Santa Ysabel Nature Center

Santa Ysabel Nature Center

The project consists of the development of 6.55 acres for a Nature Center including the interpretive center building, a parking lot, a maintenance facility/volunteer pad (a concrete pad with room for a motor home and a patio) complex, and appurtenant outdoor facilities such as demonstration gardens, trails, and the like. The interpretive center building will consist of a combination of the following types of uses: office space, exhibit area, conference/banquet area, bathrooms, a lobby/entry plaza, and/or a covered patio. The site contains an existing groundwater well that would be retained. Permits from Caltrans would be obtained to access the site by a private road/driveway from highway 79. The project would be served by on site septic systems and groundwater from outside any water municipal district. Approx 1,000 ft of extension of sewer or water utilities may be required by the project. The following project design considerations are also being implemented to minimize environmental impacts: (1) no drainages will be impacted by the project and all crossings will be made by pedestrian bridge, (2) impacts tot eh open Engelmann oak (Quercus engelmannii) woodland root protection zone will be minimized and there will be no net loss of oak trees by implementing the project, (3) all historical and archaeological sites will be fenced off by a qualified archaeologist prior to construction and therefore be protected from incurring significant impacts.

San Diego