PC PACKET 04.11.2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 Overview of Site Conditions & Restoration Plan Nguyen PV Plant The proposed Nguyen PV Plant is planned for 5.3 acres of land near Everton Avenue North in Washington County. The site will contain fixed tilt panels on 3.9 fenced acres. Existing site conditions are shown on the plan, Fig. A, page 5. Much of the site contains hydric soils and is currently not being used for crop production due to the seasonally wet conditions. The site includes Nessel loam along the northern portion with Bluffton and Webster loams across the remainder of the site, which is classified as Wet Loamy Lowland by the USDA soil survey. The site also includes scrubby non-native brush and aggressive non-native grass species, dominated by Reed Canary grass and smooth brome grass, mainly in the lowland areas. The parcel has an upland portion along the northern edge. This is the only area of the site that will require grading as noted on the grading map, Fig. E., page 10. No grading is planned within the array wetlands or lowlands. Once grading and smoothing have been completed, the disturbed sections and the non-wetland interior array area will be prepared and seeded as outlined on page eight. Only the disturbed areas and the upland areas of the site will be prepped and seeded including any areas where existing trees and shrubs have been removed. The wetland areas of the site will not have soil disturbance and will not be disked or harrowed but will be overseeded with a wetland mix and will transition directly into vegetation maintenance. The native species seeded here will aid in encouraging overall soil health, improving water filtration and limiting erosion across the array while providing forage for insects, song birds and game birds. Some existing tree and shrub removal is necessary to accommodate panel installation, and this is shown on the site plan, Fig. B, page seven. In the portions of the site outside of the array and panel area, care should be taken to only remove the non-native species. New trees and shrubs appropriate to this site’s moist soil types will be installed outside of the array to complete the screening where trees were removed. The Nguyen Conditional Use Permit Packet includes additional vegetation removal detail. The entire site should be closely mowed prior to construction to reduce the biomass and improve worker safety and access. The undesirable scrubby brush and trees inside the planned fencing should be mowed/brush hogged and treated with a specialized herbicide such as Garlon 4 or similar, prior to any construction. Anticipate several repeat treatments of these brushy areas for several years. Again, care should be taken to avoid removing or spaying native species in these areas.