Item N03
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: April 20, 2005
Division:
BOcc-I
Bulk Item: Yes X
No
Department:
BOcc-I
Staff Contact Person: Jana Johnson-Willi
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussion and approval of the Board of County Commissioners to
waive the mitigation fee and permit fee for removal of native trees from a resident lot in Summerland
Key for donation to Key West Botanical Garden. Staff provided documentation outlining the proposed
mitigation and associated fees.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The family of Marge Brown from Summerland Key wishes to donate many
trees to the Botanical Gardens on Stock Island. There are approximately 50 trees and shrubs planted
by owner on the property.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
N/A
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUNTY:
N/A
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No
AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMBIPurchasing _ Risk Management _
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
Dixie M. Spehar
MAYOR DIXIE M. SPEHAR
DOCUMENTATION:
Included
X
Not Required_
DISPOSITION:
AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 2/05
March 14, 2005
To the Monroe County Commissioners,
I am sorry that I cannot attend your March 2005 County Commissioners' Meeting
meeting, so I am writing to express my concerns about the rescuing of the trees
and shrubs from my parents' property, located at 1336 Calle Bogota, on
Summerland Key.
Now that both of my parents have passed away, my sister and I are planning on
selling their property, as we live with our families and have professional lives that
keep us far from the Florida Keys. On the property are about fifty trees and
shrubs, of which many are endangered or threatened species. These are plants
that my mother nurtured from seed, raised from cuttings that she rooted, or
purchased from native plant nurseries. Some of them were planted over thirty
years ago, and have survived several hurricanes, droughts, and other ravages of
nature, all the while nurtured by my mother.
As I am sure you are aware, my parents were staunch protectors of the
environment. They worked hard over the years to advocate for the security of
Monroe County's natural bounty. Before my mother died, she was so thrilled to
see Ohio and Rachel Carson Keys be dedicated as a National Wildlife Refuge,
as saving that land from development was a thirty-year mission for her. On a
more personal scale, it was my mother's wish that her trees be saved after she
was gone, so I have been in the Keys, planning with Monroe County biologists,
the staff at McCoy Indigenous Park, and the Key West Botanical Garden to see
that her trees and shrubs can be transplanted to safer homes in public gardens
where they can be enjoyed by her family, friends, Keys residents and visitors
alike.
My sister and I have seen the old oceanfront homes of Summerland Key be torn
down and replaced by much larger structures. Our parents' relatively modest
home, at least by today's standards, will surely go the same way. We wish not
only to ensure that these plants are saved, but that we may have places to visit in
the Keys where we can see our mother's trees live on, and thrive.
I am asking that you consider waiving any permitting and mitigation fees in this
case. I have had to go to great expense to try and save these treasured plants. It
seems like a harsh irony on top of all of our efforts to save them from possible
destruction, to then have to pay a substantial fee that is usually designated for
the destruction of plant materials, not for their ultimate protection.
I greatly appreciate your consideration on this important personal matter.
Sincerely,
Marechal Brown
46 Grand Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211
718-963-1961
'...
OK~~rY 3:~)~~~~E
(31)5) 294~464'
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Dixie M. Spehar, District 1
Mayor Pro Tern Charles ~SonnyH McCoy, District 3
George Neugent, District 2
DavId P. Rice, District 4
Murray E. Nelson, District 5
March 21, 2005
Margaret Rulon Brown
1446 Calle Bogota
Su.mmerland Key, FL 33042
RE: Permit Status for Permit # 051-1106 Lot 14 & 15 Summer1and Beach Addition 7,
Summcrland Key, Florida
Real Estate No. 00198710.000000 & 00198720.000000
Dear Mrs. Brown;
Per yOUT building permit application dated March 06, 2005 the Key West Botanical Garden plans to transplant
various vegetation from your property at 1446 Calle Bagota, Summerland Key to the Botanical Gardm1 site in the Oty
of Key West. Under cunent regulations this type of action would require that the applicant transplant the vegetati.on
on site at a ratio of 2:1 or simply move the vegetation out side the development footprint. Per previous conversations
with representatives from the Botanical Garden that is not the desired option at this time. The code does provide an
alternative in the form of mitigation in the amount of 315% of the retail cost of each tree being removed at a rati.o of
3:1. This mitigation shall be paid to Monroe County and shall be placed in a fund to purchase vegetation for County
funded restoration projects throughout the Keys. A third option will he available as of March 25, 2005. This option
is a reswt of a new ordinance which replaces our current transplantation section of the code. Under this new
ordinance the applicant may remove native vegetation and pay mitigation to Monroe County in the amount equal to
the retail cost of each tree at a rati.o of 2:1. This option is certainly the least expensive to the applicant and does not
require onsite transplantation. Please find attached a summary of the mitigation fees which will be owed at the time
of permit issuance. These fees are calculated under the guidelines of the new ordinance, thus the permit may not be
issued until March 25, 2005, the effective date of the new ordinance. Payment is to be made to Momoe County in the
form of check or cash.
This document is for informational purposes only. It does not assign 01' guarantee any development rights or the
timing of such rights. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of this correspondence and is
subject to change.
If you. have any questions regarding these parcels, or if you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to
contact me at (305) 289-2500.
Sincerely...
r-
Andrew Orner Trivette
Sr. Biologist, Enviromnental Resou.rces
cc City of Key West Horticultural Staff
K. Marlene Conaway, Direcftlf of Planning and Environmental Resources
Ralph Gouldy, Senior Administrator, Plann1,g and Environmental Resources
Alison Trivette, Administrative Assistant
File
O,~~Y~2~~E
(3051294-4$41
r~'.""~""'~
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Dixie M. Spehar, District 1
Mayor Pro Tem Charles ~Sonnyn McCoy, District 3
George Neugent, District 2
David p, Rice, District 4
Mllrray E, Nelson, District 5
Totals
Total Amount Due
$3.614.72
$; ,229.44
$7,229.44