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Home My WebLink About2020-11-18 EIR Environmental Impact Report STORAGE UNIT PROPERTY 4900 N. Kings Highway Ft. Pierce, St. Lucie County, FL UES Project No. 0140.200361.0000 Report No. 1816428 Date: November 9, 2020 Prepared For: Rapid Building Solutions, LLC 350 E. Crown Point Road, Suite 1080 Winter Garden, FL 34787 Prepared By: Universal Engineering Sciences, Inc. 3532 Maggie Boulevard Orlando, Florida 32811 (407)423-0504 www.uesorl.com COA# 00000549 Prepared By: David S. Whitney Senior Environmental Scientist Consultants in: Geotechnical Engineering • Environmental Sciences • Construction Materials Testing • Threshold Inspection Offices in: Orlando • Daytona Beach • Fort Myers • Gainesville • Jacksonville • Ocala • Palm Coast • Rockledge • Sarasota • Miami St. Augustine • Panama City • Fort Pierce • Leesburg • Tampa • West Palm Beach • Atlanta, GA UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING SCIENCES ii TABLE OF CONTENTS TEXT Page No. SECTIONS 1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................. 1 2.0 GENERAL SITE DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................... 1 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS .................................................................................................... 1 4.0 PROTECTED WILDLIFE ..................................................................................................... 3 5.0 WETLAND IMPACTS .......................................................................................................... 4 FIGURES 1. Site Location Map (USGS Topo) 2. Existing Conditions Land Use Map (FLUCFCS) 3. Soils Map 4.Wetland Impact Map APPENDICES A. FNAI, USFWS, FFWCC Data 1 1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project will develop the subject property with a personal storage unit business including indoor storage and boat/RV storage lot, with associated stormwater treatment pond. The project will directly impact a small, isolated, nuisance/exotic species-dominated, wetland area that is approximately 0.32+ acre in size. The isolated wetland is jurisdictional to the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The wetland in not jurisdictional to St. Lucie County based in it being isolated, less than 0.5 acre, and surrounded by uplands. 2.0 GENERAL SITE DESCRIPTION The property includes St. Lucie County Parcel No. 1313-232-0002-000-1, located at the southeast corner of Miramar Ave and N. Kings Highway (aka Turnpike Feeder Road), in Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida (the "subject property"). The subject property consists of approximately 4.64+ acres of densely forested, undeveloped land (Figures 1-4). The subject property is located within Section 13, Township 34 South, and Range 39 East. The vicinity of the site is a mix of dense commercial and residential uses to the north, east, and south, with some large undeveloped tracts to the east. 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS The land uses described in this report are based on the Florida Department of Transportation’s handbook “Florida Land Use Cover and Forms Classification System” 1999 edition. Existing conditions are shown in Figure 2. Currently there are four (4) land uses on the subject property including uplands and wetlands. Site photographs can be found in Appendix A. General on-site habitat descriptions are as follows: Uplands:  FLUCFCS 141 – Commercial Retail Sales & Services (0.17 acre/ 4%) The southeastern end of the property includes a portion of asphalt drive associated with the commercial strip center on the adjoining property.  FLUCFCS 329: Other Shrubs and Brush (1.66 acres/ 37%) 2 This habitat can be found in the northwest portion of the subject property. The entire property was relatively well maintained in the 1990s and has slowly become overgrown from natural recruitment with various nuisance exotic vegetative species and native species. The canopy species in this community are scattered and mostly young saplings. Canopy species include slash pine (Pinus elliottii), live oak (Quercus virginiana), and cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). Subcanopy is heavily dominated by Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia) with a few wax myrtles (Myrica cerifera) intermixed. Shrubs include a few saw palmettos (Serenoa repens) and winged sumac (Rhus copallinum). Groundcover is very dense and dominated by mostly weedy species and vines including shrub morning-glory (Ipomea carnea ssp.), creeping oxeye (Sphagneticola trilobata), Caesar’s weed (Urena lobata), grape vine (Vitis spp.), milkweed (Asclepias spp.), broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus), St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), and Brazilian pepper.  FLUCFCS 422: Brazilian Pepper (2.31 acres/ 52%) This area of uplands is completely dominated by a monoculture of Brazilian pepper shrubs/trees. Very few species (shrubs or groundcover) other than Brazilian pepper exist in this area. Wetlands:  FLUCFCS 619: Exotic Wetland Hardwoods-Brazilian Pepper (0.32 ac / 7%) The majority of this small isolated wetland habitat is dominated by a canopy of Brazilian pepper shrubs/trees. This area also contains a small disturbed area with minimal shrub cover adjacent to the commercial driveway. This disturbed area contains Mexican primrose willow (Ludwigia octovalvis), broomsedge bluestem, creeping oxeye (Sphagneticola trilobata), and St. Augustine grass. Topography: The subject property is relatively flat throughout with a very gently slope downward from west toward east. Based on the data from Google Earth and the USGS topo map, the property is approximately 25 to 29 feet above sea level. See Figure 1 for a topographic map. 3 Soils: According to the Soil Conservation Service, St. Lucie County Soil Survey, surficial soils at the site are classified as follows:  21. Lawnwood and Myakka Sands This soil is classified as poorly drained and is found on flatwoods on marine terraces. The seasonal high water table is at a depth of between 6 to 18 inches.  31. Pepper and EauGallie Sands This soil is classified as poorly drained and is found on flatwoods on marine terraces. The seasonal high water table is at a depth of between 6 to 18 inches. Drainage: There is no formal drainage system located on the subject property. Some runoff from the commercial driveway on the south end of the site flows over into the on-site exotic wetland area. The remainder of runoff likely percolates into the ground on-site. Adjacent Land Uses: The site is located near the southern extent of a highly developed residential and commercial area. Adjoining land uses to the northand west include commercial and residential uses. The adjoining land uses to the south include a commercial shopping center. The adjoining land use to the east is undeveloped forested land. 4.0 PROTECTED SPECIES A protected wildlife assessment was performed by Universal Engineering Sciences on November 21, 2020. The results of the protected species assessment found no evidence to indicate the site is utilized or inhabited by any species of protected wildlife. No listed plant species were observed. The closest documented eagle nest is located 4.5 miles east of the subject property. There are no critical habitat areas on site. The subject property does not contain suitable habitat for most listed species. Based on the observed habitats observed on the site, the subject property contains suitable habitat that could be utilized by the Eastern indigo snake, which is listed as “Threatened” by the USFWS and FFWCC. No other listed species are anticipated to be found utilizing the habitat on the property. Based on the existing habitat found on site, the surrounding land uses, field observations, and the data obtained from the USFWS, FNAI, and the FFWCC, the development of the subject property is not likely to have adverse effects on any species of protected wildlife as long as the USFWS’ Standard Protection Measures for the Eastern Indigo Snake are implemented during land clearing activities. See Appendix A for FNAI, FWC, and USFWS occurrence data in the vicinity of the project site. 4 5.0 WETLAND & SURFACE WATER IMPACTS 5.1 WETLANDS: The subject property has one small wetland area in the southern end of the site. The on-site wetland is approximately 0.32-acre in size and is heavily dominated by nuisance exotic species including Brazilian pepper. The wetland is isolated and surrounded by uplands. The entire 0.32-acre wetland area will be impacted by the proposed project (see Figure 4 for wetland impact aerial). No compensatory mitigation for the 0.32-acre of direct wetland impacts will be needed as the isolated wetland is less than 0.5-acre in size and is not jurisdictional to St. Lucie County (per LDC Section 6.02.03). The on-site wetland is jurisdictional to the SFWMD, however the SFWMD does not require compensatory mitigation to isolated wetlands of less than 0.5-acre that are not significant habitat for listed species. 5.2 SURFACE WATERS: The project site has no surface waters. FIGURE 1 Site Location/USGS Map APPROX. SITE LOCATION N.F.10 - 13 - 2020 AS SHOWN 0140.2000361.0000 FIGURE 1 SITE LOCATION MAP 0 SCALE (FT.) 2000 20-0630-01SOURCE: USGS QUADRANGLE MAP OF "OSLO, FLORIDA". D.W. # - - PROTECTED SPECIES ASSESSMENT VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 4900 NORTH KINGS HIGHWAY FT. PIERCE, ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA UNIVERSAL FIGURE 2 Existing Land Use Map 422 329 619 141 N.F. AS SHOWN 0 SCALE (FT.) 150 FIGURE 2 FLUCFCS LEGEND FLUCFCS MAP / 2018 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH AERIAL PHOTO SOURCE: GOOGLE EARTH 141 - COMMERCIAL RETAIL SALES & SERVICES ( 0.17 ac / 4%) 329 - OTHER SHRUBS & BRUSH ( 1.66 ac / 37%) 422 - BRAZILIAN PEPPER ( 2.31 ac / 52%) 619 - EXOTIC WETLAND HARDWOODS - BRAZILIAN PEPPER ( 0.32 ac / 7%) UNIVERSAL 10 - 13 - 2020 0140.2000361.000020-0630-01D.W. PROTECTED SPECIES ASSESSMENT VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 4900 NORTH KINGS HIGHWAY FT. PIERCE, ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA FIGURE 3 Soils Map 31 21 N.F. AS SHOWN 0 SCALE (FT.) 150 FIGURE 3 LEGEND USDA - NRCS SOIL SURVEY MAP AERIAL PHOTO SOURCE: GOOGLE EARTH 21 - LAWNWOOD & MYAKKA SANDS 31 - PEPPER & EAUGALLIE SANDS UNIVERSAL 10 - 13 - 2020 0140.2000361.000020-0630-01D.W. PROTECTED SPECIES ASSESSMENT VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 4900 NORTH KINGS HIGHWAY FT. PIERCE, ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA FIGURE 4 Wetland Impact Map N.F. AS SHOWN 0 SCALE (FT.) 150 FIGURE 4 WETLAND IMPACT PLAN AERIAL PHOTO SOURCE: GOOGLE EARTH UNIVERSAL LEGEND DIRECT WETLAND IMPACTS - 0.32 ac 11 - 6 - 2020 0140.2000361.000020-0630-01D.W. PROTECTED SPECIES ASSESSMENT VACANT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 4900 NORTH KINGS HIGHWAY FT. PIERCE, ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA APPENDIX A FNAI, FWC, USFWS Data