Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Public Works and Environmental Services
Division: Environmental Permitting Division
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Partial Release of Conservation Easement affecting 1.399 acres of an on-site wetland mitigation area located on the north side of Pat Salerno Drive, east of the Sawgrass Expressway, Sunrise, Florida. (Commission District 9)
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Why Action is Necessary
Commission action is required to partially release a Conservation Easement.
What Action Accomplishes
The action partially releases the County’s conservation easement interest in property owned by the State of Florida, Department of Transportation, Florida Turnpike Enterprise.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
Broward County Public Works and Environmental Services Department issued Environmental Resource License No. DF02-1013 to Sunrise Land Group for the Artesia development in Sunrise. A Joint Deed of Conservation Easement was recorded on January 1, 2004 (OR Bk 36780, Pg. 534) over 33.161 acres of wetland mitigation, granting a conservation easement interest to the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Broward County. On June 21, 2024, a Stipulated Final Order of Taking for 1.399 acres of the mitigation area was issued by the 17th Judicial Circuit on behalf of the State of Florida, Department of Transportation, and Florida Turnpike Enterprise. The land will be used for the expansion of the Pat Salerno Drive/Sawgrass Expressway interchange. Pursuant to SFWMD permit application requirements, the Florida Turnpike Enterprise has proposed replacement mitigation at a wetland mitigation bank and additional mitigation in the County on property owned by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise located South of Bass Creek Road and northwest of the Florida Turnpike Extension in Miramar. SFWMD prepared the Partial Release of Conservation Easement (Exhibit 1) based on its own form language and approved release of its interest in the 1.399-acre mitigation area on December 15, 2025. Broward County’s approval would include an effective date of December 15, 2025. Location Maps of the proposed impact area to the Conservation Easement and proposed in-County mitigation area are attached (Exhibit 2).
The Partial Release of Conservation Easement was approved as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney.
Source of Additional Information
David Vanlandingham, Director, Environmental Permitting Division, 954-519-1478.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
No fiscal impact.