12/9/1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EG BOOK 66 o,J,-M7 understand the harm they are doing to the river by taking their small 19 ft. craft up and down the grass flats. He firmly believed that more effort should be given to educating the boaters who put their small boats in the river from various launching sites, as opposed to trying to concentrate on these type of marinas. Planning & Development Director Robert Keating felt that is the reason why the Board sent a Resolution to the State last year asking that these problems be addressed on a state level rather than dealing with them on a project to project basis, which may not even be effective, and seems to place an undue burden on certain developers. Commissioner Wheeler agreed that the damage to the grass beds and the manatees is being done by small boats, not the large boats that dock in marinas. The large boats must stay in deep water and when they are going slow the bow generally sets lower in the water than the propeller and they make more noise. It seems that the larger boats are being penalized for the damage done by smaller boats. Commissioner Bowman pointed out that sailboats must use an auxiliary motor to come in and dock, and wanted to see a better definition of "sailboats". Commissioner Bird asked if the sailboat restriction was something that the developer voluntarily put in as a condition of approval or whether it was something that was changed from the Regional Planning Council's review of it. Richard Shaub, developer of Grand Harbor, stated it was not exactly volunteered; it was actually requested by the DNR and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Commission. They have agreed to conduct studies on the boat traffic and sea grass areas, and after 2-1/2 years they can come in and ask that the "sailboat only" restriction be lifted. Chairman Scurlock opened the Public Hearing and asked if anyone wished to be heard in this matter. There were none. 20 M ,_ M