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Telephone: (107) 567•8000 October 17, 1996 _ r Mike Jennings t: South Florida Ecosystem Office U.S. Fish & wildlife Service P.O. Box 2676 Vero Beach, FL 32961-2676 Re: Sebastian Highlands Scrub Lots Mitigation Alternative BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 1840 2Sth Strict, Vero Beach, Florida 32960 co Dear Mike: I am writing as a follow-up to our meeting on October 4, 1996, at which we discussed alternatives to mitigate development of +450 Sebastian Highlands scrub lots under the purview of the federal Endangered Species Act, relating to the protection of Florida scrub jay habitat. Status of Sebastian Highlands scrub Lots Acquisition As you are aware, the Board of County Commissioners, at a public hearing on September 17, 1996, voted not to proceed with County/State acquisition of 49 individually owned scrub lots in Sebastian Highlands Unit 17. These lots were being considered as "Phase 11" of a county scrub acquisition project originally consisting of 1180 scrub lots in the vicinity of Pelican island Elementary School. The Board's decision not to buy the Sebastian Highlands scrub lots was based largely on (perceived difficulties of scrub management within an active residential subdivision. Although the Board's decision was specific to the 49 lots under consideration at the time, it is clear to county staff that the entire scrub lot acquisition project was affected by the decision. The County's option agreement to buy 50 Atlantic Gulf Communities (AGC) lots ("Phase i") has expired, and A^DC'•s� re res .slri h -,y insitcated t)j, },. r in not willing 31 3d rs>� h 50 s that are clustered norther of Pelican Island i msn arm Schou ConseouentIv, the County is not proceeding to buv anv scrub lots in Senasrian �+�yninnus. > A64 CVA"J64 ;+S mind apfer Oiil,& led* -W5, wri*CA- North Sebantian Conservation Area rolo-A��A9 6 Although the Board is not proceeding with the scrub lots purchase, it recently / approved the purchase of two relatively large tracts in north Sebastian. the +76 acre "AGC Industrial Tract," and the +312 acre "St. Sebastian PUD" property. These two contiguous tracts, located east of the Sebastian Municipal Airport and golf course, contain approximately +40 acres of occupied scrub jay territory as well as +50 acres of overgrown xeric oak and sand pine scrub with potential for scrub jay habitat restoration. The City of Sebastian has requested that the County allow for potential future extension of Gibson Street through the North Sebastian Conservation Area in existing and future right-of-way (ROW). Assuming that this road would be H