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ENHANCING THE LANDINGS NATURE PRESERVE
by Larry Fleming & Jack Jost -- October 21,2005
INTRODUCTION
All Landings residents were invited to an April 18,2005 brainstorming session to generate ideas for improving the quality of life in our community. Approximately fifty people attended the April meeting, and dozens of ideas were submitted for consideration. Environmental enhancement of the Nature Preserve was foremost among the ideas selected for further consideration. During follow-up sessions on June 14 and October 11, agreement was reached to pursue possible enhancements to the Nature Preserve and to present next-step recommendations for those enhancements to the Landings Management Association Board of Directors.
Larry Fleming and Jack Jost have talked with numerous interested parties, gathered available information and developed a preliminary concept for proceeding with the environmental mitigation and enhancement of the Preserve. This document outlines those preliminary findings and recommendations, requests preliminary concurrence by the LMA Board of Directors for the conceptual plan and requests budgetary funding to begin the first phase of the Nature Preserve Environmental Mitigation and Enhancement Program.
OVERVIEW
This 7.4 acre property in the heart of The Landings is not being utilized for the general benefit of Landings residents. The properties potential as a Nature Preserve has been neglected over the years and has become, predominately, a harborage for exotic, invasive trees and plants. There are very few native trees left on the acreage and many of those are dead or dying. While some of the invasive trees and plants provide a visual buffer, they offer little in the way of sustenance for wildlife, are unsightly, and provide a seed source that contaminates adjacent areas. The eagle's nest for which the area was originally named has not been occupied for years and the area no longer needs to be protected for that purpose according to County agents.
Input received at the brainstorming meetings and through discussions with several individuals throughout the Landings suggests widespread interest in pursuing environmental mitigation and enhancement of the Nature Preserve and better drainage for the site. Others however, believe the covenants and indentures of the Landings preclude any improvements to the Preserve and want to maintain the status quo.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
According to Bruce Hoist, Director of Research and Conservation at Selby Gardens, "the Landings Preserve appears to have been completely bulldozed during initial development with the exception of the pine trees and a couple oaks. After clearing, the area was invaded by exotic herbaceous and woody plants. Only a few herbaceous native plants and some cedars have re-established, but they are far outnumbered by the exotic species in number of species and quantity, and are in danger of being completely overrun." This suggests that the Landings has a nearly blank slate upon which to work in order to improve the aesthetics and create a preserve in the true meaning of the word. Mr. Hoist strongly recommends keeping the pine trees, including those that have died so their snags can be used by*wildlife, the one or two oaks and the cedars but virtually nothing else, since nothing else is worth saving.
According to Charlie Valentine of
the Landings Eagle, Paul Semenec, Environmental Specialist with Sarasota
County's Developmental Services, Resource Protection Group who surveyed the
Landing Preserve, says, "The Brazilian Pepper Trees and Muscadine grapevines,
two of the most invasive and destructive plants in Southwest Florida, are
thriving and proliferating throughout the property. There are a few folks who
think if it's native and growing in an undeveloped area just let it be. Letting
these two varieties just BE would not BE a good idea.... Despite the fact this
area has been referred to as an Eagle and or Bird Preserve, native and wintering
species avoid the area due to the Muscadine vines and Pepper trees. They do not
nest in trees, shrubs or bushes that have been invaded by these plants."
In March of this year, the Sarasota County Commission adopted a new set of rules that requires developers to remove exotic, non-native plants from open-space areas that the developers set aside in new developments. The reason for the new ordinance was to help prevent Florida from morphing into a radically different place as exotics overtake the domain of native species. The County wanted to make sure that people did not just let that change occur passively without a fight. Had the rule been in place when the developer deeded the Nature Preserve to the Landings, the exotics would have had to be removed before the transfer took place. According to Larry Evans, Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial writer, "Relatively little of Florida can be saved patch by patch. Every small effort is laudable, but Florida desperately needs a deeply rooted restoration and preservation ethic." The Nature Preserve is our patch of old Florida. We need to do our duty to restore and preserve it in its native condition.
CONSIDERATIONS AND QUESTIONS
• There are differing opinions about LMA's legal right to effect any changes to the Nature Preserve. Do changes need to be approved by the County (or other governmental agencies)? Will the changes
require revisions to the Landings covenants, restrictions and by-laws?
• There is no consensus as to how best to improve the Preserve property as a community asset. Some favor adding a children's playground there, while others prefer that the property be developed
as a nature preserve with internal walking trails and no other development.
• Since there is no agreement on how the property should be developed it is not currently possible to determine how much mitigation and remediation might cost. Plans and cost estimates associated
with the various alternatives must be developed to support the decision making process.
• We do not have sufficient technical expertise available to us within the Landings Community to make decisions about removal or addition of trees and vegetation; or the placement/composition of possible
walking paths, butterfly gardens, water features, benches, etc. Outside professional help will have to be engaged.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Obtain legal counsel regarding the community's right to make changes to the Nature Preserve. We recommend utilizing volunteer legal counsel if that is available through a knowledgeable Landings resident. If not, LMA would need to bear the cost of obtaining outside legal council. Once legal clearance is obtained, proceed with preparation of a Site Improvement Plan which incorporates the following methods and procedures:
1. Consult with Paul Semenec (Sarasota County Environmental Specialist), Allan Worms (Retired Professor with pertinent habitat restoration experience) and Laura Schiller (Florida Native Plants Nursery. Utilize other local resources such as Selby Gardens (Bruce Hoist & Kevin Walker), The Florida House, New College (Meg Lowman), Merle Raber, AquaGenix, other County Agencies, and additional landscaping and environmental specialists as they are available and interested.
2. Obtain immediate and bona-fide involvement of those Landings residents whose properties abut the Nature Preserve. Involve other Landings residents who have a strong interest in environmental remediation and restoration.
3. Reach agreement on a general concept for utilization of the Preserve. At present, we envision the creation of a park-like area with shade trees and walking paths. The "look" would be Natural rather than manicured. Emphasis would be placed on native vegetation and low maintenance costs. We foresee starting small and making incremental improvements over a period of several years.
4. Apply for a $12,000 matching grant from the Sarasota County neighborhood improvement program by February 13, 2006. (These grants are readable available for projects such as ours. Communities can reapply for additional matching grants every 6 months.) Investigate the possibility of obtaining grants from other agencies and environmental organizations.
5. Provide frequent communications about the project at LMA meetings and by utilizing The Eagle (with community input solicited).
6. Preparation of a preliminary plan which addresses at least the following: An appropriate entranceway in terms of appearance and utility Route and composition of a walking path/paths Set-back of the paths from the fence line
Addition of strategically placed border vegetation to provide privacy for homes Removal, over time, of exotic and non-native vegetation, brush and trees Addition of native vegetation and shade trees Enhancement of habitat for animals and birds Parking or should the Preserve be a "walk-to" destination with no on-street parking?
7. Establish an estimated cost... both initial and ongoing, and obtain LMA authorization to proceed
8. Establish a Project Team, Develop a Timetable and assign Action Steps
Larry Fleming Jack Jost
October 21,2005