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Mr. Kromhout stressed that the subject property is highly <br />productive agricultural land, but it is interlocked with a layer <br />of clay which prevents water from being absorbed any deeper than <br />the clay and it has to be drained artificially by pumping. That <br />is why the marsh is there, and the marsh actually was created by <br />the Sebastian River Drainage District. Mr. Kromhout continued <br />that if the proposed lakes are created on the subject property, <br />in dry periods this would create what are, in effect, large <br />artificial wells which could pull water from neighboring land <br />owners' soil and cause severe drought problems; also the water <br />leaving the golf course during high rains would cause a pollution <br />problem because of the pesticides and fertilizers. <br />Mr. Kromhout emphasized that citrus in Indian River County <br />is an economically viable operation, and it is profitable as is <br />proven by the groves on either side and the fact that additional <br />groves are being planted. St. Lucie is rapidly becoming the <br />number one citrus producer in the state, and the citrus growers <br />are moving east and south. Mr. Kromhout urged the Commissioners <br />to stick with the Comprehensive Plan and protect the farmers from <br />the problems that would be caused by converting the subject <br />property to residential. <br />Commissioner Scurlock believed that Mr. Kromhout is saying <br />that even to develop this land in agriculture, they still would <br />have to resolve the drainage problem. <br />Mr. Kromhout confirmed this. He reported that the five land <br />owners did meet and the Kromhout family did offer a solution to <br />those who do not have a legal outfall and were willing to allow <br />them a means to attach to their outfall which is adequate. They <br />felt this was a very viable offer which would not only solve <br />those landowner's problems, but also cut down the problem of the <br />St. Johns Water Management District by having only one outfall to <br />deal with coming into the reservoir. St. Johns response was that <br />if the Kromhouts would like to donate 320 acres of land, they <br />would let them continue to farm that property. Mr. Kromhout <br />47 <br />DEC 4.1985 eoolc 62 PAGE9L �i <br />