2008-152 A - Laserfiche WebLink

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Proposed Use and Management The proposed preservation and passive outdoor use of the project site will consist of the following major components : 1 . 1 ,000 — 4,000 square foot Trailhead Welcome Station/Environmental Museum with public bathrooms 2 . 12 ' X 16 ' picnic pavilion 3 . Wildlife observation Tower & Platform along the restored waterway 4. ADA approved nature Trail/Boardwalks to permit visitors to safely view the site ' s natural resources 5 . A 1/a mile multi-use "Rail to Trail" Greenway traveling from the Park ' s east to west property lines 6 . A 7 acre Primitive Equestrian Camp Site 7 . Playground and Tot-Lot 8 . A 12 ' wide stabilized dirt Greenway trail for motorized and non-motorized vehicles 9 . Public Parking for cars , vans, R/V 's, and trailers . The Project is consistent with/and furthers the directives adopted in the Indian River County Comprehensive Plan. The 88 . 6 acre Fellsmere Preserve will benefit the community by providing a fun, safe and inviting atmosphere promoting unity, enjoyment, fitness, environmental education and relaxation. It will also serve as an extension of and provide public access into the existing St. Sebastian River Buffer Preserve State Park. Plan Directives The key Indian River County comprehensive management plan directives that are furthered by public acquisition and management of the Project Site are as follows . 1 . Recreation and Open Space Objective 1 , and Policy 1. 1 , adopts a recreational Level of Service (LOS ) Standard of 4 acres per 1 ,000 people. The Project Site will provide over 88 acres of additional natural areas , open space and passive recreational enjoyment of the Project site 's natural environment to the current and future residents living in Indian River County. 2 . Conservation Objective 6, and Policy 6. 14, provides for the preserving (by fee simple acquisition) a minimum of 500 additional acres of upland native plant communities (since 1990) and Objective 8 directs the County by 2004 to increase public owned open space by at least 10% from the County' s 1995 total of 68 ,239 acres . Acquiring the fee simple ownership of the Project site will provide 88 acres of additional public owned lands with existing habitat for listed birds and upland islands containing Pine Flatwoods similar to the adjacent St. Sebastian River State Buffer Preserve while buffering the State's St. Sebastian Preserve from future urban impact at the heavily traveled adjacent I- 95 Interchange with County Road 512 . 3 . Conservation Objective 6, and Policy 6. 1 , directs its Administration to assist Regional , State and Federal agencies in the establishment of regional Preserves of a sufficient size to function as "wildlife corridors" (Greenways) in order to maintain viable populations of endemic plants and/or animal species and provide access routes for the public to enjoy Florida 's outdoor natural resources and recreational benefits . Indian River County' s Conservation Policy 8.6 requires its administration to give priority in acquiring land for conservation those lands that create new or enhanced resourced based narks , Greenways and recreational trail systems . Indian River County and the City of Fellsmere are furthering the directive from the City by acquiring the 88 acre project site and providing multi-use Greenway recreational trail in the center of the Project site to safely access the C54 Primary Drainage Canal, the St Sebastian River and its surrounding 22,000 acre Buffer Preserve. 4 . Conservation Objective 12, and Policy 12.5 , requires the County to establish a Conservation Land Management Program and include funding for managing lands acquired to be restored, enhance impacted wetlands and uplands and eradication of nuisance exotic vegetation. The Project site 's 11