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authorized him to purchase the CFR right-of-way; however, the developer has applied to annex that property into the City of Sebastian and the proposal has been sent to the Department of Community Affairs. The developer does not want to sell the County the railroad right-of-way and claims he will not be able to have a viable project if he sells that property. He is resisting the purchase and indicated the County would have to take the property by eminent domain. If he gets the property rezoned to commercial usage, the value would go up by 9 times. We are talking about a very expensive, possibly 3 million dollar, eminent domain action. Director Davis continued that there is a small portion of the CFR railroad right-of-way which is now pasture land. A letter has been received from the Department of State stating that there is no significant historical value to the property and there are no remnants of the railroad that the State could find. Also, east of CR-512, Ronald Ansin has indicated that he would swap a right-of-way parcel that the County needs abutting CR-512 which he owns for the County-owned railroad right-of-way through his 27-acre property. We are moving ahead now with appraisals on the right-of-way needed by the County. The City of Sebastian has indicated they will annex the CFR property and Ansin property and change the zoning to commercial. Also, we would have to bridge the South Prong of the Sebastian River to place a separate walking path in the railroad right-of-way or use the proposed CR-512 roadway bridge for a walking trail through the Ansin property. Staff’s opinion is that it would be too costly to acquire the CFR right-of-way through eminent domain and that we could save several hundred thousand dollars by taking advantage of the swap with the Ansin family and not acquiring the CFR property. Discussion ensued regarding the CFR property, and Commissioner Adams remarked that the sad thing about the loss of that property is that the greenway walk to the North County Park or the Junior High School without that piece is gone and it contained one of the prettiest bike trails through a wooded area. She felt that CFR is being very shortsighted. Director Davis stated that CFR, Inc. has indicated that they are willing to work with the County on the road right-of-way and the stormwater property. The CFR property is cleared and they also own the railroad right-of-way through the cemetery and want to put a road through there. Director Davis continued that there were about 5 acres all together that were proposed to be purchased from CFR. Commissioner Adams inquired what the square footage under roof of CFR’s proposed shopping center would be. JANUARY 6, 2004 18