HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 - Ltr from ResidentJanuary 28, 2004
Walter dames, Mayor
City of Sebastian
1225 Main Slrc'et
Sebastian, Florida 32958
Dear Mayor Barnes:
As you are well aware, there are great changes taking place along the South Prong of the St.
Sebastian River. The Friends are concerned about the impact on the river habitat. Unfortunately any
negative impacts will be hard to correct or mitigate after -the -fact. it has come to our attention that
the City of Sebastian has no ordinances that provide for protection of the shoreline along the river.
As the propcitics get annexed into the City, we would lk 10 ask that the council scriously considc
the impacts of those changes and ways to protect the
the river_ Indian River County does have an
ordinance prQYtdtng for a shoreline buffer, which would affect thl1QP 1)il7pPrti ls(]}li tiiPy ATP
annexed into the city. Therefore we are requesting that the council, at minimum, consider
implementing the same provisions as the county's ordinance, to provide the same buffer protection as
exists prior to annexation.
The Indian River County ordinance is entitled Section 929.07 — St. Sebastian River and Indian
River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Shoreline Protection Buffer Zone. You will find the text of that
section of the county ordinance attached hereto.
The St. Sebastian River -is habitat for some rare and endemic species. Protection of the river
habitat is essential to their survival. Maintaining the "old Florida" nature of the river is also
POT -Wit tQ these of
11'1 who recreate Qii S le river. ririy {li Q11T rii4'rAi,4rS are, E,1i23tS iv hCG hu1Vc joined
its on our occasional canoe trips on the river, are always amazed at how unspoiled, peaceful and
amazingly beautiful it is —so close to the city!
Sincerely,
Tim Glover
President, FSSR
cc: Terrence Moore, Manager, City of Sebastian
Tracy Hass, Director, Growth Management, City of Sebastian
Enclosures: i
Section 929.07. St. Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon Aquatic
Preserve Shoreline Protection Buffer Zone.
(1) For parcels created after June 18, 1991 along the St. Sebastian River, a one hundred -foot
shoreline protection buffer is hereby established measured from the mean high water mark of the
river or fifty (50) feet from the landward boundary of jurisdictional wetlands along the river or any
tributary, whichever is greater (cross reference section 911.12(4)(e)). For parcels of record which
existed prior to June 18, 1991, a fifty -foot shoreline protection buffer for unplatted parcels, and a
twenty -five-foot buffer for existing platted lots is hereby established on land parcels bordering the
St. Sebastian River or the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve, measured from the mean high
water line. In no case, however, with reference to parcels or lots of record, which existed prior to
June 18, 1991, shall the buffer(s) exceed twenty (20) percent of the parcel or lot depth
perpendicular to the applicable waterway.
(2) Within the shoreline protection buffer, no development shall be permitted with the exception
of docks, boat ramps, pervious walkways and elevated walkways which provide the property
owner with reasonable access to the waterway.
(a) No more than twenty (20) percent or twenty-five (25) feet, whichever is greater, of
any shoreline may be altered for reasonable access. Native vegetation in the remainder of the
shoreline protection buffer shall remain unaltered, except as may be allowed through county
trimming regulations.
(3) Shoreline alteration shall be prohibited, unless it is in the public interest or prevents or
repairs erosion damage, or provides reasonable access to the water, does not adversely impact
water quality, natural habitat or adjacent shoreline uses, and is permitted by all applicable
jurisdictional regulatory agencies. Any native vegetation removed in such instances except as
may be allowed in subsection 929.07(2)(a), shall be relocated or replaced on-site with
comparable vegetation and amount.
(Ord. No. 90-16, § 1, 9-11-90, Ord. No. 91-48, § 89, 12-4-91)