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B. T. Cooksey, an attorney representing a group of <br />citrus growers in the area which include the following: <br />Lier Groves, Earring Point Groves, Ryall Groves, Kennedy <br />Groves, Deerfield Groves, Mr. Cooper, D. C. Prior, Sam <br />Prior, Islet Groves, J. B. Dalbora, and W. P. Serman Groves, <br />approached the Board. He reported that of the 4,160 acres <br />of land in the coastal barrier undeveloped areas, there are <br />1,596.19 acres of citrus groves. Attorney Cooksey stressed <br />that agriculture is a large and vital industry, and pointed <br />out that the Department of Interior definitions, which are <br />draft definitions, do not contemplate agriculture. He then <br />displayed aerial photographs of the area and asked the Board <br />to tell the Department of Interior, in a very loud and clear <br />voice, that citrus is an industry that is important and <br />vital, and it should be included in the parameter of the <br />developed lands - even if they have to change their draft <br />form. <br />Attorney Cooksey expressed amazement at the so-called <br />public hearing held by the Department of Interior, which he <br />felt <br />was <br />a total <br />waste of <br />anyone's time <br />since no <br />record was <br />even <br />made <br />of it. <br />All the <br />Department of <br />Interior <br />said was to <br />send them what the County had by March 22, 1982 regarding <br />this matter. Attorney Cooksey felt Bill 863 was one of the <br />most dangerous things that had ever been brought up before <br />the Legislature. He again urged the Board to speak up in <br />Tallahassee and tell them that agriculture is development, <br />and that this property has been developed and is being <br />utilized. Attorney Cooksey felt their simple arbitrary <br />definition simply does not hold in a situation that produces <br />the finest grapefruit in the world. <br />Discussion followed as to having the County Attorney <br />work with the other attorneys in modifying the resolution <br />prepared by Attorney O'Haire. <br />15 <br />BOOK PE <br />