7/5/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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mom 9 2 FvjF 759 JUL 59994 MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Macht, SECONDED by Commissioner Bird to deny staff's recommendation and retain the subject properties for the use intended and represented to the citizens. Under discussion, Commissioner Adams supported staff's recommendation which will allow us to comply with U.S. Fish & Wildlife. She believed that we will have to do it, or go to court, and she wasn't prepared to spend taxpayers' money on an issue that has been challenged time and again and been turned down. She preferred to direct our attention and efforts to Congress and U.S. Fish & Wildlife to try to effect a change of this burdensome act. Commissioner Macht explained that the criticism is leveled at the necessity of our staff having to waste time on non-productive areas where there is a public need. Commissioner Eggert pointed out that we still have to deal with our own Comp Plan which requires that 15 percent be set aside for conservation, and debating where that 15 percent should be on the subject properties. Commissioner Bird stated he wouldn't have a problem if the conservation area was limited to the park area because he believed the expansion of the utility site will become a necessity in the future. Commissioner Macht believed we would be betraying the interest and trust of the people to use these properties in this way after their approval of a $26 -million bond issue for acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands. Commissioner Bird asked if there is any possibility of a compromise with U.S. Fish & Wildlife for using just the recreational site as mitigation towards the clearing that was done there and excluding the 5.5 acres in the utility site. Director Keating advised that Roland DeBlois does not think they would accept just the park site transfer of the conservation easement as adequate. Jim Granse, a concerned citizen, felt that Commissioner Macht described the situation very clearly, and that we have to draw the line somewhere. Director Keating emphasized that there is a limited amount of habitat in this area with Indian River Heights to the north, Oslo Park to the south and development to the east and west. Generally there is very little scrub habitat in the South County that is used by the jays. A possible site is on part of the Indian River 28 M M