Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for Quail Meadows Apartments Project, City of Encinitas, CA; Categorical Exclusion
Published Date: 2/2/2026
Notice
Summary
Quail Meadows Properties wants to build apartments in Encinitas, CA, but their project might affect a threatened bird called the coastal California gnatcatcher. They’ve asked for a special permit that lets them proceed while protecting the bird’s habitat through a conservation plan. The Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing this and wants your comments by March 4, 2026, before making a final decision.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
10‑Year Incidental Take Permit Requested
Quail Meadows Properties applied for a 10-year incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act to allow construction of the Quail Meadows Apartments (448 residential units) in Encinitas, California. If issued, the permit would authorize incidental take associated with impacts to 8.22 acres of the site, including about 0.54 acres of native coastal sage scrub used by the coastal California gnatcatcher.
Required Perpetual Conservation Endowment
The applicant proposes to conserve 3.31 acres on site through a biological conservation easement with funding secured in a non-wasting endowment account to ensure management and monitoring in perpetuity. That funding commitment is part of the habitat conservation plan and would be required to maintain the on-site preserve.
Construction Monitoring and Seasonal Limits
The habitat conservation plan requires a Service‑approved biological monitor on site, vegetation removal outside the breeding season, and limiting construction within 500 feet of any active coastal gnatcatcher nest. The plan also requires surveying, staking, fencing of impact limits, and erosion and pollution controls during construction.
Preliminary Low‑Effect NEPA Determination
The Fish and Wildlife Service preliminarily determined the proposed ITP and HCP would be a “low‑effect” action and may qualify for a categorical exclusion under DOI NEPA regulations. This preliminary determination is part of the Service's review while it considers whether to issue the 10‑year permit.
On‑Site Preserve Access and Lighting Limits
If the HCP is implemented, the 3.31‑acre on-site preserve will have permanent fencing, no‑trespassing signs, and access controls to keep homeowners and pets out. The plan also requires lighting to be shielded and directed away from the preserve, prohibits spotlight‑type lighting, and requires vegetation screening of lighting from homes abutting the preserve.
On‑Site Habitat Restoration and Preservation
The applicant proposes to restore 2.93 acres of non-native grassland to coastal sage scrub, enhance/preserve 0.38 acres of coastal sage scrub, and preserve 0.07 acres of wetland within a 3.31‑acre on‑site preserve under a conservation easement. These measures are part of the proposed habitat conservation plan to increase and protect coastal California gnatcatcher habitat.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-08146 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rayed Bean, Sheepnose, Snuffbox, and Spectaclecase Mussels
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is officially protecting over 3,800 river miles across 17 states as critical habitat for four endangered freshwater mussels: rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox, and spectaclecase. This means these rivers will get special care to help these mussels survive and thrive. The new protections start May 27, 2026, and could affect activities near these waters, encouraging conservation efforts without heavy costs.
2026-05678 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for 22 Species in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territory of Guam
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to protect 22 special plants and animals in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands by marking nearly 60,000 acres as critical habitat. This means these areas will get extra care to help these species survive and thrive. People can share their thoughts by June 22, 2026, and an economic report is ready to show how this might affect local communities.
2026-10238 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Enhancement of Survival Permit Application; Conservation Benefit Agreement for the Greenback Cutthroat Trout; Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants a special permit to help save the greenback cutthroat trout, a rare fish in Colorado. This permit would let them and local landowners work together on projects to protect and grow the trout’s population. The public can share their thoughts by June 22, 2026, as this plan moves forward without big environmental hurdles or extra costs.
2026-10045 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassification of the Rough Popcornflower From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule
Great news! The rough popcornflower, a rare plant, is no longer in immediate danger of extinction, so it’s being moved from endangered to threatened status starting June 18, 2026. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is also putting new rules in place to help protect and conserve this plant as it continues to recover. This change helps focus efforts while keeping the plant safe for the future.
2026-09896 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Northeast Region Alaska Native Handicrafts
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing a paperwork process for Alaska Native artists in the Northeast Region who make and sell traditional handicrafts. No changes are planned, but they want your feedback by July 17, 2026. This keeps things smooth for artists and the government, with no new costs or extra hassle.
2026-09805 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget; Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Applications and Reports-Management Authority
The Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing its paperwork for federal fish and wildlife permits without making any changes. This affects anyone applying for or reporting on these permits, keeping the process steady with no new costs or deadlines. You can share your thoughts by June 15, 2026, if you want to weigh in!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-01925 — HGE Energy Storage 9, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Competing Applications
HGE Energy Storage 9, LLC wants to study building a big pumped storage energy project near Whiskeytown Lake in California. This project could store lots of clean energy and produce up to 1,200 megawatts, enough to power many homes. The government is now asking the public to share thoughts or compete by March 30, 2026, before any construction can start.
Next: 2026-01930 — Health Systems Research (HSR) Scientific Merit Review Board: Federal Register Notice of Meeting
The Department of Veterans Affairs is holding a meeting on March 12, 2026, to review and pick the best health research projects to fund. The public can listen in for the first 15 minutes, but the rest is private to protect sensitive info. This helps make sure VA research stays top quality and focused on veterans’ needs, with no direct money changes announced yet.