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Commissioner McClash Calls Robinson Preserve Offer into Question

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The Robinson Preserve has been a great success, not only for the environment, but in terms of the enjoyment of so many citizens who utilize its grounds.  I encouraged and helped to facilitate the original purchase of the Robinson Preserve to protect these primarily sensitive environmental lands, and bolster the quality of life in Manatee County.

Now, Mr. Robinson states in an offer to the county he would like to sell 150 of the 200 acres he owns adjacent to the existing Robinson Preserve, which on the surface, may look like a reasonable offer.  Mr. Robinson will be paid in cash approximately $2.5 million for this property and he wants approval to triple his current density from 20 units to 60.

The offer would also require the county to move approximately 500,000 cubic yards of dirt, which it had already moved once before to this site from the current preserve. In addition, there are other conditions that some of us would find unacceptable. However, after looking closer at the details, the offer as it has been presented, I cannot support.

In the original purchase of the Robinson Preserve by the county from Mr. Robinson, the appraisal value of the 483 acres we now own was $13,440,000. The county paid $10 million in cash to the Robinsons for the 483 acres for the Robinson Preserve. Some believe all of the land was donated; however this is not the case.

At the time of the county’s purchase, Mr. Robinson granted the ”Conveyance of Development Rights“ to the County on the 200 acres which he now wants to sell 150 acres and increase the density. These ”Conveyance of Development Rights“ allows only the development of a golf course, plus 20 residential units.   This land is mainly disturbed farmland (containing only about 5 acres of wetlands, comprised mainly of ditches), and is totally different from the original Robinson Preserve, which had over 400 acres of valuable sensitive environmental habitat.

I have several concerns regarding this proposed transaction:

  •     The county has already paid to limit the residential development rights to 20 units. If we allow an increase of residential units to 60, the county should be reimbursed for the units we have already purchased.

  •     Increasing the density above 20 units is against the county’s policy to limit density in Coastal High Hazard areas and one of the reasons we bought the development rights in the first place.

  •     The cost to turn disturbed farmland into a preserve and remove 500,000 cubic yards of dirt could exceed several million dollars. We currently do not have the money for this level of effort and if we did, should it be used for disturbed farmland?

  •     If the value for the 200 acres in 2003 was only $2,240,000, why would 150 acres be worth more today in a real estate market where values have declined by over 50%?

  •     Robinson also wants another $9.6 million donation to be applied on the land he already gifted the county last time for $6.42 million.

  •     If the goal is to limit impacts next to the preserve, then increasing from 20 units to 60 clearly runs counter to that goal.

I have no problem purchasing environmentally sensitive land to benefit Manatee County. But in my opinion, this deal just doesn't pass the smell test.

If a golf course with 20 units is not feasible, then Robinson can still build his 20 houses and donate the remaining acres that were supposed to be the golf course.

Asking the taxpayers to bail out a project just because it is now seen as financially infeasible by the developer is just not the right thing to do!

Joe McClash

Manatee County Commissioner at-large

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