1975-01-20 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • The area to which this environmental assessment is directed is mostly developed residential or commercial land or cleared farm land. What stands of trees that exist are comprised primarily of hardwoods such as live oak, willow oak, post oak, red oak, sweet gum, and native pecan with some evergreens such as southern yellow pine and native red cedar. There are several other varieties of deciduous trees such as Chinese tallows, elm and haws. There is little else of botanical interest and nothing unique about the flora of the area. The fauna of the project area consists of that usually found in a suburban area; one or more species of squirrels, rabbits, opossums, raccoons and armadillos are the more common mammals. A wide variety of common song birds inhabit the area. Galveston Bay supports a multitude of fish species, shell fish, and crustaceans and it furnishes the breeding grounds for most of these sea creatures. The area lies in the path of the Southern Flyway of migratory waterfowl, although there are no staging areas or breeding grounds in the contemplated construction areas. The fowl include predominately scoups and shovelers, all species of teal, pintails, mallards and black mallards, among others. Although Canadian Geese and snow geese use the flyway neither stages near La Porte. None of the fauna in this area are classified as an endangered species. There are no archaeological, historical or cultural elements within the project area. • The City of La Porte, which encompasses the project area has a population of approximately 9400 and is experiencing a growth rate on the order of 9% per year. It .is primarily a residential community having virtually nR industry and only light commercial business activity. The population tends to be very stable with most of the people working in surrounding industry resulting in a low unemployment rate and a per capita income of about $8,500.00 annually. Land values range from $5,000.00 per acre for raw acreage to upwards of $1.00 per square foot for choice commercial sites. La Porte possesses a highly rated school system consisting of elementary, junior and high schools. The community has. a standard tax structure, the citizens being liable for city ad valorem taxes, school district taxes and a county tax. The total of these levies is kept reasonably low because of significant payments into these funds made by surrounding industry. There are no hospital facilities in La Porte although there are four private clinics and two nursing homes. No serious or unusual health problems exist. The city owns and maintains a respect- able library and a civic center as a part of a public complex which includes other recreational facilities. Preservation of the aesthetics of the La Porte area will be a minor factor since the sewage treatment plant expansion site is remote and adjacent to the existing plant. The construction of interceptors will be done in street and road right-of-way which will in no way affect the aesthetics. ... --r-.~.-,~-~..~, _ ... _ ,. ... __ _.. _ .~ _ ~... _.... ___