PB Agenda Packet - June 4 2025 - Laserfiche WebLink

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84 MEMORANDUM TO: Lyn Biles, Environmental Assistance and SEPA Coordinator NCDENR Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Services FROM: Olivia Munzer, Western Piedmont Coordinator Habitat Conservation DATE: 18 March 2025 SUBJECT: Scoping for a Rezoning for the Carolina Friends School at 4809 Friends School Road in Durham, Orange County,North Carolina. DEQ No. 25-0153. Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission(NCWRC)have reviewed the subject document. Comments are provided in accordance with provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act(48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661-667e)and North Carolina General Statutes(G.S. 113-131 et seq.). Civil Consultants, on behalf of Carolina Friends School(CFS),has submitted a Rezoning Application for the CFS to be rezoned to a Non-Residential Conditional District. The CFS campus occurs on approximately 110 acres between Friends School Road in Durham and Mount Sinai Road in Chapel Hill in Orange County,North Carolina. The purpose of the project is to improve the entrance stemming off Mountain Sinai Road to be used as a second entrance and to reduce traffic on Friends School Road. According to the documents provided,three unnamed tributaries to Pine Mountain Creek and Pine Mountain Creek in the Cape Fear River Basin flow through the site. The property also has five wetlands. We have no known records for state or federally listed rare,threatened or endangered species within or adjacent to the site. Although not mentioned in the Biological Inventory Report,the proposed federal endangered and state endangered tricolored bat(Perimyotis subflavus)is known to occur in Orange County. The lack of records from the site does not imply or confirm the absence of federal or state-listed species.An on-site survey is the only means to determine if the proposed project may impact federal or state rare,threatened, or endangered species. We have no concerns with the rezoning of the site to a Non-Residential Conditional District to allow for the improvement of the secondary road to be used as a secondary access road. However,it seems other construction activities may occur at the site.We offer the following preliminary recommendations with the intent of minimizing impacts on aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources: 1. We recommend minimizing the amount of tree clearing, especially of large hardwoods. For any new construction,build within the open pasture so forested areas can be left undisturbed.