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105 <br /> r <br /> 9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission I 1 <br /> Cameron Ingram, Executive Director <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> TO: Lyn Biles,Environmental Assistance and SEPA Coordinator <br /> NCDENR Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Services <br /> FROM: Olivia Munzer,Western Piedmont Coordinator <br /> Habitat Conservation <br /> DATE: 02 October 2023 <br /> SUBJECT: Scoping for Acer LLC—Treeist Tree Care in Chapel Hill, Orange County. DEQ Project <br /> No. 24-0071. <br /> Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission(NCWRC) have reviewed the subject <br /> information. Our comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the United States National <br /> Environmental Policy Act and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. <br /> 661 et seq.). <br /> The L.E.A.D.S. Group P.A., on behalf of Acer LLC,is requesting scoping for the proposed rezoning and <br /> special use permits for the Treeist Tree Care and Consulting Company to be located at 6915-UT <br /> Millhouse Road, Chapel Hill, Orange County,North Carolina. The proposed project entails the <br /> construction of two proposed office and workshop spaces, a residential unit, and supporting tree service <br /> equipment on 10.01 acres of forested area. <br /> An unnamed tributary of Old Field Creek in the Cape Fear River basin flows along the northeast property <br /> boundary. The applicant proposes a 50-foot buffer along both sides of the intermittent stream. <br /> Downstream of the project,we have records of the state endangered Carolina creekshell(Villosa <br /> vaughaniana). We also have records of the state endangered and proposed federally endangered tricolored <br /> bat(Perimyotis subflavus) in Orange County. We recommend contacting the USFWS to ensure that any <br /> issues related to the tricolored bat are addressed.Duke Forest and Orange County Open Space(Millhouse <br /> Road Park)manage lands surrounding the proposed project. <br /> We offer the following general recommendations to minimize impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife <br /> resources: <br /> 1. We recommend not clearing the entire site,but rather maintaining the maximum amount of native <br /> vegetation as possible. <br /> 2. Native plants should be used for seeding disturbed areas. Specifically, avoid using Bermudagrass, <br /> redtop,tall fescue, and lespedeza,which are invasive and/or non-native. A list of alternatives to <br /> non-native species has been attached.Alternatively,use grains, such as oats,wheat, or rye for <br /> temporary cover and native seed mixes for permeant seeding. We recommend planting native, <br /> wildflower seed mixes that will create pollinator habitat within the project boundary. Planting <br /> native vegetation can reduce the cost of maintenance.Avoid using invasive,non-native plants in <br /> Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh,NC 27699-1721 <br /> Telephone: (919) 707-0220 • Fax: (919) 707-0028 <br />