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• It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners formally consider the following information at the Board's meeting of July 23, 2002. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS The "Wabasso Scrub Addition" is approximately 6.5 acres immediately north of and contiguous to the County's --111 acre Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area (see attached map). The subject property, consisting of oak scrub on the south portion of Park Place Development in the City of Sebastian, has been on the County Land Acquisition Advisory Committee s (LAAC's) site list since 1997. Currently, the Wabasso Scrub Addition ranks 8 out of 16 sites on the LAAC site list In 1999, the County applied for and was awarded a 50% cost -share grant from the Florida Communities Trust to acquire the Wabasso Scrub Addition. That grant, however, expired due to the owner's unwillingness to sell the property at the County's appraised value. The owner of Park Place is now proposing to expand the development to build -out the project's undeveloped land. Relating to that expansion, habitat of the federally listed Florida scrub jay is proposed to be impacted. Consequently, the owner, through R.L. Weigt Environmental Consultants, Inc (RLW), has applied for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to "take" 6.93 acres of occupied scrub - jay habitat for development. As required for the ITP, RLW has drafted a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Park Place development expansion. As partial mitigation for proposed impacts to scrub jay habitat, the owner has agreed to donate the 6.5 acre Wabasso Scrub Addition to the County for incorporation into the Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area. ANALYSIS It is a policy of the County, as adopted in the County Land Acquisition Guide, to encourage donations of environmentally significant lands as preferred to County fee -simple purchase. In this case, the owner is proposing to donate the property 100% fee -title to the County, with no encumbrances or third -party rights. The County, however, will be responsible for managing the property's habitat in perpetuity in accordance with the County's Sebastian Area -Wide Florida Scrub -Jay Habitat Conservation Plan (March 2002). RLW has advised county staff that, in conjunction with the donation, the Park Place owner has agreed to relocate and expand the County's fencing of the Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area to compass the donated Addition, at no cost to the County. From the standpoint of annual maintenance, the Addition will become a part of the Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area with minimal (if any) additional management costs. Although the Wabasso Scrub Addition is to be donated, there are still closing costs associated with the acquisition Those costs, however, will be minimal compared to the altemative of County purchase of the property. LAAC Review At the LAAC's meeting on June 26, 2002, staff reported the proposed donation to the LAAC. Although the LAAC did not vote on the matter, it was the consensus of the LAAC that the donation was a preferred alternative to purchase of the site, and that the, County should proceed with acceptance of the donation. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners accept donation of the "Wabasso Scrub Addition" as a northern expansion of the Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area, and authorize staff to close the acquisition. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Maps of the Wabasso Scrub Addition 2. Excerpt from the Park Place Habitat Conservation Plan July 23, 2002 47 r •