Southwest Ranches council approves 90-day, limited extension and purchaser name change for wildlife-center site

The Town of Southwest Ranches on Sept. 15 unanimously approved a motion acknowledging the purchaser’s name change to FRP Holdings and granting a 90-day extension limited to three outstanding due-diligence items tied to the South Florida Wildlife Center property acquisition.

Town legal counsel described the remaining items as: finalizing an access agreement with an adjacent property owner, securing the Army Corps of Engineers’ final concurrence on navigable-waters permitting, and obtaining Broward County approval for revised access through the neighboring parcel. "They're looking for an extension, not on title, not a complete extension on everything, but on those ... items that are remaining to get this closed," the town attorney said during the legal comments portion of the meeting.

Council discussed timing: staff said due diligence will be 90 days and closing could follow, describing a broader timeframe that could reach into the first quarter of 2026. The motion did not name a mover or seconder on the record; the roll call vote recorded unanimous support: Council member Albritain — yes; Council member Jablonsky — yes; Council member Kazinski — yes; Vice Mayor Hartman — yes; Mayor Bright Cruz — yes.

Mayor Bright Cruz and council members earlier noted progress on the broader public-private partnership and said the county and other partners are aligned on a lease and multi-year plan for a new wildlife-center facility. The council’s action formally authorizes the limited extension and recognizes the purchaser’s identifying name in the town’s administrative records.

Next steps: staff will track the three due-diligence items and report back to the council when the specified items are resolved or if additional council action becomes necessary.