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CLAM committee recommends Nassau County acquire Piney Island to preserve waterfront and create passive park
Summary
The county's Conservation Lands Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Committee voted to recommend that the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners approve purchase of roughly 43.1 acres known as Piney Island for $2,480,000, with management by Nassau County and a $1,000,000 federal grant applied to the purchase.
The Conservation Lands Acquisition and Management Committee on Nov. 16 recommended that the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners approve acquisition of the Piney Island property, a roughly 43.1-acre waterfront site, for $2,480,000.
Staff said the acquisition aligns with the CLAM program's conservation goals, including water-quality protection, flood and storm-surge buffering and preservation of declining habitats. The county would take fee title to the property and intends to develop a passive recreational park with trails and boardwalks; parks and recreation would help manage the site. Josh, CLAM staff, told the committee the county has a $1,000,000 federal grant toward the purchase and continues to pursue additional partner funding with the Jacksonville naval base.
Committee members reviewed a package of due-diligence materials, including environmental site assessments and two appraisals. Members noted one appraisal (Moody's) provided more detailed adjustment support than another (Colliers). A committee member observed staff's recommended offer is roughly 8 percent above the low appraisal; staff said rising development pressure along SR 200 and a limited supply of waterfront parcels informed the recommendation. "This is a property that fronts on SR 200," Josh said, describing why staff considered paying above the low appraisal to prevent development that would eliminate the conservation opportunity.
A nearby property owner, Forrest Tilly of Fiddler Drive, urged protection of the area's wetlands and wildlife and expressed support for county acquisition. "We've got eagles, deer and all the other wildlife native to this area," Tilly said during public comment.
The committee approved a motion recommending that the Board of County Commissioners accept the staff recommendation and proceed with the acquisition; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff said the county would prepare a full management plan within one year after closing and that legal and consultant reviews support moving the project forward to the board.
Next steps: the recommendation will be transmitted to the Board of County Commissioners for final consideration. Staff also noted a website update and a Dec. 18 ranking session for CLAM projects where additional deliberation will be recorded.
