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Penalty hike proposed for illegal clearing
BY TRAVIS JAMES TRITTEN
keysnews.com
The county is
moving ahead with a building moratorium to stave off development in
natural areas, but some county officials fear illegal clearing may still
be occurring.
Monroe County
Commissioner David Rice is proposing that county law be revised to make
clearing penalties tougher.
The proposal
is expected to be introduced to the county commission during its regular
meeting next month in Key Largo.
"Now that
we've committed to habitat conservation, we are still seeing some
illegal clearing," Rice said. "Right now, you can clear without a permit
and get a slap on the wrist, if that."
Those who
illegally cut forest or fill wetlands may even have a better chance of
being allowed to build on the property, he said.
"We've had an
ongoing problem with people doing clearing É and there really aren't a
whole lot of penalties," said Tim McGarry, director of county Growth
Management.
Under current
county code, those who clear land without a permit are required to
replant the destroyed habitat and ensure that trees survive for a
one-year period from the time of planting. A $250 fine can be issued for
unpermitted construction, or the county can charge 10 percent of the
value of the illegal work.
After paying
the fine for clearing land, property owners can be eligible for an
after-the-fact construction permit.
McGarry said
code enforcement is now reviewing the law and will be considering an
increase in the penalties.
Fines for
destroyed habitat that cannot be replaced are put into a mitigation
escrow account that the county uses to manage natural lands. But the
money may not be enough to save areas like wetlands, McGarry said.
"Some of this
stuff you can never get back," he said.
ttritten@keysnews.com |
