TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1344) as described below:
APPLICANT: Stor-It Self Storage
Mr. Scott Vanacore
1451 N US-1
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The Stor-It Self Storage project would affect waters of the United States associated with the Tomoka River Hydrologic Basin (10-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (0309020102)). The project site is located east of Williamson Blvd and just south of Mason Ave. in Section 10, Township 15S, Range 32E, Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida.
Directions to the site are as follows: From the intersection of I-95 and LPGA Blvd., travel east on LPGA Blvd to Williamson Blvd, turn south, the site is on the east side of the road just south of Mason Ave.
APPROXIMATE CENTRAL COORDINATES:
Latitude 29.21357°
Longitude -81.08951°
PROJECT PURPOSE:
Basic: Commercial Development.
Overall: Commercial Development near the I-95 and LPGA Boulevard corridor in Volusia County.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: The project area currently includes the following land use types/vegetative communities:
411 – Pine Flatwoods: The western portion of the property contains an upland community best classified as Pine Flatwoods (411), per the FLUCFCS. Vegetation thriving in this community consists of slash pine (Pinus elliottii), dahoon holly (Ilex cassine), yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia), live oak (Quercus virginiana), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), winged sumac (Rhus copallinum), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia), blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius), cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), and gallberry (Ilex glabra).
630 – Mixed Forested Wetland: The eastern portion of the project site consists of a forested wetland system best classified as Wetland Forested Mixed (630), per the FLUCFCS with a cypress slough component. Canopy vegetation in this system consists of slash pine (Pinus elliottii), laurel oak (Quercus virginiana), cypress (Taxodium ascendens), cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), dahoon holly (Ilex cassine), southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), red maple (Acer rubrum). Subcanopy and groundcover species include wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), juvenile canopy tree species, Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia virginica), swamp fern (Telmatoblechnum serrulatum), redroot (Lachnanthes caroliniana), flatwoods St. Johns wort (Hypericum microsepalum), St. Johns wort (Hypericum fasciculatum), dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus), greenbriar (Smilax rotundifolia), muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia), and blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius). Deeper portions of the wetland transitions into a cypress slough. Canopy vegetation within this area includes predominately cypress (Taxodium ascendens), with scattered slash pine (Pinus elliottii), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), and red maple (Acer rubrum). Understory vegetation swamp fern (Blechnum serrulatum), royal fern (Osmunda regalis), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), St. John’s wort (Hypericum fasiculatum), and shiny lynonia (Lyonia lucida). A ditch runs central through the system adversely affecting the wetland hydroperiod and wetland functions. As the topography slopes landward, the system transitions to a wetland forested mix.
PROPOSED WORK: The applicant seeks authorization to fill 1.97 acres of waters of the United States to construct the commercial development. The construction includes the storage facility, stormwater management ponds, and infrastructure.
AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION INFORMATION: The applicant has provided the following information in support of efforts to avoid and/or minimize impacts to the aquatic environment:
“The Mason-Williamson Storage site contains approximately 3.27 acres of forested wetlands. To accommodate the proposed project and surface water management system, the Applicant proposes 1.97 acres of direct forested wetland impacts. Due to the size of the parcel and placement of the wetlands, impacts were unavoidable. The remaining 1.30 acres of remaining will remain as part of the existing Conservation Easement.”
COMPENSATORY MITIGATION: The applicant has offered the following compensatory mitigation plan to offset unavoidable functional loss to the aquatic environment:
“Mitigation to offset the functional losses incurred via the project’s 1.97 acres of direct wetland impacts and secondary impacts consists of the purchase of federal mitigation credits from the Farmton Mitigation Bank.”
CULTURAL RESOURCES: The Corps is not aware of any known historic properties within the permit area. By copy of this public notice, the Corps is providing information for review. Our final determination relative to historic resource impacts is subject to review by and coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer and those federally recognized tribes with concerns in Florida and the Permit Area.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: The Corps has determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, wood stork (Mycteria americana) and Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi).
The proposed activity is not within the Core Foraging Area (CFA) of a wood stork rookery; the project supports marginally Suitable Foraging Habitat (SFH) for wood stork. Based on the Effect Determination Key for the Wood Stork in Central and North Peninsular Florida (dated September 2008), the Corps determination sequence was A>B>C>D>E = “may affect but is not likely to adversely affect”. The determination is supported by SFH compensation provided within the service area of a mitigation bank, and provides an amount of habitat and foraging function equivalent to that of impacted SFH; and is not contrary to the Service’s “Habitat Management Guidelines for the Wood Stork in the Southeast Region”. No further consultation is required.
Based on the Eastern Indigo Snake Effect Determination Key (dated January 25, 2010; August 13, 2013 Addendum), the Corps determination sequence resulted in A>B>C = “may affect but is not likely to adversely affect”. This determination is based on the project not being located in open water, the applicant adhering to the “Standard Protection Measures for the Eastern Indigo Snake” (dated August 12, 2013) and the absence of gopher tortoise, holes, and refugia within the work area where a snake could be buried or trapped and injured during project activities. No further consultation is required.
The Corps has determined the proposal would have no effect on any other listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT (EFH): This notice initiates consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service on EFH as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996. Our initial determination is that the proposed action would not have a substantial adverse impact on EFH. Our final determination relative to project impacts and the need for mitigation measures is subject to review by and coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
NOTE: This public notice is being issued based on information furnished by the applicant. This information has not been verified or evaluated to ensure compliance with laws and regulation governing the regulatory program. The jurisdictional line has been verified by Corps personnel.
AUTHORIZATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES: Water Quality Certification is required from the SJRWMD.
COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District through the Cocoa Permits Section, 400 High Point Drive, Suite 600, Cocoa, FL 32926 within 21 days from the date of this notice.
The decision whether to issue or deny this permit application will be based on the information received from this public notice and the evaluation of the probable impact to the associated wetlands. This is based on an analysis of the applicant's avoidance and minimization efforts for the project, as well as the compensatory mitigation proposed.
QUESTIONS concerning this application should be directed to the project manager, John Palmer, in writing at the Cocoa Permits Section, 400 High Point Drive, Suite 600, Cocoa, FL 32926, by electronic mail at John.Palmer@usace.army.mil, by fax at (321) 504-3803, or by telephone at (321) 504-3771, extension 10.
IMPACT ON NATURAL RESOURCES: Preliminary review of this application indicates that an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required. Coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Marine Fisheries Services, and other Federal, State, and local agencies, environmental groups, and concerned citizens generally yields pertinent environmental information that is instrumental in determining the impact the proposed action will have on the natural resources of the area. By means of this notice, we are soliciting comments on the potential effects of the project on threatened or endangered species or their habitat
EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including cumulative impacts thereof; among these are conservation, economics, esthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historical properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food, and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. Evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will also include application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, EPA, under authority of Section 404(b) of the Clean Water Act of the criteria established under authority of Section 102(a) of the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972. A permit will be granted unless its issuance is found to be contrary to the public interest.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other Interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY: In Florida, the State approval constitutes compliance with the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan. In Puerto Rico, a Coastal Zone Management Consistency Concurrence is required from the Puerto Rico Planning Board, in the Virgin Islands, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources permit constitutes compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Plan.
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING: Any person may request a public hearing. The request must be submitted in writing to the District Engineer within the designated comment period of the notice and must state the specific reasons for requesting the public hearing.