11/5/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

If I Nov 0 5i�W BOOK 84 P,4u 70 activity, and we will look closely at the erosion control issue. Chairman Bird recounted that Mr. Schlitt had said he had been pressured by the City to clear the property and in the process of obtaining permits he got involved with the Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Schlitt further explained that it was the Army Corps of Engineers who came up with the sloping plan and removal of the Brazilian peppers and replanting of the shoreline. Chairman Bird believed Mr. Schlitt would have left everything as it was because he has received no benefit and only angered the residents of Rockridge. Commissioner Bowman stated this was a mitigation project because Mr. Schlitt had violated the code by doing some illegal fill. Mr. DeBlois said when he spoke to Mr. Schlitt, Mr. Schlitt had characterized the process- as Chairman Bird explained it. Mr. DeBlois speculated it was possible that when Mr. Schlitt was clearing the property he took the opportunity to do a little more than the actual requirement of the City. Then, under scrutiny of the site, the Army Corps discovered the wetland situation interior to the property and Mr. DeBlois felt that. the canal work was a result of Army Corps-Schlitt coordination to resolve and mitigate the interior wetland issue. Mr. Slimak recounted that when this clearing began on the bank of the property the residents along the canal started calling every authority they could think of to try to get someone to stop the activity. They met with the developer and discussed it, but the developer would not relent and now the residents must live with the situation. This clearing has had a tremendous impact on the community and the County should respond. Ruth Chapman, 1450 Fifth Avenue, came before the Board and stated that she had no quarrel with Mr. Schlitt. She wanted to state that there was a mistake in staff's presentation in that the City never told Mr. Schlitt to clear that land. She said he was cited for and asked to clear out brush, but he was not asked to clear that land for the sake of the City,and the City has written to the Corp of Engineers and so stated because they realized it was a mistake immediately; but he is still saying that they asked him to. Ms. Chapman stated that the residents would like the canal dredged by Mr. Schlitt because he is responsible for all of that dirt going into the canal and they want the canal put in the same shape it was before the property was cleared. She described the _ canal as "absolutely filthy," whereas before it was clear and had lots of fish. Ms. Chapman told the Board she has enjoyed the years she has 42