Three Land Preservation Initiatives Approved in Sarasota County Utilizing the Land Acquisition and Management Program

 

 

Three Land Preservation Initiatives Approved in Sarasota County Utilizing the Land Acquisition and Management Program

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

Sarasota County

 

During the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Sept. 10, the board voted to approve three land preservation initiatives, utilizing the Land Acquisition and Management Program. The full agenda and supporting documents can be viewed here.

Consent Item #17

The authorization of a conservation easement was approved for 13.9 acres at 8000 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, from The Elling O. Eide Charitable Foundation, Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, for $56,666.66 per acre with a maximum price of $825,000. The conservation easement removes the development rights from the property for current and future landowners, requiring landowners to maintain the property in its natural state and manage resources for conservation purposes. The property is home to various wildlife and vegetation species, such as gopher frog, bald eagle, great horned owl, live and laurel oak, southern red cedar, and wild cinnamon. The conservation easement is expected to be closed in early 2025.

Consent Item #20

A Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program (NPP) Work Plan was also approved for the 2.25-acre Center Road Sarasota Site east of the Celery Fields.

Consent Item #21

The board also authorized the acquisition of a 5-acre property at 955 E. Venice Ave., Venice, for $950,000 with the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP). The site is within the Sleeping Turtles South Protection Priority Site which was adopted with the ESLPP by the board in 1998. The property is home to various wildlife and vegetation species, such as different turtle species, red-shouldered hawk, bobcat, live and laurel oak, Florida slash pine, and beautyberry. The acquisition is expected to be closed in early 2025.  The programs are voter-approved and taxpayer-funded by the community members of Sarasota County and have been instrumental in acquiring and protecting more than 110 properties, totaling more than 41,000 acres since ESLPP began in 1999 and NPP began in 2005.

Sarasota County encourages residents and visitors to participate in these efforts by nominating land for protection. A video explaining the program can be viewed here. Interested individuals can complete a land nomination form by visiting SarasotaCountyParks.com/LandAcquisitions.