Northeast Corridor Greenway AcquisitionCity Council WorkshopNovember 12, 2013

Presentation Outline

Background:• Northeast Corridor Projects Action Plan• Project Location• Project Benefits

Current Proposal:• Consultant Selection Process• Feasibility Study • Project Objective

Next Steps:

Northeast Corridor

Northeast Palm Coast CorridorGreenway Acquisition

Project Site

Unique Value of Lands

• Lands are in unique position between Flagler County conservation easement lands and SJRWMD lands providing opportunity for creating wetland mitigation credits for city transportation projects.

• City control of Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) - Critical component in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the City’s community rating.

Northeast Palm Coast CorridorGreenway Acquisition

• 42 acres of unpermitted wetland impacts currently out of compliance. Restoration plan accepted by SJRWMD.

• South Tract: 159.64 ac. Wetlands: 95.55 ac. (60%) total area 14.17 ac. impacted Uplands: 64.09 ac. (40%) total area

Floodplain Comp: 8.317 ac. Upland

• North Tract: 128.69 ac. Wetlands: 73.00 ac. (57%) total area

25.83 ac. impacted Uplands: 55.69 ac. (43%) total area

• Wetland impacts will require restoration/alternative permitting

SJRWMD Lands

OKR ExtensionFlagler County Lands

Northeast Palm Coast CorridorGreenway Acquisition Benefits

Potential Additional Benefits of Land Purchase• Wetland Mitigation – Potential to create mitigation credits for use of transportation

and other city projects in lieu of purchasing mitigation credits from a wetland mitigation bank.

• Recreational Uses - Investigate passive recreational uses of the site to expand connectivity to other lands to expand public uses.

• Water Quality - Benefits water quality in the Pellicer Creek Basin• Habitat - Expands the existing regional conservation corridor and ecological

significance due to the unique linkage to conservation areas to the north and south.

Primary Benefits of Land Purchases• Cost Savings & Timing – Ability to avoid eminent domain proceedings. Ability to keep

projects moving forward with the Interchange project schedule. • Floodplain Compensation – Land necessary for completion of Northeast Corridor

projects.• City control of Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) - Critical component in the National

Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the City’s community rating that directly affects flood insurance rates.

Northeast Corridor Greenway Acquisition (NCGA)

Consultant Selection Process:

• Letter of Interest (LOI) Released - Three firms contracted for Environmental and Engineering Services (RFP-CM-08-05) were invited to the selection process. All firms are highly qualified in conducting wetland assessments, mitigation planning and designing, and listed species assessments.

1. Jones Edmunds & Associates2. Stantec3. Atkins

• Project Objective – Produce a feasibility study to guide the City on project costs and timing of design, permitting, monitoring and overall management of the NCGA with a cost-benefit analysis in-mind.

• Cost of Services - $35,278.00

Northeast Corridor Greenway Acquisition (NCGA)

Next Steps:

• Feasibility Study completion date is targeted for April 2014.

• Provide City Council a presentation of study findings. • If findings are favorable, design and permitting services will be secured. Target

completion date for permitting is July 2015.