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Staff warns Ferndale / National Developers parcel has wetland impacts and development pressure
Summary
Staff noted the 289‑acre National Developers (Ferndale) property was historically citrus and now shows altered hydrology, invasive species and cattle use; the parcel scored 14 of 48 after a site visit but retains some wetland and recharge value that staff flagged for further review.
County staff presented findings from a site visit to the National Developers (Ferndale) parcel and recommended the committee weigh both wetland value and historic alterations before advancing the property for acquisition. The parcel, roughly 289 acres, scored 14 out of 48 after site review.
Wendy Pogue said staff found multiple wetlands used by wood storks, evidence of feral hog rooting, cattle grazing and altered hydrology from past ditching and road-building. She also noted extensive invasive-plant coverage on parcel boundaries and observed that old citrus operations had left a legacy of altered soils and lower native-plant diversity in upland areas. "There's some altered hydrology on the site from the ditching," she explained.
Staff flagged the parcel’s high aquifer recharge potential and its connectivity with nearby conservation sites as factors that complicate the evaluation: the site both shows ecological features worth protecting and land-use legacies that create restoration costs. Committee members asked staff to prepare a property card with wetlands/upland breakdowns and entitlement context so the committee can better weigh acquisition costs, restoration needs and potential grant matches.
