1. Authorize commencement of acquisition activities for three Conservation 20/20 parcels identified as Nominations 601, 603, and 605. 

2. Reject Conservation 20/20 Nomination 602 from further acquisition consideration; and

3. Authorize transfer of funds from reserves in the amount of $35,000 for appraisal, engineering, and title services.

Authorizes staff to pursue possible acquisition of parcels unanimously recommended by the Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC): Nominations 601 (67 acres), 603 (306 acres), and 605 (194 acres). These parcels are either adjacent to existing preserves or could house water quality projects. Rejects Nomination 602 which CLASAC also recommended unanimously to reject.

The Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC) recommends pursing acquisition of three (3) nominated properties, 601, 603, and 605.  Nomination 601 is +/-67 acres and important for a water quality project in Alva along Bedman Creek.  Nomination 603 is 306+/- acres adjacent to the Estero Bay State Preserve and located near Punta Rassa/Shell Point Boulevard, north of McGregor Boulevard south of the Caloosahatchee River.  Nomination 605 is located in Cape Coral, adjacent to a State owned property known as the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, the Caloosahatchee River and Alligator Creek.    

Parcel Zoning and Land Use:

601– AG-2 – Rural

603– AG-2 – Wetlands/Suburban

605 – RS-1 – SF (Cape Coral)

The Acquisition Review Criteria scores are listed below.  Each property has unique environmental features characterized in the Acquisition Review Criteria attached reports. 

Ownership and Other Parcel Data

Any property with severed subsurface rights will need to be cured by the seller as part of any negotiation. 

No Sales within the Last Five Years.

Any terms negotiated for potential purchase of nominations will be presented to CLASAC. Their recommendation, along with any future acquisition cost, will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for its decision to authorize acquisitions.

Rejected Parcel Information

CLASAC unanimously rejected Nomination 602 from acquisition consideration at their January meeting.  Nomination 602 did not score well due to an outparcel which separates it from Bedman Creek.  Scoring is expected to improve if the adjacent outparcel separating this parcel and the creek is nominated.