[1.

Purpose:] The purpose of this section is to preserve and protect the values and functions of environmentally sensitive lands from alterations that would result in the loss of these lands or significant degradation of their values and functions. An environmental impact statement shall be submitted with all preliminary site plans as set forth in Section 7 herein and such statement shall address and identity any and all endangered, threatened and rare species and species of special concern as defined hereinbelow as well as areas of concern set forth in the Palm Beach County Wellfield Protection Ordinance. If none exist, the applicant must so state and provide support documentation to be included in the preliminary plan.

[2.]

Definitions:

a)

Alteration: Any activity which results in the modification, variation or transformation of environmentally sensitive lands, including, but not limited to, placement of vehicles, structures, debris, or any other material objects thereon, introduction or injection of water or other substance, and removal, displacement or disturbance of plant or animal species, soil, rock, minerals or water.

b)

Ecosystem: An assemblage of living organisms (plant, animals, microorganisms, etc.) and nonliving components, (soil, water, air, etc.) that functions as a dynamic whole through organized energy flows.

c)

Endangered, threatened and rare species and species of special concern: Species listed as endangered, threatened, rare or of special concern by one or more of the following agencies:

(1)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

(2)

Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.

(3)

Florida Committee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals.

(4)

Florida Department of Agriculture.

(5)

Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council.

d)

Environmentally sensitive lands: Ecological sites (ecosites) representing high-quality native Florida ecosystems.

e)

Native Florida Ecosystems: A self-organized ecosystem of a type existing in Florida prior to European colonization and containing predominantly native species.

[3.]

Review procedures for proposed land alterations: All applications for site review shall be reviewed by the Town and any proposed alteration of environmentally sensitive lands shall be referred for evaluation to the staff or a special committee whom the Town Council shall determine is responsible for the foregoing. These designated persons shall be referred to as the Plan Review Committee (PRC). The evaluation by the PRC of any proposed alteration of lands found to be environmentally sensitive shall be based on an environmental impact statement completed by the property owner or his or her designee. This study shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

a)

Site Conditions:

(1)

Site location map with the specific property clearly indicated.

(2)

Aerial photograph with the specific property clearly indicated (scale: one inch = six hundred (600) feet or less).

(3)

Detailed map of existing terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, including exotic species with jurisdictional limits of wetland jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation.

(4)

Soil types and conditions.

(5)

List of endangered, threatened and rare species and species of special concern found on site.

(6)

Colonial bird nesting or roosting areas or areas in which migratory species are known to concentrate.

(7)

Geologically significant features.

(8)

Areas of previous disturbance or degradation, including present and past human uses of site.

(9)

Surrounding land uses.

(10)

An analysis of the high quality native Florida ecosystems on the site.

b)

Project designs:

(1)

Conceptual footprint of site development, including buildings, roadways, parking areas, utilities, water features, flood control structures, stormwater systems, well field locations, landscaped areas, buffer areas, preserve areas, and other open space areas, as an overlay to vegetation mapping detailed in subsection a)(3) above.

(2)

Existing zoning.

(3)

Status of development approvals, including permit applications.

c)

Project operation:

(1)

Description of proposed operations to be performed on site including use, storage, handling or productions of substances known to be harmful to humans, plants, and/or animals.

(2)

Identification of any pollutants expected to be emitted during project operation.

(3)

Identification of timing and source of noise and/or vibration impacts on animal life.

[4.]

Review schedule: Any additional information determined to be required by the PRC must be requested by the PRC within thirty (30) days of receipt of the above information. Upon receipt of complete information, the PRC shall have thirty (30) days in which to complete its evaluation of environmental impacts. The PRC will then have thirty (30) days to make its recommendation concerning conditions of approval for the development.

(Ord. No. 12-89-503, § 2, 2-20-90)