PLACEMENT: Consent
TITLE:
title
REQUEST TO INITIATE AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE PAL MAR EAST PROPERTY (AKA NINE GEMS) TO A CATEGORY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
This is a request to initiate a Future Land Use Map amendment to Pal Mar East (Nine Gems), a 2,886-acre South Florida Water Management District/County-owned conservation area from Agricultural to Institutional Conservation with a concurrent request to change the zoning from Agricultural to Public Conservation. This property is in southern Martin County between the Turnpike to the east and SW Pratt Whitney Road to the west. The Land Use/Zoning change is necessary to comply with obligations to the Florida Communities Trust, a land acquisition program administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as stipulated in the Deed of Restrictive Covenants for the property.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PREPARED BY: Name: Michael A. Yustin
Title: Senior Project Manager
REQUESTED BY: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
Pal Mar East is a 2,886-acre conservation parcel that is managed by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) and Martin County. The property is managed as a component of the Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area. The property was purchased with a grant from Florida Communities Trust and is subject to a Deed of Restrictive Covenants requiring that the future land use designation assigned to the Project Site be a category dedicated to open space, conservation, or outdoor recreation uses as appropriate. The Deed further stipulates that the site be managed only for the conservation, protection and enhancement of natural and historical resources and for passive, natural resource-based public outdoor recreation which is compatible with the conservation, protection and enhancement [of the site].
Comprehensive Growth Management policy 4.13A.11.(2) provides the Institutional Conservation land use designation for lands compatible with conservation and passive recreation and requires that environmentally sensitive lands acquired by the County be reclassified to the Institutional Conservation land use designation during the next plan amendment cycle. The only activities permitted on Conservation lands are management activities that preserve or enhance the natural resources of the property and/or that provide passive recreational opportunities that provides for the public's enjoyment of the property. Development is limited to conservation compatible access, maintenance, parking, and facilities such as walking trails and information booths.
Both the Soil Survey of the Martin County Area, and the Composite Wetlands Map indicate that a substantial portion of the property contains hydric soils and wetlands. Furthermore, the property is critical to a Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) project to restore the NW Fork of the Loxahatchee River. Staff recommends approval of a land use change on the site from Agricultural to Institutional Conservation. Public Conservation (PC) is the only current zoning district that implements the proposed Institutional Conservation land use. For that reason, staff recommends that the Board initiate a Future Land Use Map amendment to change from Agricultural to Public Conservation.
ISSUES:
None
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, has identified and addressed legal risks, and has developed strategies for legal defensibility.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move that the Board adopt the Resolution to initiate a future land use map amendment to the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan and authorize the Chairman to execute all documents necessary to complete the transaction.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Pull this item from the Consent Agenda and provide alternative direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
None
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☒Resolution
☐Other:
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