HomeMy Public PortalAboutCalusa Park Expansion Study - April 30, 1993.pdfr
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KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA
APRIL 30, 1993
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O'LEARY DESIGN ASSOCIATE
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VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE
85 WEST MCINTYRE STREET
KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA 33149
(305) 365-5511
VILLAGE COUNCIl
HON. RAFAEL CONTE, MAYOR
HON. CLIFFORD BRODY, VICE MAYOR
HON. RAYMOND P. SULLIVAN
HON. MORTIMER FRIED
HON. MICHAEL HILL
HON. JOE I. RASCO
HON. BETTY Q. SIME
C. SAMUEL KISSINGER
VILLAGE MANAGER
WEISS, SEROTA & HELFMAN, PA
VILLAGE ATTORNEYS
GUIDO INGUANZO
VILLAGE CLERK
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EMPA
ENVIRONMENTAL
MITIGATION
PLANNING
ASSOCIATES
Oak Plaza Professional Center
8525 S.W. 92 Street, Suite CI I
Miami, Florida 33156
Tel: 305/596-9166
Fax: 303/270-0965
SUMMARY OF SALIENT ENVIRONMENTAL/PLANNING ISSUES FOR
THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF CALUSA PARK -APRIL 30, 1993
REVIEW OF PREVIOUS STUDIES AND SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES
1. In 1988, Dade County Planning Department proposed
a Master Plan amendment of +/-30 acres from
environmentally -sensitive park to parks and recreation
which was adopted by the Commission.
2. ORIGINAL BEC COMPARISON STUDY (1991)
This study compared the Calusa Park area to the
Crandon Gardens area as two possible park expansion
sites for the Key Biscayne Council. Conclusions were
that the Crandon Gardens site would be easier to
permit than the Calusa Park area primarily because of
the requirement to obtain wetland permits.
3. CRANDON PARK NATURAL AREAS PROTECTION PLAN (1991)
In 1991, the Nature Conservancy, Fairchild Tropical
Garden and Metro parks and Recreation studied Crandon
Park from a Natural Areas Protection perspective. Of
significance to this effort is the fact that all of
the proposed Calusa Park expansion areas was
designated as "primary preserve", and further
particular environmental significance was placed on
the upland natural sand shorelines that have been
colonized by Australian Pines, due to uniqueness and
the fact that these areas are also vegetated by upper
Keys hammock forest vegetation.
4. METRO PARK & RECREATION MEMO (1992)
The Director of Parks and Recreation, citing the 1991
Nature Conservancy study, recommends strongly against
the expansion of Calusa Park for recreational use to
the County manager's office/ and urges the designation
of the area as a primary preserve.
5. LEWIS ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY STUDIES (1993)
Lewis characterized the site into acreage units based
on site features and then ranked the wetland areas
from low to high development probability, based
primarily on the ecological functions of mangrove
communities. This study only addressed the immediate
vicinity of Calusa Park. After the DERM evaluation
was conducted (see below) he changed his designation
and areas slightly. His final report (dated March,
1993) is shown on the Lewis Area Study. We are in
basic concurrence with his findings from both the
ecological and permitting perspectives.
Calusa Park Summary
Page 2
April 30, 1993
6. DERM SITE EVALUATION AND JURISDICTIONAL
DETERMINATION L/NE
In response to the various studies that involve Calusa
Park, DERM performed a site assessment and provided
wetland jurisdictional boundaries for the portions of
the Calusa Park area studied by Lewis. These DERM
jurisdiction lines are shown on the Potential Land Use
Plan for that portion of the area studied by them.
DERM also assessed permit probability/difficulty for
the various areas of the site evaluated.
EMPA STUDY
EMPA was asked to assess the feasibility of expansion of
the Calusa Park area, and to determine whether the expanded
recreational facilities desired by the Village of Key
Biscasyne, could be located and achieved in the area around
Calusa Park.
The Potential Land Use Plan shows our potential use line.
This line is based on a biological evaluation of the site,
in conjunction with reviews of the previous studies. We
believe that development east of this line is defensible,
that the wetland dredge and fill permitting that would be
required within this line is obtainable, and that
sufficient area for mitigation is available on -site and
near site to compensate for unavoidable impacts resulting
from dredge and fill. We have determined that DERM, Corps
of Engineers and FDER permits would be required for
portions of the expansion. A total of approximately 20.05
acres lies east of this line. Preliminary indications are
that approximately 0.24 acres of DERM jurisdictional
wetlands would potentially be impacted by the Recreational
Use Plan.
We were surprised that large areas of uplands severely -
impacted by exotic vegetation were present in the Calusa
Park area. Based on further study, we discovered that
these areas are the old dune lines as discussed in the 1991
Nature Conservancy report. We have located our potential
development line in the least desirable portions (the
eastern areas) of these old dune lines. By using a portion
of this area for recreational purposes, we can preserve and
enhance the more desirable areas (the western portions)
through mitigation.
Calusa Park Summary
Page 3
April 30, 1993
The Potential Land Use Plan also shows potential mitigation
areas in the Calusa Park vicinity. Mitigation would
consist of the control (herbiciding) of exotics on the
filled spoil mounds and the old dune ridges, and replanting
of the these areas with trees and shrubs indigenous to
upper Keys hammocks. We could also participate in the
replanting of the forest buffer along Crandon Boulevard,
and the restoration of mangrove areas within the potential
use line. This mitigation/restoration is totally
consistent with Metro Parks long-range biological goals for
this area.
The Recreational use Plan illustrates a proposed layout of
recreational facilities within the proposed use line.
Facilities would include (8) tennis courts, two baseball
fields, one soccer field, parking, walkways and two
restrooms/concession buildings. These layouts also include
a 50 foot densely -planted buffer strip all along Crandon
Boulevard to provide Parks and Recreation with sufficient
space to replace the canopy vegetation destroyed by
Hurricane Andrew.
Other issues:
The FP&L power lines should be relocated; they could be
placed adjacent to the planted forest areas along Crandon
Boulevard.
KEY
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RECREATIONAL USE PLAN
KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA
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LOW POTENTIAL
FOR DEVELOPMENT
MEDIUM POTENTIAL
FOR DEVELOPMENT
HIGH POTENTIAL
FOR DEVELOPMENT
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P.FARY X ABAOdAtt8 PAal. WIMP IPLIINK AWN
APRIL 30. 111113
(1) DISTURBED AREA ADJACENT TO CRANDON BLVD
(2) TYPICAL CASUARINA AREA
(5) UPLAND SABAL PALM AREA
(6) POTENTIAL NATURE TRAIL AREA