Title
Acquisition of Additional Conservation Lands for Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park (B)
Explanation
This item is a request for the City Commission to approve the purchase of approximately 12 acres of conservation land that are beneficially located between the 4500 and 4900 blocks of NW 19th Street for the appraised value of $186,000.00. The Jurecko parcels (TP# 07901-000-000 and 07902-001-000) have been on PRCA’s priority acquisition list for several years and will be managed as part of Hogtown Creek Headwaters Nature Park.
The property consists of several relatively healthy natural community types, including upland mixed forest, mesic pine flatwoods, upland pine forest, seepage stream, seepage slope, and blackwater stream (a Hogtown Creek tributary). Staff evaluation of the property determined that there has been no major clearing visible on historical aerials going back to 1937, with the exception of the former homesite.
Acquisition of the property protects a portion of Hogtown Creek, protects additional headwater wetlands of Hogtown Creek, and provides protection for heritage trees. The property will provide additional acreage for recreational trails and provides a buffer from residential development to the west. As some of the property fronts on NW 45th Avenue, acquisition preserves additional aesthetic values for the neighborhood.
Management will include securing the boundaries, treating for invasive plants, and developing and maintaining trails.
Fiscal Note
Acquisition costs in the amount of $186,000.00 are available from the Tree Mitigation Fund. Staff estimates management costs for the first two years at $10,330.00 for fencing, boundary marking, signage, trail blazing and invasive plant control. Estimated annual management costs thereafter would be about $1,500.00, barring emergencies or special projects. These funds are available in the Nature Operations Division annual operating budget.
Recommendation
The Cit...
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