6. Conservation Element

Goal Statement

Conserve, maintain or appropriately utilize natural resources and environmental systems within the Town , maintaining their contribution to the quality of life and economic wellbeing of the Town.

Objective 6.1: Air Quality

Air quality in the Town will continue to meet or exceed State and Federal minimum ambient air quality standards.

Policy 6.1.1: New development within the Town shall maintain established levels of service on the roadway network in order to maintain acceptable air quality.

Policy 6.1.2: The Town shall encourage electric golf carts and encourage pedestrian access to minimize the use of automobiles.

Objective 6.2: Energy

Reduce per capita energy consumption within the Town.

Policy 6.2.1: The Town shall continue to enforce the building code, including the Florida Energy Efficient Code, for new construction.

Policy 6.2.2: The road system within the Town shall be compatible for golf carts and pedestrians.

Policy 6.2.3: The Town has landscaping regulations which encourage adequate shade profiles.

Policy 6.2.4: The Town shall consider energy conservation in the development and implementation of Town ordinances.

Objective 6.3: Water Quality

Improve surface water quality within the Indian River Lagoon adjacent to the Town by managing discharges from the Town.

Policy 6.3.1: In order to maintain existing surface water quality within the designated Outstanding Florida Waters of the Indian River Lagoon adjacent to the Town , all storm drainage facilities will be designed to be consistent with requirements of the Water Management District or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as appropriate.

Policy 6.3.2: The Town will coordinate and support the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Water Management District in permitting and monitoring the quality of stormwater run-off.

Policy 6.3.3: The Town shall coordinate with the Marine Resources Council and the Water Management District, as appropriate, in the implementation of the Indian River Lagoon Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) plan.

Policy 6.3.4: In the Infrastructure Element, the Comprehensive Plan provides for the emergency conservation of water sources in accordance with the plans of the Water Management District.

Objective 6.4: Floodplain

No net loss of flood storage capacity within the Town.

Policy 6.4.1: The Town shall continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Policy 6.4.2: Impounded wetlands shall be maintained in their current state or returned to their natural state, as appropriate, in order to provide flood storage capacity.

Policy 6.4.3: All development shall be consistent with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program and the adopted floodplain management regulations in the Code of Ordinances.

Policy 6.4.4: The adopted floodplain management regulations in the Code of Ordinances shall be updated in a timely manner after changes are mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Objective 6.5: Minerals

Prohibit mining within the Town.

Policy 6.5.1: The adopted land development regulations shall contain a prohibition against mining or borrow operations within the Town.

Policy 6.5.2: The Town shall review and comment on any lease requests for mining activity within the outer continental shelf which may impact the Town’s resources.

Objective 6.6: Soils

Wind and water soil erosion associated with land development activities will be reduced, and areas of shoreline erosion will be stabilized, with adverse impacts to property and natural resources minimized.

Policy 6.6.1: Stormwater shall go through a “treatment train” prior to release in order to allow sediments to settle out prior to discharge to the Indian River Lagoon.

Policy 6.6.2: Land shall be cleared in stages consistent with the staged development of the community.

Policy 6.6.3: Best management practices shall be utilized for stabilizing cleared areas for wind erosion. These practices may include, but not be limited to, seeding and mulching.

Objective 6.7: Vegetative Communities

Sufficient upland vegetative communities to maintain viable populations of the native plant and animal species, and representative stands of each habitat type naturally found in the Town, will be preserved.

Policy 6.7.1: The Town has adopted land development regulations which address when a land clearing permit must be obtained from the Town prior to any development, land clearing or grubbing.

Policy 6.7.2: The Town shall require native vegetation, except noxious species, be maintained adjacent to Jungle Trail.

Policy 6.7.3: The Town will coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other appropriate agencies to ensure that rare, threatened or endangered plant or animal species identified or expected to occur on public recreational and open space lands within the Town shall be protected from adverse development impacts.

Objective 6.8: Wetlands

Maintain or enhance impounded wetlands within the Town. Mosquito control, using best management practices, will, as necessary, be allowed to treat land in and adjacent to these wetlands.

Policy 6.8.1: Wetlands shall not be utilized for the purpose of obtaining fill.

Policy 6.8.2: The Town shall require a buffer zone of native transitional vegetation around wetland and deep-water habitats which are constructed or preserved on new development sites. The buffer zone may consist of preserved or planted vegetation, but shall include canopy, understory and groundcover of native species only. Except for access points, native vegetation shall be maintained for a minimum distance of 50 feet landward of waterway banks or shorelines and associated wetlands.

Objective 6.9: Wildlife and Marine Habitat

There will be no reduction in the critical habitat of threatened or endangered plant and animal species occurring in the Town . The Town will conserve, appropriately use and protect non-threatened, non-endangered fisheries, wildlife, wildlife habitat and marine habitat through the implementation of land development regulations and policies.

For the purpose of this objective, critical habitat is defined as the minimum required sum of environmental conditions in a specific area necessary to sustain a given species. The protection of critical habitat shall be measured and evaluated on a site by site basis.

Policy 6.9.1: Upland development within the Town shall not adversely affect submerged aquatic vegetation within the Indian River Lagoon adjacent to the Town.

Policy 6.9.2: Mangroves are designated as environmentally sensitive resources, and trimming or removal of mangroves shall be prohibited, except as permitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or other appropriate agency.

Policy 6.9.3: The impounded wetlands shall be managed to maximize habitat value, as well as for mosquito control purposes.

Policy 6.9.4: Submerged aquatic vegetation shall not be disturbed in the Town except when a determination of extensive overriding public interest is demonstrated. Development activities, however, shall provide for the minimum disturbance of submerged vegetation.

Policy 6.9.5: To prevent the extinction of any species in the region, any endangered or threatened wildlife species found within a development area shall be relocated, or a plan developed to manage the species prior to the commencement of development.

Policy 6.9.6: All development adjacent to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge shall be consistent with protection of wildlife and its habitat within the refuge.

Policy 6.9.7: The Town shall coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in protecting the wildlife and wildlife habitat within the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Policy 6.9.8: For developments on property known to support endangered or threatened species of plants or animals, or on property expected to significantly contribute to such species’ habitat needs, developers shall be required to notify the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provide proper protection to the extent feasible, to the satisfaction of the Town and the wildlife agencies.

Objective 6.10: Hazardous Materials

Ensure that all users of hazardous materials and generators of hazardous wastes properly transport, store and dispose of hazardous materials.

Policy 6.10.1: Biohazardous waste incineration or other hazardous material disposal shall be prohibited within the Town.

Policy 6.10.2: The Town shall coordinate with the County in the implementation of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Tile IV, as appropriate.         

Policy 6.10.3: In order to facilitate inspection of hazardous waste generators, the Town shall notify Florida Department of Environmental Protection when business tax receipts are issued for hazardous waste generators.