Agenda Item Name:
Title
Addition of Land Conservation Project 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 project to the Alachua County Forever Active Acquisition List.
• Santa Fe River - Ewel Farm Conservation Easement (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 an execute option contract.
Any purchase contract or option will be brought back to the Board for consideration.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the Santa Fe River - Ewel Farm project for the Active Acquisition List as a Conservation Easement (Full Price List).
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Prior Board Motions:
None
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
• Acquisition and due diligence: $101,000
(title work, appraisal, survey, baseline document, environmental assessment)
• Stewardship, initial 10 years: $5,500
Total estimated cost for acquisition and stewardship: $106,500
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
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.”
(Exhibit 3)
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Strategic Guide:
Environment
Background:
On November 17, 2021, Mr. John and Katherine Ewel nominated the subject property to the Alachua County Forever Program. On January 27, 2022, the Land Conservation Board placed the 162.34-acre Santa Fe River - Ewel Farm property on the Priority Pool as a Full Price, conservation easement.
The Ewel Farm project includes three parcels (02731-000-000, 02734-000-000 and 02735-002-001). It located in the northwestern portion of Alachua County adjacent to the O’leno State Park to the west and the Santa Fe River to its north. The property falls within the Santa Fe River Alachua County Forever (ACF) Project Area, the highest priority project area for the ACF program, and the Santa Fe River Strategic Ecosystem, which is the highest ranked strategic ecosystem for protection.
The Ewel Farm borders the Santa Fe River for just over one mile and supports a wide variety of natural communities in excellent to good condition, including: floodplain forest, floodplain swamp, slope forest, sandhill, upland mixed forest, river floodplain lake and sinkhole. The Ewels have undertaken significant restoration efforts in the sandhill which have resulted in high degree of groundcover plant diversity, with additional ongoing restoration efforts planned.
Numerous active gopher tortoise burrows were observed throughout the site. Southern fox squirrels, indigo snakes, pine snakes, northern bobwhite quail, deer, turkey, swallow-tailed kites, bluebirds, and many other wildlife species have been observed on site by the landowner. During staff’s site visit, sixteen bird species were observed on-site. The landowners have documented fourteen species of snakes, mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates. The Florida endemic plant, Dicerandra densiflora has been identified within one of the sandhill restoration areas.
An approximately 15-acre pecan grove occurs on the property, southeast of an approximately 2-acre clearing associated with the house, detached garage, and two pole barns. Invasive exotic plants were observed in very low density across the farm. (Exhibit 1)
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.”