NEWS UPDATE: September 22, 2021 LAND DEVELOPMENT, ZONING & ENVIRONMENTAL | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

ABOUT US PRACTICE AREAS NEWSROOM ‌ ‌ ‌

FWC Seeks Public Input on Beach-Nesting Birds Draft Guidelines The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has released draft conservation and permitting guidelines for state-imperiled beach nesting birds (IBNB), with comments on the guidelines accepted until October 17. The guidelines, when finalized, are scheduled to be presented to the Commission at its December 2021 meeting for adoption and will then be incorporated by reference into Chapter 68A-27, Florida Administrative Code. The guidelines address four listed species: the American oystercatcher, least tern, snowy plover and black skimmer. These species exist along Florida’s shorelines; the black skimmer and least tern also utilize interior water-bodies including man-made waters. The draft guidelines describe what types of activities constitute a “take” of an IBNB that is prohibited without a permit from FWC. Except in cases of emergency, actions that will result in direct death or injury to IBNB will not be authorized; incidental take resulting from habitat modification or activities that could disrupt essential species behaviors such as roosting or nesting or indirectly cause harm can be permitted if guideline recommendations for avoidance, minimization and mitigation are followed. For example, activities that will alter more than 500 acres of breeding site habitat will typically require a permit.   The draft guidelines can be found here, and more information can be found on FWC’s website.   We are available to assist in assessing the potential impacts of these guidelines on your ongoing or planned activities and in preparing comments on the guidelines. Please contact us if you need further assistances. MEET THE AUTHORS Susan Stephens Tallahassee Email | View Bio Amelia Savage Tallahassee Email | View Bio Jeffrey Collier Tampa Email | View Bio Felicia Kitzmiller Tallahassee Email | View Bio

MEET OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT, ZONING & ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM

Manuel Agosto-Matos* Elise Batsel Reggie Bouthillier Glenn Burhans, Jr. Christopher Clark

Jeffrey Collier Abigail Corbett Jacob Cremer Samantha Decker Peter Desiderio

Vinette Godelia Maria Gralia Donell Hicks Alice Huneycutt Jessica Icerman

Felicia Kitzmiller Melanie Leitman Albert Lichy Kenneth Metcalf, AICP* John Muratides

Nicole Neugebauer Kelly O'Keefe Yuliya Olvy* Marco Paredes, Jr. Darrin Quam

Kevin Reali Sabrina Weiss Robinson Gigi Rollini Amelia Savage Christopher Smith*

David Smith* Mark Solov Cynthia Spidell, MBA, AICP* Susan Stephens Erin Tilton

F. Joseph Ullo Ronald Weaver ‌ ‌ ‌

*Manuel Agosto-Matos, Ken Metcalf, Yuliya Olvy, Chris Smith, David Smith and Cynthia Spidell are not attorneys and are not authorized to practice law. Ken, David and Cynthia are highly experienced planners. Ken and Cynthia are AICP certified. Chris is a highly experienced GIS analyst. Manuel and Yuliya are highly experienced real estate analysts.

RECENT STEARNS WEAVER MILLER UPDATES  9/1/21: Stearns Weaver Miller Expands Statewide Land Development, Zoning & Environmental Practice with Five New Additions 7/14/21: COVID-19 State of Emergency Lapses: Extend Your Permits NOW 7/2/21: Hillsborough County Studying Comprehensive Plan Updates to Facilitate Affordable Housing

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