Agenda Item Name:
Title
Addition of Land Conservation Project on Lake Alto 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 this property to the Priority Pool by the Land Conservation Board as outlined in Resolution 22-066.
1) Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Burry (Full Price List)
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 on the Active Acquisition List.
1. Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Burry (Full Price List)
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Prior Board Motions:
None
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Burry (Full Price)- Cost Estimates:
• Pre-Contract & Acquisition Due Diligence: $39,300
o Due Diligence: title work, appraisal, survey, environmental assessment
• Stewardship, initial 10 years: $48,590
Total estimated cost for acquisition and stewardship: $87,890
The current annual property tax revenue of all the project parcels is: $281.48
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 - Burry (Full Price): On January 27, 2023, James A. Burry, the landowner, nominated the subject property to the Alachua County Forever Program. On February 23, 2023, the Land Conservation Board placed the 39-acre Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods - Burry property on the Priority Pool as either a Fee Simple acquisition or a Conservation Easement project.
The Burry project includes one parcel (18110-002-000) located on CR 2082 west of Hawthorne, and it is in the Lochloosa Creek Strategic Ecosystem. The property is bordered to the south and east by the Alachua County-owned Phifer Flatwoods Preserve - Additions, as well as a small sliver to the west that is currently used to access the Phifer-Additions property to the south. The Burry property is primarily being used for hunting and was nominated for consideration either as a fee simple purchase or as a conservation easement.
The property consists largely of planted pines and successional hydric-mesic hammock. Historic aerials indicate that the property was almost entirely cleared between the late 1960s and mid-1970’s, and the uplands were additionally harvested and replanted around 2004. The current pine plantation is in fair condition, and the understory is typically open with scattered remnant native shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. The hammock is in a good-fair condition with an open and often grassy understory.
There is a small basin marsh in fair condition in the northwest side of the property, as well as a floodplain swamp in the southwest corner that is in good condition. The floodplain swamp connects to a much larger wetlands to the south and east that is part of the Lochloosa Lake Outstanding Florida Water system. Approximately 600 ft of Little Monteocha Creek, a tributary of Lochloosa Creek, also cuts across the northeast corner of the property. The creek is in good condition and does not appear to have been altered or channelized.
Invasive plant species were observed in very low densities across the site and included one camphor tree, some scattered Japanese climbing fern in the northern pine stand, a small patch of cogon grass on the northern boundary, and some hog rooting. Staff observed a variety of birds during the site visit, and the landowner reported seeing a lot of wildlife including, deer, turkeys, bobcats, coyotes, black bears, and occasionally gopher tortoises.
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 this property to the Priority Pool by the Land Conservation Board as outlined in Resolution 22-066.
As with all our 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.”