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Two mining expansion plan amendments transmitted for state review; board adds wildlife‑corridor safeguards
Summary
The commission transmitted two separate comprehensive‑plan amendments on June 10 to allow expanded mineral extraction on adjacent properties near SR‑31; both passed unanimously and include planned reclamation and wildlife‑corridor set‑asides.
Charlotte County transmitted two separate large‑scale comprehensive plan amendments on June 10 seeking Mineral Resource Extraction designations for adjacent properties along State Road 31. Staff described both sites as existing or adjacent to permitted mining operations and said the proposals include post‑mining reclamation plans and designated wildlife‑corridor preservation areas.
Sean Cullinan, the county’s planning and zoning official, described the two petitions (transmittal files PAL‑24‑07 and PAL‑23‑00005). He said both parcels are currently designated agricultural in the county’s comprehensive plan and zoned agricultural, and that both are outside the county’s mapped “prohibited” mining areas. Cullinan noted the parcels sit within the Shell Creek watershed study area and that one parcel includes mapped wildlife corridor requirements; the applicants have committed to establish the corridor setbacks required by county ordinance (for example, minimum 300‑ to 500‑foot corridor set‑asides where applicable).
Rob Bernsen, attorney for the owner of the southern parcel (Bluegrass Land and Mine), and Derek Bruni representing Lake Lonely LLC (the northern parcel) said both operations are expansions of previously permitted mining activity and included reclamation schematics in the meeting packet. Bernsen said the prior agricultural approvals allowed mining activity under past rules and that the current filings align those lands with the county’s current excavation and mining code.
After no public speakers came forward, the board voted unanimously to transmit both comp plan amendments to the Florida Department of Commerce and other reviewing agencies. Staff said companion rezoning ordinances (rezoning AG to EM, Excavation and Mining) will be scheduled for the adoption hearing once the state review period is complete; staff indicated adoption hearings are expected on or around July 22 for the items that come back from review.
Ending
Both large‑scale amendments were transmitted for state review. County staff will return with final adoption ordinances and the companion rezones after state comments are received and the statutorily required review period ends.
