OFFICE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL
CHERYL L. BROWN 117 WEST
DUVAL STREET,
DIRECTOR 4TH FLOOR, CITY
HALL
OFFICE (904) 630-1452
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
its 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. Marys 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.