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EAC Minutes 02/05/2009 S February 5, 2009 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY ENVIRONMENT AL ADVISORY COUNCIL Naples, Florida, February 5, 2009 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Environmental Advisory Council in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 1 :00 PM in SPECIAL SESSION at Collier County Development Services Center, 2800 North Horseshoe Drive, Room 609/610 Naples, Florida, with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: William Hughes VICE CHAIRMAN: Dr. Judith Hushon Noah Standridge David Bishof Nick Penniman Ninon Rynerson ALSO PRESENT: Steve Williams, Assistant County Attorney Tom Greenwood, Comprehensive Planning Michael Deruntz, Principal Planner 1 February 5, 2009 EAC - RLSA meeting Continued from Januarv 29. 2009. Chairman Hughes called the meeting to order at 1 :04PM. V. New Business A. Five Year Review of the Rural Lands Stewardship Program Phase II Report, Prepared by the Rural Lands Stewardship Area Review Committee, dated January 2009. The Review was continued from the January 29,2009 meeting: It was noted Rural Land Stewardship Area Review Committee Members Gary Eidson, Bill McDaniel, Tom Jones and Tammy Nemecek were present. Dr. Hushon chaired the item. Nick Casalanguida, Director of Transportation Planning addressed the Council highlighting the following: . Transportation Planning is reviewing the RLSARC build out plan for impact on the 2030 Long Range Transportation. . Long Range Transportation Planning also considers the County Build-Out Vision Plan. . The main concern for Transportation Planning is the RLSA's impact on incoming and out going traffic on existing or proposed roads (Immokalee, State Road 29, etc.) . The RLSA would provide optimal opportunity for providing services in the region to reduce trips in an out of the area (government facilities, landfills, hospitals, bus service, etc.) . Transportation requests input from all Agencies and Special Interest Groups to ensure Long Range Plans attempts to address all issues (wildlife crossings, etc.) . Funding language of transportation improvements should be incorporated into the RLSA Program. . Lighting requirements for roadways are addressed in the Land Development Codes. . Commuter Rail is not considered in the Long Range Transportation Plan (due to the amount ofright of way, which may be encumbered during the Planning process). Speakers Nicole Ryan, Conservancy of Southwest Florida noted if roads and development is confined to areas outside the Primary Panther Zone, the impact on the Panther would be reduced (road fatalities, etc.) The review of individual Policies continued beginning with Policy 4.3 on page 56. 2 February 5,2009 Policv 4.3 - 4.6 General discussion between Environmental Advisory Council and Rural Land Stewardship Area Review Committee Members occurred regarding the exact language within these Policies. Speakers Dana Scofield, owner, Half Circle L Ranch, expressed concern the Conservancy of Southwest Florida definition of "Primary Panther Zone" is not consistent with the Rural Lands Stewardship Program as approved by the State. Their definition would severely impact the Program as it exists and would require the County to "scrap" the Program and begin again. He noted the Impacts on Panther habitat will require review throughout the permit process. Jennifer Hecker, Conservancy of Southwest Florida noted the following: . There is no Conservancy definition of "Primary Zone." . The Conservancy did not create any of the documents/maps utilized in preparing their concept map. · Their proposed build out map is consistent with the current Program, which proposes Sending and Receiving areas and utilizing credits to promote conservation. · The proposed "Primary Zone" is within the current "Open Lands" and is proposed to create additional incentives in the areas. . The "Primary Zone" is based on a definition in the Kautz paper ("How much is enough? Landscape-scale conservation for the Florida Panther"), which used modeling, telemetry, land cover types, etc. with research heavily scrutinized by peer review and the science upheld. · The US Fish and Wildlife has recently declared the Kautz paper as the "best available science." · The proposed Conservancy Map has been prepared as a scientific resource to be utilized to direct development to the most appropriate areas while creating incentives to preserve critical natural resource areas. Tim Durham, Wilson Miller noted: · Data and the science are open to different interpretations by individuals. · Data and science should incorporate existing field conditions before reaching conclusions. . There is a "Technical Team" assembled to provide input on the issue that has not yet completed its study. · The Program is voluntary and requires the participation of the landowner who wishes to address the issue. Bruce Johnson, Wilson Miller cautioned that basing information on GIS mapping alone can be misleading. Information must be interspersed with actual land uses, vegetation, etc. within the areas the information is utilized to obtain conclusions. 3 February 5, 2009 Nicole Ryan, Conservancy of Southwest Florida noted the EAC should base its review and conclusions on the issue utilizing the "Florida Panther Recovery Plan" provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Bill McDaniel, RLSARC Member noted the issue was debated at length during the Committees activities and the RLSARC proposed northern corridor was created with input from Daryl Land (Panther Coordinator for the US Fish and Wildlife Service). Break: 2:25PM Re-convened: 2:40PM Ms. Rynerson did not return Discussion took place between RLSARC Members and EAC members on: Policv 4.70 - 4.7 (page 57 - 62) . Utilizing the Concept of Concentric Density Rings (Concentric Ring/Zone Model) when developing SRA's - (Policy 4.7) . The types of Land Use Development allowed in the Area of Critical State Concern. (Policy 4.7.2) . The density requirements in Policy 4.7.3. . Should, or does the County define the term "infrastructure"? (Policy 4.9) . Should buffer zones be considered for adjacent SRA's/Towns/Villages? It was noted the RLSARC considered this concept and chose not to incorporate it into the Program. (Policy 4.14) Speakers Nicole Ryan, Conservancy of Southwest Florida expressed concern over the acreage increase in villages (existing 1000 acres to proposed l500acres) and recommended the Council consider detailed requirements for Villages and Towns. In addition, consider shifting development out of the Area of Critical State Concern. Brian Gogun, Barron Collier Companies noted in regard to buffers, it was considered by the RLSARC, however with different landowners developing the properties could make the process more cumbersome. It is a voluntary landowner Program and could affect incentives to participate. Gary Eidson, RLSARC Member noted the Council should consider the Victory Garden concept for the area. Allen Reynolds, WilsonMiller noted in regard to buffers, the topic was discussed when the original RLSA Program was developed. They determined there may be conflicts between residential uses outside the buffer and agriculture uses inside buffers. The original Program developed Policy 4.11 encouraging land use transitions on outer edges of adjoining developed areas addressing the issue. Group 5 Policies 4 February 5, 2009 Policv 5.1 - 5.8 (Pages 62-67) Discussion took place between RLSARC Members and EAC members on the following: . Policy 5.4 and whether this is related to the Technical Review Committee addressing the Panther issue. Speaker Allen Reynolds, Wilson Miller requested clarification on the procedure of the review process by the EAC. Dr. Hushon noted when this portion of the review is complete (information gathering), the EAC will re-review the individual Policies in the Report and develop recommendations to be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The public will be allowed to comment after the EAC has developed the recommendations in entirety. Speakers Nicole Ryan, Conservancy of Southwest Florida expressed concern and wanted to ensure that Policy 5.5.b is to be interpreted that the Species and actual habitat would be protected within the Program Area (as opposed to mitigation for the habitat/species). Brad Cornell, RLSARC Member who drafted the particular language provided clarification on the wording in the Policy noted the language should be reviewed for clarification. It was noted the Group 5 Policies are directed to non-participating landowners within the RLSA Overlay. Nicole Ryan, Conservancy of Southwest Florida recommended lighting standards be addressed within the Program (i.e. the "Dark Skies" standards, etc.). The RLSARC members provided clarification on remaining issues to individual EAC members on the changes proposed by the Committee. Dr. Hushon requested EAC members (if they wish) provide recommendations on concepts and/or specific language changes to the Policies for the next meeting. The changes should be submitted to Staff 7 days hefore the next meeting for distribution Mr. Penniman moved to continue the meeting to February 27, 2009 at 1 PM. Second by Chairman Hughes. Carried unanimously 6-0. The EAC Committee concluded their meeting at 5:00 PM to be continued to Fehruary 27, 2009 at 1 PM. 5 February 5, 2009 COLLIER COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Chairman William Hughes These Minutes were approved by the Board/Chairman on as presented , or as amended 6