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County targets illegal clearing
BY TRAVIS JAMES TRITTEN
keysnews.com
Those who
illegally build in hammocks or fill wetlands in the Florida Keys will
face stiff new code enforcement penalties passed by the county
commission Wednesday.
The new
penalties, sponsored by Commissioner David Rice, range from $500 to more
than $1,000 — far above the across-the-board $250 fine imposed in the
past.
Rice said the
old fines were not enough to discourage developers who are willing to
pay the nominal amount and then continue building on the destroyed
wetlands or protected vegetation.
Some believe
the pace of illegal clearing for development has picked up in the wake
of a major land conservation deal this month between Monroe County and
the state, a deal that will result in hundreds of new homes in the
Florida Keys.
"Because of
what is going on with the state and the county, people are clearing at
an unbelievable rate," Big Pine Key resident Katie Lyons said.
Also, the
county should consider placing code enforcement officers on call during
the weekends for added protection of native lands, Lyons said.
When illegal
clearing is spotted on Saturday and Sunday, there is no one in the
county code enforcement office to contact, she said, adding that even
large clearing or filling projects can be completed in one or two days.
"We are going
to need some additional resources to do that," said Tim McGarry,
director of county Growth Management.
The county now
has eight code enforcement inspectors for the entire Keys, McGarry said.
No Name Key
resident Alicia Putney said commissioners should amend the code fines to
be even more stringent.
Under the new
law, violators must pay $1,000 for illegal clearing over 100 square
feet. Putney said those who clear illegally should pay $1,000 for every
100 square feet destroyed.
Commissioners
did not make the amendments, but more changes that will make illegal
clearing even less attractive could be on the way.
"This [the new
fines] is just part of the whole puzzle," McGarry said. "What we are
dealing with here is just after-the-fact clearing."
Growth
Management is crafting a law that will kick violators out of the ROGO
system — a waiting line for permission to build a home — and the
department plans to go after contractors that perform illegal work,
McGarry said.
Here's what
violators face:
Clearing
without a permit
OLD FINE
$250
after-the-fact permit
NEW FINE
$500 for 100
square feet or less
$1,000 for
more than 100 square feet
Building
without a permit
OLD FINE
$250 or 10
percent of the value of construction, whichever is greater
NEW FINE
$500 for
illegal construction worth less than $5,000
$1,000 for
illegal construction worth more than $5,000 or 10 percent of the value,
whichever is greater
Filling
wetlands without a permit
OLD FINE
$250 for
after-the-fact permit
NEW FINE
$500 for 100
square feet or less
$1,000 for
more than 100 square feet
ttritten@keysnews.com |
