PLACEMENT: Departmental
TITLE:
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REQUEST APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO PRESERVE AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PINE SCHOOL F/K/A ST. MICHAEL’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL (S170-014) TO MODIFY AN EXISTING PRESERVE AREA
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
This is a request by Lucido & Associates and Haley Ward, on behalf of The Pine School, Inc., for approval of an amendment to the existing preserve area boundary as defined in The Pine School Preserve Area Management Plan (PAMP), which was approved on June 28, 2005, and recorded Official Records Book 2063, Pages 2055, Public Records of Martin County, Florida.
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DEPARTMENT: Growth Management
PREPARED BY: Name: Shawn McCarthy and Darryl Deleeuw
Title: Principal Planner and Environmental Administrator
REQUESTED BY: Lucido & Associates (Morris A. Crady) and Haley Ward (Toby Overdorf)
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
In May of 2025, the Pine School submitted an application for revised final site plan approval, which included proposed revisions to certain buildings, amenities, dry retention areas, the existing entrance on US-1, and related infrastructure for the purpose of providing updated facilities in alignment with the school’s current and future needs. The purpose of this request is to amend the original PAMP and change the configuration of the preserve area to meet the school’s needs for expansion.
The subject property consists of approximately 173.12 acres. The original PAMP identified as preserve area 138.19 acres of native uplands prior to construction of the original school in 2005. The PAMP established 46.28 acres of Sand Pine/Xeric Oak (Scrub) habitat, 1.09 acres of wetland buffer, and 1.96 acres of wetlands. This PAMP amendment proposes to remove 11.07 acres of existing upland scrub preserve and add 17.14 acres of upland scrub to compensate for construction associated with the school as well as potential future campus expansion.
Pursuant to Section 4.36.C, Land Development Regulations (LDR), Martin County Code, addressing alteration of preserve areas: “[t]here shall not be any alteration of the size, shape, or design of a previously approved preserve area without approval by the Board of County Commissioners. An applicant shall make a written request for alteration of a preserve area including the reason for the request and the extent of the alteration. The Growth Management Department Director shall make a recommendation to the BCC regarding the need for the change and the restoration or enhancement necessary to compensate for the alteration. Amendments to a PAMP or alteration of a preserve area must meet all the requirements of the original PAMP.”
Below is a summary analysis of the requirements to amend a Preserve Area Management Plan according to Section 4.36.C, LDR, Martin County Code:
1. Approval by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC).
2. Written request by the applicant explaining the reason for change and extent of change.
The applicant requests that 2.16 acres of upland preserve be removed to accommodate a new road and athletic facilities currently under review with an amended Final Site Plan for the school. An additional 8.91 acres of existing upland preserve adjacent to Banner Lake is also proposed for removal for the use and future expansion of school facilities near the main campus. This area will not be cleared until such time that a future site plan is approved for the development of facilities in this location.
To offset this loss of 11.07 acres in scrub habitat preservation, the applicant proposes to provide 17.14 acres of existing scrub habitat as compensation per the amended PAMP. This proposal equates to a net increase of 6.07 acres of scrub habitat that will be preserved above the original PAMP requirement.
Both the preserve areas identified for removal and the preserve areas to be added are shown on the Pine School - Proposed Preserve Area Exhibit in the PAMP Amendment attached to this report. The proposed preserve area to be added will result in a consolidated preserve design in the southeast corner of the site next to existing preserve area and closer to Jonathan Dickinson State Park, where threatened and endangered species such as the scrub jay exist. Jonathan Dickinson State Park is located about a quarter mile south of this part of the school site. The proposed preserve area covered in this PAMP is shown on the site plan sheets included within the appendix and with the application as well as the proposed and future facilities for the school.
The applicant has further supported the reason for these changes as provided in Part I, Section 2 of the PAMP Amendment (page 2).
3. Growth Management Department Director recommendation to BCC regarding need for change and required compensation for alteration.
The Growth Management Department Director has reviewed the applicant’s rationale for this request and the habitat compensation to be provided with the amended PAMP. This request meets the applicable requirements of the Martin County Code, including the Land Development Regulations and Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. Therefore, the Growth Management Department Director recommends approval of the PAMP amendment by the BCC.
4. Amended preserve must meet all the requirements of the original PAMP.
Like the original PAMP, the amended PAMP meets all the requirements for wetland protection and exceeds the requirements for preservation of rare, unique upland habitat as described above. A recent inspection was conducted by county staff to corroborate that the proposed habitat to be added as preserve is sufficient compensation for the habitat proposed for removal.
Attachments: Original Recorded Development Order/PAMP
Proposed PAMP Amendment
ISSUES:
None.
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, and staff have identified and addressed legal risks and developed strategies for legal defensibility, as applicable.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move the Board approve the Preserve Area Management Plan Amendment for The Pine School project.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Direct staff accordingly.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
The applicant has paid the $1,000 application fee for a revised Preserve Area Management Plan.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☐Resolution
☒Other: Amended Preserve Area Management Plan