DEPARTMENT: Development Services
SUBJECT:
SEP-HCP Application 18-005 - Comal ISD Waterline
LOCATION:
This project is located within the Wortham Oaks area, Bexar County, Texas. The Comal ISD water pipeline project includes approximately 0.56-miles of pipeline alignment in northwest Bexar County, north of Loop 1604, from Cibolo Creek, northwest 2,968 feet. The pipeline will be within the limits of SEP-HCP Application 17-001.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Council District: 10 and portions of unincorporated Bexar County
Owner: Comal Independent School District
Consultant: Pape Dawson Engineers
Acreage: 16.40 acres
The project will consist of the development of a pipeline which connects into and runs parallel to the Vista Ridge Supply Pipeline and serve the new high school located in Comal County. The project plans include constructing a 16-inch pipeline to carry potable water from Evans Road in Bexar County to the new high school location on FM 3009 in Comal County. Approximately 2.45 miles of the pipeline are located in Bexar County and is located completely within a portion of the 85-foot wide Vista Ridge pipeline easement, which has been previously enrolled in the SEP-HCP for karst impacts (Application number SEP 17-001). Karst impact fees were paid for the entire 2.45 miles in Bexar County. Golden-cheeked warbler impacts were mitigated through the Bandera Conservation Corridor and all woody vegetation subsequently removed for the entire 2.45 miles except for 2,968 LF north of the Cibolo Creek. Of the 85-foot-wide by 2,968 LF of alignment north of Cibolo Creek, only a 30-foot width was mitigated for golden-cheeked warblers for direct and indirect impacts. The remaining 55-feet of easement will be mitigated for direct and indirect impacts through this application. The 55-feet includes a 25-foot permanent easement and a 30-foot construction easement. The Applicant has requested to participate in the SEP-HCP to mitigate additional impacts to the SEP-HCP Covered Species from construction activities, not previously mitigated for through SEP-HCP Application 17-001. The draft mitigation determination detailing the project is attached and a summary of the mitigation needs is included below.
7.7 acres of golden-cheeked warbler (GCW) habitat occur within the project area or within 300 feet of the proposed project route, that were not previously mitigated through SEP-HCP 17-001. The Comal ISD Waterline will require a total of 9.4 GCW conservation credits (direct impacts at 2 credits:1 acre mitigation ratio = 7.4 conservation credits and indirect impacts at 0.5 credits:1 acre mitigation ration = 2 conservation credits).
The Comal ISD Waterline does not have any black-capped vireo (BCV) habitat and will not require any BCV conservation credits.
The Comal ISD Waterline is located over Karst Zone 1 and Karst Zone 2, but is entirely within the enrollment area of 17-001, and therefore no additional mitigation is required for enrollment over Karst Zone 1 and Karst Zone 2. The project is not located within any Critical Habitat Units nor is it within 750-ft of any occupied features.
Participation in the SEP-HCP for this application will require the following:
• GCW Preservation Credits fee: $37,600.00
• Karst Zone 1 & 2 participation fee of $0.00
• Plan Administration Fee of $3,760.00
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of application SEP-18-005 Comal ISD Waterline project and issuance of the mitigation determination to the Applicant.