PD-17-00001 Marian Meadows Full Record with Index (2)

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Marian Meadows Rezone and Subdivision Final Environmental Impact Statement 3-35 avoided. Elements of the built environment such as buildings and ornamental landscaping would be more prominent than at present, but apparent only from near proximity. More native vegetation would be retained than Alternatives 1 and 2.  It is likely that forestry use would continue on the eastern portion of the site, although it is unlikely to occur on residential parcels, except cutting of trees for firewood.  As with other alternatives, permanent residents would likely be predominantly commuters to urban areas and part-time residences would likely be recreational users. The amenities of large and fewer lots with a large component of the site preserved in forestry may attract more persons desiring a community with a rural character. The similarity with the value of existing community members may result in more social interactions among members of the community.  The increase in the number of people on local streets, in local businesses, and in schools and other public places would be substantially less than Alternatives 3A and 3B and orders of magnitude less than Alternatives 1 and 2.  The site would likely experience a decline in on-site use by wildlife, especially large mammals such as elk, but use by smaller wildlife species likely would be greater than Alternative 1 because of the potential habitat provided on large lots.  The 3-acre lots in Alternative 3A located along the west side of BPA easement could result in a substantial barrier to north-south movement of elk across the site from summer habitat areas to the north to winter habitats to the south unless substantial buffer areas of native vegetation were retained to provide a buffer to reduce disturbance from the view of human occupancy, noise and disturbance by lights and domestic animals. In the absence of an effective buffer, development would discourage use of the corridor, especially by the most sensitive component of the population, cows with calves. The impact on elk herds and overall populations in the area could be substantial because of the lack of other corridors for north-south movement in the area due to topography, human residential development, and the barrier produced by the I-90 corridor.  The mini-storage use along the east side of BPA easement would be a substantial barrier to north- south movement of elk across the site from summer habitat areas to the north to winter habitats to the south even with fewer lots on the west side of the corridor and the retention of a buffer on the west side that could be accommodated with larger lots. Location of a commercial storage site fronting on the east side, the only linear open space corridor on the site, together with large lot residential development on the west side would discourage use because of the close proximity of buildings, human activity, and features such as security lights that would result in avoidance of the corridor, especially by the most sensitive component of the population, cows with calves. The impact on elk herds and overall populations in the area could be substantial because of the lack of other corridors for north-south movement in the area due to topography, human residential development, and the barrier produced by the I-90 corridor.