OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

CHERYL L. BROWN                                                                                                         117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

            DIRECTOR                                                                                                                                                                                 4TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

   OFFICE (904) 630-1452                                                                                                                                                          JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA  32202

     FAX (904) 630-2906                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

 

 

LUZ COMMITTEE WORKSHOP MINUTES

 

November 19, 2013

4:30 p.m.

 

City Council Chamber

1st floor, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

 

Attendance:  Council Members Lori Boyer, Matt Schellenberg, Bill Bishop, Don Redman, Robin Lumb, Ray Holt

 

Also: Philip Zamarron – Legislative Services Division; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division; Folks Huxford, Gary Kresel and Ed Lukacovic – Planning and Development Department; Steve Cassada – Council Staff Services

 

Council Member Boyer called the meeting to order at 4:39 p.m. and introduced Ed Lukacovic of the Planning and Development Department to make a presentation on wetlands identification and evaluation in the development review process.  Mr. Lukacovic stated that wetlands and environmental buffers have economic value even when it’s not apparent just by looking at a piece of property.  Sometimes the value of wetlands is not apparent until a natural disaster hits (hurricane or tropical storm), and even then it is difficult to recognize the damage avoided by the presence of wetlands that have the ability to collect and hold stormwater and buffer properties from flooding.

 

Mr. Lukacovic identified three classes of wetlands: Category 1 – salt marsh; Category 2 – riverine wetlands (associated with water bodies such as rivers, streams and lakes); and Category 3 – isolated wetlands. Wetlands evaluation is mandatory under state law when development occurs and the functional value of the wetlands and a mitigation strategy must be determined.  Land development negatively impacts the functionality of wetlands and that impact can be difficult to assess without a site plan showing how the property is going to be developed and used. He makes his evaluation of wetlands impacts based on soil and vegetation mapping, flood plain maps and site visits.  Wetlands consultants make determinations based on their expertise and flag wetlands for inclusion on site maps by surveyors during the development planning process.

 

Mitigation takes place based on the degree of functionality impairment, not simply by the amount of acreage disturbed.  Avoidance of wetland impacts is always preferred to destruction and mitigation.  Mitigation on-site or within the same watershed is preferable to mitigation outside the watershed.  There are 5 mitigation banks in Jacksonville and 11 major drainage basins (2 of which drain to the St. Mary’s and Nassau Rivers and two of which drain to the Intracoastal Waterway; the other 7 drain to the St. Johns River). Purchase of credits from mitigation banks in other drainage basins or even out-of-county is a method acceptable to the St. Johns River Water Management District, but does not retain or repair the functionality of the wetlands in the basin where they are being destroyed.

 

In response to a question from Chairwoman Boyer about how wetlands impacts are used to evaluate proposed zoning and land use changes pursuant to the wetlands policies of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Mr. Lukacovic indicated that the Planning Department generally relies on the regulatory authority of the Water Management District and accepts its policies and permits as acceptable without much question.

 

There being no further business, the agenda meeting was adjourned at 5:04 p.m.

 

 

Jeff Clements, Council Research Division (904) 630-1405

 

 

Posted 11.20.13

11:00 a.m.