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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10172003 1225 Main Street [] Sebastian, Florida 32958 Telephone (772) 589-5330 ~ Fax (772) 589-5570 City Council Information Letter October 17 2003 Opportunities for 2.31-Acre Railroad Property Earlier this week, both Director of Growth Management Tracy Hass and I had an opportunity to meet with a Mr. Ronald Gabor of Gabor Insurance Services, Inc. of Miami. He is the individual who recently became successful in negotiating a purchase of the former Flagler Development Corporation 2.31 acre parcel located on Main Street, just west of United States Highway One. Both Tracy and I offered an explanation relative to Land Development Code requirements, as well as site planning application processes in the City of Sebastian. Pleasantly, Mr. Gabor then expressed his interest in working with the City to locate the historic train station on a portion of this property, to abut the Florida East Coast Railroad tracks. This is possible as his plans for future development entail construction of a small office building, to house a property and casualty insurance services center. Approximately 1.75 acres of the property would become necessary for total building and related infrastructure construction. We therefore began discussing the idea of incorporating the train station in an upcoming site plan proposal. Mr. Gabor expressed strong interest in this regard as well. If approved, a partnership agreement to this effect will be presented publicly for City Council review and consideration. As a result of this opportunity, we postponed an initial idea of incorporating the train station into the Louisiana Avenue Area Neighborhood Revitalization Program (more land for relocating the train station becomes available by working with Mr. Gabor than by way of positioning it at the current sign shop location - only roughly ¼ acre is available at this site). Future presentations to both the City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission will be scheduled, to communicate respective programming and development efforts accordingly. City Council Information Letter October 17, 2003 Page 2 State Funding Approval - Pelican Isles Apartments My office has received notification by both representatives from Triad Housing Partners, LLC (via the attached electronic message from David Schultz) and the Florida Office of Housing Finance (via telephone conference) that the Sebastian Pelican Isles Development, proposed to be located on a 36 acre multiple family zoned parcel west of Louisiana Avenue, has been approved for Iow interest tax credit financing. As such, the respective site planning process will officially begin, including substantive review and analysis pertaining to applicable infrastructure needs, as well as applicable access issues. The Planning and Zoning Commission will therefore be able to offer direction pertaining to development approval. Upcoming Presentation by Indian River County Plans for Conservation and Scrub Properties in Sebastian In an effort to offer clarification relative to the information contained in the attached letter and background material compiled and delivered by County Commission Chairman Kenneth Macht relative to the status of honoring conservation planning objectives in the City of Sebastian, please be advised that arrangements have been made to host Mr. Roland Deblois of the Community Development Department during your November 12th regular meeting to discuss more specific aspects of the program. He will be assisted by Conservation Lands Manager Beth Powell, as they will both be in position to publicly address questions and/or concerns you and/or residents attending the meeting may have regarding this matter. Hopefully this presentation will be informative, as well as effective in terms of describing future improvement schedules accordingly. Clarification Regarding Business Improvement Financial Assistance Programming in Sebastian Per interest communicated by Vice Mayor Raymond Coniglio during last week's meeting relative to the possibility of implementing small business improvement assistance programs in Sebastian, please be advised that information pertaining to such will be included with a presentation by representatives from the Iler Planning Group scheduled to take place during the November 12th session, commensurate with discussions concerning City Council Information Letter October '17, 2003 Page 3 community redevelopment agency (CRA) goals, objectives and master planning efforts. This approach works well in that cities that sponsor and administer tax increment financing to implement beautification programs in respective districts do so via partnership with funds from CRAs, as well as other financial resources, including grants and Iow interest loan programs. No formal recommendations are to be specifically offered relative to such an initiative at this time - simply an educational review that will offer City Council/CRA Board of Directors an opportunity to consider such in the future if so desired and directed. Away for the Weekend As I recently mentioned to a couple of you individually, I will be away from Sebastian beginning this morning to accept an invitation by the University of Illinois Graduate College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs to serve as a visiting adjunct instructor for the school's annual public administration lecture series. Although I was awarded a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from this institution a decade ago, I have maintained a supportive relationship with the university over the years since then. I feel honored and privileged to have been asked to serve in this capacity, although for only a brief period. This trip will also provide me with an opportunity to visit relatives while in Chicago during the rest of the weekend. I will return to Sebastian Sunday late afternoon, to therefore report back to City Hall Monday morning. I will of course be accessible via cellular telephone. Jean Tarbell will also maintain more specific contact information in Chicago - in the event of any technical problems with mobile phone communication efforts. Have a good weekend and please wish me luck. Enclosure(s): Electronic Mail Message from David Schultz, Triad Housing Partners - Sebastian Pelican Isles Electronic Mail Message from Tracy Hass - Sebastian Conservation Improvements by Indian River County Letter/Background Information from Chairman Macht - Conservation Planning Agreements with City of Sebastian My Documents/InfoLetter192 Page 1 of 1 Terrance Moore From: TRIADHOUSING@aoI.com Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 2:23 PM To: tmoore@cityofsebastian.org Cc: thass@cityofsebastian.org Subject: Pelican Isles Apartments Terrence: Let me be the first to let you know that we received our commitment from the State for funding. We are now moving full speed ahead with our development plans. I would like to thank you and your staff for all of the help to get this far. David Schultz Triad Housing Partners, LLC 10akwood Boulevard, Suite 195 Hollywood, FL 33020 954-929-7157 ext 24 Tel 954-922-5414 Fax triadhousing@aol.com This e-mail message is intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender and delete the message from any computer. 10/9/2003 Terrance Moore From: Sent: To: Subject: Tracy Hass Wednesday, October 15, 2003 8:56 AM Terrance Moore North Sebastian Conservation Area Terrence, I just spoke with Roland DeBIois of the Indian River County Community Development Department and he and Conservation Lands Manager Beth Powell will be available for the November 12, 2003 City Council meeting to provide all with an update with regards to the North Sebastian Conservation Area and other Scrub habitats within Sebastian. Trace Telephone: (772) 567-8000 October 6, 2003 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 1840 25th Street, Veto Beach, Florida 32960-3365 Honorable Mayor Walter Barnes City of Sebastian 1225 Main Street Sebastian FL 32958 Re: 1995 Sebastian Highlands Scrub Interlocal Agreement Dear Mayor Barnes: Thank you for your letter of September 26, 2003 concerning the Sebastian Highlands Scrub project. County staff has advised me that, while certain acquisition and resource management tasks reflected in the 1995 Interlocal Agreement have been completed, other tasks (i.e., public access improvements) have yet to come to fruition. Please find enclosed a July 2003 Stewardship Report for the project that explains the current status of management, as well as revised projected timeframes for site improvements. The County welcomes Sebastian's cooperation and involvement in the County's completion of remaining tasks. As you may know, the 1995 Interlocal Agreement was executed when the Sebastian Highlands Scrub acquisition project consisted of approximately 180 scrub lots. Since that time, the project was refined and finalized as 34 contiguous lots (-10 acres) southeast and adjacent to -150 acres acquired by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) for the Sebastian stormwater management park. As indicated in the Stewardship Report, County staff has been coordinating with the SJRWMD on cooperative management issues (e.g., fencing). Regarding the -407 acre North Sebastian Conservation Area (NSCA) behind City Hall, County staff did a presentation earlier this year to the Sebastian Recreation Advisory Committee. As presented at that time, the County is seeking grant funds to develop access improvements to the NSCA. County staff are now finalizing a -$100,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for that purpose, based on the concept of a shared access / trailhead with the Boys and Girls Club facility that is planned next to City Hall. Mayor Walter Barnes Page 2 If you think it would be beneficial for County staff to do a presentation to the City Council regarding the status of the Sebastian Highlands Scrub project or NSCA, please let me know and I'll arrange it, or you can contact County Environmental Planning Chief Roland DeBlois directly at 567-8000, ext. 1258. Board of County Commissioners Attachment: Sebastian Scrub Conservation Area Stewardship Report (July 2003) Cc; Robert Keating Roland DeBlois Beth Powell F:\Community Development\Users\ROLAND\LAAC\SEBHIGH\Seb mayor ltr 10 03.doc ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP REPORT FOR THE SEBASTIAN SCRUB CONSERVATION AREA (Management Plan No. #94-032-P4A) INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA July 2, 2003 I. SUMMARY The Sebastian Scrub Conservation Area is a +10 acre tract located in the City of Sebastian, within Sebastian Highlands Subdivision Unit 17. The property, consisting of 34 contiguous undeveloped +1/4 acre platted lots, was purchased on January 31,1997, by Indian River County with a 50% cost- share grant from the Florida Communities Trust (FCT). The Sebastian Scrub Conservation Area was acquired primarily to protect and restore xeric scrub habitat. This annual stewardship report is being submitted to the FCT to fulfill a requirement of Rule 9K- 4.013, Florida Administrative Code, which provides that the recipient of an FCT grant award agreement must prepare annual stewardship reports. LAND USE/ZONING AMENDMENT In 2001, a request to abandon the roads within the conservation area and adjacent to St. John's River Water Management District (SJRWD) property was approved. SJRWMD has acquired approximately 150 acres of undeveloped lots and is creating a storm-water management retention area. The Conservation Lands Manager has been working with the SJRWMD representative to see that both organizations' needs are met and to develop a partnership on public access and passive recreation needs. II. SITE DEVELOPMENT Public Facilities Design & Permitting The 1996 management plan set forth a projected time-line whereby public facilities design and permitting are slated to begin in July 1997. Public facilities design and permitting have not yet commenced; the July 1997 time-line has been revised (see Figure G3). The CLM and SJRWMD contact are working together to combine passive recreational opportunities to both areas, including public access, educational information and trails. 3. Public Facilities Construction The 1996 management plan projected the commencement of public facilities construction in July 1997. No facilities construction has commenced as of the time of this report. Accordingly, the July 1997 time-line has been revised (see Figure G3). (See note above.) Perimeter Fence and Firebreaks The subject property has not been fenced at this time. The Conservation Lands Manager is working with the SJRWMD representative to fence both properties at the same time. A fencing quote has been acquired and the fencing is expected to be completed in conjunction with SJRWMD as soon as possible. Establishment of firebreaks, as needed, will occur in conjunction with completion of an ecological burn plan for the property. The area must be timbered prior to prescribed burning activities. Mechanical restoration is being considered as an alternative to prescribed fire due to the close proximity of the Conservation Area to private residences. The Conservation Lands Manager has been working with SpecPro, Inc. (contracted to do all of the scrub restoration/maintenance for Patrick Air Force Base) to mechanically enhance the SSCA. A preliminary cost estimate of $7500 has been discussed for mechanical restoration of the 10 acre Conservation Area. The Conservation Lands Manager has been working with the County's Purchasing Division and has turned in a Requisition which is in the process of being approved according to County procedures. Conservation Area Identification Si.qn The identification sign was fabricated and erected in 2001, which identifies the site as having been acquired with funds from the Florida Communities Trust Preservation 2000 Program and Indian River County. Cultural Resources Survey A Cultural Resources Survey has not yet taken place. The CLM is working to find funding for the surveying. Table 1 provides a revised time frame for this task. II1. KEY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION Species Survey/Vegetation Monitoring Species surveying of the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) and the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)was initiated in 2001. At this time, there are no scrub-jays residing on the conservation area. There is a family, however, on the SJRWMD property that will be monitored by the CLM and SJRWMD. The family consists of 5 individuals and is within the northwest area of SJRWMD's property. A Habitat Conservation Plan is currently being written for U.S. Fish & Wildlife by SJRWMD. The CLM will document any movement of individuals into the Conservation Area. It is expected that once mechanical restoration has been completed, scrub-jays will frequent the area and move into the conservation area from surrounding areas being impacted by development. 2 Gopher Tortoises have been surveyed by marking, measuring and tagging the burrows. Gopher Tortoises are a good indicator species for scrub habitat. Such species are a part of the overall monitoring program for the SSCA and is ongoing. RESOURCE RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT Vegetation Management Plan The finalized Sebastian Area-Wide Florida Scrub-Jay Habitat Conservation Plan calls for substantial removal of sand pines on the property in order to restore scrub oak understory and to improve scrub-jay habitat. The Conservation Lands Manager is working with SpecPro (see Perimeter Fence & Firebreaks above for details) to accomplish the mechanical treatment necessary to restore the conservation area to xeric scrub habitat. This work has been scheduled to occur in 2002-2003 as weather permits. Exotics Plant Removal Invasive exotics were treated with Garlon this year prior to seeding. Re-treatment will occur as needed to control invasive exotics, e.g. Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia) and Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius). Mechanical treatment will further reduce these species as well as native-nuisance species such as Wild Grape that pose a threat to optimal scrub habitat. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS No education programming has been conducted on the site to date. After public use improvements have been completed, educational material and volunteer conducted walks will occur. MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY The conservation area is frequently patrolled by the Conservation Lands Manager to check for any vandalism and dumping. To date, no major problems have been reported affecting the conservation area. IV. REVENUES RECEIVED None. V. PRIORITY SCHEDULE/TIME LINE Activities Scheduled for the Coming Year Under a revised schedule (see Figure G3), the following activities are planned to occur in the upcoming year (July 2003 to July 2004): × × Fencing & firebreak construction Plant & animal inventory (ongoing) 3 X X X X Cultural resources survey Public facilities design and permitting Exotic plant removal (ongoing) Sand pine canopy thinning/Mechanical Treatment The County will undertake these management activities generally as scheduled in Figure G3. These activities can be funded with county environmental lands bond referendum monies, which funds are readily available. Activities Scheduled After the Coming Year Under the revised schedule, the following activities are scheduled to occur after January 2003: X X X X X Periodic public meetings Implementation of a vegetative management plan Public facilities construction General facilities maintenance Ongoing ecological monitoring Revision of the Activities Schedule The following Figure G3 summarizes the revised projected management activities time-line. 4 FIGURE G3 SEBASTIAN SCRUB CONSERVATION AREA Indian River County, Florida Projected Management Activities Time-line (Revised July 2003) Activity Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 J A J O J A J O J A J O J A J O a p u c a p u c a p u c a p u c n r I t n r I t n r I t n r I t Fencing & firebreak XXX construction Cultural resource A.S.A.P. inventory Public meetings XXXXXX Develop vegetative manage, plan XXXX Nuisance exotic plant (ongoing) (ongoing) (ongoing) (ongoing) removal Canopy thinning/ timbering XXX Ecological monitoring (ongoing) (ongoing) (ongoing) (ongoing) Public facilities design/ XXXXXXXX XXXXXX permitting Facilities construction/ (ongoing) general maintenance XXXX VI. VII. VIII. FUNDING No additional funding has been acquired to date. MANAGEMENT PLAN CHANGES No Management Plan changes have been made with exception of the timeline, ATTACHMENTS No Attachments. 5