11/5/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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canal bank is deteriorating. Beyond that, this has had an effect on the quality of life and the privacy of the residents. Mr. Slimak described the former buffer as a beautiful green wall which blocked out the lights from traffic on Indian River Boulevard and without which he felt his property is devalued. He advised that the residents are asking the Army Corps of Engineers to monitor what has to be done to get that canal back to its original condition, including a site screen and a green buffer zone, not at the water's edge but at the property line. Mr. Slimak stressed that Mr. Schlitt or the developer has sloped the bank, in effect pulling that high ground across the property line onto his property and putting the entire easement under water at high tide, and if that continues along the bank there will be no easement there below water level; he will have raked this issue into the City jurisdiction and into his property line and that will be the end of it. The residents will just simply have to live with what has been done and suffer the property loss on the value of their homes. Mr. DeBlois responded that there is a need to do some resloping in order to install wetland plantings. He pointed out that the north side of the Rockridge canal is a bulkhead, which would be an alternative to maintain the prior elevation and stabilize the shore. Discussion ensued regarding the types of plants which had existed on this property. Commissioner Bowman asked if there had been a biological survey by the Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. DeBlois responded it had been done in January of 1991 which indicated a wetland area on the property. Mr. Slimak reflected on the varied wildlife which had made its home in that environment prior to the clearing of the bank. He described the men and equipment used to remove the plants and the fact that it is being replaced by one man, one wheelbarrow and one little shovel on Sunday mornings. He said a piece of black cloth about fifty feet long is secured with rocks from the canal but a large portion of the bank has not been secured. Commissioner Scurlock asked whether survey stakes had been placed to set the slope. Public Works Director Jim Davis said the Army Corps usually sets some kind of control. Commissioner Eggert asked who inspects the progress of this activity. Mr. DeBlois responded that since it is an Army Corps permit, the Corps would have the jurisdictional review in monitoring the work. Under the after -the -fact permit the County could monitor the 41 eur,� F�.cE 6o g°�°J