Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Public Works and Environmental Services
Division: Solid Waste & Recycling
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute a Release of Conservation Easement for the property recorded in Book 30173, Page 1706, of the Official Records of Broward County, Florida, known as Alpha 250 North Parcel D, in the City of Pompano Beach, Florida. (Commission District 2)
B. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute a Deed of Conservation Easement to the South Florida Water Management District for a wetland restoration area comprising of 25 acres at Tradewinds Park, in the City of Coconut Creek, Florida. (Commission District 2)
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval or authorization is required to release easements pursuant to Section 27.69 of the Broward County Administrative Code.
What Action Accomplishes
Authorizes the County Administrator to execute documents concerning a Conservation Easement from the South Florida Water Management District.
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 SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
The County owns real property identified as Alpha 250 North, Parcel D (Property Appraiser Parcel ID 484221120040), located in Pompano Beach on the east side of Blount Road, north of Copans Road. The parcel comprises approximately 25 acres of natural area including wetlands that border a lake and is predominately a freshwater forested shrub area with isolated pockets of cypress swamp and wet prairies. This parcel is separate and distinct from the Alpha 250 North, Parcel E property identified for sale or retention by the County in the 2015 Settlement Agreement Between Broward County and the Settling Municipalities resolving the litigation City of Sunrise, et al. v. Broward County, Case No. CACE-13-015660 (17th Judicial Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida).
The County entered into a Deed of Conservation Easement ("Conservation Easement") with the South Florida Water Management District ("SFWMD") in early 2000. Under the Conservation Easement, the County is obligated to preserve, enhance, restore, and maintain the wetlands and/or upland area located within the parcel.
Periodic inspections of the parcel have uncovered extensive unauthorized activity, along with large accumulations of garbage, discarded debris, and overgrown or invasive vegetation. Efforts to mitigate these issues have been repeatedly hindered due to unsafe site conditions, limiting safe access for crews and contractors. The Florida Department of Health has expressed serious health and safety concerns particularly given its proximity to a public school (Cypress Run Educational Center, 2800 Northwest 30th Avenue, Pompano Beach).
Due to significant safety concerns and the associated inability to provide maintenance, Broward County is seeking release from the Conservation Easement for Alpha 250 North Parcel D to allow robust cleanup and comprehensive remediation. SFWMD staff has found Broward County’s Release of Conservation Easement (Exhibit 1) application to be complete. Approval of this item would advance the application to the SFWMD Governing Board for final approval and allow for comprehensive remediation of the property.
To offset the release of the Alpha 250 Conservation Easement, preservation and restoration efforts with equivalent wetland functional value are proposed to be conducted offsite at Broward County’s Tradewinds Park, located at 3600 West Sample Road, Coconut Creek, Florida. These efforts will include restoring approximately 25 acres of wetland area. The SFWMD has provided a Deed of Conservation Easement to be executed, identifying and retaining areas at Tradewinds Park for wetland restorative purposes (Exhibit 2).
If approved, Motion A will authorize County Administrator to execute a Release a of the Conservation Easement (Exhibit 1) on the property known as Alpha 250 North Parcel D, in the City of Pompano Beach.
If approved, Motion B will authorize County Administrator to execute a Deed of Conservation Easement (Exhibit 2) to the SFWMD for a wetland restoration area comprising 25 acres at Tradewinds Park, in the City of Coconut Creek, Florida.
Source of Additional Information
Notosha Austin, Director, Solid Waste and Recycling Services, (954) 474-1880.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Estimated costs are $2,000,000 for cleanup activities and wetland restoration. There is an existing maintenance entity that the County will be seeking to cover these costs, which will be coordinated should the easement be released by the South Florida Water Management District.