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rp- <br />BOOK <br />99 m <br />however, the agreement makes it more difficult to do anything else <br />with the property. Fish & Wildlife's role is only to require <br />annual stewardship reports. <br />The Chairman opened the public hearing and asked if anyone <br />wished to be heard in this matter. <br />Thomas Frame, City Manager of the City of Sebastian, 1225 Main <br />Street, believed this is an important issue for the City. The City <br />has passed a resolution in unanimous support of the project which <br />he presented to the Board. <br />Bob Massarelli, Sebastian City Planner, felt these lots are <br />important in the big picture of the whole scrub habitat issue and <br />urged the Board to move forward with the purchase. <br />Mike Jennings of the Fish & Wildlife Commission felt that <br />management will be challenging but these lots are a very important <br />component for the scrub jays. He encouraged acquisition of these <br />lots. <br />Chairman Adams wanted to know what action Fish & Wildlife <br />would take if an individual lot owner wanted to apply for a <br />building permit. <br />Mr. Jennings responded: "Regarding the lots being considered <br />for acquisition today, the Commission would say we cannot release <br />any lot until the County has developed the entire project". <br />Commissioner Macht inquired whether it is the intention of the <br />Commission to deny the permit, and Mr. Jennings replied that these <br />decisions are made individually, on a lot -by -lot basis. <br />Commissioner Macht questioned whether these are buildable <br />lots, and Mr. Jennings said they certainly are and the Commission <br />has dealt with individual lot owners regarding permits. However, <br />a large umbrella program is much easier to resolve and deal with. <br />Commissioner Bird wanted to know why, if the habitat is for <br />federally endangered species, the Commission does not have funds to <br />buy these lots and why the County has to come up with the money. <br />Mr. Jennings explained that the Commission funds a lot of <br />purchases but in this particular case there are monies going to <br />other entities. <br />Chairman Adams expressed her concerns that in the past Fish & <br />Wildlife has denied permits or required lot owners to purchase <br />additional mitigation property prior to permits being issued. <br />Mr. Jennings said that there is a judgment call on each <br />application and Fish & Wildlife needs to make sure they do not <br />compromise the continued existence of the scrub jays. <br />SEPTEMBER 17, 1996 34 <br />