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Cape Coral approves purchase of parcels for burrowing-owl habitat using FWC grant money
Summary
Council approved three resolutions to buy multiple lots to create contiguous habitat for burrowing owls and gopher tortoise conservation; the purchases are funded through a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) grant and will be maintained by Friends of Wildlife.
The Cape Coral City Council voted 8-0 on July 16 to approve three resolutions authorizing the purchase of vacant parcels within a conservation area, using grant funding to preserve habitat for burrowing owls and gopher tortoises.
Real Estate Division staff told council the total price for one of the highlighted parcels exceeded the appraisal because it filled a gap between two lots the city already owned; the property owner requested $75,000, the appraisal was $65,000 and the city negotiated to $70,000. Dawn Andrews of the Real Estate Division told council that the packet numbers include assessments, closing costs, surveys and appraisals in a single lump sum.
Andrews said the purchases are funded through a grant program and that none of the monies spent on the transactions came from the city’s general fund; she said the purchases to date will fully expend a $900,000 grant if pending negotiations close as planned. The city has purchased six parcels under the program with a seventh closing at month end and was seeking to complete three additional purchases that were bundled on the motion approved July 16.
Council members and staff said the acquisitions can be more cost-effective than forcing private development that would trigger mitigation costs for the property owner. “It’s gonna cost him for the two properties to mitigate the owls and gopher tortoise nests that are on that property, almost a $100,000,” Andrews said; staff argued acquiring the land for preservation avoids uncertain mitigation outcomes and creates contiguous habitat.
Friends of Wildlife will assume operations and maintenance for the newly purchased parcels under an agreement, City staff said. Councilmember Lastra asked a staff estimate of acreage the purchases would create; staff reported the two discussed parcels would total approximately 1.6 acres once completed. The resolution bundle—identified in the agenda as Resolutions 190-125, 190-225 and 190-325—passed on a single roll-call vote.
Votes: Council approved the bundled resolutions 8–0. The roll call showed “Aye” responses from Long, Steinke, Donnell, Gunter, Kaduk, Kilraign, Lastra, and Weiner.
Staff said the city’s purchase strategy is intended to create a mosaic of preserved lots managed for wildlife, and that the grant covers purchase and associated closing costs so the city’s general fund is not directly out-of-pocket for the acquisitions.
