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J U M 211994 <br />BOOK 92 PAGE 6.81 <br />REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO RECONFIGURE HABITAT CONSERVATION AREA <br />AT THE SOUTH COUNTY PARR <br />The Board reviewed the following memo dated June 15, 1994: <br />TO: James E. Chandler <br />County Administrator <br />D NT HEAD CONCURRENCE: <br />111aert M. Keatlitg-.1 AIC <br />Community Develop��ment rector <br />FROM: Roland M. DeBlois,v-en�'AICP <br />Chief, Environmental Planning <br />DATE: June 15, 1994 <br />RE: Request for Authorization to Reconfigure- Habitat <br />Conservation Area at the South County Park <br />It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal <br />consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its regular <br />meeting of June 21, 1994. <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS <br />Staff is requesting that the Board of County Commissioners <br />authorize the reconfiguration of an existing +8 acre conservation <br />area at South County Park, in order to protect +9 acres of scrub <br />Jay habitat on the north portion of the subject property. <br />Staff is also requesting that the Board consider a U.S Fish and <br />Wildlife Service (FWS) recommendation that the County establish a <br />scrub conservation area on the north +5.5 acres of the adjacent <br />South County Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) Water Plant property. <br />The purpose of these proposed conservation areas is to mitigate <br />approximately 5 acres of scrub jay habitat identified by the FWS as <br />having been disturbed as a result of South County Park construction <br />in 1992. <br />Background <br />Subsequent to County land clearing and development of the South <br />County Park in 1991-92, county environmental planning staff learned <br />from the FWS that a portion of the- area cleared was scrub jay <br />habitat. Specifically, the playground area and the north half of <br />the baseball diamonds area were scrub jay habitat. <br />Michael Bentzien of the FWS, in a letter dated June 30, 1992 (see <br />attached), advised staff that an estimated 5 acres of scrub jay <br />territory had been cleared. In his letter, Mr. Bentzien indicated <br />that this clearing of scrub jay habitat, in violation of the <br />federal Endangered Species Act, could be mitigated by proper <br />management of all remaining scrub on-site. <br />Over the past two years, staff has coordinated with FWS and Florida <br />Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) staff to develop a <br />mitigation management plan for the park property, in the context of <br />overall. area scrub habitat. This proposed plan is summarized as <br />follows: <br />26 <br />