11/7/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The northern four subject parcels under contract are owned by Marie Simmons (1/2) & Universal Life Church c/o Peter Sabonjohn, Trustee(1/2), with the remaining four parcels under contract owned by Laura Andre. The current tax assessed value of the parcels is $392,354 (Simmons - $178,630; Andre - $213,724). Two issues which are important to staff with respect to all proposed purchases are obtaining cost share assistance in property acquisition and addressing management costs. Cost -Share As previously indicated, Indian River County has been awarded a 50% cost -share grant from the FCT for the purchase, including 500/o of pre-acquisition expenditures (e.g., environmental audit, survey, appraisals). Management Costs Besides cost share, management cost is always an issue with environmental land acquisition. The FCT program, which is highly competitive statewide, awards points for projects based on the provision of resource-based public access facilities. In order to qualify for FCT cost -share funding, the County obligated itself in its FCT application to provide limited access and resource-based facilities on the overall project property. Specifically, conditions of the Conceptual Approval Agreement include County provision of nature trails, including a wetland boardwalk, on the overall Oyster Bar Salt Marsh project property. Habitat management (e.g., exotic plant removal) is also required under the cost -share agreement. Because the overall Oyster Bar Salt Marsh is nearby to Round Island County Park, which has parking and restroom facilities among other improvements, public access improvements on the subject parcels will be minimal. A bicycle path connection along S.R. AIA can be used for access to the property from Round Island Park (Riverside). Relating to long term management, the property will be incorporated into the county -wide park system and managed by the County Parks Division in coordination with county environmental planning staff. Volunteer groups will be asked to assist the County with certain aspects of property management such as nature trail up -keep and litter patrol. A draft management plan for the overall project has been drafted (see Attachment #2). The plan reflects the management aspects described herein, and is subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners and the Governing Body of the FCT prior to County closing on the property. Page 21 of the draft management plan summarizes anticipated management costs of the overall Oyster Bar Salt Marsh project (see Attachment #3). Allowance of Duck Hunting The Oyster Bar Salt Marsh is currently used by duck hunters during a brief hunting season in the Fall of each Year. The County Commission has received a number of letters in the past from hunters urging the County to allow duck hunting to continue if the Oyster Bar Salt Marsh is purchased by the County. A concern expressed by hunters is that two previously hunted sites, the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA) and the Round Island South Conservation Area, are now closed to hunting due to County purchase of the lands for conservation. County staff s position is that it is compatible, for this particular project, for the County to allow continuation of duck hunting at the marsh, which has occurred for many years on a seasonal basis as regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Compared to the ORCA property, which is actively used by school groups and other groups for environmental education excursions, the Oyster Bar Salt Marsh property, which is relatively remote from development, is more appropriate for seasonal hunting. LAAC, at its meeting on October 25, considered the duck hunting issue and voted to support the allowance of the hunting to continue as "status quo." with the understanding that the County could always reconsider the allowance if it becomes a public nuisance or land management conflict. November 7, 2000 124 GK 1 15 PG 8 3 3