§ 4.2.1. Land Uses

Short-Term Years One through Five: South Area Terminal Expansion. The continued south area terminal site expansion for perishables are consistent with existing zoning designations. If petroleum pipelines were to be constructed from Berths 9/10, a number of potential impacts would need to be further analyzed. The alignment and operation of any pipelines from the berth to a tank farm, distribution facility, or end user should address the following potential impacts:

• Vessel restriction zone.

• Breakbulk cargo loading and offloading operating restrictions.

• Truck traffic circulation.

• Reach of mobile harbor cranes and other yard equipment.

• Terminal capacities.

• Berth capacity and utilization rates.

• Security compliance.

• Environmental risks.

• Cruise passenger restrictions.

• Operations restrictions during construction.

These potential impacts would also need to be weighed against Port revenues and operating costs.

Years Six through Ten: North Area Port Development. Development in the north area will require the construction of Berths 3 and 2, adding 2,800 linear feet of new berths, a new apron suitable for mixed cargo and mobile cranes, a Ro/Ro ramp, and approximately 17 acres of new lay-down areas. This development is also consistent with the Port's zonal designations.

Construction of Berths 3 and 2 will require channel dredging and enlarging of the turning basin at Berth 5. Container expansion in the north area of the Port should be contingent upon the successes of the container operations in the south area and resultant new demand, funding, and Port Authority approval of the specific program components.

This development program is expected to result in 19 acres of direct seagrass impact. Seagrass impacts will occur in part in a manatee/seagrass protection zone established as mitigation (Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Permit No. 0129291-002 El) for the Port's previous navigation and bulkhead improvements project. Figure 4.9 shows the seagrass and wetland areas expected to be impacted by the expansion program presented in this Plan.

Land identified in Scenario A as long-term container expansion will require land acquisition. This area includes private residences and was addressed in the 2009 Master Plan as potential procurement to be used for long-term landside development for container operations. In addition, some of these privately-owned lands are presently under a consent order by DEP that requires environmental clean-up. On January 27, 2012, DEP issued an approval to the Interim Source Removal Report related to soils that exceeded the alternate Soil Cleanup Target Levels (SCTLs) for Groundwater Leachability for the former TECO site north of Piney Point Road.

Figure 4.9
SEAGRASS AND WETLANDS IMPACTS OF PROPOSED EXPANSION PROGRAM