|
Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners participate as a one-third cost share
<br />partner with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and the State
<br />Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program regarding purchase of the Carson Platt
<br />Estate property, contingent upon the County obtaining undivided title interest in the property. The
<br />proposed purchase is summarized as follows:
<br />Purchaser: Indian River County Board of County Commissioners (1/3)
<br />St. Johns River Water Management District (1/3)
<br />Conservation & Recreation Lands (CARL) Program (1/3)
<br />Seller: Carson Platt Estate
<br />Total Price: $10,027,611.70 (±$1,870 per acre overall)
<br />CountX Bonds
<br />FWn kure- ±$3,342,537
<br />Acreage: ±5,361.09 acres
<br />LAAC Reeo mendation:
<br />The County Land Acquisition Advisory Committee (LAAC), at its meeting on March 25, 1998,
<br />voted unanimously to recommend that the Board approve one-third cost -share participation in the
<br />Carson Platt Estate land purchase, contingent upon the County obtaining a one-third undivided
<br />title interest the property.
<br />Closing subject to County Commission and Governor & Cabinet approval; County participation
<br />contingent upon obtaining one-third undivided interest in the property; State will manage the
<br />property as an expansion of the St. Sebastian River Buffer Preserve.
<br />Recently, staff from the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) negotiated a purchase
<br />contract to buy 5,361.09 acres of the Carson Platt Estate property at a price of S 10,027,611.72 (see the
<br />attached SJRWMD public hearing memorandum) The SJRWMD Governing Board, at its regular
<br />meeting on March 11, 1998, approved the purchase subject to a number of contingencies, including the
<br />condition of one-third funding (each) from the CARL program and Indian River County.
<br />Last year, upon recommendation by LAAC, the Board of County Commissioners conceptually agreed to
<br />participate as a 25% cost -share partner in the Carson Platt property purchase. At that time, SJRWMD
<br />staff had conceived that the District and the County would pay 25%, with the CARL program providing
<br />the remaining 50% funding. However, as negotiations approached completion, CARL program staff
<br />indicated that CARL would match (but not exceed) SJRWMD's c6ntnbution.
<br />As a result, the District is now asking the County to increase its contribution to one-third of the purchase
<br />cost, such that each agency will contribute an equal share.
<br />Another issue is the County's real interest in the property. As discussed with SJRWMD staff last year,
<br />the District was amenable to the County having an undivided interest in the property. However, when
<br />SJRWMD staff raised this issue recently with CARL staff, CARL staff said it is against -CARL program
<br />policy for local governments to obtain title interest. Rather, the State could work with the County as it
<br />did on the Cairns and Irwin Tract purchases, regarding a 15 year "right -of -reentry" clause to satisfy the
<br />legal requirements of the county land acquisition bond.
<br />The Carson Platt Estate property is currently ranked 2m on the LAAC site acquisition list. Purchase of the
<br />property would satisfy County Comprehensive Plan policies relating to native upland acquisition (pine
<br />flatwoods expanse and overall minimum acreage commitments). The property would also substantially
<br />complete the St. Sebastian Buffer Preserve project, bringing that project up to a total of ±22,000 acres
<br />(inclusive of Brevard County conservation land). The property ranks highly in all categories relating to
<br />the County environmental lands program criteria. Among other things, the property contains habitat of
<br />federally threatened and endangered species, including the bald eagle, red -cockaded woodpecker, and
<br />Florida scrub jay. As proposed, the property would be managed by the Department of Environmental
<br />Protection, with the County having an opportunity for input in the management planning process.
<br />Because the Carson Platt properly substantially serves the County's land conservation objectives, and
<br />would be an asset to the County public as a passive recreation area, staff thinks it is appropriate for the
<br />County to agree to increase its share to one-third ($±3,342,537.00).
<br />Regarding the County's real interest in the property, the Board of County Commissioners has expressed
<br />its concern on this issue to the State. The County's main concern is to prevent the possibility that at some
<br />time in the future the property would be used for something contrary to resource conservation. Staff s
<br />opinion is that the County should "hold the line" on this issue, as recommended by LAAC, and make the
<br />County's participation contingent upon the County obtaining a one-third undivided interest in the
<br />property. A SJRWMD representative, who attended the March 25t' LAAC meeting, indicated that the
<br />District would support the County's position on this issue.
<br />APRIL 14, 1998
<br />
|