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In the category of social/economic value and multiple use opportunity, each of the two areas would be acquired primarily for habitat conservation, and multiple use would be limited. Purchase/Management Issues In the purchase/management category, Guide matrix criteria address purchase need vs. other ot acquisitionelopment potential; threat; and market land management ease; cooperative conditions. Comparing the -Sebastian Highlands Unit 17 lots and the AGC industrial tract, purchase need is more critical to the Sebastian Highlands lots to protect viable habitat. This is because the alternative of allowing partial conservation of scrub on a lot -by - lot development basis would be largely ineffective due to fragmentation of remaining scrub habitat in the area. In contrast, although purchase is the most effective preservation means, for the AGC industrial tract, the property could conceivably be partially developed and still maintain some level of viable habitat under a mitigation plan. With the exception of the current "stalemate" situation between private lot owners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerning development of the subject Sebastian Highlands lots, the Highlands lots are under a more immediate development threat than the AGC industrial tract, which presently has unimproved road right-of-way frontage. Considering land management ease and market conditions, the AGC industrial tract is better suited as a management unit. This is because the Sebastian Highlands -lots are within a developing subdivision and are somewhat fragmented, conditions which could lead to management difficulties. Acquisition ease of the AGC industrial tract is more favorable from the standpoint of having one owner vs. the multiple ownership of the Highlands lots. These two issues - land management ease and number of owners - were the primary factors in LAAC's 9 to 4 vote to recommend the AGC industrial tract for current FCT cycle funding vs. the Sebastian Highlands lots. Importance to County -Wide HCP The County Commission has directed staff to coordinate with the City of Sebastian to develop a county -wide scrub jay HCP. Scrub acquisition, particularly within Sebastian, is an essential part of the HCP. The City of Sebastian's participation in and support of a county -wide HCP is largely based on public acquisition of the identified Sebastian Highlands lots, to alleviate the land use conflict of lot development vs. endangered species protection. The +180 Sebastian Highlands lots represent the crux of negotiations between the City and the Fish and Wildlife Service, as to the minimum number of lots needing protection to pro -actively allow single-family lot development, without substantial delays, in compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act. The City of Sebastian's request that these lots be an acquisition priority was an important factor in the Board of County Commissioners' decision to include the lots in the Sebastian Scrub FCT application. FEBRUARY 7, 1995 85 BOOK U4 P�„-L 303