Agenda Item Name:
Title
Acquisition of Conservation Easements from Hitchcock and Sons Inc. and Hitchcocks Ranch LLC
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Presenter:
Charlie Houder / (352) 264-6804
Description:
Staff requests authorization of the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) to pursue the acquisition of conservation easements from Hitchcock and Sons Inc. and Hitchcocks Ranch LLC.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Authorize staff to negotiate for the purchase of conservation easements from Hitchcock and Sons Inc. and Hitchcocks Ranch LLC without the benefit of a grant from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and adding an additional 205 acres owned by Hitchcock and Sons Inc.
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Prior Board Motions:
5/3/2006 - The Board added the Mill Creek - James Property to the Active Acquisition List as a full price project.
4/24/2018 - The Board added the Hitchcock Ranch Conservation Easement to the Active Acquisition List as a full price project.
9/22/2020 - The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute the Program Agreement between the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) and Alachua County for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program relating to the purchase of a conservation easement over portions of the "Santa Fe River Ranch."
9/29/2020 - The Board approved and executed the Parcel Cost Share Contracts between NRCS and Alachua County for grants to acquire the conservation easement on the Santa Fe River - Ranch, from Hitchcock Ranch, LLC and Hitchcock & Sons. The grant is from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's "Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Agricultural Land Easement (ACEP-ALE)", and the program is administered by (NRCS).
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
The Sellers, Hitchcock and Sons Inc. and Hitchcocks Ranch LLC, had accepted contingent offers from County staff of $2,598.42 per surveyed acre, for an estimated total of $5,381,327.82, for the conservation easements over 2,071acres owned by the entities. The of...
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