Title
Weiss Property - Look at Funding Availability with the County and Water Management District (B)
This item requests that the General Policy Committee consider available funding options and potential partnerships related to the San Felasco Addition (Weiss) Conservation Land Acquisition
Explanation
At the November 15, 2012 meeting, the City Commission approved the Parks, Recreation and
Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Master Plan. This plan calls for the City to acquire land adjacent to parks and centers in order to allow for future expansion.
Since 2009, the City has been attempting to acquire the top and second-priority properties on the approved Land Conservation and Acquisition list. Some landowners have been willing to sell, but others have not. Since many of the priority landowners are unwilling to sell or are at an impasse on price, staff evaluated undeveloped parcels within City limits and outside the City limits but within the urban reserve for potential acquisition. Thirteen (13) parcels of interest were approved to be added to the land acquisition priority listing by the City Commission on April 5, 2012. Twenty-one (21) passive/conservation parcels were approved to be added to the list by the City Commission on July 16, 2015. The San Felasco Addition project, Weiss property, was approved by the City Commission at this time. This property totals 711 acres and is adjacent to the City’s San Felasco City Park. Six (6) additional parcels that will expand four parks and centers were approved by the City Commission to be added to the PRCA land acquisition list on March 2, 2017.
In November, 2016 Alachua County Parks and Conservation Lands staff contacted City PRCA staff asking if the City has an interest in partnering on the subject acquisition. County staff stated that Alachua County is prepared to match 50% of the purchase price. County staff stated that the property owner is asking $6,500,000 for the property. Further discussions with...
Click here for full text