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