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Commissioners debate purchase, bank or redeploying Hamrick TDRs after litigation win
Summary
Wilson Hamrick and representatives asked the county to purchase transferable development rights (TDRs) awarded in a long litigation settlement to prevent their use in limited receiving areas in the Wekiva protection area. Commissioners discussed expanding receiving areas, seeking outside partners, or taking no action; no purchase was approved but staff were instructed to explore options and report back.
A lengthy July 14 discussion focused on hundreds of transferable development rights (TDRs) that a private landowner, Wilson Hamrick, said were awarded to him in a settlement after state purchases of conservation land. Hamrick offered the rights for potential county purchase so the TDRs would not be used to increase density in sensitive receiving areas inside the Wekiva River Protection Area.
County attorney summarized the litigation history and legal posture: although the land itself is owned by FDEP, the settlement awarded the intangible TDRs to the private owner and they are legally transferable to designated receiving areas. Commissioners and members of the public debated whether a county purchase would be an appropriate and affordable way to prevent increased density in the receiving area, whether expanding receiving areas closer to municipalities would create a more viable market for the TDRs, and whether grants or conservation partners might be enlisted to buy the rights. Hamrick suggested historic prices per TDR in the low tens of thousands; commissioners cautioned that a county buyout could cost millions and recommended staff study alternatives.
The board did not commit to a county purchase. Instead, commissioners asked staff to explore options: (a) study expanding receiving areas (possibly nearer urban services), (b) assess legal and financial implications of a county TDR bank or partial purchase, and (c) pursue outside grant or partner options that could retire the rights for conservation. Staff said the comprehensive‑plan rewrite creates an appropriate moment to consider whether receiving areas or the TDR framework should be revised.
