Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County highlights Alachua County Forever gains, approves new purchases and a donation
Summary
The commission heard the Land Conservation Board’s FY2024 accomplishments—eight acquisitions totaling nearly 1,500 acres—and approved a donated 5‑acre tract and an option to purchase a 68.5‑acre Dunford parcel in the Watermelon Pond area, advancing Alachua County Forever preservation goals.
Alachua County commissioners on March 11 heard a report from the Land Conservation Board summarizing fiscal year 2024 accomplishments and approved two conservation transactions that expand the county’s preserved lands.
Kristen Young, secretary of the Land Conservation Board, told the commission the board reviewed 24 nominated properties during FY2024, added 21 to the priority pool and completed eight acquisitions totaling almost 1,500 acres—bringing the Alachua County Forever program total to more than 35,000 preserved acres.
Andy Christman, program manager for the land conservation program, presented two agenda items. First, staff recommended and the board accepted a donation from Catherine R. Williams of an approximately five‑acre parcel adjacent to Mill Creek Preserve; the county would complete due diligence (estimated at $14,190) and manage the tract as a satellite of Mill Creek Preserve. Christman said estimated annual monitoring and basic management costs for the parcel would be a little over $600.
Second, the board approved exercising an option contract to purchase the 68.5‑acre Dunford parcel in the Watermelon Pond project area. Christman described the parcel as intact sandhill habitat important for species such as gopher tortoises; the purchase price is $609,993 subject to final survey, with a total expenditure request including due diligence and a 10% contingency of $721,886. The board delegated authority to the county manager to evaluate and accept minor access‑easement title exceptions discovered during due diligence.
Commissioners and staff also marked a program milestone: the Alachua County Forever program closed its 100th acquisition in the Watermelon Pond area, a milestone staff said reflects 25 years of the program’s work supported by voter‑approved funding such as Wild Spaces Public Places and state partnership grants (Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Springs Protection Program).
Commissioners voiced appreciation for the Land Conservation Board’s long‑term work and discussed the county’s broader conservation goal—staff estimated roughly 42,000 additional acres remain to reach the county’s stated target. The two actions passed by voice vote.
