Item C1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Awzust 3. 2009
Division: Growth Manaszement
Bulk Item: Yes JL No
Department:
Staff Contact PersonIPhone #: Andrew O. Trivette
Ext 2517
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval of a letter by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners providing official
comment on the Department of Interior Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot
Project (Report to Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot
Project and draft maps).
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The United States Department of Interior with the oversight of the United States Congress has opened
for public comment on April 7, 2009 the Report to Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier
Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project and draft maps. This pilot project includes draft
revised maps for 70 CBRS writs (approximately l00Jio of the total CBRS units in the United States) and
will serve as a framework for modernizing the remainder of the CBRS maps. The 70 CBRS units
included in the pilot project includes six (6) CBRS units located within Monroe County. These draft
maps depict some increase in the existing CBRS areas and two (2) units require correction based on
our comment. The CBRS designation restricts future development in these areas including public
infrastructure such as mooring fields and public buildings or parks. It is the.. County's request that the
expanded boundaries be further revised to exclude areas where existing public facilities are located and
potential areas where future public projects might be desired.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: nJa
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: nla
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval
TOTAL COST:
nla
INDIRECT COST:
BUDGETED: Yes _No
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
nla
COST TO COUNTY:
nJa
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No x
AMOUNT PER MONTH_ Year
APPROVED BY: County Arty _ OMBlPurchasing _ Risk Management_
DOCUMENTATION:
Included x
Not Required_
AGENDA ITEM # e oi
DISPOSITION:
County of Monroe
Growth Management Division
omee of.he Dlr~tor
2798 Overseas Highway
Suite #400
~Mathon,FL 33050
Voice: (30S) 289-2517
FAX: (305) 289-2854
Bo.rd or Count\' ConunissioDen
Mayor George Neugent, Dist. 2
Mayor Pro Tem Sylvia 1. Murphy, Dist. 5
Kim Wigington, Dist. 1
Heather Carruthe~ Dist 3
Mario Di Gennaro, Dist. 4
We sttlve to be eating, ptofesslonalll1ld fair
July 27, 2009
Katie Niemi, Coastal Barriers Coordinator
Division of Habitat and Resource Conservation
U.8. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 860A
Arlington, VA 22203
Dear Ms. Niemi:
The intention of this letter is to provide comment on the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS)
Digital Mapping Pilot Project. The Division of Growth Management has reviewed the draft maps and
accompanying report for the proposed areas of expansion within Monroe County. I have provided the
following comments for your consideration.
Overview:
The stated goal of the CBRS by the USFWS is to encourage conservation by restricting federal
expenditures that encourage development such as Federal flood insurance. And while CBRS areas are
intended (in Monroe County) to be "relatively undeveloped coastal barriers along the Florida Keys", it
appears that some of the digital maps provided in the Pilot Project include areas that are already
developed, or that otherwise may be inappropriate for inclusion as CBRS areas.
Three map numbers (23,24 and 25) are within Monroe County. Two of those map numbers (23 and 24)
include areas within unincorporated Monroe County and were reviewed by staff to determine if issues
may exist in regard to expansion of CBRS areas. The below comments are provided for your
consideration.
MaD No.
CBRS Unit No.
23
FL-39
MaD No.
CBRS Unit No.
24
FL-45
Monroe County Staff Comment
FL-39 indicates an area north of US Hwy. 1 proposed for expansion
eastward to include most of Community Harbor for the purpose of
protecting additional aquatic habitat. However, the harbor has been
used historically as an anchorage for liveaboards and has been
considered by the County for establishment of a managed mooring
field (Keys Wide Mooring Field System Preliminary Planning
Document, July 30,2002). Federal funding may be desirable in the
future by Monroe County for mooring field development and
maintenance.
The County is requesting that the area of the proposed expansion
which includes Community Harbor be excluded from CBRS status
pursuant to the attached map (Attachment A).
Monroe Countv Staff Comment
The eastern boundary of Unit FL-45 is proposed to be moved to the
east to include additional undeveloped fastland. However, the
scarified areas along the southern border of the borrow pit on the
north side of US Highway 1 on Crawl Key include the site of the
Monroe County Medical Examiners Office and the Fire Training
Facility. Although the area is within the municipality of the City
of Marathon, the facilities are owned by Monroe County. An
existing road provides access to the site. Other infrastructure also
exists including phone, electric and water. These existing facilities
are currently eligible for federal flood insurance. Also, there are
plans for possibly building a new county fire station at the same
location.
The County is requesting that this disturbed/developed area be
excluded from CBRS status pursuant to the attached map
(Attachment B) to protect eligibility for federal flood insurance
coverage for the existing facilities in the event of substantial
damage, as well as eligibility for future insurance coverage of a
proposed County fire station.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of Monroe County's comments to the CBRS Pilot Project.
Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
o
Mayor George R. Neugent