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JAN 27 i98 �sD� F:-pr660 The site.plan includes provision for a 40' drawbridge to be constructed over a dredged channel through Jungle Trail. The channel would connect the Intracoastal __Waterway with the 5.46 acre basin to be dredged on the east side of Jungle Trail. The plan also includes a 36 car parking area and a private boat ramp into the basin. Due to the proposed drawbridge, provisions have been made for a "loop road" whereby the developer would grant to the County a limited easement allowing use of the road by the public if access to Jungle Trail was disrupted due to the bridge becoming non-operable. This 8.1 acre site is located on the east side of the Indian River, approximately 1/2 mile south of Wabasso Beach Road, and is part of the 84 acre parcel comprising the entire River Bend Development. The majority of the property designated as the yacht club site is undeveloped, with abandoned citrus groves along the fringe of the project area to the east. A portion of the property which would be dredged to form the basin has been desig- nated by the U.S. Geological Survey as an area containing marsh or swamp. Jungle Trail, which has been maintained by the County for the past 30 years'and therefore owned by prescriptive right and the filing of a maintenance map, travels the length of the subject property. This is an unpaved road, which does not meet the standard 50' right-of-way width. The road bed averages 20' in width, -with certain areas eroded due to tidal action and automobile use. The river frontage is occupied by a thin strip of red and black mangroves in various stages of develop- ment. The Intracoast9al Waterway lies approximately 175 feet off shore in Class II waters as designated by the Department of Environmental Regulation. Class II waters are those coastal waters which have the capacity of supporting shellfish propagation and harvesting. This is the state's most stringent water classification. On December 28, 1971, Jeanette and George Lier and Joe and Anne Michael of the Town of Orchid requested the County Commission to declare Jungle Trail a scenic trail. On January 5, 1972, by a 5 to 0 vote, the Commission instructed the County Administrator to proceed with surveys and title searches in order that it be designated as a County scenic drive. At the April 7, 1976 County Commission meeting, the County Attorney suggested that the County take action to file a "Maintenance Map" on Jungle Trail in order to more readily establish.the County's ownership of the road. On June 23, 1976, the County Administrator informed the Board that the County had tried to establish Jungle Trail as a scenic drive by the State, but it did not meet all the required criteria. . On August 4, 1976, the County recorded the Maintenance Map on Jungle Trail. ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS Alternative A: Take no action. This alternative would allow Jungle Trail to remain in its present state. Without the open water access that would necessitate a cut in the road, the proposed River Bend Yacht Basin would not be constructed. Advantages: The historic use by Indian River County has been to utilize Jungle Trail as a scenic route. Selection of this alternative would reflect this use, and would alleviate the issue of bridge ownership and maintenance as well as the issue of an alternative access route. Disadvantages: The River Bend Yacht Club site plan, conditionally approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission, depicts the construction of stabilization improve- ments to the presently eroding east bank along Jungle Trail. Selection of this alternative would promote continued erosion along the bank unless the County initiates steps to solve the problem. Alternative B: Allow placement and accept dedication of a bridge across a cut in Jungle Trail. This alternative would allow open water access to the proposed yacht basin. Selection of this alternative would place the County with the possible responsibility of operating and maintaining the bridge. 12