Post by jonsdigs on Dec 13, 2006 17:23:05 GMT -5
County OKs Fred George land buy
Commission to seek sales-tax money to buy more property
By Bruce Ritchie
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER(Tallahassee)
The Leon County Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to buy half of a proposed 156-acre development at Capital Circle Northwest and Fred George Road to protect water quality and wildlife.
Agreeing with environmentalists and residents that the entire site needs to be preserved, the commission also agreed to seek joint approval with the city to use money from a 1-percent local sales tax to buy the rest of the property.
The area lies within the Fred George Basin, which drains into a sinkhole just north of the property. Development has spread rapidly although the city and county years targeted the area for conservation more than five years ago.
"Congratulations, we've saved Fred George Basin," Commission Chairman Ed DePuy told purchase supporters as they applauded the commission action.
The purchase could cost Leon County about $4.2 million. The county agreed to buy the eastern half with the most floodplains and wetlands for about $1.6 million, even if the city doesn't agree.
The project is on the Blueprint 2000 list of projects identified by the city and county for purchase. But it is on the lower tier list of projects that doesn't have money for purchases.
Supporter Misty Penton has filed legal challenges to block the rezoning of the property. But the landowners, James Maples and R.P. Properties LLC have agreed to the purchase to resolve the dispute.
Planning Department Director Wayne Tedder pointed out that developers contend there is not enough land available in the Tallahassee area for new homes. He also noted there are alternatives to buying the land, such as setting aside about 70 acres for conservation.
"Regardless of what the property is zoned, these same environmental features will be protected," he said.
But residents said the purchase would prove to be a deal for the county if it needs a small portion of the land to widen the adjacent roads.
They also said the buy would provide a needed park and protect habitat for wood storks and other threatened species. And they said it would protect water quality, citing a federal study that shows that up to 24 percent of the water being pumped into one city flowed into the Fred George Sink.
"We'd like that water to be clean," said neighborhood resident April Penton, who is Misty Penton's mother.
Commissioners voiced support for the residents who wore "Save Fred George Basin" T-shirts. But Commissioner Brian Desloge also said he was concerned about the county could have to pay the full cost of the purchase.
Ariticle
Commission to seek sales-tax money to buy more property
By Bruce Ritchie
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER(Tallahassee)
The Leon County Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to buy half of a proposed 156-acre development at Capital Circle Northwest and Fred George Road to protect water quality and wildlife.
Agreeing with environmentalists and residents that the entire site needs to be preserved, the commission also agreed to seek joint approval with the city to use money from a 1-percent local sales tax to buy the rest of the property.
The area lies within the Fred George Basin, which drains into a sinkhole just north of the property. Development has spread rapidly although the city and county years targeted the area for conservation more than five years ago.
"Congratulations, we've saved Fred George Basin," Commission Chairman Ed DePuy told purchase supporters as they applauded the commission action.
The purchase could cost Leon County about $4.2 million. The county agreed to buy the eastern half with the most floodplains and wetlands for about $1.6 million, even if the city doesn't agree.
The project is on the Blueprint 2000 list of projects identified by the city and county for purchase. But it is on the lower tier list of projects that doesn't have money for purchases.
Supporter Misty Penton has filed legal challenges to block the rezoning of the property. But the landowners, James Maples and R.P. Properties LLC have agreed to the purchase to resolve the dispute.
Planning Department Director Wayne Tedder pointed out that developers contend there is not enough land available in the Tallahassee area for new homes. He also noted there are alternatives to buying the land, such as setting aside about 70 acres for conservation.
"Regardless of what the property is zoned, these same environmental features will be protected," he said.
But residents said the purchase would prove to be a deal for the county if it needs a small portion of the land to widen the adjacent roads.
They also said the buy would provide a needed park and protect habitat for wood storks and other threatened species. And they said it would protect water quality, citing a federal study that shows that up to 24 percent of the water being pumped into one city flowed into the Fred George Sink.
"We'd like that water to be clean," said neighborhood resident April Penton, who is Misty Penton's mother.
Commissioners voiced support for the residents who wore "Save Fred George Basin" T-shirts. But Commissioner Brian Desloge also said he was concerned about the county could have to pay the full cost of the purchase.
Ariticle