7/23/1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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,JUL 2 3 1986 BOOK 65 PAE ld08 PRESENTATION_ ON SEA TURTLES AND ARTIFICIAL BEACHFRONT_ LIGHTING Mary Dell Donnally, of the Center for Environmental Education in Washington, D. C., gave a slidefilm presentation and brief report on the perils faced by the sea turtles during the nesting season and how they become disoriented by lights showing along the beachfront. She reported that Brevard County recently passed an excellently written ordinance requiring lights on the beaches to be either shielded or turned off, and urged the Board to pass a similar ordinance here in Indian River County. She reported that the State has recently passed a beach restoration funding bill which will give priority to those areas -or communities which have passed ordinances giving protection to endangered species of fish, animals, etc. Commissioner Bowman pointed out that Indian River Shores has a very good ordinance on this and the Audubon Society went to them for enforcement this year and received very good cooperation. Art Challacombe noted that although the DER has established limitations for turtles on new development, there is no provision to review existing development along the beaches. He advised that beachfront residents have been asked to douse their lights during the late night hours and residents have cooperated, especially in the Moorings, but it is strictly on a volunteer basis. Commissioner Lyons believed we should have an ordinance on the books to provide this kind of protection to the sea turtles during the nesting season. ON MOTION by Commissioner Bowman, SECONDED by Commissioner Wodtke, the Board unanimously (4-0, Chairman Scurlock being temporarily out of the room) instructed the Planning Dept. to prepare an ordinance pursuing the protection of the sea turtles during their nesting season, May 1 - October 31.- 75