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Advisory committee recommends Lee County pursue purchase of multiple preserve parcels
Summary
The Lee County Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee on May 20 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners pursue acquisition of several preserves and infill parcels — including Orange River, Buttonwood additions and Pine Island Flatwoods — after staff presentations and public comment; all motions passed unanimously.
The Lee County Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee on May 20 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners pursue acquisition of several preserve parcels, approving staff recommendations for multiple infill and addition projects.
In presentations to the committee, county staff described the parcels, appraisal values and negotiated prices. Mr. Clemens, the staff presenter, said the Orange River infill parcel is under contract for $495,000 and “the property is going through foreclosure and bankruptcy,” and recommended proceeding to protect an infill tract that bifurcates a preserve. The committee voted unanimously to recommend acquisition of that parcel.
The committee also approved additions to Buttonwood Preserve. Staff reported appraisals of $1,400,000 and $1,540,000 and a purchase price of $1,395,000 for Nomination 656; staff said a simultaneous closing with a contiguous parcel (Nomination 657) was a condition of the deal. Robert Ballard of the Clussell Land Trust told the committee he had walked the properties and urged acquisition, and he said the land trust would contribute $80,000 toward maintenance and improvements if the county purchased the parcel. For Nomination 657, staff described an in‑house market adjustment and recommended a $285,000 purchase price for upland acreage; the committee again voted to recommend acquisition.
A Pine Island Flatwoods infill parcel (Nomination 665) with appraisals around $400,000–$430,000 and a negotiated purchase price of $400,000 was presented as a Tier 1 acquisition for similar consolidation and maintenance reasons; the committee approved the recommendation unanimously.
On a related review, staff described a 2‑acre Charlotte Harbor buffer parcel (Nomination 650) that includes a residence and lacks recorded legal access. Mr. Clemens said owners have been using a historic dirt path and that Florida law makes perfecting access likely in some cases; staff recommended placing the parcel in Tier 1 for management purposes or working with owners to perfect access. Sherry Morris, a public commenter, said she has hiked the area and urged acquisition for recreation and safety; the committee voted unanimously to move the parcel forward as recommended.
All votes were recorded by show of hands and were unanimous on the items taken tonight. The committee’s recommendations are advisory; the Board of County Commissioners will make final purchase and budget decisions.
What happens next: staff will prepare the necessary documentation and forward the committee’s recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration. The advisory committee’s next meeting is scheduled for June 17 at 5:30 p.m.
