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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTPM14-0006 - Project Setting1. Identify any applicable proposed development schedule, including anticipated, incremental, or phased development and all associate projects. The intent of this Parcel Map Waiver is to create a separate parcel for solar development and production. This will be the only and final phase of work to this parcel and if all goes well the anticipated schedule for the ground breaking will be spring of 2015 with the project completed October of 2015 prior to the rainy season. 2. List and describe any other related permits and other public approvals required for this project, including those required by city, regional, state and federal agencies. The County of Butte is going to require an encroachment permit, grading permit, and the State will want a Water Quality SWPPP permit with a WDID number. 3. Describe the site as it exists before the project, including information on topography, soil stability, plants, animals, and any cultural, historical, or scenic aspects. Describe any existing structures on the site and the use of the structures. The project construction (“Site”) consists of an undisturbed open area that contains a few, scattered trees and low-lying vegetation. Topography at the site slopes down from South to the North and gently slopes from East to West. The vegetation over the entire property consists of scattered trees and chapparal scrub. Soils beneath the project area characterized by the USDA Soils Report as: Mostly Cortridge Rock Outcrop, 3 to 8 percent slopes and 8 to 15 percent slpes, Rock outcrop, 15 to 50 percent slopes, and slightly Xerothents, 15 to 30 percent slopes. Animals that are known to the site and surrounding area are within the realm of the northern California native wildlife pool from rabbits to bobcats. Most important to this project would have to be the migratory habits of the deer that were tracked through the property. The existing residence has a shed, well house, and small outbuildings for their domestic animals. The area experiences deer that pass through as well as skunk we were told along with the occasional coyote. Historically the cultural portion of this property was inhabited by our native americans however with the site assesments no evidence was found of ancient camps, arrow heads or tailings of wepons making. 4. Describe the surrounding properties, including information on plants, animals and any cultural, historical, or scenic aspects. Indicate the type of land use (residential, commercial, etc.), intensity of land use (one-family, apartment houses, shops, department stores, etc.), and scale of development (height, frontage, set-back, rear yard, etc.). The adjacent single residential properties are located near the northwestern limits of the City of Chico, approximately 8-miles northwest of the central Chico Plaza. The site is situated atop the geologic feature known as the Cohasset Ridge, an approximately 11 mile long south- to southwest trending ridge, located northeast of Chico, and generally located between the major drainages of Big Chico Creek and Deer Creek. The adjacent properties are demonstrate a low intensity percentage of land use with minor development impacts to the existing site. 5. Include any special studies prepared for the project site including, but not limited to traffic, biology, wetlands delineation, archaeology, etc. A SWPPP was prepared for the site that describes the erosion control risks and identity’s hydrological threats downstream. Our drainage shed is situated at an approximate average elevation of 640 feet (ft) above mean sea level (msl), with elevations ranging from 50’. Topography at the site generally slopes upward to the east/northeast with a more marked downward slope to the west, towards Cohasset Road and the Rock Creek corridor, located to the west of the site. It is anticipated that a majority of the precipitation which falls at the site will infiltrated, rather than run- off as sheet flow. Stormwater discharges, from the site, are not considered direct discharges, as defined by the State Water Board due to the agricultural elements. Existing site topography, drainage patterns, and stormwater conveyance systems are shown on the Erosion Control Plan within the SWPPP. Our studies show that the nearest surface water body is Rock Creek, located approximately 400 ft to the west of the site, across Cohasset Road. Depth to shallow groundwater in the site vicinity is expected to be greater than 20 ft below ground surface and likely generally follows surface contours, with an expected west-southwesterly groundwater flow direction. Our Soils studies show that the Cohasset Ridge is characterized as a southern Cascadian ridge near the northern extremity of the Sierra Nevada, lying above the Sacramento Valley with a general southwest to northeast upward slope. The Cohasset Ridge consists of sedimentary basement rocks which have been metamorphosed into sandstone, covered by basaltic and andesitic flows of volcanic origin, eroded into its present ridge shape by stream action.