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.
Didn't we already purchase that land? For 100 million back in the 90's
ReplyDeleteYes we did. Now the SFWMF says they don't need that land and they own 60% of it and want the county who owns the rest to go with them and sell it. The PBCounty commission should have voted this down today but instead will bring it back for more discussion.
ReplyDeleteWe should NOT be selling this land and the county needs to come up with the money and buy SFWMD' interest.
I agree with you Lynn, but how can we make this happen. Dark forces are at work against us.
ReplyDelete