20140643 Ver 1_Emails_20140821

660 E WESTINGHOUSE BLVD.
CHARLOTTE,NC 28273
866-527-1177(office)
704-527-1133(fax)
August 21, 2014
Mr.Alan Johnson
NCDWR Mooresville Regional Office
610 East Center Ave, Suite 301
Mooresville,NC 28115
Subject: Response to Request for Additional Information
Mt. Holly Greenway
Mt. Holly,North Carolina
Carolina Wetland Services Project No. 2013-3208
DWQ No. 14-0643
Dear Mr. Johnson:
I am writing in response to a letter from Michael Parker dated August 13, 2014,placing this
project on hold and requesting additional information regarding the Mt. Holly Greenway Project.
A copy of this letter is attached for your reference. Your questions/requests have been addressed
in the same order they were presented in your letter.
a. What are the liner feet of impact to the buffer (Zone 1,Zone 2)?
Approximately 2,1001f of the greenway trail will be located within Zone 1. An
additional approximately 1501f of the trail will be located within Zone 2.
b. What is the width (impact) of the construction corridor through the buffer?
The width of the construction corridor(Limits of Disturbance)has been minimized to the
maximum extent possible. The width of the construction corridor within the buffer varies
from 18 feet to 37 feet in width. The limits of disturbance encompass all temporary
sediment and erosion control measures.
c. You are allowed 14 ft of permanent impact for the greenway. Any impacts beyond
that must be restored. Are there plans to restore/plant trees in the buffer? If so,
monitoring of the site will be required to ensure survival of the vegetation.
The proposed greenway trail will be ten feet in width with two foot wide grassed
shoulders for a total permanent width of 14 feet. Due to the fact that the majority of the
project is located within maintained sewer easement, and that consequently the removal
of trees will be minimal,there is no plan to plant trees within the temporary construction
easement. All temporary impacts will be stabilized and seeded with a native riparian seed
mix.
d. Justification must be provided for impacts within Zone 1. The walkway should be
situated as far off top of bank as possible.
Zone 1 impacts are unavoidable due to the unique topography of the site. The river
follows an existing unpaved trail within a cleared and maintained force sewer easement.
This existing force sewer is located between the river on one side, and wetlands on the
other side. Moving the greenway beyond the buffer would be impractical due to steep
slopes and existing buildings at the landward site of the wetlands. This would also result
in greater impacts to existing forest vegetation. The walkway route has been selected to
take advantage of the existing cleared route through the buffer. Photograph A(attached)
NORTH CAROLINA . SOUTH CAROLINA
WWW.CWS-INC.NET

Response to Request for Additional Information August 21,2014
Mt.Hollv Greenwav CWS Proiect No.2013-3208
is representative of a typical sections of the existing trail/sewer easement through Zone
1 of the buffer.
e. Is the walkway linear or is there an effort to avoid impacting trees>/=3 inches in
diameter through the buffer?
The alignment follows the existing sewer force main which is already cleared and
maintained. The small section of the trail which does not follow the sewer will follow an
existing unpaved pedestrian trail. There are few trees to avoid in the buffer area.
f. How many linear feet of the greenway are located within maintained sewer
easement?
Approximately 1,750 linear feet of the greenway will be located within the maintained
sewer easement. The remaining 500 linear feet of the greenway within the buffer are
located along an existing cleared,unpaved pedestrian trail that is well used by local park
goers.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at 704-527-1177, or through email at tom(! cws-inc.net should
you have any questions or comments regarding this permit submittal.
Sincerely
4LJ
omas J. Blackwell, PWS - S
Senior Scientist Principal Scientist
Attachments: Representative Photograph
Request for Additional Information Letter
2

Mount Holly Greenway August 21,2014
Response to Request for Additional Information Proiect No.2013-3208
Photograph A. View of existing sewer easement/trail though buffer.
1

IF
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Pat McCrory John E. Skvarla, III
Governor Secretary
August 13, 2014
Mr. Danny L Jackson
City of Mount Holly
P.O. Box 406
Mount Holly, NC 28120
Subject: Hold — Mt. Holly Greenway
DWQ#14-0643
Gaston County, NC
Dear Mr. Jackson:
On June 23, 2014, the Division of Water Resources (the Division) received your application
dated June 10, 2014 for the subject project. Staff has reviewed the application and on July 14th
contacted your agent, Thomas Blackwell, requesting further information and clarification of the
proposed project. As of this date, no information has been received. The following
information/clarification is required:
• What are the linear feet of impact through the buffer(Zone 1, Zone 2)?
• What is the width (impact) of the construction corridor through the buffer?
• You are allowed 14 ft of permanent impact for the greenway. Any impacts beyond that
must be restored. Are there plans to restore/plant trees in the buffer? If so, monitoring
of the site will be required to ensure survival of the vegetation.
• Justification must be provided for impacts within Zone 1. The walkway should be
situated as far off top of bank as possible.
• Is the walkway linear or is there an effort to avoid impacting trees >/= 3 inches in
diameter through the buffer.
• How many linear feet of the greenway are located within maintained sewer easement?
Until further clarification and information, please be advised that this project will be placed on
hold pursuant to 15A NCAC 2H .0507(h. If you have any questions, please contact Alan Johnson at
[phone].
Sincerely,
n� Michael L. Parker
Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Regional Operations Supervisor
CC: Karen Higgins, Wetlands Unit
1617 Mail Service Center,Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1650
Phone:[phone] Internet:www.ncdehr.gov
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