Item L05
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: 2/16/05 -KL
Division:
BOCC-3
Bulk Item: Yes
No X
Department:
BOCC-3
Staff Contact Person: Mayor Pro Tern Charles "Sonny" McCoy
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Discussion seeking approval of the BOCC to direct appropriate County Planning staff, in coordination
with the Parks and Advisory Board, to develop a plan meeting the approval of the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Commission and endorsed by the BOCC designating identified parcel(s) of County Owned
land located at MM 100.5 in Key Largo as a County Passive Park for the purpose of creating an
additional Children's Memorial Tree Garden.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The initial Children's Memorial Tree Garden opened over a year ago at the Plantation Tropical
Preserve Park in the Village of Islamorada with (26) dedicated trees and (20) more recently approved
tree sites.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
The Commission previously approved the creation of three (3) Children's Memorial Tree Gardens to
be located in County Passive Parks.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
N/A
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUNTY:
N/A
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No X
AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management _
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
Mayor Pro Tern Charles "Sonny" McCoy
DOCUMENTATION:
Included
X
Not Required_
DISPOSITION:
AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 2/05
Howard Gelbman
799 Hazel Street
Key Largo, Florida 33037
305-451-3607
K (' v h ~:!J!j;_<1gL c 0 111
December 27, 2004
Sonny McCoy
Comm i ssi oner
Monroe County
"
Dear Sonny;
As you kno\v my focus for the past hvo years has been the creation
of Childrcns Memorial Tree Gardens in the Keys.
Your Commission last year approved the creation of three such
Tree Gardens to be located in County Passive parks.
1 have tried repeatedly to have a passive park created in Key
Largo, since we do not have one.
I have made two presentations, to your commission, with the
documentation, that would allow for consideration by the Florida
Wildlife Commission to approve the 16 acres of County Owned
Hammock land at mm 100.5 to be used as a passive park.
They have requested, an acceptable site proposal and an
endorsement by the Monroe County Commission.
Dixie Spehar was highly supportive ofthis dIort and was actively engaged
in hclping me pursue this goal. However it seems that sinee her election as
Mayor her attention has been diverted. I guess because of her many other
responsi bili ties.
What I would like to request is that you place an item on the commission
agenda at the next meeting in Key Largo (Feb 05). Authorizing a staff
project officer (My recommendation would be JetTStuncard, a planner in the
Plantation ot1ice) be assigned, to develop a plan, with the assistance of the
Parks and Advisory Board, that \vould be brought back to your Commission
for endorsement to the FWC, of a passive park at this site.
I am enclosing two of my prior letters that support, the possibility of this
Issue.
I have several people knowledgeable in this area that have volunteered to
assist in the creation of such a plan.
There are numerous Hardwood Hammock Preserve Parks, already existing
in Florida. So we would not be creating a precedcnce.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE:
We opened our initial Childrens Memorial Tree Garden in Tavernier at the
Plantation Tropical Preserve Park in the Vi Ilage of Islamorada, just over a
year ago. Our initial plan was for 11 dedicated trees we are already up to 26
and have had twenty more tree sites recently approved by the Village. A
success that 1 am sure you will understand, is one that r would have hoped,
would never have been needed. Many of the parents have expressed their
gratitude for the opportunity to dedicate a trcc.
I know, with the recent loss of your grandson, you understand the impact of
losing a child. So I would appreciate the fact, if you could see fit to help
make this passive park in Key Largo, a reality, so that in addition to an
educational and tourist site, we will have a place to locate a Childrens
Memorial Tree Garden.
Thanks
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'Howard Oeibman
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Howard Gelbman
799 Hazel Street
Key Largo Florida 3307
305.451.3607
kc ;.Ogf.!.!. ao I. U lIll
September 20, 2004
To Monroe County HOCC
RE; Possible Passive Park at mm 100.5 Key Largo
Commissioners;
Aller a vigorous search and sorting out of information I have
determined the follo\ving.
The remaining 16 +/- acres of the hammock site at mm 100.5 in
Key Largo that is left after subtracting the 4 +/- acres allotted to
Key Largo Wastewater Board for a Central sewer plant is being
titled back to Monroe County.
This acreage is zoned SR and under the open spaces act in the
County Code qualifies for the designation of a passive park.
The Original 20 +/- total acres was purchased \vith a FEMA Grant
of approx. $ 800,000.
I tracked the originating oUice of this purchase back to the Fish
and Wildlife Commission in Vero Beach. Mr. Allan Webb afthat
office wrote and approved the documents that led to the purchase
ot'this property. It is considered to be CARL land. The intent of
the restrictions placed in the original documentation was to prevent
the Wastewater Board from developing more than 2.6 acres and
that the remaining portion of the property be preserved.
1\fter talking dire.ctly with Mr. Webb anq explaininil thAt we would
like to create a passive park without development only providing
access by unpaved pathways, that \vould provide a site that could
be visited by the residents, and tourists of Key Largo who do not at
present have a passfve park in Key Largo and also become an
educational site for school students to view and learn about native
trees and plants.
lIe said it might possibly be approved ror this purpose providing
that the County' Commission endorsed this use and could provide a
plan to his oJTice ror review or establishing such a passive park.
'vVe seem to have a variety of opinions from various county staffers
on \vhat can or cannot be done.
1I0wever since Mr. \Vebb has agreed to reviewing a requc~t, I
would appreciate your selecting a county employee who can
maintain an OPEN MIND, as a project officer. to prepare a request
to go to Mr. \Vehb with an endorsement from the BOCC to create a
passive park on this 16 acres.
I do not possess the kno\vledge to prepare such a document but am
more than willing to assist in its research and preparation.
In Key Largo the only community park that exists is the active
park, behind the Shopper, shopping center. Which contains
recreational programs.
It \vould be a shame to ha\'e this large property. fronting on lJS-1
remain unusable.
Mr. Tim McGarry' vour Growth Mana~ement Director is in the
~ ~
process of\vriting a "'conservation easement" for you to codiJ)' that
this property can NOT he used for any purpose. I would further
request you direct him to table this code change until such time as
Mr. Webb makes a decision on the property use as a passive park.
Sincerely;
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Howard (;elbman
799 Hazel Street
Key Largo Florida 3307
305.451.3607
kevh~2/(1 aol.colll
August 17, 2004
To; Board of Commissioners
Monroe County
Dear Commissioners;
Key Largo lacks a passive park for the use of residents. The Key
Largo Waste Water Board has returned to Monroe County Title the
18 +/- Acres of Hammock Land at mm 100.5 Key Largo which
they will have no use for.
The attached flyer describes my request and rational for creating
this property into a passive park.
I would like to request that the Board authorize the Parks Advisory
Board to develop a plan for this property for your discussion and
approval at your next meeting in Key Largo.
1 have discussed this proposal with Dr. Jim Bolini the Chairman of
the P Al3; he is in favor of exploring this issue.
The zoning and code information in Iny Flyer was obtained with
the assistance ofJeffStuncard of your Planning Dept.
1 also spoke with Mark Rousch orthe Land Use Authority and he
felt that this project is doable.
No zoning changes are required and the County already owns the
property .
Thank you for your consideration on this project.
Howard Gelbman
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