemerianus coastal wetlands. The width of Westmouth Bay at this point is 1.6
miles. The subaqueous substrate along the outer shoreline is predominately sand; inside the
basin, the substrate transitions from sandy silt in the access channel to silt as one progresses
further inland into the basin. The basin and connecting channel are manmade and were cut
out of highground pre-CAMA; the access channel has been previously excavated and average
a depth of -3.1' NLW while the basin averages -3.3' NLW.
Georgia Capital, LLC
Page 3
This area of Westmouth Bay is classified as SA-HQW and is not a Primary Nursery Area.
The adjacent waters of Westmouth Bay are open to the harvesting of shellfish, however, the
areas within the basin and access channel are closed. An active shellfish lease is in place and
operational immediately east of the project site. The Carteret County LUP classifies the area
within the 75' Estuarine Shoreline AEC as Conservation and all other areas Limited
Transition.
10. PROPOSED PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The applicant is proposing to redevelop the site of an existing 22-slip marina, located entirely
within a manmade upland basin. The proposed marina would consist of 76 wet slips, within
the existing basin, resulting in the incorporation of approximately 53,810 ft2 of open water and
shading impacts to 7,330 ft2 of shallow bottom. The marina would be private, serving the
proposed upland development and private slip owners. The marina configuration would
locate 29 slips along the northern basin shoreline, 11 slips on the eastern shoreline, and five
on the southern shoreline. The remaining 31 slips would be located in the location of the
existing center peninsula. The peninsula is proposed to be excavated as part of this proposal.
The docking facility would consist of 1,470 linear feet of pier with a width of 6'. The center
access pier would be 240' in length and 10' in width to accommodate the 31wet slips. At the
terminus of the center pier would be a platform approximately 70' x 20' in dimension. 39
finger piers are proposed with a width of 3'. There would be nine 30' fingers, twenty-five 12'
fingers, and five 15' fingers. 110 tie piles are proposed. All components of the proposed
facility would be fixed construction. An observation pier would be constructed on the
Westmouth Bay portion of the project. A 203' long pier currently stands at the location of the
proposed structure. The proposed structure would measure 400' in length with a 20' x 25'
"T" shaped platform at the end. Replacement of the existing shoreline stabilization measures
is also proposed. Approximately 1,470 linear feet of rip-rap is proposed within the basin and
550 linear feet along the Westmouth Bay frontage. On average, the rip-rap would be
positioned 8' below NHW totaling 16,160 ft2 of material below NHW.
Proposed maintenance excavation for the basin and access channel totals 2,440 yd3 of material
with a footprint of 80,908 ft2 (1.86 acres). The center peninsula has an existing elevation of
+5.0' NLW and would be removed and excavated to -4.0' NLW. The removal of this section
of highground will yield 5,620 yd3 of spoil material with a footprint of approximately 16,859
ft2 (0.39 acres). Existing water depths for the basin area average -3.3' NLW and the access
channel -3.1' NLW. Proposed depths, post excavation, would be -4.0' NLW. The
maintenance excavation of the basin would connect to an existing channel providing a
connecting water depth of -4.0' NLW. Excavation would be carried out by bucket and barge,
offloaded onsite, and relocated to the onsite spoil location. No SAVs were found in the areas
to be excavated during multiple site visits. A small area of oysters is located along the east
side of the basin. All oysters appear to be located approximately 20' outside of the limits of
excavation for the basin.
The upland portion of the project would be redeveloped into a 31-lot residential subdivision.
The site was formerly a 33-unit mobile home park before all units were removed in 2007.
The mobile home park utilized individual low pressure septic systems as will the proposed
Georgia Capital, LLC
Page 4
project. According to the applicant, seventeen of these systems are considered to still be
usable and therefore will be repaired while sixteen new systems will be installed. A total of
11.1 acres of the area above NHW will be disturbed in the development of the project.
Existing built upon area for this project is 24.2% and proposed built upon area would be
21.5%. The area within the AEC to be built upon would be 15.5%. Approximately 2,450' of
new asphalt roadway is proposed to replace the existing shell/gravel roadbed. Thirty-nine
turf-stone parking spaces are proposed on the southwest side of the property. These spaces
would be connected to the marina by a 200' x 5' wooden boardwalk. Also proposed on the
highground is a swimming pool and clubhouse. The pool is proposed at approximately 40' x
25' with a 10' concrete apron and the clubhouse would be 25' x 30' and have a ridgeline
height of 18.5'. The pool area would have seven parking spaces and be connected to the other
lot by means of an approximately 315' x 5' walkway. Approximately 614 ft2 of Section 404
Wetlands would be filled to allow for lots 13 and 14 to be suitable building lots. A ditch is
also proposed to be filled in the southeast corner of the basin. The aforementioned ditch is in
the approximate location of lot 14 and exhibits coastal wetlands, dominted by Spartina
alterniflora, located within and along its borders. Approximately 408 ft2 of coastal wetlands
are proposed to be filled.
11. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS:
The marina currently has 22 slips and the proposed redevelopment would harbor 76 slips,
resulting in a 140% increase in total wetslips. The proposed docking facility would
incorporate 53,810 ft2 of public trust waters and would shade 7,330 ft2 of shallow estuarine
bottom habitat. The marina expansion should not cause any shellfish closure area outside of
the basin. At 76 proposed slips, it appears that the basin would remain under the closure
number by 12 slips and leave room for slip expansion by other property owners within the
basin. One impact would be the proposed maintenance excavation of approximately 80,908 ft2
of shallow bottom. The proposed excavation would connect to an existing entrance channel
connecting to the deep water channel of Westmouth Bay, requiring the removal of 2,440 yd3
of material from the system and relocated to an onsite spoil disposal area. The excavation
would be carried to 4' NLW. This area has been previously disturbed and the bottom
consists of fine silt with some sand. This excavation would result in a temporary turbidity
spike in the waters around the disturbance. 1,470 linear feet of rip-rap would armor the basin
and 550 linear feet would be located on the Westmouth Bay frontage. Approximately 16,160
ft2 of rip-rap would be located below NHW. On the highground, existing built upon area will
decrease from 24.2% to 21.5%, a net decrease of 2.7%. Approximately 614 ftz of 404
Wetlands would be filled as a result of the proposed filling of an existing drainage ditch. The
filling of this ditch would also cause approximately 408 ft2 of coastal wetlands to be filled.
The filling of this ditch may impact the drainage of multiple adjacent highground locations.
Total highground disturbance would be 11.1 acres. Significant runoff into the nearby waters
could occur if proper sedimentation and erosion control measures are not implemented.
Barry Guthrie Morehead City April 20, 2011
Amended: August 17, 2011