HCP comment september 2009x

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• Publié par: Udwe
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English

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1) The items listed below should be included in any new ordinances that pertain
to the Land Development Code on Perdido Key or Pensacola Beach.
Additionally, these items should be made public to inform residents and visitors
that many of their actions have a direct effect on wildlife. Realizing that this is a
wish list and some items may take years to implement, it would be great to get as
many of these implemented as soon as possible.

Lighting:

2) This is a major issue for the adult turtles coming up on the beach to nest, and
the hatchlings emerging from their nest trying to find the water. It adversely
affects other wildlife as well. People feel that the more light there is, the safer the
beach is and in reality that simply is not true. Night vision is diminished in bright
lights. Lighting can be just as effective when kept low to the ground and toward
the “red” end of the spectrum.

3) Gulf Power is in the process of installing shields on streetlights, but those
shields do not completely circle the light and light does emit from the sides. They
should be required to continue this program and maintain the shields. Private
property owners now have equally bright lights on their property that need to be
completely shielded so the light only points down. They need to be informed and
required to adapt lighting to protect wildlife.

4) Parking lot lights (any high lights for that matter) are the worst, located in front
of a building; they can also shine on the beach if there is nothing there to shade
the lights.

Beach Chairs:

5) The condo beach chairs pose a major problem for nesting female sea turtles
to access a place to nest. Most of the time, the chairs are left out on the beach at
night and are placed close together for the length of the condo. This is
unacceptable. The chairs must be stacked to leave room for a 6’ turtle to crawl
up the beach unobstructed to nest. This needs to be enforced, especially during
turtle season, for all beach vendors and condo managers.

Tents/Umbrellas/Toys:

6) Residents and visitors tend to leave their belongings on the beach all night,
posing an obstacle for nesting females. We have seen the turtles come ashore
and have to negotiate going around these obstacles, occasionally bumping into
objects several times. Sea Turtles cannot back up and are very cumbersome on
land.

7) More education and oversight of development and condo management will be
a big help. 8) There is a need for some generalized development footprints such as what is
typical (permitted) for single family and commercial parcels. The HCP does
mention 55% to 75% of subject properties will remain in natural condition
(pervious), but this is vague. The HCP also mentions no net loss of habitats but
this cannot be achieved.

9) The HCP should provide a plan for the long term existence of the PKBM in
terms of habitat corridors and connectivity of the three sub populations.

10) The HCP key land acquisitions should be identified and goals and
methods should be identified and discussed to achieve these acquisitions.

11) The HCP suggests a site specific habitat determination will be
required prior to development. How long will this take and who is doing it? Why
isn't this accomplished during the development of this document?

12) It seems an impact area (footprint) could be provided
for each parcel and the owner could build within that approved footprint w/o
further regulatory intervention or review. A comment is included that states the
project area is too broad for specific determinations, but really there are only
about 150 undeveloped parcels left on the Key.

13) What about the County Conservation Plan and the mitigation
requirements (100,000 acre) why not include that in the attachments. This still
looks like piecemeal development without regard to an overall landscape plan to
allow the population to get to some of these "protected" areas.

14) I have now had a chance to carefully read the HCP. I find it to be a well
balanced document that would indeed help towards achieving an
environmentally- and economically-sustainable development of Escambia
County coastal watersheds, with particular emphasis on the protection of the
three species highlighted. A few reactions based on my years of research and
experience with all this:

15) In terms of the proactive measures listed, the adoption of buffer zones is
undoubtedly the most important one. Development will not be bad at all if
sufficient habitat is preserved for the mice, turtles, etc. In addition, leaving some
dune and forest buffer zones around the construction complex will increase the
asthetic and attractive value of the construction complex itself. So it is a win-win
situation for everybody. THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AND MUST BE
ACCOMPLISHED IF WE ARE TO KEEP OUR PLANET HEALTHY

16) Monitoring should also be required for restoration activities, as it is the case
for construction activities. If we do no implement a minimum of monitoring for
restored areas, we will not know if those restoration efforts are indeed working
17) Leaving corridors is also a pivotal point. Given the current uncertainty about
what size and shape corridors should have to make them most efficient (more
research needs to be done on that matter), we should use the precautionary
principle when designing corridors: if we have to err, it is important to err towards
the "safe" side (i.e. making sure the corridor will work).

18) In general, this documents gets a two thumbs up from me. Indeed a good
example for other counties to follow.

Written Comments Received 29 June 2009

19) I have read with interest the draft of Escambia County’s Habitat
Conservation Proposal. I’m sure this document represents many hours of work
by a number of individuals. . . consultants and county employees alike. . .as well
as a significant contribution from Escambia County taxpayers. I appreciate the
county wanting to develop and enforce strategies to protect the endangered
species on Perdido Key. . . something that, in my opinion, is long overdue.

20) In an ordinary world, a plan such as the one being presented by the county,
would be a significant tool in protecting the habitat of endangered species.
History tells us, however, that Perdido Key’s world is far from ordinary. For here
you have a small, fragile, body of land that also happens to generate enormous
income for Escambia County. This alone sets it aside from other places. Perdido
Key’s world is complicated, its issues complex and, as a result, its endangered
species have continually struggled at the hands of politicians and developers. . .
certainly more than they have from even the most severe hurricane.

21) As we all know, Escambia County has a significantly blemished record when
it comes to keeping politics away from policy decisions. And this is what troubles
me the most about this proposal. . . the potential for undue influence of politicians
when it comes to enforcing requirements related to protecting endangered
species. Because, ultimately, any plan put forward for protection of endangered
species on Perdido Key depends not upon the document. . . i.e., the written
words, but upon the commitment of the people representing, and enforcing the
words of the document.

22) Let me cite an example. . . It is well known, and often stated by local
politicians that Perdido Key is the county’s “cash cow.” Indeed, a significant
portion of county revenue is derived from the property tax assessments on
Perdido Key. So in 2008, recognizing that development and growth equates to
additional revenue, the county commissioners defied state law and chose to
amend the Comprehensive Plan. . . completely removing the dwelling cap on
Perdido Key. . . an act that would have allowed unbridled development. And, only
after the Perdido Key Association, the 1000 Friends of Florida, and the Florida
Department of Community Affairs intervened, did the County finally withdraw its
amendment. It’s been estimated the county spent upwards of $1million in taxpayer money trying to remove Perdido Key’s dwelling cap. So, I ask you, does
this sound like an entity that would have any regard. . . or any conscience for
protecting endangered species on Perdido Key; an entity that has continually
pushed for unlimited growth and development at any expense (certainly the
expense of endangered species) to gain revenue for county coffers. Let me also
be clear, this is not about county employees. My perception is most of them are
hard working individuals, who offer sound advice to their political superiors, yet
this advice is often neglected or overruled due to political influence. Even as I
stand here controversy is escalating over a proposed bingo parlor on Perdido
Key and the political issues related to the development order. Based on a decade
of documented, questionable behavior, I believe Escambia County politicians
should not be allowed to oversee, coordinate, or manage the protection of
federally endangered species on Perdido Key. Their past and current track
record clearly substantiates reas