HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Samuel Dubbin-Response from Tropical Audubona
COASTAL
SYSTEMS
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COASTAL SYS 1'EMS IN 1'ERNATIONAL, INC.
464 South Dixie Highway • Coral Gables, Florida 33146
Tel: 305-661-3655 • Fax: 305-661-1914
www.coastalsystemsint.com
Ms. Nathalie H. Goulet, Esq.
FLAGSTONE ISLAND GARDENS, LLC
888 MacArthur Causeway
Miami, Florida
RE:
May 7, 2014
201726
6UawuitDINTO iHE
UBLIC RECORD FOR
T F M pa' tION C e‘` i I
RESPONSE TO THE LETTER FROM TROPICAL AUDUBON TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
RELATIVE TO THE FLAGSTONE ISLAND GARDENS MEGA YACHT HARBOR PROJECT,
LOCATED AT 1050 MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY, CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY, FL
Dear Ms. Goulet,
This is to provide a response to the comments submitted by the Tropical Audubon Society to the
City of Miami on May 6, 2014, relative to environmental impacts and mitigation associated with
the proposed Flagstone Island Gardens Mega -Yacht Marina project. The South Florida Water
Management District's Environmental Resource Permit, as well as Federal and County
environmental permits, were issued following careful consideration of the project purpose and
potential effects to the environment, including water quality and benthic resources such as
seagrass, utility of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, and other public interest factors. The
seagrass resources at the site represent a climax community. Significant variability in seagrass
community conditions is not anticipated at the project site, as controlling conditions such as
surrounding land uses, water quality, and sediment quality have been consistent over this period
of time.
Minimization of impacts to seagrasses and other benthic resources was adequately demonstrated
as part of the environmental permitting process with all three agencies. This minimization
includes demonstrating that the proposed dredging is the minimum amount required to meet the
project purpose and achieving environmental agency criteria such as boat draft clearances and
appropriate mitigation for unavoidable impacts. Unavoidable seagrass impacts and mitigation
were evaluated using the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method. This is the same method that
is utilized today by all three environmental regulatory agencies to evaluate mitigation for impacts
such as those permitted at the Island Gardens site. The permits have been maintained in active
status and they contain comprehensive permit conditions that ensure environmental protection
and compliance with the mitigation requirements, including pre -construction surveys, during -
construction monitoring, and post -construction surveys/monitoring.
www.coastalsystemsint.com
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Ms. Nathalie H. Goulet, Esq.
May 7, 2014
Page 2
Submitted into the public
recot irdconnection with
ite. i i on f y
City Clerk
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact me at (561) 478-1004 or pcutt@coastalsystesint.com.
Sincerely,
COASTAL SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Penny Cutt
Environmental/Permitting Regional Manager
PC:cv
File, CJB, PC, GC
F:1ProjecA2017261Correspondencel(14.05-07) LTR Nathalie H. Goulet, Esq docx
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