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M M M <br />Environmental Planning Chief Roland DeBlois clarified that the <br />language used by the state is "occupied building," and the proposed <br />language is comparable with the states language, which does refer <br />to "occupied" versus "vacated." <br />Vice Chairman Bowman commented that we do have seasonal <br />occupancy. <br />Commissioner Tippin 'cited the example of rural areas where <br />buildings that were constructed for labor housing are habitable but <br />are unoccupied for 2 or 3 years at a time. <br />Mr. Boling suggested that in every instance in the ordinance <br />where we have the word "occupiable," we would change it to <br />"occupied," and that would make it consistent with the state <br />language. <br />The Board indicated agreement. <br />The Chairman opened the public hearing and asked if anyone <br />wished to be heard in this matter. <br />Nancy Offutt, Office of Government Affairs Coordinator for the <br />Indian River -Vero Beach Board of Realtors, reaffirmed her comments <br />from the last meeting regarding exemptions to the single family <br />lots or lots smaller than one acre on tree removal and land <br />clearing. She urged the Board to enforce the Endangered Species <br />Act only to the extent that the law mandates. She would like to <br />see some way that the County would officially notify in the public <br />records lots that are affected by this ordinance. <br />Commissioner Bird led discussion regarding Section 15. <br />Environmental Planning Chief Roland DeBlois explained that <br />only property which has been pre -identified by County staff in <br />coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife agencies as having <br />habitat for endangered species would be involved in this change. <br />Where previously it might have been exempt, now they must get a <br />land clearing permit before development. This is not to say the <br />permit will not be issued, but it will afford a review mechanism to <br />coordinate and maximize protection. <br />Commissioner Bowman explained that a 1/4 -acre lot is not <br />sufficient scrub jay habitat. We would need a big mosaic of little <br />lots in order to make it work. <br />Mr. DeBlois agreed, but explained that we would work with <br />owners of small lots to reduce clearing and to preserve more of the <br />natural landscape. <br />Jane Tutton, representative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Services, stated that the federal agencies would work with owners <br />of small lots to retain about 20 percent of native scrub <br />5 <br />Boa 8 ?AtE 722 <br />SEP 1992 <br />