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BOOK 95 PAGE 611 <br />SECTION III STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS <br />A. FAsting Improvements <br />A locked chain link gate at the northwest corner of the property on 58th. Avenue is the single <br />existing site improvement at this time. Chain link fencing installed by the John's Island Club <br />West golf course runs along the property line shared with that property. The remainder of the <br />Property is not fenced. This has allowed unauthorized dumping to occur over time, leaving <br />several locations of debris along unimproved "woods roads" and along the east and west <br />boundaries with adjacent residences. <br />B. Proposed Improvements <br />Resource management activities at Wabasso Scrub Conservation will require site improvements <br />to secure the site from unauthorized dumping activities, introduction or reintroduction of <br />nuisance exotic plants and feral animals, and fire protection. These improvements will include <br />fencing the property boundary with 4' hogwire field fence, and the clearing and maintenance <br />of a firebreak 12' to 15' in width at the perimeter inside the fence. These improvements will <br />receive priority in County funding for operation of the Conservation Area. They should be <br />accomplished within three to six months after purchase of the property. <br />Where possible, the firebreak will incorporate existing woods roads. (See Figure _.) The <br />preliminary estimate of clearing required to develop this feature is 1.78 acres. The firebreak will <br />double as a vehicular access lane for patrols of the Conservation Area, and for access around <br />the site during prescribed bum events. <br />The location of fencing and firebreak clearing will be adjusted on site to avoid impacts on listed <br />plant or animal species, with the review and assistance of GFC staff. The location of the <br />firebreak will be adjusted as necessary so that no unreasonable physical or visual impacts occur <br />to neighboring properties as a result of that clearing. <br />Physical improvements to allow safe public access and use of the Conservation Area will be <br />necessary in the future. In view of the primary and secondary purposes of the project, discussed <br />above, only those facilities needed to support interpretive and educational activities on the site <br />are recommended. The facilities of the Conservation Area will be constructed in compliance <br />with all state and federal construction standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. <br />The proposed improvements include a short access drive from Wabasso Road with a parking <br />area designed for 10 automobiles (including 1 handicapped space) and two school buses. A <br />small, pre fabricated metal shelter, a wooden observation overlook (approximately 200 square <br />feet in area) on a representative wetland area, and interpretive signage comprise the structural <br />improvements recommended for the Conservation Area. <br />Two loop trails are proposed The accessible interpretive trail is a compacted limerock walk <br />5' in width and approximately 2,800 feet long. The trail will allow visitors of all physical <br />abilities to move through each of the natural communities and ecotones of the site. Interpretive <br />signs at the proposed shelter and along the trail will explain the natural resources and processes <br />of the site, the species composition, dynamics and fire -dependent ecology of the scrub, scrubby <br />flatwoods and pine flatwoods and wet prairie communities, and the restoration and <br />enhancement activities occurring in the Conservation Area as a whole. The unimproved loop <br />trail is a footpath approximately one mile in length to allow a broader view of the Conservation <br />area, and to provide non vehicular access to the interior of the property for patrol, nature study <br />and research. <br />Figure _ depicts a preliminary location for these improvements, subject to additional site <br />analysis. With the exception of the parking area, no trees will be removed to construct the <br />facilities. The parking area will require clearing approximately 10,000 to square feet of pine <br />flatwoods. It is recommended that pavement for the parking area be limited to the drive, and <br />a pervious system be used to stabilize the parking bays in order to reduce the area required to <br />be cleared for construction and stormwater management. A bicycle rack will be provided to <br />encourage alternative transportation. Bicycle use within the Conservation Area will be <br />prohibited as a measure to protect the site's natural resources and the experiences of other <br />visitors. <br />45 <br />JUNE 279 1995 <br />M M M <br />