5/7/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Barkett had stated, Mr. Luther felt the largest property 'owner is his wife. Her family has owned ocean to river since the 1940's and Mrs. Luther and her sisters still own the property on the ocean side, which gives her an interest in all the contiguous property. He stated that the water that comes in on Mr. Krovochek's lagoon does come over into his property and falls into the mangrove which, in his opinion and to his understanding, is and has always been public property. Mr. Luther said his request to the Board to consider this change is to protect his family's home. He narrated the events leading up to this point: In 1980 Mr. Krovochek called Mrs. Luther in regard to buying some acreage south of Michael O'Haire and was curious what her family intended to do with the property immediately south of this property because he hoped to build a single-family residence, estate -quality home and worried about encroaching subdivisions from the south. Mrs. Luther conveyed this to Mr. Luther; they both went to inspect the area, having to use a machete to cut their way through the pepper bushes; found a beautiful, unique piece of property, agreed to sell Mr. Krovochek the part he wanted and decided to build their dream home south of Mr. Krovochek, assuring him the protection for his single- family residence he desired. Mr. Luther said now, all of a sudden, Mr. Krovochek does not want a single-family residence and he wants to subdivide the property and sell it. Mr. Luther had no objection to subdividing the property to the extent that there is acreage there usable for a few more homes. He would prefer Mr. Krovochek not do that but felt it was not his right to try to prevent that. Mr. Luther was concerned, however, with the Indian River estuary because Mr. Krovochek's plan of putting in six more lots includes filling in 50 feet by 400 feet of the Indian River Lagoon. Mr. Krovochek is calling it wetlands, but Mr. Luther described seeing porpoise, manatee and all types of fish boiling the water and a father and son in a boat fishing on this "wetland" that Mr. Krovochek is preparing to fill. Mr. Luther felt the Commission has a responsibility to protect this, in his opinion, "public domain." Mr. Luther further described the unique coastal ecosystem where over the years he has seen school children come to learn about the coastal plants and marine life. He echoed Commissioner Bowman's comments about the fact that this area is a nursery for a majority of marine life in the Indian River. He also mentioned that this is the last area of single-family homes and acreage on the barrier island and asked the Commission to consider initiating a zoning change. Commissioner Scurlock asked if, with our existing land use, they would be allowed to fill in that area. 71 MAY 7 1991