20061327 Ver 1_More Info Letter_20070118

W A TF
p~pF
i9pG Michael F. Easley, Governor
~ ~ William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
~-- North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
~ ..,I
Q '~ Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
Division of Water Quality
January 18, 2007
DWQ Project # 061327
New Hanover County
CERTIFIED MAIL: 7005 0390 0001 3200 4468
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. Ken Wrangell, Member Manager
Stowmac, LLC
PO Box 3234
Wilmington, NC 28046
Subject Property: Watermark Landing
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dear Mr. Wrangell:
On November 20, 2006, the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) received additional information
concerning your application dated August 14, 2006 to impact 0.39 acres of wetlands to construct the
proposed 33 unit duplex family residential development. The DWQ has determined that your application
was incomplete and/or provided inaccurate information as discussed below. The DWQ will require
additional information in order to process your application to impact protected wetlands and/or streams on
the subject property. Therefore, unless we receive the additional information requested below, we will
have to move toward denial of your application as required by 15A NCAC 2H .0506 and will place this
project on hold as incomplete until we receive this additional information. Please provide the following
information so that we may continue to review your project.
Additional Information Requested:
In the previous request for additional information and during a meeting with your engineer, DWQ
communicated concerns about minimization and avoidance of wetlands on the subject tract. The
proposed wetland crossing at wetland impact #3 will result in 0.23 acres of impacts that appear to
be avoidable. Adequate information demonstrating that access to the upland area cannot be
provided by constructing a road crossing through what is currently depicted as "passive recreation
and picnic area" has not been provided. This office is aware that New Hanover County has a 75'
C.O.D. from Coastal Wetlands; however, it does allow for road crossings if no other alternative can
be provided. A culvert can be installed in a road crossing at this location that would address the
County's concerns regarding the restriction of natural flow and significantly reduce the total
wetland impacts. Please revisit this matter with New Hanover County. DWQ will attend a meeting
with you and the County if needed.
JAN 2 2 2007
DENFR -WATER QUALIN
V-'E7'LANDS AMD STORt~M!ATER BRANCh
North Carolina Division of Water Quality 127 Cardinal Drive Extension Phone [phone] Customer Servicel-877-623-6748 One
Wilmington Regional Office Wilmington, NC 28405-3845 FAX [phone] Internet: h2o.enr.state.nc.us NorthCaro/l/ina
An Equal OpportunitylAffirmative Action Employer - 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper ,~atura[L~

Stowmac, LLC
Page 2 of 2
January 18, 2007
2. Information was also provided to DWQ concerning another alternative option to minimizing
wetland impacts. This alternative involves constructing a bridge connecting Lanyards End and
Diligence Trail, which would also significantly reduce wetlands impacts on the site. In the
information provided, it was stated that cost would outweigh the profit if you constructed a bridge
in this location; however, financial data that supports this claim was not provided.
3. Please provide a draft copy of the proposed deed restrictions that will preserve the remaining
wetlands on the tract. The actual area of preservation can be left blank until the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers and DWQ are satisfied with your minimization and avoidance efforts.
Please respond within three weeks of the date of this letter by sending this information to me in writing
and 5 copies of the information to Cyndi Karoly of the DWQ Oversight Unit Office. If we do not hear
from you within three weeks, we will assume that you no longer want to pursue this project and we will
consider the project as withdrawn.
This letter only addresses the application review and does not authorize any impacts to wetlands, waters
or protected buffers. Please be aware that any impacts requested within your application are not
authorized (at this time) by the DWQ. Please call me at 910-797-7215 or Cyndi Karoly at 919-733-
1786 if you have any questions regarding or would like to set up a meeting to discuss this matter.
Sincerely,
~'~
Noelle Lutheran
Environmental Specialist III
cc: Richard Collier, McKim & Creed
Ian McMillan, DWQ 401 Oversight and Express Unit, Raleigh
Jennifer Frye, USACE Wilmington Regulatory Field Office
Robb Mairs, DCM Wilmington
Stephen Rynas, DCM Morehead City
Noelle Lutheran, DWQ Wilmington Regional Office (File Copy)
Central Files
Filename: 061327-2.Jan07