Vegetation and Wildlife

Transcription

1 hapter 6: Vegetation and Wildlife A. INTRODUTION AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS This chapter describes the potential impacts of Hamilton Green and the Proposed Action on natural resources on and in the immediate vicinity of the Site. The Site is located in a highly urbanized area and is fully developed with an existing two-story mall and associated impervious surfaces. A site inspection to document the limited existing vegetation and potential urban species was conducted on February 8, In addition, published information on existing ecological resources was consulted, including the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP) database. From these sources, the habitat functions of the Site and potential use by wildlife are described. As further described below, no significant vegetative or wildlife habitats would be disturbed by the construction of Hamilton Green, which would be facilitated by the Proposed Action. As such, no significant adverse impacts are anticipated. B. EXISTING ONDITIONS The existing Site and surrounding area is substantially developed. The Site itself contains no habitats, plants, or animals of any significance as it is almost entirely occupied by pavement and buildings. Several shade trees are located around the periphery of the Site on both the private Site parcel and on ity-owned sidewalks. Several small planted areas with varying sizes and levels of maintenance occur around the perimeter of the Site. The Site can be expected to be used by urban-tolerant wildlife, including such species as grey squirrel, rock dove, European starling, house sparrow, American crow, and others. There are no state or Federal wetlands or 100-year floodplains mapped for the Site (as shown in Figures 6-1 through 6-3). The closest mapped wetlands and 100-year floodplains are located adjacent to the Bronx River, approximately ¼ mile to the west of the Site. Approximately one-quarter mile west of the Site, the Bronx River Parkway Reservation is listed as a ritical Environmental Area (EA) under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) (6 NYRR ). It is designated as part of the Westchester ounty s park system, and is a regionally important corridor of green space serving aesthetic, recreational, water quality preservation, flood mitigation, and ecological habitat functions. VEGETATION Vegetation on the Site is limited to urban-tolerant species that occur in small patches along fence lines, in 14 small landscaped areas that range from 24 square feet (SF) to 225 SF, and around trees. Many herbaceous species are intentionally planted cultivars, such as forsythia (Forsythia suspense), arborvitae (Thuja sp.), hawthorn (rataegus sp.), and pear (Pyrus sp.), with the herbaceous layer consisting of aggressive species such as English ivy (Hedera helix), Hamilton Green Vegetation and Wildlife 6-1

2 Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Oriental bittersweet (elastrus orbiculatus), and goldenrod (Solidago sp.). As shown below in Table 6-1, 47 trees are located on and adjacent to the Site within the ity of White Plains right-of-way. These trees were inventoried, capturing species, location, diameter at breast height (DBH), and noting trees in particularly poor condition. According to the ity of White Plains ordinance, there are 26 trees that meet the criteria for specimen trees, and one tree that meets the criteria for protected tree. 1 The largest of these trees are street trees, which are located outside the property boundary and within the ity of White Plains right-ofway. THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPEIES According to the United State Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) IPa Trust Resources Report for the Site, no endangered or threatened species, nor associated critical habitats, are reported in this location. Twenty-six migratory birds, as protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty, were listed as potentially occurring on the Site. However nearly all species listed, such as the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), require proximity to water and less urban land for breeding or hunting. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), NYS-listed endangered, is an exception (see Appendix E). According to NYNHP, records indicate the presence of nesting peregrine falcons within the immediate vicinity of the Site (See Appendix ). The peregrine falcon was documented as nesting within the immediate vicinity of the Site by the NYNHP on August 31, A site visit on February 8, 2017, confirmed the presence of this species within the immediate vicinity but not on the Site itself. Peregrine falcons have become increasingly common in urban areas since the 1980s and presently nest in several locations throughout the New York metropolitan area, where the species nests on bridges, high-rise buildings, and other tall artificial structures. Impacts to nesting falcons can occur from work on roof tops, or work that generates loud noises over ambient noise conditions. The existing Site consists of a two-level mall, with no tall structures on-site, and therefore offers no nesting habitat for the peregrine falcon. 1 Specimen tree(s): Trees that have a minimum trunk diameter of 12 inches at a point 4 feet above the natural grade and/or a minimum crown spread of 15 feet. Protected trees: red and white dogwood; copper beech; black walnut; mulberry; birch. (Section of the ode of the ity of White Plains) 6-2 Hamilton Green Vegetation and Wildlife

3 Data source: New York State Dept. of Environmental onservation 3/21/2017 Project Site 1% Annual hance Flood Hazard (100-year floodplain) Floodway 0.2% Annual hance Flood Hazard (500-year floodplain) 0 2,450 FEET Hamilton Green Flood Hazard Areas Figure 6-1

4 3/16/2017 A B B Data source: New York State Dept. of Environmental onservation Project Site Regulatory Freshwater Wetlands Water Quality lassifications 0 3,100 FEET No Regulatory Tidal Wetlands located in map extent. Hamilton Green New York State Regulatory Wetlands and Water Quality lassifications Figure 6-2

5 3/16/2017 UBH R2UBHx UBH PUBHh BH PEM1h R5UBH R5UBH PUB/EM1Fh R5UBH R3UBH Data source: 2016 from Project Site Wetland Type (Map odes) Freshwater Emergent Wetland (PEM) Freshwater Pond (PUB, PAB) Riverine (R) 0 1,000 FEET Hamilton Green U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory Figure 6-3

6 Table 6-1 Tree Inventory # ode DBH ommon name Scientific name Notes and location 1 OA 30 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris Hamilton Ave. 2 OA 26 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris Hamilton Ave. 3 OA 20 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris Hamilton Ave. 4 MA 4 Maple Acer sp. Hamilton Ave. 5 OA 30 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris Hamilton Ave. 6 OA 30 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris Hamilton Ave. 7 MA 4 Maple Acer Hamilton Ave. 8 OA 16 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris Hamilton Ave. 9 OA 32 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris ottage Place 10 OA 24 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris ottage Place 11 OA 30 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris ottage Place 12 OA 28 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris ottage Place 13 OA 22 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris ottage Place 14 OA 24 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris ottage Place Maple Acer sp. ottage Place 16 TR 3 edar edar sp. Multi-stem: 2.5,1.5,1.5; ottage Place and Barker Ave. 17 TR 16 Ash Fraxinus sp. Barker Ave., poor condition 18 MA 22 Tree of heaven* Ailanthis altissima Barker Ave. 19 PN 14 White Pine* Pinus strobus Barker Ave. 20 PN 16 White Pine* Pinus strobus Barker Ave. 21 PN 14 White Pine* Pinus strobus Barker Ave. 22 OA 16 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris Barker Ave. 23 TR 4 Hornbeam arpinus sp. Barker Ave. 24 TR 10 Paper Birch** Betchula papyrifera Multi-stem: 6,6,6; Barker Ave. 25 MA 3 Maple Acer sp. Barker Ave. 26 MA 2 Maple Acer sp. Barker Ave. 27 MA 4 Maple Acer sp. Barker Ave. 28 TR 8.5 Hawthorn rataegus sp. Multi-stem: 4,6,4.5; Barker Ave. and MLK Blvd 29 TR 8 Hawthorn rataegus sp. Multi-stem: 3,5,3,5; Barker Ave. and MLK Blvd 30 TR 6 Hawthorn rataegus sp. Multi-stem: 6,2; Barker Ave. and MLK Blvd 31 TR 7 Hawthorn rataegus sp. Multi-stem: 6,4; Barker Ave. and MLK Blvd 32 TR 24 Pear* Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd 33 OA 6 Pin Oak Quercus palustris MLK Blvd, poor condition 34 TR 10 Pear Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd 35 OA 8 Pin Oak Quercus MLK Blvd 36 TR 14 Pear* Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd 37 OA 18 Pin Oak* Quercus MLK Blvd 38 TR 12 Pear* Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd 39 TR 30 Pear* Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd, over mature 40 OA 8 Pin Oak Quercus palustris MLK Blvd 41 OA 28 Pin Oak* Quercus palustris MLK Blvd 42 TR 14 Pear* Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd 43 MA 2 Maple Acer sp. MLK Blvd 44 TR 12 Pear* Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd 45 TR 8 Pear Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd 46 TR 14 Pear* Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd 47 TR 10 Pear Pyrus sp. MLK Blvd Notes: Source: *Indicates Specimen Tree per Section of the ode of the ity of White Plains **Indicates Protected Tree per Section of the ode of the ity of White Plains Bolded trees are located on the Site AKRF, Inc. Hamilton Green Vegetation and Wildlife 6-3

7 . FUTURE WITHOUT THE PROPOSED ATION In the future without the Proposed Action, the urban character of the natural resource communities on the Site would continue in their existing condition. Development would occur in areas immediately surrounding the Site, but flora and fauna species would be expected to remain generally the same on the Site as they are today. D. POTENTIAL IMPATS OF THE PROPOSED ATION The construction of Hamilton Green, which would be facilitated by the Proposed Action, could cause the temporary displacement of urban species. However, built conditions would provide suitable conditions for such species to return. Hamilton Green includes larger landscaped areas and elevated green space, neither of which presently exists on the Site. The increase in open space and provision of new landscaping, including a minimum of 10,600 SF of intensive green roof, would have the beneficial effect on urban wildlife by increasing the habitat diversity of the Site. In addition, the new elevated green space would aid with stormwater runoff, and perhaps provide new habitat to avian and aerial species. ONSTRUTION PERIOD IMPATS onstruction of Hamilton Green is not expected to cause detrimental effects to any on-site natural resources. Although many of the trees inventoried are considered specimen trees by the ity of White Plains due to their size, all are common urban-tolerant species. In addition, new street trees and landscaped areas would be installed as part of the Hamilton Green. Regarding potential impacts to the peregrine falcon, this raptor typically strikes and captures its prey in mid-air. Therefore, during project construction individual falcons that may nest in the region are unlikely to occur at ground level on the Site. Furthermore, peregrine falcons nest amidst the high levels of noise and human activity associated with urban environments, thus demonstrating a high tolerance of disturbance and an ability to exploit resources in humandominated landscapes (see ade et al. 1996, White et al. 2002). Therefore, noise impacts from typical building construction activities are unlikely to be significantly adverse. In addition, as an impact avoidance measure, during construction, tall equipment such as cranes would have flagging at the apex to deter perching by peregrine falcons on moving or greased parts. OPERATIONAL IMPATS The Bronx River Parkway Reservation EA is located one-quarter mile west of the Site. As such, the Site would not cause any direct or indirect (i.e. shading) significant adverse impacts to this resource. It is expected that future residents of Hamilton Green would make use of the bike and pedestrian trail that runs within the Bronx River Parkway Reservation lands. The construction of Hamilton Green would not result in significant adverse impacts to potentially present falcons, but would be another component of the urban environment of the ity of White Plains. Urban peregrine falcons primarily eat rock pigeons (see DeMent et al. 1986, Rejt 2001), whose abundance would not change as a result of the construction of Hamilton Green. Therefore, hunting opportunities for peregrine falcons would remain the same in the future with the Proposed Action, and no significant adverse impacts to the peregrine falcon are anticipated. 6-4 Hamilton Green Vegetation and Wildlife

8 In addition, as discussed above, the addition of new landscaping and open space would increase the habitat diversity of the Site, and thus have a beneficial effect on urban wildlife. The proposed green roof would include a diversity of plant species that would not only be enjoyable for the public, but provide foraging habitat for urban avian and aerial species. Further, this greenspace would improve the stormwater attenuation of the Site and minimize potential impacts of stormwater runoff. E. MITIGATION MEASURES The construction facilitated by the Proposed Action would result in the removal of shade trees located on and immediately adjacent to the Site. Approval for the removal of these trees would be sought from the ity of White Plains in accordance with ity ode hapter 7-5, Trees. The loss of these existing street trees would be mitigated through the installation of an extensive landscaping plan included as part of Hamilton Green. Hamilton Green would include new street trees and planting beds at ground level, and more than 10,600 SF of intensive green roof area within the elevated Hamilton Green plaza. The green roof would be constructed in accordance with hapter 5 of the New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual. Overall, Hamilton Green, which would be facilitated by the Proposed Action would significantly increase the amount of vegetation on the Site from present conditions and would have a beneficial effect on urban wildlife and habitat diversity. Hamilton Green Vegetation and Wildlife 6-5