On April 17, 2019, City staff received a City Council directive to draft a moratorium associated with development of the area located west of North Ocean Drive and north of Pine Point Road, having a Special Preservation Future Land Use designation, for future City Council review and consideration, in order to better protect and conserve the City’s natural resources.  Multiple Elements, Goals, Objectives and Policies of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, including but not limited to the Future Land Use Element, the Conservation Element and the Coastal Management Element, are applicable to the submerged land area and uplands located west of North Ocean Drive and north of Pine Point Road.  For example, Goal 1, Objective 1.1 of the Conservation Element of the City’s Comprehensive Plan states that, "the City shall continue to implement, revise, maintain and adopt new codes, ordinances and regulations as necessary, to protect and conserve the City’s natural resources including, Air; Beaches and shores; Fisheries; Native plant and animal communities and ecosystems; Noise level; Wetlands; Soils; Water; Wildlife and wildlife habitats; and Bottomlands".

Chapter 23, Article III, of the City’s Code of Ordinances defines, describes and regulates wetlands preservation areas.  This Code section is primarily from 1982 and requires review and potential amendments.  The City Council desires to enact a moratorium for up to a six month period of time, prohibiting the filing, receiving or processing of any application or permit associated with real property having a Special Preservation Future Land Use designation or designated as a wetlands preservation area, in order to provide City staff with time to review, amend and develop codes to further protect and conserve the City’s natural resources.

City Staff recommends City Council consideration of this moratorium.