Resolution 333-1986
Sandy Barrett
RESOLUTION NO.
333 -1986
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONSERVATION AND
RECREATIONAL LAND PROGRAM OF THE STATE OF
FLORIDA TO CONSIDER GROUPING ALL FLORIDA KEYS
PROJECTS TOGETHER WITH THE SAME RANKING AS
THE NORTH KEY LARGO HAMMOCKS/NORTH KEY LARGO
HAMMOCKS ADDITION.
WHEREAS, Monroe County, containing in its entirety the
Florida Keys, has been declared by the Florida State Legislature
an Area of Critical State Concern; and
WHEREAS, special attention has been paid by the Legislature
this year towards creation of a new bond program for purchases by
the Conservation and Recreational Lands (C.A.R.L.) Committee
within Areas of Critical State Concern; and
WHEREAS, while the properties are not contiguous, the values
considered when placing both the North Key Largo Hammocks/North
Key Largo Hammocks Addition and the Big Pine Key/Coupon Bight
Aquatic Preserve Buffers projects on the C.A.R.L. list for State
purchase are very similar, including possession of unique natural
geological features, habitat for threatened and endangered
species of animals, location of endangered species of vegetation,
and heavy development pressures, so both proj ects are of very
high importance for purchase and preservation; and
WHEREAS, the Big Pine Key/Coupon Bight State Aquatic Pre-
serve Buffers project borders the Tree Cactus Hammock in a
National Wildlife Refuge (containing the small remaining popu-
lation of Key Deer), and a State Aquatic Preserve; and would be
contained within and serve as a buffer for these properties that
are already in Public ownership, similarly to State purchases in
the North Key Largo area that surround the Federally owned
Crocodile Lake Preserve; and
WHEREAS, the south face of Big Pine Key within the Big Pine
Key/Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve Buffers project contains a dune
covered with hardwood hammock and a beach with coral rock out-
croppings found along less than two percent of the unique Florida
Keys shoreline; and
WHEREAS, much concern has been expressed lately regarding
the impacts of the proposed Monroe County Land Use Plan on small
property owners in the Florida Keys, and the Big Pine Key/Coupon
Bight Aquatic Preserve Buffers project contains many small
parcels of land owned by individuals, purchase of the Coupon
Bight project would complement the purchase of a smaller number
of large parcels of land in the North Key Largo Hammock/North Key
Largo Hammock Addition project, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, as follows:
1. The members of the Conservation and Recreational Lands
Committee are hereby urged to raise the Big Pine Key/Coupon Bight
Aquatic Preserve Buffers project from its present place on the
C.A.R.L. list and join it with the other Florida Keys project,
North Key Largo Hammocks/North Key Largo Hammocks Addition, thus
facilitating the process of purchase of both projects within the
Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern.
2. The C.A.R.L. Committee is hereby urged to expeditiously
seek acquisition of these properties so as to continue the
protection of these unique areas and the resources therein
represented for the citizens and taxpayers both of the State of
Florida and of the County as a whole.
3. The Clerk of this Board is hereby directed to send a
certified copy of this resolution to the Conservation and Recre-
ational Lands Committee, Department of Natural Resources, 3900
Commonwealth Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32303.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held
on the ~ day of November, A.D. 1986.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY. FLORIDA
By
(Seal)
Attes t: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
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A
BY