Public access and off-highway vehicle (OHV) use within easements ORA-036 and ORA-085. Perpetual conservation easement ORA-085 prohibits development. Large amounts of household trash and debris are presentĬoncept plans to develop 273 additional housing units within ORA-085 have been presented to the city of Apopka. Cleared habitat has been sodded with nonnative turfgrass Several other compliance issues were identified and discussed during this site visit:Ī lot has been cleared within easement ORA-036, where fencing, a swimming pool, and a pool cage have been constructed. A potential route of access through ORA-036 for heavy equipment was evaluated during the site visit, and it was determined that no tortoises or burrows were present within the area at that time." It is not feasible to repair the retaining wall from the adjacent parcel instead, the repair will require temporary access to the easement. The extent of soil erosion from the retaining wall collapse necessitates the use of heavy equipment to repair the retaining wall (Figure 3). Without repair, the retaining wall will likely further collapse into the easement and cause additional impacts to the protected habitat. After Hurricane Ian, the retaining wall collapsed and fell within the boundary of conservation easement ORA-036 (Figure 2). "The retaining wall borders several parcels within a development outside of Rock Springs Ridge HOA that falls adjacent to ORA-036. "The purpose of this site visit was to evaluate damage from a retaining wall collapse and conduct opportunistic compliance monitoring of three of the four Rock Springs Ridge easements (i.e., ORA-054, ORA-036, and ORA-085) (Figure 1)," the FWC writes in the report. The February 3rd letter followed a November 2022 site visit by the FWC that turned up multiple violations on the gopher tortoise lands. Perpetual conservation easements are an important tool for conservation, and release of a perpetual easement requires a thorough evaluation of the mitigation being proposed in exchange." As such, the FWC intends to maintain its interest in the permanent conservation of ORA-085. "Lands for ORA-085 were acquired with funds received through the FWC Mitigation Park Program and granted a perpetual conservation easement to the FWC with the intent of permanent conservation. "Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff received notice that the Rock Springs Ridge Homeowners Association is involved in discussions related to the development of ORA-085 (the gopher tortoise conservation area)," wrote Jennifer Goff, Deputy Directorįor the Division of Habitat and Species Conservation for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In its letter to Fairchild, the FWC was clear that it wanted RSR to end any negotiations involving the gopher tortoise lands. The Rock Springs Ridge HOA Board called a special meeting for Monday, March 13thĪccording to the FWC, the letter, dated February 3rd, was received by Inframark, the RSR HOA Management Group, on February 21st. It was also posted on an outdoor calendar on the RSR property: Sorry that we could not give you more advanced notice, but action is required immediately. See below note from the HOA Board President: Dear Homeowners, Our HOA Board is calling a special meeting to discuss the Februletter from Florida Fish and Wildlife and to take required action as directed by FWC. Residents, Please be advised that the Board of Directors will be holding a Special Board Meeting on Monday, March 13th at 5pm at the Tavern located on 625 Rock Springs Blvd, Apopka, FL 32712. Special Board Meeting - Monday, March 13th at 5pm Posted by Community Manager (Jennifer Jordan) on 1:48 pm Rock Springs Ridge Homeowners Association, Inc. In an email to RSR homeowners, the RSR HOA board wrote: Previously, the RSR board was in open negotiations with The Golf Group to swap the gopher tortoise lands (the 51-acre land on Kelly Park Road) for the RSR golf course lands. The Rock Springs Ridge Homeowners Association Board has called a special meeting to deal with a letter it received from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) warning them against having discussions related to the development of the gopher tortoise lands.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |