Agenda Item Name:
Title
Addition of Land Conservation Projects to the Alachua County Forever Active Acquisition List.
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Presenter:
Charlie Houder / (352) 264-6804
Description:
Staff requests the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approve the addition of the following land conservation projects to the Alachua County Forever Active Acquisition List.
1) Reconfigured, Santa Fe River - Matthews (Full Price List)
2) Santa Fe River - Davis (Bargain Share List)
3) Hasan Flatwoods - Davis (Bargain Share List)
Any purchase contract or option will be brought back to the Board for consideration.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Recommended Actions:
1. Approve the reconfiguration of the Santa Fe River - Matthews project for the Active Acquisition List as Fee Simple (Full Price List); and
2. Approve the addition of the Santa Fe River - Davis property to the Active Acquisition List as a Conservation Easement (Bargain Share List); and
3. Approve the addition of the Hasan Flatwoods - Davis property to the Active Acquisition List as a Conservation Easement (Bargain Share List)
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Prior Board Motions:
On January 23, 2018, the BoCC placed Santa Fe River - Matthews property on the Active Acquisition List as a Conservation Easement (Full Price).
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Santa Fe River - Matthews (Fee Simple) - Cost Estimates:
• Acquisition and due diligence: $56,000
(title work, appraisal, survey, environmental assessment)
• Stewardship, initial 10 years: $59,644
Total estimated cost for acquisition and stewardship: $115,644
The current annual property tax revenue of the two intact parcels is: $1,855.61. Although, the footprint being considered for acquisition includes only undeveloped land. The Matthews will retain ownership of the land with road frontage and buildings. As a result, Alachua County will still receive annual property tax revenue associated with the property retained by the landowner.
Santa Fe River - C. Davis (Conservation Easement) - Cost Estimates:
• Acquisition and due diligence: $109,000
• Stewardship, initial 10 years: $5,500
Total estimated cost for acquisition and stewardship: $114,500
Section 196.26(3) F.S. states, “Land that is dedicated in perpetuity for conservation purposes and that is used for allowed commercial uses is exempt from ad valorem taxation to the extent of 50 percent of the assessed value of the land.”
Hasan Flatwoods - R. Davis (Conservation Easement) - Cost Estimates:
• Acquisition and due diligence: $87,500
• Stewardship, initial 10 years: $5,500
Total estimated cost for acquisition and stewardship: $93,000
Section 196.26(3) F.S. states, “Land that is dedicated in perpetuity for conservation purposes and that is used for allowed commercial uses is exempt from ad valorem taxation to the extent of 50 percent of the assessed value of the land.”
Estimated stewardship costs for all three properties total $323,144. 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
(Exhibit 6)
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Strategic Guide:
Environment
Background:
Matthews: When initially added to the Active Acquisition List in 2018, the Matthews project was proposed as a conservation easement that included 221 acres, consisting of portions of three tax parcels. After lengthy negotiations with the Matthew’s family, the family suggested a Fee Simple acquisition including 202 acres, consisting of two tax parcel portions. These two parcels (02725-000-000 & 02725-004-000) border the Santa Fe River. This project reconfiguration was formalized after staff received a letter from Joel Matthews on September 17, 2021 (Exhibit 3). The property was then, re-evaluated by staff to consider the land as a Fee Simple acquisition (Exhibit 1). This evaluation was considered by the Land Conservation Board (LCB) and on October 28, 2021, and the LCB placed the Matthews project on the Priority Pool as a Fee Simple acquisition.
The Fee Simple acquisition of the Matthews land would extend the county’s ownership along the Santa Fe River. Combining the Matthew’s Tract with the County’s Odum Preserve would collectively protect more than 4,500 feet of forested river frontage.
C. Davis: On October 13, 2021, Mr. Charles Davis nominated the subject property to the Alachua County Forever Program. On October 28, 2021, the Land Conservation Board placed the 513.52-acre Santa Fe River - Davis property on the Priority Pool as a Bargain Share, conservation easement.
The Charles Davis project includes six parcels (02774-000-000, 05311-000-000, 05322-000-000, 05323-000-000, 05324-008-000 and 05327-000-000). It located in the northwestern portion of Alachua County adjacent to the Hitchcock’s Ranch Conservation Easement and within the Santa Fe River Alachua County Forever Project Area.
The majority of the property is an active agricultural farm consisting of cattle pasture, row crop, and hay fields since the 1930’s. Mr. Davis intends to continue to farm the property into the future. The property has a rolling topography with elevation changes ranging from 74 feet to 156 feet above sea level. The property has several farm ponds and small basin swamps. Invasive exotic plants were observed in low density across the farm. (Exhibit 5)
R. Davis: On October 13, 2021, Mr. Roger Davis nominated the subject property to the Alachua County Forever Program. On October 28, 2021, the Land Conservation Board placed the 326.78-acre Hasan Flatwoods - Davis property on the Priority Pool as a Bargain Share, conservation easement.
The Roger Davis project includes seventeen parcels (02835-000-000, 02835-006-000, 02835-007-000, 02835-008-000, 02835-009-000, 02836-001-001, 02842-000-000, 02842-001-000, 02842-002-000, 02894-000-000, 02894-001-000, 02894-002-000, 02894-003-000, 02894-004-000, 05393-001-000, 05393-002-000 and 05393-003-000). It’s located south of the Charles Davis land nomination and southeast of the Hitchcock’s Ranch. The Davis property is east of Mill Creek Preserve, less than 1 mile. It’s within the Hasan Flatwoods Alachua County Forever Project Area, and partially in the Beech Valley Strategic Ecosystem.
Most of the property is an active agricultural farm consisting of cattle pasture and row crop fields. The cattle and some of the crops are raised using organic farming methods.
About a half of a mile of West Hasan Creek flows through the northwestern portion of the property. Where the land is not farmed, the tree species diversity remains good. The property has some farm ponds and more natural wetlands on-site. Invasive exotic plants were observed in low density across the farm. (Exhibit 4)
General: 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.”