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Clay County committee approves conservation easement for Baton Bay Road parcel
Summary
A Clay County committee voted to accept an application to enter the 85‑acre Baton Bay Road parcel into the county conservation program as a conservation easement after staff recommendation and public comment from the landowner. One member abstained because of a family relationship.
The Clay County conservation program committee voted to accept an application to place an 85‑acre property known as the Baton Bay Road parcel into the county's conservation program as a conservation easement.
Jim Farley, the property owner, told the committee the parcel at 5609 Baton Bay Road includes about 65 undeveloped acres, year‑round pockets of water on Wolf Branch, mixed hardwoods and pines and two live oak hammocks. "It's a pretty piece of property," Farley said, stressing long family stewardship and concern about development encroaching on local agricultural land and wildlife corridors.
Staff recommended approval. An unnamed staff member told the committee the parcel "would meet the primary conservation goals of water quality and sources, wildlife habitat and connectivity and forest and farm preservation," and noted possible environmental hazards tied to historic cattle use.
Committee members questioned whether the family residence would be excluded from any conservation boundary; Farley said the home sits outside the portion he expects would be covered. One committee member disclosed a history of business dealings with Farley and later identified themself as the owner's son and abstained from the vote.
The committee then voted to approve entry of the Baton Bay Road parcel into the conservation program as a conservation easement; the chair called the vote and reported no recorded opposition. The parcel's appraised market value shown in the application paperwork is $867,873, staff said.
After the vote, nearby resident Ryan Worththington thanked the committee for preserving the parcel, saying Clay County has lost agricultural landmarks to development and that the parcel's placement in the wildlife corridor made it especially valuable.
Next steps: staff will complete required documentation and follow the county's acquisition process for conservation easements; additional parcels remain under review pending owner signatures.
