Subject:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING; RE: Temporary Use Acknowledgement (TUA) for Brevard County Dewatering Activities for the Grand Canal Muck Removal
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Fiscal Impact:
There will be no impact to the General Fund for the TUA
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the Chair to execute the attached Temporary Use Acknowledgement (TUA) to allow NRM to utilize 6.38 acres of the 18.83 acre vacant parcel zoned PUD for dewatering activities for the Grand Canal Muck Removal Project for a period of up to four (4) years.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
Five muck dredging project locations were selected by Brevard as part of the County managed restoration initiative funded by the State Legislature with 2014-2017 appropriations: Turkey Creek, Cocoa Beach Canals, Mims Boat Ramp, Sykes Creek and the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal Muck Removal Project is fully permitted and funded through a combination of State appropriations and supplemented by the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Trust Fund.
The Grand Canal Muck Removal Project will remove 479,000 cubic yards of muck from the northern portion of the Grand Canal system, extending from Pineda Causeway to the northern end of Sampson Island. The muck will be dredged and transported via a pipeline to the proposed 6.38 acre dewatering facility, located on an 18.83 acre County-owned parcel zoned PUD adjacent to Pineda Causeway. Construction activities commenced August 2019 and the previous TUA was approved by the Board on September 18, 2018 (Attachment F). The previous TUA became active for a period of one (1) year upon the issuance of the Notice to Proceed to the contractor on July 29, 2019. Construction activities are estimated to continue through February 26, 2023. With the authorization of a four (4) year TUA for the Grand Canal Muck Removal Project this will provide authorization for use of this site until July 9, 2024. The additional time requested for this TUA beyond the completion date in February 26, 2023 is intended to provide additional time in the event of unforeseen delays of the project. If the project is completed prior to the expiration date of the TUA (July 9, 2024) the TUA shall expire on the date the project, within its current bounds, is deemed complete by the County.
Funding for the project is from Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant No. NS005 ($8,968,000), as approved by the Board on December 6, 2016 and Save Our Indian River Lagoon Trust Fund ($18,020,368), most recently approved by the Board on March 10, 2020 as part of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan 2020 Update.
This parcel has been used to process and dewater dredged muck from the canals within South Patrick Shores. The use of this parcel as a dredge material dewatering site for the Grand Canal Muck Removal Project has been thoroughly evaluated and selected by Brevard County and the consulting engineering firm as the most cost effective, non-intrusive site for dredge material management in this beachside area. During the design and permitting process for this proposed dewatering site, significant efforts were made to avoid impacts to wetlands and minimize impacts to residents adjacent to this parcel. The dewatering site design avoids impacts to wetlands and maintains a natural buffer of existing vegetation between the work area and the canal. Additionally, an 8 foot high chain link fence with sound dampening material has been installed around the perimeter of the work area adjacent to neighboring residential areas.
A public meeting with the South Patrick Residents’ Association (SPRA) was held on April 13, 2015 to discuss the overall project and present the County’s preliminary plan for the Grand Canal Muck Removal Project. Public comment was received and residents’ concerns regarding the project were heard. A second public meeting with SPRA was held on June 11, 2018 to 1) update area residents on the status of the project 2) notify residents of the requested TUA for the proposed dewatering facility, and 3) address any concerns area residents may have regarding the use. A written notice of this public hearing was sent to all property owners within 1,000’ of this parcel during the month of June 2020.
Upon completion of construction, the dewatering site will undergo site restoration including returning the site to its pre-construction grades, planting native vegetation, and hydro-seeding the work area.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Execute 2 originals