20070699 Ver 2_WRC Comments_20100910

® North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
MEMORANDUM
TO: Ian McMillan
NCDWQ
and
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
Christine Wicker
US Army Corps of Engineers
FROM: Molly Ellwood
Southeastern Permit Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE: September 10, 2010
RE: Porter's Neck Crossing, New Hanover County
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) have reviewed the subject
application for impacts to wildlife and fishery resources. Our comments are provided in accordance with
provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et. seq.), and
Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (as amended).
AIC-Pine Ridge, LLC is proposing to construct a shopping center at Porter's Neck Crossing in two phases in
New Hanover County. In the narrative, Phase I was stated as having no wetland impacts and Phase II of the
project will require approximately 3.9 acres of wetland impacts. Proposed mitigation includes a conservation
easement on the remaining wetlands as well as the purchase of 1:1 credits through the NCEEP.
The applicant has provided six alternatives for this project and has selected Alternative 4 as their preferred
layout. From the information provided, it appears that the applicant can further avoid and minimize wetland
impacts for the proposed project by altering the configuration of the buildings and the parking lot. Other
alternatives that were provided indicate that buildings can be rearranged to avoid several of the wetland
impacts that are present in Alternative 4. The NCWRC requests that more information be provided as to why
other alternatives were not selected which had significant amounts of upland areas that could be utilized that
would avoid wetland impacts.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this application. If you have any questions or
require additional information regarding these comments, please call me at [phone].
ec: Stephen Rynas, NCDCM
Chad Coburn, NCDWQ
Jessi O'Neal, NCDMF
Mailing Address: Division of Inland Fisheries • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]