20180851 Ver 1_Cover Letter_20180617

: GE
ECOLOGICAL
SERVICES
EST, 2016
June 18, 2018
US Army Corps of Engineers
Raleigh Regulatory Office
Attn: Mr. James Lastinger
3331 Heritage Trade Drive
Suite 105
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Re: The Village at Lake Wheeler
Request for NWP 29 & GC 3890
USACE Action ID SAW -2017-01069
Sage Project #2017.24
NC Division of Water Resources
401 & Buffer Permitting Unit
Attn: Ms. Karen Higgins
512 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27604
On behalf of the applicant, Hopper Communities, please find attached a complete application and
supplemental information requesting written concurrence from the US Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) and North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR) that the activities associated
with the residential development may proceed under Nationwide Permit (NWP) 29 and the
associated General Certification (GC) 3890.
Project Location
The proposed Village at Lake Wheeler (Project) involves the development of a 44.8 -acre
assemblage partially bounded on the east by Lake Wheeler Road and to the south by the future
1-540 corridor. The Project is located in southern Wake County at a point immediately northwest
of Lake Wheeler Road and immediately south of Cross Timber Lane. The coordinates of
35.6663870N, 78.717378°W generally correspond to the center of the Site.
Project Summary and Purpose
The Project is a proposed residential development of single-family homes and will contain four
internal roads, two stormwater BMP devices, as well as other utilities (sewer, water, electricity,
etc.) required for a residential development. The Project will have sewer service that ties into
existing municipal lines located adjacent to the Project. The required stormwater plan is being
reviewed by the Town of Fuquay-Varina. The project will provide additional housing to meet the
current demand in this area of Wake County.
Project History
The majority of the Project site has been farmed since at least 1934 and is still currently in
cultivation. Drainages on the Project are wooded with different age stands. Portions of the Project
area have been logged in the past 20 years and are currently dominated by loblolly pine. A
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wetland and stream delineation was completed in 2017 and the delineation approved by Mr.
James Lastinger of the USACE during a field visit. A preliminary jurisdictional determination
(SAW -2017-01069) was issued on August 16, 2017. The determinations made by Mr. Lastinger
are reflected on the attached impact maps. A buffer determination letter (NCDWR project RRO
#17-128) was issued by Mr. Rick Trone of the NCDWR on May 12, 2017.
Avoidance and Minimization
Jurisdictional areas on the site were designed around to avoid unnecessary impacts. Proposed
subdivision roads were aligned so as to completely avoid impacts. Lot layouts were reconfigured
to require less wetland fill than originally proposed. Stormwater BMPs were located on the site
so as to provide hydrologic input into the jurisdictional wetland areas while avoiding permanent
impacts.
Project Impacts
Proposed impacts will result from a required culvert replacement and shoulder widening of Lake
Wheeler Road along the eastern property line, lot fill requested to tie in grades for two lots
adjacent to a wetland, and temporary clearing required to install a stormwater discharge (located
outside of the wetland area). Overall stream impacts total 10 linear feet (LF) of intermittent stream
(naturalized ditch) of which 5 LF will be temporary and 5 LF will be permanent. The temporary
stream impact is needed to remove the existing culvert and install the new culvert. The permanent
stream impact is required to extend the shoulder of the road on the downstream side to meet
current roadway standards.
The 0.07 acre of proposed permanent wetland impact (impact W1) is requested to tie in grades
on proposed lots 97 and 98. The 0.01 acre of proposed temporary wetland impact (impact W2) is
clearing required to install the energy dissipater below the outlet of a stormwater BMP. Permanent
fill is not proposed as part of impact W2 and the stormwater BMP will not be located within the
wetland.
Riparian buffer impacts resulting from the replacement of a culvert under Lake Wheeler Road and
the widening of the shoulder will result in 748 ftz of Zone 1 impact and 949 ft2 of Zone 2 impact.
Historic and Prehistoric Cultural Resources
The John B. Strain House, is present within the site limits. The John B. Strain House (WA1236 &
WA126) is a Mid -19th Century Greek Revival located in the southeastern corner of the site along
Lake Wheeler Road. Additionally, two amateur archaeological sites were recorded on the project
site. A phase 1 archaeological survey has been completed on the site and a report has been
submitted to NCDCR recommending that the findings not be considered significant. Additionally,
discussions have been initiated with NCSHPO as to the fate of the John B. Strain House, however
a final resolution has not been made. Ultimately the applicant would like to demolish the house.
Mitigation
No mitigation has been proposed due to permanent stream impacts not exceeding 150 LF and
permanent wetland impacts not exceeding 0.1 acre. Riparian Buffer impacts are considered
"allowable" therefore buffer mitigation is not proposed.
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If you have any questions, please call me at [phone].
Sincerely,
Sean Clark, PWS
Sage Ecological Services, Inc.
Attachments:
Pre -construction Notification (PCN) Application Form
Agent Authorization Forms
Figure 1-USGS Site Vicinity Map
Figure 2 -Soil Survey Site Vicinity Map
Impact Maps (7 sheets)
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