On the Agenda Palm Beach County - Purchase of Ag Reserve land

This is the first attempt to sell Ag Reserve Land purchased with the Tax Payer Bond Money, says Drew Martin

This property was purchased with bond fund money.
The Agenda for this Tuesday's meeting shows on Item 4E1. Tuesday at 301 Olive in West Palm in the County Commission Chambers at 9:30

E. FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS 1. Staff recommends motion to approve: a Third Amendment to Interlocal Agreement with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) authorizing issuance of an Invitation for Bids for the sale of the jointly owned 571 acre McMurrain Farm property. SUMMARY: The County (39.4%) and SFWMD (60.6%) jointly own the 571 acre McMurrain Farm property in the Ag Reserve.

The property was initially purchased for interim agricultural use with plans for SFWMD to construct an above ground reservoir as part of SFWMD’s Agricultural Reserve Reservoir program. SFWMD has since determined that the Ag Reserve Reservoir program is not feasible, has terminated the program, and has declared its interest in the McMurrain Farm property to be surplus. SFWMD desires to sell its interest in the property to recover its investment. SFWMD has obtained a 2015 appraisal valuing the property at $15,400,000, (SFWMD $9,335,000; County $6,065,000), and is currently updating that appraisal. SFWMD is requesting that the County participate in the sale of the County’s interest in the property.

While the property has an AGR Preserve land use and has no density, in order to provide additional assurances that the land remain in Agricultural production and not be developed, SFWMD proposes that the property be sold subject to a Perpetual Agricultural Conservation Easement in favor of the County and SFWMD, and that a separate Perpetual Agricultural Conservation Easement be granted the State Department of Environmental Protection. The Conservation Easements restrict use of the property to agricultural production and provide an added level of protection against change in use beyond what is in place today.