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land use designation, it is anticipated that commercial _ development on the subject site will maintain compatibility with surrounding areas in two ways. The first will be through buffering. Since the applicant is requesting a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning for only a portion of a 20.65 acre parcel of land, there will be a two hundred (200) foot buffer of RM -6 zoned property located between the subject property and the single family residential area west of 135th Street. The second means of ensuring compatibility will be through landscaping. At the time of development review, this site will be required to meet the county's landscaping requirements and to provide adequate buffering between' any commercial development and adjacent residentially designated' properties. Based upon the analysis performed on the subject property, staff feels that the requested commercial zoning would be compatible with the surrounding area. Potential Impact on Environmental Quality As previously stated, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) has identified the subject property as part of a larger sand pine scrub habitat. The property is less than 10% disturbed, and at least two rare endemic species have been identified on-site; these are the gopher tortoise and the Florida scrub lizard. A' detailed site-specific environmental survey of the overall property has not been conducted as of this time. However, the provisions of LDR Chapter 929, Upland Habitat Protection, require the developer to conduct a site-specific environmental survey, prior to site development, to identify any rare species on site (Coastal Management Policy 1.4). Consistent with Conservation Objective 7, Chapter 929 of the county's land development regulations requires a developer to coordinate with the GFC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to protect listed rare species to the extent feasible, to the satisfaction of the county and the wildlife agencies (reference Conservation Policy 7.1). This requirement will ensure that adequate protection will be provided to -any gopher tortoises, Florida scrub lizards, or any other endangered species, threatened species, or species of special concern found on the site. Depending upon GFC and USFWS criteria, this: protection may involve special siting requirements for improvements, protection of specific habitat areas, or relocation of species found on site. As noted, the subject property has been determined to be a part of the county's "environmentally important" upland area. Conservation Policy. 6.11 states that undeveloped tracts of xeric scrub and coastal/ tropical hammocks 5 acres or larger shall be deemed "env.ironmentally.important", in recognition of their scarcity and natural values, and in recognition of =the public interest in encouraging the conservation of plants and animals associated with these vegetative communities. Environmentally important areas are protected through various comprehensive plan policies and associated land development regulations. As referenced above, conservation element objective 7 and Coastal Management Policy 1.4, as well as LDR Chapter 929, address rare species. Protection of environmentally important tracts are addressed in two other ways in the plan. Like all other upland areas, environmentally important areas are subject to the upland set-aside requirement of conservation element policy 6.12. For those parcels deemed particularly valuable, conservation element policy 6.2 provides for county purchase through its land acquisition program. While the tract in question is not -on the Indian River County Land Acquisition Advisory Committee's (LAAC) present list of properties 23 1' %'V cubo