- September 18, 2024
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Sarasota County will spend $1.99 million for conservation of more than 18.9 acres after recent approvals by the county commissioners.
Commissioners authorized the acquisition of property in Venice that may be used for nature trails and it also approved of the acquisition of a conservation easement at a site near Sarasota Square Mall to protect habitats, wildlife and native vegetation. Both sites are in areas that have been prioritized for environmental protection and are proximate to other nature preserves.
For $950,000, Sarasota County will acquire 5 acres at 3955 E. Venice Ave. in Venice that may be turned into nature trails with a picnic area and parking lot, according to documents from the county. The site could also potentially be connected with Sleeping Turtles Preserve South and Snook Haven, both of which are nearby, as well as lands to the south.
The property is immediately east of North River Road and across from the 208-acre Sleeping Turtles Preserve South, acquired in 2022 by the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP). It is within the Sleeping Turtles South Protection Priority Site, adopted within ESLPP by the Board of County Commissioners in 1998, officials say.
A single-family residence is on the property and so is a detached garage converted into a workshop and in-law residence, county documents say; these will be considered for future use and may be demolished if no use is identified.
The site is home to mesic hammock and remnant scrubby flatwoods habitat. Wildlife species present on or near the property include various turtle species, gopher tortoise, red shouldered hawk, red-bellied woodpecker, great horned owl, barred owl and bobcat. Native vegetation on the property includes live oak, laurel oak, southern red cedar, southern magnolia, cabbage palm, Florida slash pine, American holly, beautyberry, wild coffee, gallberry, wax myrtle, yaupon and Simpson’s stopper.
The seller is Peter Baker of Nokomis, according to the resolution authorizing the acquisition, which commissioners approved Sept.10. Funding will come through the ESLPP.
Sarasota County must complete its due diligence by Dec. 19, and close on or before Jan. 20, 2025. Funding of $179,150 beyond the purchase price will cover closing costs, due diligence and the 15% ESLPP start-up amount for start-up activities and improvements, according to documents provided by the county.
The board also adopted a resolution authorizing the acquisition of a conservation easement over 13.9 acres at 8000 South Tamiami Trail.
The seller and landowner is the Elling O. Eide Charitable Foundation, Inc. Adjacent to the property is the Eiling Eide Center, a research center to further the study of China and East Asia as well as a nature preserve.
The 13.9-acre property is within the Bayonne Protection Priority Site, which commissioners adopted within the ESLPP in 1998, and it is home to scrubby flatwoods, coastal hammock, mesic hammock and wetland habitats. Wildlife on or nearby the property include white-tailed deer, bobcat, gopher tortoise, gopher frog, eastern indigo snake, bald eagle, swallowtail kite, great horned owl and various wading bird species, according to county documents. Native vegetation species include Florida slash pine; live and laurel oak; cabbage palm; southern red cedar; pignut hickory; southern magnolia; saw palmetto; prickly apple cactus; giant airplant; wild cinnamon; coontie; and black, red and white mangroves.
In addition to the $825,000 purchase price, the county will pay $37,650 for ancillary expenses like closing costs and due diligence tasks.
Sarasota County must complete its due diligence by Jan. 13, 2025, according to county documents, which say closing is to occur on or before Feb. 12, 2025.
The costs associated with both the East Venice Avenue acquisition and Tamiami Trail conservation easement total $1,991,800.
Sarasota County commissioners also approved a Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program Work Plan at their Sept. 10 meeting. The work plan applies to a site on 2.25 acres along Center road east of the Celery Fields. Essentially, approval of the plan will allow county staff to continue with activities related to the potential acquisition of the site, which is at 900 Center Road and is directly east of the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility (Celery Fields) and Sarasota Audubon Nature Center on Palmer Boulevard.
Acquiring the site could allow for expansion of the Celery Fields, which is a 400-acre property used for outdoor recreation, including birding, according to county documents.
Currently the site contains a small single-family residence, detached garage, small stable and a few small outbuildings, including several that are described as “dilapidated.” While the area is overgrown, it contains native vegetation like slash pine, oaks, wild coffee, beautyberry and cabbage palm, and invasive vegetation such as air potato vine, Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, java plum, carrotwood and bamboo.
“The site would enhance the Celery Fields and the immediate neighborhoods and surrounding community,” county documents say. “Improvements could include a small play area, picnic shelter, nature study, interpretive education signage and parking.”
Since the ESLPP began in 1999 and the Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program started in 2005, county officials say the voter-approved, taxpayer-funded programs have protected more than 110 properties that total more than 41,000 acres.
