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40 <br />40 <br />tndinn River County Manatee Prosection a.nl Boating Safety Comprehensive Management Plan <br />According to the data contained in the FIT boating study, the typical zone of influence for boat <br />ramps throughout the County averages three (3) miles or less. The lack of an adequate boat <br />ramp in the southern section of the County might explain why the zones of influence for <br />MacWilliams Park and Riverside Park are twice as large (over six (6) miles) as those for other <br />boat ramps located throughout the County. <br />BOAT FACILITY SITING <br />At this time, there is no need to develop new boat facilities in Indian River County. As <br />previously mentioned, expansion of existing facilities will be more than adequate to <br />accommodate market demand through 2005. Also, with respect to natural resource constraints <br />and the county's land development regulations, areas conducive for boat facility siting are <br />limited. Nevertheless, there are several sites in the county that are potential sites for a boat <br />facility (hereafter described). <br />The FWC has identified the following general categories of constraints/considerations for boat <br />facility siting and expansion: <br />• <br />proximity to popular boating destinations, such as an inlet or recreational area; <br />proximity to the ICW; <br />• <br />proximity to manatee aggregation areas and manatee habitat; <br />• <br />extent of manatee use; <br />• <br />water depth and circulation; <br />■ <br />amount of overlap in patterns of use by manatees and boats; <br />• <br />number of manatee mortalities; <br />• <br />natural resources (e.g. the presence of dense SAV on site); <br />boat facility demand/recreational needs; and <br />0 <br />upland site requirements <br />Site Specific Criteria <br />The referenced siting factors/considerations provide a basis for developing criteria for the <br />siting and expansion of boat facilities. These criteria are described in detail in the following <br />sections. <br />Existing LDR Criteria <br />Site-specific criteria, which affect boat facility siting in the unincorporated portion of Indian <br />River County, are contained in the county's land development regulations (LDRs). <br />Regulations pertaining to water -dependent uses are contained in LDR Section 932.11(2) <br />Water -dependent uses. This regulation requires: !) all water-dependen( uses to have <br />sufficient upland facilities and an appropriate zoning classification; 2) adverse impacts to <br />seagrass and shoreline vegetation to be minimized; and 3) water -dependent uses to submit <br />pollution mitigation plans to the county. Also, this regulation prohibits the siting of boat <br />facilities in approved shellfish harvesting areas and existing seagrass beds. <br />Community Development Departmens Page q9 <br />