Objective 3.3.2. - Wildlife and Upland Habitat Protection.
Protect and preserve native wildlife, endangered, threatened and species of special concern, and native upland habitat through appropriate acquisition, restoration, and development controls to provide:
• Areas for passive recreation and enhanced quality of life;
• Large pervious areas for improved water quality and groundwater recharge;
• Species biodiversity; and
• Natural area greenways.
Policy 3.3.2.1. Protect floral and faunal species which are threatened, endangered, or are species of special concern from incompatible development by requiring that all proposed development sites be examined for location of Listed Species (endangered, threatened or species of special concern). If found, such species' habitat shall be identified and protected. Examination of proposed development sites shall be conducted as follows:
(1)
Proposed developments shall conduct an evaluation of the proposed development site which shall contain:
• Dates of field review;
• Name and qualifications of individual(s) conducting the review;
• A brief statement of the methodology used to conduct the investigation;
• A map indicating where listed species were observed on the site; and
• Measures proposed by the applicant to ensure non-disturbance, relocation, or other acceptable mitigative measures.
Implementation Mechanism(s):
(a)
Coordination with appropriate State and Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for review, comment and recommendation on specific species management strategies.
(b)
Review and require applicants to coordinate with appropriate state and federal agencies when protected species and/or critical habitat are found on-site.
(c)
Implement the Land Development Code consistent with this policy.
Policy 3.3.2.2. Require the preservation of native upland habitat during land development activities through the following strategies:
(1)
Maintenance of areas of non-exotic vegetation, or viable portions thereof, on any project site, especially when such area or viable portions of areas, are part of larger upland habitats which may extend beyond the boundaries of the development site.
(2)
Encourage increased preservation of native upland habitat by providing incentives, including but not limited to:
(a)
Clustering of density/intensity out of preserved native upland habitat.
(b)
Reduced lot sizes and setbacks; and
(c)
Consideration of increased building height when native upland preservation provides additional buffering and screening.
(3)
Removal of all nuisance exotic plant species from upland development sites during construction unless Special Approval is granted.
(4)
Designation of upland preservation areas at time of general development plan, preliminary site plan, preliminary plat, or other preliminary development plan or similar approval.
(5)
Manatee County shall consider habitat size, adjacency to other natural areas, and habitat value when reviewing site development plans for uplands preservation.
Implementation Mechanism(s):
(a)
Implement the land development regulations to provide standards for upland preservation.
(b)
Identification of native vegetative communities on site development plans and landscape plans.
(c)
Review of all proposed site development plans to ensure consistency with this policy.
Policy 3.3.2.3. [Reserved]
Policy 3.3.2.4. [Reserved]
Policy 3.3.2.5. Actively participate in intergovernmental and other activities to appropriately conserve and manage native vegetation and viable wildlife habitat. [See Policies 4.1.4.1 and 11.1.3.1]
Implementation Mechanism(s):
(a)
Maintain active membership in intergovernmental groups such as the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Agency on Bay Management, and the Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Programs.
(b)
Initiate dialogue between Manatee County and adjacent local governments concerning common conservation issues.
(c)
Proactively seek out private owners of environmentally sensitive lands to discuss and encourage various preservation mechanisms.
Policy 3.3.2.6. Whenever feasible, restore non-exotic plant communities on public lands, by reforestation and other appropriate activities, to provide suitable wildlife habitat for endangered and threatened plant and animal species.
Implementation Mechanism(s):
(a)
Coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture, and other local, regional, State or Federal agencies to obtain assistance on restoration activities.
(b)
Coordination with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to achieve policy compliance.
(c)
Coordination with private, and/or non-profit natural resource interest groups to obtain assistance with restoration activities.
Policy 3.3.2.7. Consider the use of suitable public lands as receiving lands for protected plant and animal species which are proposed for relocation under agency-approved mitigation actions. Any such relocation shall consider the impact of adjacent development or agricultural operations on these species, and shall be consistent with Goal 2.5.
Implementation Mechanism:
(a)
Coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to facilitate appropriate species relocation activities.
Policy 3.3.2.8. Identify and protect major environmentally sensitive areas through designation as Conservation on the Future Land Use Map or other appropriate protection strategies.
Implementation Mechanism(s):
(a)
Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC) identification and protection of environmentally sensitive lands, using the adopted ranking system and natural resource value maps for sensitive lands acquisition.
(b)
Pursuit of environmentally sensitive lands acquisition/protection.
(Ord. No. 18-04 , § 7(Exh. E), 8-23-18)