6/02/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Board reviewed Memoranda of May 25, 1998 and June 1, 1998: TO: James E. Chandler County Administrator DEPARTMENT BEAD CONCURRENCE: Robert M. 19, AI PZ7 Community Developmen Dir FROM: - Roland M. DeB1oCP Chief, Environmental Planning DATE: May 25, 1998 RE: PROPOSED ORDINANCE RESTRICTING AIRBOATS IN TBE ST. SEBASTIAN RIVER It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting of June 2, 1998. Overview Over the past several months, county staff has received complaints from residents in the Roseland area about a recently established business, Airboat Wilderness Tours, that gives airboat tours of the St. Sebastian River. The business, consisting of two airboats, is owned by Mr. Robert Taylor. One of the airboats is ± 33 feet long and is designed to hold up to 35 passengers. Mr. Taylor reportedly operates his business out of two locations: "Skidmore Marina" in the City of Sebastian and "Sand Pointe Marina" in Micco (in Brevard County). Complaints received by county staff relate largely to noise nuisance. Other concerns raised by complainants include: speed zone violations (the St. Sebastian River is designated a slow speed zone); boating safety (e.g., compatibility with canoeists and other boaters); and impacts on wildlife. The matter was considered by the County Marine Advisory/Narrows Watershed Action Committee (MANWAC) at its meetings in March and April, 1998 (minutes attached). At those meetings, MANWAC discussed what actions, if any, the County should take to address the referenced issues. The meetings were attended by approximately 30 of the complainants. The auboat business owner, Mr. Taylor, attended and provided input at the April, 1998 MANWAC meeting, as well. As a result of those meetings, MANWAC voted 8 to 3 to recommend that the Board adopt the attached proposed ordinance, which would prohibit airboats in the Indian River County portion of the St. Sebastian River. MANWAC also recommended that the County coordinate with Brevard County and request that Brevard consider adopting similar auboat restrictions on portions of the river in Brevard County. (The Brevard County Commission recently held a public meeting to discuss the issue, but postponed action pending Indian River County's consideration of the matter). As such, this matter is now being presented to the Board of County Commissioners for its consideration regarding adoption of the attached proposed ordinance. Proposed Ordinance The proposed ordinance is based on a City of Melbourne ordinance that restricts the use of personal watercraft (PWC) and airboats within the municipal limits of the City of Melbourne. The proposed ordinance for Indian River County prohibits the mooring, as well as the operation, of an airboat within the St. Sebastian River. As drafted, the ordinance is proposed to be an addition to Section 306.12 of the County Code, and reads as follows: The operation or mooring of an airboat in any open water, tidal water, or riverine wetland area along the portion of the St. Sebastian River lying within Indian River County is hereby prohibited. For the purpose of this section, an airboat shall be defined as a watercraft propelled by an engine, motor or other propulsion system which atiUzes a propeller, fan or blade which is not normally submerged below the water surface upon which the craft operates and which is commonly known as an "airboat." JUNE 291998 -58-