Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida
Latest Update: Nov. 30, 1983
Whether Respondent ITT Community Development Corporation's and Admiral Corporation's application for dredge and fill permit and water quality certification to construct a bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler County should be approved, pursuant to Chapters 253 and 403, Florida Statutes, and PL 92-500. This proceeding arose upon Petitioners' request for an administrative hearing on the Department of Environmental Regulation's notice of intent to issue a permit to ITT Community Development Corporation and Admiral Corporation under Chapters 253 and 403, Florida Statutes, and Public Law 92-500, incident to the proposed construction of a high-level concrete highway bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway at Palm Coast, Florida. The Petition for Hearing disputed the Department's determination that the proposed project would not result in violations of water quality or interfere with the conservation of fish, marine and wildlife or other natural resources to such an extent as to be contrary to the public interests, and alleged that construction of the bridge would promote urbanization and overdevelopment of a productive sensitive barrier island that is scarce habitat for endangered animal and plant species. At the hearing, Petitioners presented the testimony of five witnesses and submitted five exhibits in evidence. Respondent ITT Community Development Corporation and Admiral Corporation presented the testimony of four witnesses and submitted thirteen exhibits in evidence. Department of Environmental Regulation presented one witness, but submitted no exhibits in evidence. Seven public witnesses testified at the hearing and, during the course of their testimony, Hearing Officer's Exhibit 1 was received in evidence. At the conclusion of the hearing, Petitioners' Exhibits 1 and 2 were rejected as irrelevant to the issues determined during the course of the hearing. Ruling on the admissibility of Petitioners Exhibit 5 was reserved, but it is now received as a supplemental hearsay document. Ruling was also reserved on Respondent's Motion to strike certain testimony of Petitioner Schatz regarding reports he received. The motion is now denied. Additionally, motions to strike were granted as to the testimony of Petitioners' witness Robert S. Wilkerson, and that portion of the testimony of Respondent's witnesses Fred A. Greene and Stephen Smith, relative to public interest factors other than those set forth in Section 253.123(3)(d), Florida Statutes, as being irrelevant to the issues in this proceeding. Similarly, the testimony of all public witnesses dealt with public interest factors which were outside the scope of the proceeding, and, therefore, findings are not made with respect to such testimony. Proposed Recommended Orders filed by the parties have been fully considered and those portions thereof not adopted herein are considered to be either irrelevant, unnecessary, or unsupported by law or fact, and are specifically rejected. The parties entered into a Prehearing Stipulation and three supplements thereto, which were accepted by the Hearing Officer. The Stipulations narrowed the disputed issues of fact and law in the proceeding, and also included agreed factual matters as incorporated hereinafter. The remaining disputed issues of fact were agreed to be as follows: Whether or not the proposed activities will interfere with the conservation of the Florida panther and the Florida black bear to such an extent as to be contrary to the public interest. The remaining disputed issues of law were agreed to be as follows: Whether the bridge construction will promote urbanization and overdevelopment of a sensitive barrier island. However, by Order of August 29, 1983, the Hearing Officer ruled that any future development activities are not a relevant issue in this proceeding. The parties stipulated that Petitioners could preserve their objection for purposes of appeal, and did so with a proffer during the hearing. Whether the proposed activity constitutes filling pursuant to Section 253.124, Florida Statutes. During the course of the hearing, the Hearing Officer ruled that Section 253.124 is not In issue in this proceeding. Whether the following legal authorities are applicable: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution Section 372.072(h), Florida Statutes, and Chapter 39, Florida Administrative Code The Governor's Executive Order Number 81-105 The applicability and supremacy of 16 USC Sections 1531 at seq. and 50 CFR Part 81 It is determined that none of the above-cited legal authorities are applicable in this proceeding, except as noted hereinafter. Upon request of the applicant, official recognition was taken of Chapter 17-1, 17-3, and 17-4, Florida Administrative Code, and Resolution Number 83-13, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Flagler County on August 18, 1983.Petitioner didn't prove granting Respondent's permit to dredge/fill/build bridge would adversely affect Petitioner's interests. Recommend grant permit.