Biological Assessment Report
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APPENDIX B: BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT Biological Assessment Report 3059 Passmore Drive (APN: 2427 007 017) Los Angeles, California Prepared for July 2018 Passmore Properties, LLC P.O. Box 260394 Encino, CA 91426 Biological Assessment Report 3059 Passmore Drive (APN: 2427 007 017) Los Angeles, California Prepared for July 2018 Passmore Properties, LLC P.O. Box 260394 Encino, CA 91426 2121 Alton Parkway Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92606 949.753.7001 www.esassoc.com Bend Oakland San Francisco Camarillo Orlando Santa Monica Delray Beach Pasadena Sarasota Destin Petaluma Seattle Irvine Portland Sunrise Los Angeles Sacramento Tampa Miami San Diego 180296 Table of Contents Biological Assessment Report 3059 Passmore Drive (APN: 2427 007 017) Los Angeles, California Page 1. Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Description .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Location and Site Conditions ...................................................................... 1 2. Methods ........................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Literature Review .................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Biological Assessment ............................................................................................ 4 3. Results ............................................................................................................................. 5 3.1 Topography and Soils ............................................................................................. 5 3.2 Micro Climate and Wildfire ...................................................................................... 6 3.3 Plant Communities and Habitats ............................................................................ 8 3.4 Wildlife ................................................................................................................... 11 3.5 Special-Status Plants ............................................................................................ 16 3.6 Protected Trees ..................................................................................................... 20 3.7 Migration Corridors................................................................................................ 20 3.8 Jurisdictional Resources ....................................................................................... 20 3.9 CDFW Sensitive Natural Communities and Habitats ........................................... 20 4. Regulatory Setting ....................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Federal and State Endangered Species Acts ....................................................... 21 4.2 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ...................................................................................... 21 4.3 Clean Water Act .................................................................................................... 21 4.4 Native Plant Protection Act ................................................................................... 22 4.5 Section 15380 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines ............... 22 4.6 Sections 3503 and 3513 of the California Fish and Game Code ......................... 22 4.7 Section 1602 of the California Fish and Game Code ........................................... 23 5. Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 23 5.1 Special Status Plants and Wildlife ........................................................................ 23 5.2 Protected Trees ..................................................................................................... 24 5.3 Migration Corridors................................................................................................ 24 5.4 Jurisdictional Resources ....................................................................................... 24 5.5 CDFW Sensitive Natural Communities and Habitats ........................................... 24 6. Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 24 6.1 Nesting Birds ......................................................................................................... 24 6.2 Special-Status Wildlife .......................................................................................... 24 6.3 Protected Trees ..................................................................................................... 26 6.4 Wildlife Movement ................................................................................................. 26 7. References .................................................................................................................... 27 3059 Passmore Drive (APN: 2427 007 017) i ESA / 180582.01 Biological Assessment Report July 2018 Appendices A. Floral and Faunal Compendia B. Photographic Log C. CNDDB and CNPS Search Results Page Figures Figure 1 Regional Location ...................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2 Project Location ......................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3 Soils ............................................................................................................................ 7 Figure 4 Plant Communities and Land Uses ........................................................................... 9 Figure 5 Project Impacts......................................................................................................... 19 Tables Table 1 Plant Communities and Land Uses .............................................................................. 8 Table 2 Potentially Occurring Special-Status Wildlife Species Within Study Area ................. 13 Table 3 Potentially Occurring Special-Status Plant Species Within Study Area .................... 17 3059 Passmore Drive (APN: 2427 007 017) ii ESA / 180582.01 Biological Assessment Report July2018 Biological Assessment Report 3059 Passmore Drive (APN: 2427 007 017) 1. Introduction 1.1 Project Description This report documents the findings of a Biological Assessment prepared following a site reconnaissance. The proposed project will include the construction of a single-family residence located in the City of Los Angeles, California (project site). The residential construction will take place within the project site, however, some infrastructure such as retaining walls or driveway will extend offsite (development footprint). The project site, development footprint and a 200- foot buffer (study area) was assessed for sensitive biological resources during the site visit. This report provides an overview of the existing conditions documented within the study area, including conclusions and recommendations for avoiding impact to sensitive resources. 1.2 Project Location and Site Conditions The project site is located in the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan of the Santa Monica Mountains, within the City of Los Angeles, California (Figure 1 - Regional Location). More specifically, the 0.39-acre project site is located west of Passmore Drive with adjacent residential properties (APN 2427-007-014, -013, -012) to the north and (APN 2427-007-016, 010) to the east and open space property (APN 2427-006-904) to the south and west (Figure 2 - Project Location). Mulholland Drive is located 1.0 mile to the southwest, the City of Burbank is located approximately 2 miles to the northeast, and the City of Beverly Hills is located approximately 6 miles to the southwest. U.S. Route 101 is located less than 1.0 mile to the north. Signs of historic vegetation removal was apparent within the project site and study area. Previous disturbances have resulted in the fragmentation of native tree and scrub vegetation resulting in a concentration of non-native vegetation and developed land uses including neighboring single- family residences. The study area is surrounded by residential development on the north and east, while the west and south borders abut with the approximately 17-acre Cahuenga Pass Open Space property, through which the project driveway passes within an egress-ingress easement. Access to the project site originates from Beckman Road to the south. 3059 Passmore Drive (APN: 2427 007 017) 1 ESA / 180582.01 Biological Assessment Report July 2018 S Path: U:\GIS\GIS\Projects\18xxxx\D180582_PassmoreDr\03_MXDs_Projects\Bio_Report\Fig1_RegionalLocation.mxd, sgeissler 7/20/2018 O U R L O C S C E O A : N U E N G S T E R Y L I E S A D r e e a t a o i l f N 0 M i l e L P s O R C O A J T E I C O 8 T N Ø ^ ! R e 3 g 0 5 i o 9 n P a a s l s F L m i o g o c r u e a r D t e i r o i v n 1 e Project Site 8 1 0 2 / 0 2 / 7 r e l s s i e g s , d x m . n o i t a c o L t c e j o r P _ 2 g i F \ t r o p e R _ o i B \ s t c e j o r P _ s D X M _ 3 0 \ r D e r o m s s a P _ 2 8 5 0 8 1 D \ x x x x 8 1 \ s t Study Area c e j o r P \ Project Site S I G \ S I Development Footprint G 0 200 \ : U : N h Fuel Modification Zone t Feet a P SOURCE: ESRI. 3059 Passmore Drive Figure 2 Project Location 2. Methods 2.1 Literature Review Prior to conducting the field assessment, ESA conducted a