Agenda Item Name:
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Buchanan Trails - Approve Conservation Easement in favor of Alachua County
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Presenter:
Mark Brown, 352-264-6815
Description:
The proposed Buchanan Trails residential community includes 66.7 acres within Jonesville. The design plan includes 180-lot single-family detached units with associated infrastructure. A designated 10.3-acre “Conservation Management Area” (CMA) is located within the northwestern portion of the project area. To meet the applicable code requirements for regulated natural resource management and protection, the designated CMA will be protected in perpetuity with a recorded Conservation Easement conveyed to Alachua County.
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Recommended Action:
recommended action
Approve the Conservation Easement
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Prior Board Motions:
recommended action
Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved the revised Preliminary Development Plan (PDP), July, 2022
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Fiscal Consideration:
fiscal consideration
N/A
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Strategic Guide:
strategic guide
Environment
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Background:
Within the northwestern quadrant of the site, there is a contiguous 10.3-acre area associated with a former lime rock quarry operation excavated in the 1940’s. This quarry area includes an interior surface water feature (2.4 acres) covered with duckweed and shrub vegetation; surrounded by undulating topography of forested upland habitat that naturally generated trees and shrubs on overburden soils displaced by the quarry operation. This 10.3 acres represents 15% of the subject site and designated within the southernmost overlay portion of the Pine Hills Forest Strategic Ecosystem.
A “Conservation Area Management Plan” has been prepared to address the perpetual habitat management, as well associated with the CMA. The management plan includes references to removing exotic and nuisance vegetation, earthwork and construction setbacks within proximity of the CMA, and the installation of appropriate erosion control and perimeter fencing along the CMA boundary to ensure there are no unauthorized encroachments of equipment, material or vehicles within the CMA.
The cost and responsibility of managing the CMA will be borne by the Buchanan Trails Homeowner’s Association (HOA). Annual monitoring reports that document the habitat conditions and management activities conducted during the previous year and anticipated during the following year will be submitted to EPD. EPD staff will conduct annual inspections of the designated CMA, typically coinciding with receipt of the monitoring reports.
Permanent protection measures of the designated CMA are reflected through the recording of a Conservation Easement (CE). The purpose of the CE is to preserve the habitat in its current form, and to maintain, protect and enhance existing conservation resources, native plant and wildlife habitat quality, and to prevent any further development or disturbances by requiring adherence to the management practices specified in the CMA Management Plan. The owner/applicant (Grantor) has proposed the designated CE recipient (Grantee) of the CE will be Alachua County.
The County has a standard procedure that permanent easements to be granted to the County are placed on Consent Agenda for approval by the BoCC and are Approved as to Form by the County Attorney and signed by the Chair. Staff is therefore bringing this item forth to fulfill this standard procedure.