Item G4
LAND AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD
AGENDA ITEM SU MMARY
Meeting Date: March 16, 2005
Division: Land Authority
Bulk Item: Yes No l
Staff Contact Person: Mark Rosch
Agenda Item Wording: Approval to add the Key West Botanical Garden Addition to the Acquisition
List.
Item Background: The City of Key West proposes to purchase the Public Service Building property at
5100 College Road on Stock Island from Monroe County for $4.5 million as an addition to the Key
West Botanical Garden. The City proposes to fund this acquisition with a $3,375,000 grant from the
Florida Communities Trust and requests that the Land Authority provide the required $1,125,000 local
match. The Land Authority would need to receive a real property interest (most likely a conservation
easement) in order to participate in the transaction.
The project satisfies the Land Authority's statutory req uirements by providing public access, public
recreation, and some restoration of the natural environment that will benefit wildlife. There is currently
over $1.8 million in unencumbered funds in the Land Authority budget for projects in the Key West
Area of Critical State Concern.
The addition of property to the Acquisition List is a preliminary, non-binding step indicating the Board's
desire to pursue acquisition. Further Board action is required before entering into a purchase contract.
Advisory Committee Action: On February 23, 2005 the Committee voted 4/0 to approve adding this
project to the Acquisition List.
Previous Governing Board Action: None. Sitting as the BOCC, the Board has accepted the City's
$4.5 million purchase offer for the property.
Contract/Agreement Changes: N/A
Staff Recommendation: Pleasure of the Board.
Total Cost: approximately $1.125,000
Budgeted: Yes ~ No _'
Cost to Land Authority: approximately $1,125,000
Source of Funds: Land Authority
(Tourist Impact Tax collected within Key West)
Approved By:
Attorney ~
County Land Steward
#1.\~
Executive Director Approval: ~
Cfark J. Rosch
Documentation: Included: ~ To Follow:
Not Required:
Disposition:
Agenda Item
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I. INTRODUCTION
The Key West Botanical Gardens Addition is a 6.02 acre site located on Stock Island in Key
West, Florida, immediately adjacent to the Key West Botanical Gardens and the Cow Key
Channel. The project site is located in a priority investment area, the Florida Keys Area of
Critical State Concern. It was selected for funding by the Governing Board of the Florida
Communities Trust in October of 2003. The site was originally part of the Key West
Botanical Gardens when it was created with a WP A grant in 1936. At the end of World
War II this parcel was developed as a military hospital and eventually was conveyed to
Monroe County which developed the site as their administration center. Eventually it came
to the County's attention that the buildings on the site were contaminated with asbestos and
the buildings were abandoned, and subsequently tom down in 2003.
The purpose of this project is to restore this parcel to the Key West Botanical Gardens and
manage it as an addition to the Gardens. The site will be re-planted and developed to
further environmental education opportunities for residents and visitors to Key West. Grant
funding from FCT was used to acquire the Project Site and the management plan was
developed to ensure that the Project Site will be developed in accordance with the Grant
Award Agreement and in furtherance of the purpose of the grant application.
II. PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
The following were the purposes for acquiring the project site as stated in the grant
application:
. Restore land that was originally part of the Botanical Gardens when it was created with a
grant from the Works Progress Administration in 1936
. Preservation and restoration of the only frost-free tropical botanical garden in the
continental United States.
. Preservation and restoration of an important "migratory trap", provision of freshwater for
migratory birds induding many endangered and threatened species
. Provision of resource based recreational activities to residents and visitors to Key West
including picnic pavilions, nature trails, wildlife observation, and canoe/kayak landing
. Provision of access and parking to Cow Key Channel
. Provision of trailside facilities for the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
. Provision of trailside facilities for the Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail
. Provision of 30 staffed education programs per year on environmental and historical
topics related to the Gardens and the Florida Keys
. Restoration of rare tropical hardwood hammock
. Restoration of habitat for the threatened Stock Island Tree Snail through cooperative
agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
. Removal of impervious surfaces, buildings and parking lots and replacement with
greenspace in an urban setting
. Purchase of buildable property and conversion to City owned open space in a Special
High I-Iazard Flood Zone to further the Monroe County Local Mitigation Strategy
. Preservation and restoration of lands in an Area of Critical State Concern
. Education of the public of the value oftropical hardwood hammock/forests in terms of
biodiversity and medical discoveries.
The project site will be managed only for the conservation, protection and enhancement of
natural resources, and for public outdoor recreation that is compatible with the
conservation, protection and enhancement of the site.
Prioritized key management objectives for the site:
. Preservation and restoration of lands in an Area of Critical State Concern
. Provision of migratory bird habitat
. Provision of access and parking to waterways
. Provision of environmental education opportunities
This project furthers the following Conservation Element Objectives and Policies in the
City of Key West Comprehensive Plan: CON 6-1.2, 6-1.2.4,6-1.2.5,6-1.2.9,6-1.3 .2,
6-1.7.3,6-1.8.2. This element is furthered because the project will improve water quality
through the removal of impervious surfaces; enhance shoreline through the removal of
exotic vegetation; protect water bodies through the provision of open space; protect and
conserve the Cow Key Channel, an Outstanding Florida Water; removal of undesirable
exotic vegetation; and protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat, including the Stock Island
Tree Snail which uses the project site as habitat.
The City of Key West's Historic Preservation Element Policy lA-1.3.6 is furthered through
acquisition of an endangered historic site. The project site was originally part of the Key
West Botanical Gardens which was created through a WP A grant in 1936. This project will
restore this property to the garden and re-plant it. Intergovernmental Relations Element
Policy 8-1.1.3 is furthered through inter-agency coordination including natural resource
conservation through acquisition.
Recreation and Open Space Element Policies 7-1.1.1 and 7-1.1.9 are furthered by improving
the City of Key West's level of service for city parks, by providing parking for water access,
and by conservation and recreation through the acquisition of open space. The Traffic
Circulation Element's Objective 2-1.4 and Policy 2-1.4.1 are furthered by providing
trailside facilities for the Florida Key Overseas Heritage Trail. For the full text of the
Comprehensive Plan Objective and Policies furthered by this project, please see Appendix
6.
The Project Site currently has the land use designation of Public Service which is
appropriate for passive parks. The City also commits to amend the ~oning )TI::ln to h"
consistent with the amended future land use designation for the project site.
RESOLUTION NO.
05-082
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF KEY WEST, FLORIDA, NOMINATING A 6.02
ACRE PARCEL ON STOCK ISLAND TO THE MONROE
COUNTY LAND AUTHORITY FOR PARTIAL FUNDING
TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
ADDITION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS,
the Monroe County Land Authority holds funds on
behalf of the City of Key West that may be dedicated to the
purchase of land;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF KEY WEST, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1:
That the 6.02 acre parcel on Stock Island is
hereby nominated to the Monroe County Land Authority for partial
funding in the amount of $1,125,000.00.
Section 2:
That this Resolution shall go into effect
immediately upon its passage and adoption and authentication by the
signature of the presiding officer and the Clerk of the Commission.
Passed and adopted by the City Commission at a meeting held
this
15
day of
February
, 2005.
Authenticated by the presiding officer and Clerk of the
A~:
Filed with the Clerk
Commission on
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Island Stock Island
Property BOee Public Service Buildings