10/24/1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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OCT 2 41979 BOOK 41 FA; - Exhibit 1 for location of the Ashland Oil site in relation to the transmission line.) The exact terms of the mitigation efforts have not been finalized in time for this staff report. However, the general idea is to restclrc the histnr-ic: hydroperiods in the drained cypress swamp and provide a visual buffer for the Turnpike. Staff expects to be able to present the exact mitigation measures in the form of a three -party agreement at the September 21, l979 Council meeting. The benefits that residents of the Treasure Coast Region ray receive from this mitigation are: 1. There would be a tree buffer between the transmission line and the. Sunshine State Parkway for several miles of their joint corridor. 2. The cypress Fwamp, which is now in a degraded condition due to poor drainage practices, would be renourished through inr...tased Crater tables. 3. The alignment in St. Lucie County should not be held up by lengthy, expensive condemmation suit(s) and/or DRI appeals. This may well redjce some of the increased costs associated with the realignment. The mitigation measures envisioned by FPL and Ashland do not resolve the issue of a new crossing point into Indian River County, and the resultant two mile separation of the two lines. The reason the realignment turns into Indian River County at this new point is to avoid a communications tower on the south side of the Sunshine State Parkway (See Exhibit 2). Two obvious methods of connecting the two transmission lines and missing the communications tower are to either go north or south of the tower. There are no overriding significant regional impacts that would support one alternate over the other. Advantages and disadvantages of each are listed below: Northern alignment: Advantages - 1. Does not require further approvals in St. Lucie County. 2. Does not create any "out parcels" or small relatively isolated land areas. Disadvantages - 1. Requires further approvals in Indian River County. 2. Impacts a "new" property owner in Indian River County. 3. May impact an active. osprey nest, depending on exact location of realignment. 4. Places the line through two more miles of wetlands which may require increased con- struction and maintenance costs. This particular wetland area is a marsh in a relatively degraded condition due to local drainage practices. The location of the transmission line along the southern boundary of this marsh should not significantly reduce the existing function of this marsh. Southern alignment: Advantages - 1. Does not require further approval in Indian River County. 2. Does not impact the osprey nest. 3. Puts the line through higher and drier land which will reduce cbnstruction_and maintenance costs. Disadv.antages - 1. Creates a narrow "out parcel" area between the line and the Sunshine State Parkway (See Exhibit 2). _ 2. Requires r approval in St. Lucie County.