Title
Rail Spur Property Liquidation (B)
At the City Commission meeting held on January 14, 2008, the City Commission referred disposition of the Deerhaven Rail Spur property to the Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Public Works (RCAPW) Committee for recommendations.
Explanation
In 1993, the City Commission authorized the GRU General Manager to acquire properties needed to facilitate the construction of a rail spur connecting the Deerhaven Generating Station to the Norfolk Southern Railway in Lake Butler. Subsequently, approximately 19 parcels were acquired and/or leased in Alachua and Union Counties for the construction of the rail spur. In 1994, staff successfully negotiated a long term contract with CSX Transportation for the transportation of coal to the Deerhaven Generating Station, eliminating the need for the construction of the rail spur at that time.
Of the 19 parcels acquired and/or leased by the City, 16 were acquired in fee ownership, and permits or lease agreements were secured over the remaining three. In accordance with legal agreements between the City and the property owners, two of the fee owned parcels reverted back to the original land owners in 2003. There are 14 parcels remaining that are owned in fee by the City. Two of those parcels are located in Alachua County, one of which is a 95 acre parcel on the Santa Fe River, and remaining parcels are located in Union County. Complaints of trespassing and illegal dumping have been, and continue to be received from the abutting land owners and other area land owners.
Over the last several years, staff has received inquiries from organizations and individuals expressing interest in purchasing the 95 acre parcel and the linear corridor owned by the City between Hasan (Alachua County) and CR 18 in Union County (See attached drawing). The linear corridor primarily covers an old CSX railroad right-of-way.
Because of the need to protect the City's investment and the original int...
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