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One resolution of this issue is for the County to convince the state to declare the 107 acres as surplus land and allow the County to acquire it. Because the subject 107 acres does not have significant natural resource value and given that land's proximity to available infrastructure, surplussing the land is a possibility. According to Charles Hardee, the County's land acquisition consultant, the most effective strategy would be for the County to coordinate with CARL staff and request that the Governor and Cabinet, as part of their acquisition decision, agree to formally consider surplussing the 107 acres sometime within the next year. By so doing, the Governor and Cabinet would not be required to make the surplussing decision at this time, but would keep that option available. Another advantage is that such a decision would allow time for the County to develop a plan to acquire the surplus property. Given the short timeframes and the need to coordinate with both CARL staff and cabinet aides, action is needed on this matter immediately. By choosing to pursue surplussing of the 107 acres, the Board would not be making any commitment to actually acquire the 107 acres. Instead, the Board would be keeping its options open. A further consideration is whether to use Mr. Hardee's services to lobby CARL staff and the cabinet aides. While Mr. Hardee is under contract to the County with respect to both its environmentally sensitive land --acquisition and solid waste land acquisition programs, neither program could fund this activity. According to Mr. Hardee, the time spent and costs associated with the CARL staff and cabinet aide coordination would be minimal. It is the EDC's position that incorporating the subject 107 acres into the I-95/CR 512 Commercial/ Industrial node is necessary to get a viable north county industrial park in place. With. road access, water and sewer availability, and existing industrial facilities on adjacent parcels, the 107 acres is well positioned to be the necessary catalyst to spur economic development in the north county. At the present time, the County has a limited window of opportunity to lay the groundwork for incorporating the 107 acres in the I- 95/CR 512 node. To maximize that opportunity, the County could retain Mr. Hardee to coordinate with CARL staff and the cabinet aides. With a short term contract not to exceed $1,500, the County could substantially enhance its chances of having the Governor and Cabinet keep the option open to surplus the subject property. Besides the referenced 107 acres, the County may also want to consider the prospect of requesting that the state surplus additional land for a north County park. At its July 25, 1995 meeting, the EDC recommended that the Board take the following actions: monitor the Coraci purchase; negotiate with the state to surplus the subject 107 acres; coordinate with owners of wetlands property in the I-95/CR 512 node to have that land removed from the node; and agree to submit a comprehensive plan amendment in the January cycle to reconfigure the I-95/CR 512 node. -The staff concurs with these recommendations. ` 3r7 August 8, 1995