Kiowa Conservancy’s Betsy Carson Phase 5 approved with condition: up to $1M in Greenbelt minor-improvement funds to be released against verified pledges

The Greenbelt subcommittee recommended approval of Kiowa Island Natural Habitat Conservancy’s Phase 5 of the Betsy Carson nature area but attached conditions to large minor-improvement funding requests. The subcommittee approved the application and agreed to release up to $1,000,000 in Greenbelt ‘minor improvement’ funds only as the conservancy demonstrates verified outside pledges or raised funds, with staff-level verification and reimbursement procedures.

Kiowa Conservancy representatives, including Kale Farah and project manager Sean Cannon, presented Phase 5 as the final contiguous parcel that completes a multi-phase nature area on Johns/Key Island and Johns Island. The application covered a fee-simple acquisition of 10.7 acres — mostly maritime forest and about two acres of marsh…