Shell Key Preserve - History

For Shell Key Preserve rules, regulations, Municode - Chapter 90 - Parks and Conservation Resources.

 

Shell Key Preserve was established in 2000 through a lease agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The 2000 Shell Key Preserve Management Plan was adopted in October 2000 by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the FDEP. The lease agreement requires that the property be managed only for the conservation and protection of natural and historical resources and for resource-based public outdoor activities and education which are compatible with the conservation and protection of these public lands.

Shell Key Preserve Management Plan Update and Chronology:

The 2007 Shell Key Preserve Management Plan was approved by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) in December 2007. The Environmental Lands Division has developed regulatory signs and informational brochures that define the new rules of the Preserve.

The update of the Plan was conducted in 2007. Pinellas County's managed areas held three public meetings in which stakeholders and interested citizens were invited to participate by suggesting updates to the 2000 Shell Key Preserve Management Plan. The first meeting was held on February 20, 2007 at the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center and 16 people attended, including County staff. The second meeting was held on March 20, 2007 at Tampa Bay Watch and 25 people attended, including County staff. The third meeting was held on April 25, 2007 at Tampa Bay Watch and was attended by 125 people, including County staff. Through this process a list of suggestions was developed.

 

The first draft of the Plan was written by County staff and was sent to members of the Shell Key Advisory Group and the Environmental Science Forum (ESF) for review on July 25, 2007. The Plan was made available to the public for review on July 30, 2007.

 

The ESF approved the draft plan with a few recommendations. These recommendations were presented to the County at the ESF meeting on August 9, 2007.

The Shell Key Advisory Group public meeting was held on August 29, 2007. More than 130 people attended to comment on the draft Plan. Comments from all participants were recorded.

 

County staff compiled all stakeholder comments received on the draft Plan and made revisions accordingly. The Pinellas County Board of County Commission (BOCC) reviewed the revised version of this draft Plan. The Plan was presented to the BOCC on September 15, 2007 at a workshop in which the public was invited to comment. The BOCC offered no recommended changes to the Plan at this workshop. The 2007 Shell Key Preserve Management Plan was unanimously approved by the BOCC at its regular meeting on October 2, 2007.

 

On December 14, 2007, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Acquisition and Restoration Council unanimously approved the 2007 Shell Key Preserve Management Plan.

Advisory Groups:

• Shell Key Advisory Group
  
• Environmental Science Forum
  
• Stakeholder Suggestions
  
• Current Rules Posted
  
• Plan Update Timeline

 Presentations & Videos:

• Stakeholders Mtg. 4/25/07
  
• P.C. Sheriff's Video 4/25/07
  
• P.C. Sheriff's ESF Mtg. 8/9/07
  
• SKP Public Mtg. Mins. 8/29/07
  
• Stakeholders Synop. 8/29/07
  
• BCC Worksession Vid. 9/11/07 - old video files removed, no longer work
• BCC Meeting Video 10/2/07 - old video files removed, no longer work
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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