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Chief Environmental Planner and staff advisor to the Land Acquisitions Advisory <br />Committee Roland DeBlois stated that this property is located just north of Vero Beach <br />Highlands and is surrounded by a 5 -acre property owned by the Indian River County <br />Historical Society which contains the Hallstrom house now fisted on the National Register <br />of Historic Places. This purchase will be 75% funded by Florida Communities Trust but the <br />County will have 100% title to the property. The estimated total bond expenditure will be <br />$477,000. There are some historic outbuildings associated with the farmstead and the house <br />is on the National Register of Historic Places and will be a real plus for the County. While <br />the site has historic aspects, there are also environmentally significant portions, particularly <br />25 acres of pine scrub which does equal and exceed 25% of the project cost. He also noted <br />that the property will receive points from the state regarding the County's stormwater plan. <br />The purchase price equals 86% of the appraised value of the land and will benefit the <br />County's implementation of its Comprehensive Plan. This property offers a unique <br />opportunity in that the Historical Society has a presence on the site and has regular <br />visitations to their property which includes an on-site museum. The County can enter a <br />cooperative effort with that organization to assist in the management plan for the property. <br />FCT requires a conceptual management plan which has been developed, reviewed and <br />endorsed by the LAAC. There will be a separate parking area with restrooms just to the <br />north of the house and trails will lead to the natural areas Staff hopes to cut management <br />costs substantially through the use of volunteers. <br />Commissioner Ginn questioned the emergency addition of this property, and Mr. <br />DeBlois noted that it was added on July 1st because of an imminent sale. <br />Mr DeBlois continued that this property will be a part of the conceptual stormwater <br />plan and the greenway plan. The Lateral J canal runs adjacent to the property and there is <br />JULY 16, 2002 <br />-26- <br />n � ;113 <br />nr(�. '1 <br />