Agenda Item Name:
Title
Addition of Land Conservation Projects to the Alachua County Forever Active Acquisition List
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Presenter:
Andi Christman / (352) 264-6803
Description:
Staff requests the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approve the addition of the following land conservation project to the Alachua County Forever Active Acquisition List. The staff recommendation is based on the addition of these properties to the Priority Pool by the Land Conservation Board as outlined in Resolution 22-066.
1) Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Sherouse and Flowers (Full Price)
Addition of this project to the Active Acquisition List, authorizes staff to: obtain title work and appraisals, negotiate price and terms with the owners, and execute option contracts.
Any purchase contract or option will be brought back to the Board for consideration.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the addition of the following property to the Active Acquisition List as a Fee Simple Acquisition.
1. Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Sherouse and Flowers (Full Price List)
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Prior Board Motions:
None
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Sherouse and Flowers (Full Price)- Cost Estimates:
• Pre-Contract & Acquisition Due Diligence: $32,200
o Due Diligence: title work, appraisal, survey, environmental assessment
• Stewardship, initial 10 years: $101,450
Total estimated cost for acquisition and stewardship: $133,650
The current annual property tax revenue of all the project parcels is: $799.40
Exhibit 3
Sufficient budget exists in the Wild Spaces Public Places Land Allocation for these costs.
Project 6184160- WSPP-General Operating & Due Diligence: 021.41.4160.537.31.00
Project 6194101-WSPP-Land Acquisition: 021.41.4160.537.61.00
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Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Environment
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Background:
Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Sherouse and Flowers (Full Price): On December 8, 2022, the Putnam County Land Conservancy nominated the subject property with the approval of the landowner to the Alachua County Forever Program. On January 26, 2023, the Land Conservation Board placed the 154-acre Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Sherouse and Flowers property on the Priority Pool as a Fee Simple acquisition project.
The Sherouse and Flowers project includes one parcel (19151-000-000) located north of Hawthorne along border between Alachua and Putnam Counties. The property is located less than one mile northeast of Little Orange Creek Preserve which is co-owned by Alachua County, Alachua Conservation Trust, and the City of Hawthorne. Over 90% of the property lies within the Little Orange Creek Strategic Ecosystem.
Much of the property consists of a mixture of wetland ecosystems in relatively good condition including basin marshes, basin swamps, and dome swamps located in the northwestern north central, and southern parts of the property. Additional wetland features include the blackwater stream, floodplain swamp, and flatwoods lake. The complex of wetlands in the eastern portion of the property, along with Lake Winnott and South Bull Pond farther to the east in Putnam County, all contribute to the beginning of a blackwater stream system and the headwaters of Little Orange Creek.
The uplands on the property are a mix of mesic, wet, and scrubby flatwoods. The scrubby flatwoods were in good condition, while the mesic and wet flatwoods were in good-fair condition. Nearly all these areas were clearcut around 2017 and were not replanted with pines, but instead left to naturally regenerate. Invasive plants were only found in low density, isolated patches across the site. Staff observed white tailed deer, gopher tortoise burrows, and a variety of birds during the site visit, and an environmental consultant who provided additional documentation in the nomination form, indicated the presence of southern fox squirrels, black bears, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, and more.
Additional detailed information can be found in the attached Property Evaluation (Exhibit 1, and Parcel Map - Exhibit 2).
General:
The staff recommendation is based on the addition of these properties to the Priority Pool by the Land Conservation Board as outlined in Resolution 22-066.
As with all Alachua County conservation lands, if accepted as an acquisition, this property will go through the vetting process for the Registry of Protected Places.
Comp Plan Reference:
Policy 6.0 Land Conservation Program within the Conservation and Open Space Element, states “Establish and maintain a land conservation program for the purchase, preservation, and management of natural areas and open space to complement the regulatory approaches identified in other section of this element.”