R-06-1468CITY OF CLERMONT
RESOLUTION
NO. 1468
• A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA; RESOLVING
TO UPDATE THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITH POLICIES FOR THE
PROTECTION OF ANY LANDS IN THE GREEN SWAMP AREA OF CRITICAL STATE
CONCERN THAT ARE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY OF CLERMONT; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICTING RESOLUTION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Green Swamp Hydrologic Basin, an area of approximately 560,000 acres, covering
approximately 870 square miles between the cities of Clermont, Groveland, Lakeland, Dade City and
Zephyrhills, and Northern Polk County is of significant hydrologic and environmental importance due to its
position in the natural geologic landscape in Florida and the resultant potentiometric high of the Floridian
aquifer; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida in 1974 designated 300,000 acres of the Green Swamp hydrologic basin as
an Area of Critical State Concern through Florida Statutes Chapter 380.05 because of its exceptional resource
value related to aquifer recharge, aquifer pressurization, flood water storage and wildlife habitat; and
WHEREAS, the highest potentiometric surface elevation of the Floridian aquifer in Central Florida occurs
in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern (ACSC), making this ecosystem critically important to the
preservation and availability of clean potable groundwater supplies to Central Florida; and
WHEREAS, the headwaters of five significant rivers originate in the Green Swamp basin; the Ocklawaha
River, the largest tributary to the St. Johns River; the Hillsborough River, the Withlacoochee, the Little
Withlachoochee, and the Peace River; and
• WHEREAS, the Green Swamp ecosystem is one of the last contiguous wilderness areas in Florida with a
diversity of plant communities and wildlife habitat for over 330 wildlife species, including over 30 threatened
and endangered species; and
WHEREAS, we believe the density levels defined in this Resolution for the Green Swamp Area of Critical
State Concern will help protect the resources of the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern.
WHEREAS, we believe the density levels defined in this Resolution for the Green Swamp Area of Critical
State Concern are in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Clermont and Central Florida.
WHEREAS, we believe that updating the City of Clermont's comprehensive plan with policies that protect
the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern from high-density development is in the best interest of the
citizens of the City of Clermont and Central Florida.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County,
Florida that;
Secteon 1.
The City of Clermont will include in its comprehensive plan, in the next update cycle, protection and land use
policies for any lands in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern which are annexed into the City of
Clermont. Policies will include the following:
• 1. Lands in the Lake County Transitional land use category will be assigned a density of no greater than 1
dwelling unit per 5 acres.
2. Lands in the Lake County Rural/Conservation land use category will be assigned a density of no greater
than 1 dwelling unit per 10 acres.
• 3. Lands in the Lake County Core/Conservation land use category will be assigned a density of no greater
than 1 dwelling unit per 20 acres.
4. The Lake County land use definitions for these three categories as it exists at the time of execution of
this Resolution will be used to determine the appropriate density mapping.
5. Any development in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern will adhere to the Principles for
Guiding Development in the Green Swamp ACSC found in Rule 28-26.003, F.A.C.
Section 2.
The City of Clermont will not make any land use changes on any lands in the Green Swamp Area of Critical
State Concern before the policies of the Section 1 of this resolution are implemented in the City of Clenmont's
comprehensive plan.
Section 3.
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
DONE AND RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE
• COUNTY, FLROIDA, ON THIS 14TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2006.
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aro d Turville, Mayor
ATTEST:
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TracyAckroyd, City Clerk