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• I Local zoning regulations and hazardous material concerns potentially affecting the Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas have been assessed by the Applicant as part of the land acquisition procedures for these properties (R. DeBlois pers. comm.). 3.6 Sebastian HCP Plan Area Habitat Types and Surrounding Land Use Descriptions Scrub vegetation community types are associated with ridges of well -drained to moderately -well drained soils (Kurz 1942; Laessle 1942, 1958; Schmalzer et al. 1999). Along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, scrub communities occur as patches within a matrix of poor to moderately -well drained flatwoods and isolated wetlands (Breininger et aL 1988, 1991; Schmalzer et al. 1999). This diverse mosaic of habitat types describes scrub landscapes that are optimal for Florida scrub -jays (Fitzpatrick et al. 1991; Breininger 1992; Breininger et al. 1995, 1996b). The classification of the habitat types identified within the scrub landscapes in the HCP Plan Area are generally based on the FNAI Guide to the Natural Communities of Florida (FNAI 1990) classification system. A brief description of each community type, including associated soils, is presented below. The landscape context of the HCP Plan Area is clearly displayed on Figure 2. It is primarily comprised of suburban/urban complex. A detailed description of habitat types within the Indian River County -owned Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas can be found in the management plans developed for each of these sites in support of the FCT grant awards (FloridaAffinity, Inc. and Ecotech Consultants, Inc. 1995, 1996, 1998). The Sebastian Highlands ITP impact area is characterized by small remnant patches of scrub and mesic habitat communities sparsely interspersed within a massive, fast growing urban residential landscape. Figure 2 vividly portrays the multiple habitat disturbances that have occurred within the historical Atlantic Coastal Ridge scrub landscape as a result of development of the Sebastian Highlands subdivision. With the exception of the affected Unit 17 scrub lots located near the Pelican Island Elementary School compensation area, most of the potential scrub -jay habitat areas remaining within the Sebastian Highlands are composed of disturbed and overgrown mesic flatwood and palmetto-lyonia shrubland vegetation, as described above in Section 3.2. Review of the Soils Survey of Indian River County, Florida (Wettstein et al. 1987) determined that the mF?sic communities within the ITP impact area occur primarily on the nearly level, poorly drained EauGallie, Myakka, Inunokalee, Oldsmar, and Malabar fine sands. Fragments(] patches of xeric oak scrub remain within the delineated affected Unit 17 residential lots and both of the Unit 17 Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas (Pelican Island Elementary School/Sebastian Highlands Scrub Conservation Area) (see Figure 2). The vegetative composition of this scrub community is generally characterized by an open canopy of slash pine with an open to closed shrub 43